Jamie Brown Is NOT Rich By Adam Wallace (JUST RELEASED!)

Jamie Brown Is NOT Rich By Adam Wallace.

 

Jamie Brown is NOT Rich is an illustrated chapter book for Primary school children who like reading, laughing, and being awesome. It is a fish out of water story about a VERY poor family trying to fit into a VERY rich suburb.

 

Recommended Age: 6-12

Publisher: Ford Street Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-9250003-6-8

RRP: $17.95

 

 

There was much anticipation and excitement at the Dandenong library last weekend. Adam Wallace was there to launch his brand new book - Jamie Brown is NOT Rich. With nearly 20 printed books to his name there will be something on his list to please everyone. This new one is no exception and is completely written and illustrated by Wallace. It is available in all good book shops now!

 

 

Welcome Adam, tell us a little about your writing journey.

Well, after travelling through Writing-Is-Awesome Town all the way through school, a bad experience in Year 12 meant I took the bus to Stopping-Writing-ville after high school and did engineering. Ten years later I started writing again, and there was an express train to What-Was-I-Thinking-Writing-Is-Awesome-I-Want-To-Be-A-Writer station. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an express, and it stopped often at the Rejection Station ... around 150 times in fact! So I got off and grabbed a cab to the lovely village of Self-Publishing. Three years later a publisher dropped into town and decided to give me a lift to the neighbouring village of Traditional Publishing. I now spend my time between the two villages, with the occasional train ride to the Rejection Station, just for old times’ sake

 

What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

Apart from everything, I guess it would be the feeling of ... nah, it’s everything! I love the process of writing, I love hearing kids laugh at my writing, I love getting emails and letters about my writing, and even editing has found a soft spot in my heart ... it has changed it and made it boring, but it’s there.

 

What is the hardest aspect of being a writer?

For me at this stage it is finding a balance between creating and promoting. Even with my traditionally published books, I am out there selling and promoting pretty much 365 days a year, either face to face at festivals, markets and schools, or making connections online. I have to make sure I still leave time to create and write. And I guess the rejections are still hard, especially with a piece I really believe in and know, as much as anyone can know, that kids will love.

 

Writers are sometimes influenced by things that happen in their own lives. Are you?

I am. Well, if by influenced you mean I put things into my stories. I am influenced by things I see and things people say and song lyrics and burps my wife does and ... whoops, did I just say that out loud? Oh well, I don’t think there’s any way I can take it out. It was a pretty good burp anyway!

 

Tell us about your publications?

I write for Primary School aged children (mainly). I have books with gross rhyming short stories (The Better out Than In series); I have books that teach kids how to draw cartoons (Rhymes With Art); I have adventure-comedy-quest novels for kids (The Pete McGee series); I have Dr Seussish picture books (The Share-a-not, Mac O’Beasty and The Negatees); I have picture books for pre-schoolers that glow in the dark or come with bubbles or have a toy that runs through them; and I have a brand new illustrated chapter book called Jamie Brown is NOT Rich (released May 2014, get it while it’s hot!), which is the first book I have written and illustrated.

I think that’s it!

 

What is the most surprising thing about writing/publishing you have learnt?

The variety of journeys writers experience. Some get published straight away, others take years. Some self-publish then become best-sellers, others write brilliant books that are never accepted by a publisher. Everyone has a different story, and no one can predict what their story will be.

 

Top tip/s for writers.

Write. Write and write and write and write. The more you write the more you discover who you are as a writer, and the style of writing and the process of writing that suits you best. Also, ask advice from people who are where you want to be. Writers are the most generous, kind people ever, and I have never failed to be amazed at their generosity of advice and thoughts.

 

Other than writing what else do you love?

Playing golf, live music, siestas, eating.

If you had a premonition you would be stranded on a desert island what 5 books would you take?

 

Harpo Speaks by Harpo Marx – best book ever.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli – to remind me that being me is the most important thing of all.
Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr Seuss – bet he never thought a desert island would be one of the places.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – so I would keep on practicing writing. It may be with a stick in the sand, but I’d do it!
Robinson Crusoe – this would be as a guide more than anything!
 

Five words that sum you up.

Funny, casual, loyal, bit dorky

 

How can we learn more?

 

By studying hard and being a good listener … oh, learn more about me? The best place is probably my website, which is www.adam-wallace-books.com

I also have a YouTube channel which I have been very slack on lately, but it’s www.youtube.com/awallace100

And then, of course, I am on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/wallysbooks

I think that’s enough for now!

Thanks so much for dropping by Adam. Wishing your every success and as the old Irish saying goes,

 "As you slide down the banisters of life may the splinters never point the wrong way."