| Interview with Kevin Scott Collier |
First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of
your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted
to be a writer?
When I picked up a pencil and began to draw at age 5. Of course, I had to learn my alphabet first! I became
an artist first, and it's a natural pathway if you create your own characters via illustration that you begin to
imagine stories as well.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
I was discovered in a Michigan Post Office close to home. Two men from an Indiana "tween" publishing
company happened to be in the next line on business. I overheard them talking about books, and I had
written a story for a niece that I pitched to them on the spot. Two days later they revisited Michigan and
signed me to a contract and that short story was rewritten into my first book "barthpenn@heaven.org."
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
I have many releases, but the one that will be a centerpiece for me will be the publication of my "Esther's
Channel" sequel titled "Gack Vanishes." It will be the second in a series of books where animals, reptiles and
other creatures speak and mirror human behavior that unites and divides us. "Gack Vanishes" is about loss,
and unselfish compassion. It is about unconditional love, and how things never seem to be what you imagine.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
There really isn't a who, there's a lot of individuals. My inspiration comes from observing others and my
experiences with human behavior. Hope inspires me the most in concept. No matter what goes on there's
always a light somewhere waiting just for you.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
They think it's cool, but I'm not sure they've read any of my books. Perhaps one or two family members have,
but we are all busy and doing our thing that makes us unique. They're proud, but we rarely talk about what I
am writing.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Cheese flavored popcorn, salted sunflower seeds and chocolate ice cream.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Get my coffee, dance around in my boxer shorts, then take a shower to hyper down.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me
the most?
The amount of clothes I have. I shop like a woman.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you
could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Green, because in the vegetation world all things green grow, and imagination is the water that nourishes the
plant.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
I recently became a big fan of the Cartoon Network's "Samurai Jack" because of the wonderful stories and
beautiful simplistic artwork. If I was a cartoon or comic character, everyone would say I'm "Dennis the
Menace."
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
I would beam back to my childhood when I was about 8-9 years old and just enjoy one day as a kid again.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re
writing?
I love rock and roll, loud stuff. There's plenty of newer artists I enjoy, but classic rock would include
Steppenwolf, Led Zeppelin, etc. But, I never listen to music when I write.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you
saw at the theater?
I don't watch much TV, but I do like the "Law and Order" shows. I have watched "It's A Wonderful Life" on
video a billion times, but I don't go to movies much. In fact, the last time I saw a new film in a theater was in
1990.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Imagine great things then work sincerely to achieve them. Don't be selfish, be an outreach. When you touch
someone you create a ripple that will touch many. Who we are often evolves from who we reach. Make an
impression that is beneficial and survives your lifetime.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
LOL... many. Children's books, teen adventures, young adult novels. I do guarantee that whatever I write, it
will make an impression on your mind by touching your heart.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of
your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted
to be a writer?
When I picked up a pencil and began to draw at age 5. Of course, I had to learn my alphabet first! I became
an artist first, and it's a natural pathway if you create your own characters via illustration that you begin to
imagine stories as well.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
I was discovered in a Michigan Post Office close to home. Two men from an Indiana "tween" publishing
company happened to be in the next line on business. I overheard them talking about books, and I had
written a story for a niece that I pitched to them on the spot. Two days later they revisited Michigan and
signed me to a contract and that short story was rewritten into my first book "barthpenn@heaven.org."
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
I have many releases, but the one that will be a centerpiece for me will be the publication of my "Esther's
Channel" sequel titled "Gack Vanishes." It will be the second in a series of books where animals, reptiles and
other creatures speak and mirror human behavior that unites and divides us. "Gack Vanishes" is about loss,
and unselfish compassion. It is about unconditional love, and how things never seem to be what you imagine.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
There really isn't a who, there's a lot of individuals. My inspiration comes from observing others and my
experiences with human behavior. Hope inspires me the most in concept. No matter what goes on there's
always a light somewhere waiting just for you.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
They think it's cool, but I'm not sure they've read any of my books. Perhaps one or two family members have,
but we are all busy and doing our thing that makes us unique. They're proud, but we rarely talk about what I
am writing.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Cheese flavored popcorn, salted sunflower seeds and chocolate ice cream.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Get my coffee, dance around in my boxer shorts, then take a shower to hyper down.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me
the most?
The amount of clothes I have. I shop like a woman.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you
could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Green, because in the vegetation world all things green grow, and imagination is the water that nourishes the
plant.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
I recently became a big fan of the Cartoon Network's "Samurai Jack" because of the wonderful stories and
beautiful simplistic artwork. If I was a cartoon or comic character, everyone would say I'm "Dennis the
Menace."
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
I would beam back to my childhood when I was about 8-9 years old and just enjoy one day as a kid again.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re
writing?
I love rock and roll, loud stuff. There's plenty of newer artists I enjoy, but classic rock would include
Steppenwolf, Led Zeppelin, etc. But, I never listen to music when I write.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you
saw at the theater?
I don't watch much TV, but I do like the "Law and Order" shows. I have watched "It's A Wonderful Life" on
video a billion times, but I don't go to movies much. In fact, the last time I saw a new film in a theater was in
1990.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Imagine great things then work sincerely to achieve them. Don't be selfish, be an outreach. When you touch
someone you create a ripple that will touch many. Who we are often evolves from who we reach. Make an
impression that is beneficial and survives your lifetime.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
LOL... many. Children's books, teen adventures, young adult novels. I do guarantee that whatever I write, it
will make an impression on your mind by touching your heart.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
