Denise Doyen is one of the many authors in my region whom I have seen but never formally met. I had heard raves about her debut picture book, Once Upon A Twice, before it came out and was not disappointed when I finally got a copy. Denise's lyrical story about a naughty mouse and Barry Moser's gorgeous illustrations transport the reader to a magical and dangerous world. After I read this wonderful story, I immediately contacted Denise to ask for an interview.
When and why did you start writing for children?When I was seven or so, The Soupy Sales TV show had a monster contest. Kids sent in their drawings of monsters. I sent in a little picture book. My monster story was called The Book Worm. It started out with a tiny bite hole in the front cover. With each page turn the Book Worm’s comments got bolder and the bite-gap got bigger until finally there was a huge hole in the rear cover and the word “Whoah!” indicating that the freakishly large worm had fallen out of the back of the book.
I thought that was ‘The End’ of my little book, but Mr. Sales had other ideas.
After Soupy read the story in his trademark silly-dramatic fashion, he improv’d through the rest of the show about a voracious, monster Book Worm being loose in the TV studio. A prop wall showed up with a gigantic hole eaten through it. The sound guys played munching noises which Soupy reacted to with shrieks of “The Book Worm is after me!”
I won the contest. My prize was a record album by Alvin and the Chipmunks.
But the true prize was seeing my little book treated as a real story. Watching the way a character I made up could take on a life of its own and be enjoyed by others was a revelation.
When I applied to college, I put creative writing down as my major. Somehow, I detoured off that path and ended up in art and design. Still, I carefully mothballed the idea that I might someday be a writer.
That ‘someday’ came when my eldest son was applying to college – and I found myself envying his academic destination. Then I thought, “Heck, why not?” and I enrolled in UCLA Extension. I worked with wonderful teachers there (Ann Whitford Paul, Barney Saltzberg, April Halpern Wayland and others), joined SCBWI and a critique group called GOYA, took a master class with Barbara Bottner and found a circle of supportive writer-friends. And I discovered how much I love writing. And now, here I am! A published writer at 54.
What is the most valuable advice you can give to a newly published writer?
Hmmm. As a newly published writer myself, I’m still feeling my way, so my advice is novice green versus sage. But, since you asked, here are a few things that I think I’ve figured out so far:
Treat each opportunity as a gift. Whether you’ve been asked to speak at a Writer’s Day or read for pajama-time at your local bookstore – keep in mind that someone has invited you to participate in their own labor-of-love. Do them and yourself proud.
I like Powerpoint, because the audience stares at the screen and not me. Ha!
Have a back-up plan so that when the projector doesn’t work or your co-speaker calls in sick or your books don’t arrive, it’s an amusing inconvenience you rise above -- and not a paralyzing nightmare. Snafus plague us all, so arm yourself with forethought (and a sense of humor.)
Remember that marketing is very important, but after the debut rollercoaster slows down – you have to get back to writing. I’m finding the promotion/creation balance a challenge; it’s an issue that I would love to hear more experienced authors talk about. My New Year’s resolution will definitely be something about protecting my writing time more effectively.
Oh, and one more: acknowledge the good folk who helped you. It’s their ride too. [Thanks Jen Rofe (my energetic agent), Heidi Kilgras (my fearless editor and the team at RH), Barry Moser (kind man and illustrator extraordinaire) and a special thank you to my husband, Michael (my own patient and personal “patron of the arts”).] It took a determined literary village to get Once Upon a Twice upon the shelves.
What is one of your favorite children’s books that you'd like to recommend?
Books from the Golden Age speak loudest to me; Pooh, Alice and Mole stole my affections early on and surely influence my writing now.
Once Upon a Twice has an echo of Jabberwocky in it. So perhaps, for a fun read, I should suggest a snippet by Lewis Carroll: I recommend reading Carroll’s preface to The Hunting of the Snark. In it, he “explains” his nonsense in a humorous and intentionally obtuse way. Still his faux forthrightness is revealing, with elements both endearing and instructive. Like any great comedian, Carroll takes his ridiculousness very seriously. So of course (as he explains it), if a crewman puts the refurbished bowsprit of one’s ship on the back, over the rudder -- instead of pointing out to sea as it ought -- then naturally, the afflicted vessel will sail backwards (until the next time the bowsprit is varnished and one can have it returned to the front.) Such are Carroll’s strange but logical assertions; they make me laugh.
What are you working on now?
For the last four years I have been working on a middle-grade novel tentatively titled Adventures in Nepaw. Its tone is reminiscent of Wind In the Willows. The story takes place during the early summit attempts in the remote Himalayas; its arc is ‘a hero’s journey’.
Adventures in Nepaw actually started out as a poetic picture book, a follow-up to Once Upon a Twice. But then--as stories are wont to do--it took on a life of its own and transformed into an epic. Currently at sixty-five chapters, it runs from the crowded streets of Katmandu up monsoon-flooded gorges, through high-altitude Sherpa farms and marketplaces, past ancient monasteries and up into the icy death-realm of the highest mountains in the world. I am painfully close to being done. Exhausted and excited by that prospect. Finish the book! Finish the book! Finish the damn book! That is my mantra for 2010.
It is embarrassing how much I am invested in this book. At the same time, I don’t really feel like I wrote it. It’s more like I discovered a forgotten tale. The main characters, Trekker Raccoon, Jam Ling Sherpmouse and his nephew, Topkey, are so real in my mind and so dear to my heart -- that it must simply be true they once lived, fought and toiled up the side of The Great Peak of Nepaw. I have no idea what compelled me to write a book of this scope or kind… but, well, there it is.
Once Upon a Twice was my first dream. Adventures in Nepaw is my current obsession.
What is your favorite dessert and why?
Ah. Finally, a short answer: lemon-filled wedding cake. A bittersweet taste on a so-happy-you-cry day.
AUTHOR BIO
Denise Doyen studied creative writing, art, poetry and design at Stanford University where she received her BA. She attended film school at the American Film Institute, where she received her Masters in Directing.
Ms. Doyen enjoyed many years working in the world of children’s television. She was director and choreographer of the Disney Channel’s beloved series Welcome to Pooh Corner and Dumbo's Circus as well as other productions for children, including the video library The Mother Goose Treasury.
Leaving show biz to raise her boys, Paul and Max, she also worked as a graphic designer. But her first love was writing. So, as her older son approached college age, Ms. Doyen decided to return to school (UCLA Extension) and study writing for children.
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