Created September 20, 2024 by Tanja Bauerle
Diane Phelps Budden’s love affair with kid’s books started at home—she was a voracious reader as a kid. Plus, her immigrant grandmother, who could not read English, “read” the comics to her every Sunday. As a young mother, Diane read to her children and became a librarian at the local library. Story hours with children—seeing the rapt little faces glowing with curiosity and joy—created a passion to write. When she moved to Sedona, Arizona, she fell in love with ravens. She wrote Shade: A Story About a Very Smart Raven and The Un-Common Raven: One Smart Bird, which was cited as a children’s Panelist Pick in the 2013 Southwest Books of the Year. Diane visits schools, libraries, and museums around Arizona to present raven presentations, story hours and workshops about self-publishing. She hopes her passion for books and storytelling will influence parents to develop a love of reading in their children. Summary of newest book: Needle in a Haystack: How Clyde W. Tombaugh Found an Awesome New World, is a biography of the young man who discovered Pluto in 1930 at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Arizona State Legislature recently named Pluto the state planet. Clyde W. Tombaugh is a great role model for kids and adults alike.
Six Quick Interview Questions with DIANE PHELPS
1. What is one thing we should know about you that's not in your bio?
I’m basically a nonfiction writer and love the all-important, never-ending research phase. I have written a book for adults, although young adults might like it too. Dear Hubby of Mine: Home Front Wives in World War II is about a Cleveland housewife and her sailor husband in the Pacific who penned more than 500 letters during World War II. It’s a very romantic book, and surprise, it’s about my parents!
2. What’s something that happens in your book that will cause us to run out and buy it?
I think the way the text and illustrations work together and support each other will draw you in to celebrate a young man’s journey to reach his dream of becoming an astronomer. He persevered with great tenacity to realize his passion for astronomy. We can all learn
from Clyde on how to meet our goals—hard work and gumption.
3. Why did you choose to self-publish, rather than go the traditional route?
In 2023 there were well over 1,000,000 books self-published. Reaching publishers is now mostly in the hands of agents. On the flip side, self-publishing has grown in acceptance since I first self-published in 2010. I know how to market from my corporate marketing days and the previous books I self-published, so why not? It’s a lot of work, but worth the
effort.
4. What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently buried in marketing my new book. I also track NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft that did a Pluto flyby in 2015 and continues to investigate the edge of the solar system. I present talks and story hours about my book and have to keep up-to-date on
Pluto happenings. Most of all, I want to continue writing for both children and adults because I have causes to support and messages to convey!
5. How has being a member of SCBWI helped you in your writing journey?
I’ve been a member of SCBWI since 2009. I’ve learned a lot from being part of this organization, both nationally and regionally. I’ve made great author friends and mentors, plus I found the amazing book designer Tanja Bauerle for my Needle in a Haystack title. She was so helpful to me in producing a great book with text and illustrations that work together superbly.
6. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I want to encourage new authors to consider self-publishing if other avenues close. Join the Spark Meetup group where you can learn from others who have gone through the process. You can always contact me through my website www.dianephelpsbudden.com
Instagram: @blueskyauthor
Facebook: Diane Phelps
Site: dianephelpsbudden.com