Friday, July 1, 2022

Diann Floyd Boehm Interview - The Little Girl in the Moon


Photo Content from Diann Floyd Boehm

A former classroom teacher, Diann Floyd Boehm has always enjoyed the art of storytelling. In 2015, she published her first children's book, finally bringing her imagination to print, sharing themes of peace, acceptance, and building self-esteem, to children, parents and fellow educators around the world.

Diann was both author and illustrator of the first two books in The Little Girl in the Moon series. For the third and fourth books in the series, Moxie & Tycho Town and Moonling Adventures-The Serengeti, she partnered with her daughter, Katherine Louise Boehm, to do the illustrations. Her first young adult (YA) novel, Rise! A Girl's Struggle for More, is a historical/biographical novel based on the real life of her grandmother. Her next children's book, Charlie and the Tire Swing, comes out in the fall of 2022.

Along with being an educator, Diann is a wife, a mother of three and a grandmother. Her creative flair encompasses the performing arts as well, and she also co-hosts several programs, including The Corner Bookstore, on USA Global TV with Dr. Jacalyn Kerbeck.

She grew up in Texas with five brothers and has a Bachelor of Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

        
  

Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Storytelling comes in many forms, and stories are essential. For example, family history storytelling is a way for families to understand one another, enjoy the accomplishments of their ancestors and discover how much they are like some of their ancestors.

Storytelling to your children is a way to help them learn and understand different life experiences.

The greatest thing you learned in school.
The greatest thing I learned in school was Stage Presence. Being in choir and drama performances gives you the confidence you need in the working world to speak in front of others and not be camera shy.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
One of my most rewarding experiences as an author is receiving an email from a reader or parent telling me how much they enjoy reading my stories to their children or receiving a picture of their favorite character their child drew for me.

Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?
I have always been a storyteller, but I never dreamed as a young girl of being a writer. Then, as an adult, one morning, I was planting flowers in the garden and pulling weeds, very much lost in my thoughts; when it hit me that it was time to have my stories in print form, the journey began.

What best advice can you give writers to help them develop their unique voice and style?
One always hears to be sure you write about what you know. I agree wholeheartedly, but I want to add for new writers to keep reading and learning about various topics, interests, and biographies. You will have this newfound knowledge that enables you to have new characters and new situations. For example, take my Little Girl in the Moon. I did a lot of research about the Moon before I began writing the little girl in the Moon's story. I even have a back story for the Moonlings. Studying gave me the confidence to write about what I know. Expanding your knowledge is fun as you can develop new characters and settings, which makes writing fun.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
My youngest daughter, Katherine, is beginning the artwork for the second book Moonling Adventures titled: Moonling Adventures – Birds Around the World.

In your book, THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE MOON, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it?
Thank you for the question. The Little Girl in the Moon is a series of 3 books, the first being, The Little Girl in the Moon. It has done very well and now has become the Moonling Adventures, where the reader meets her best friend, the little boy in the Moon.

The character, the little girl, is a Moonling because she lives on the Moon, just like we are Earthlings; after all, we live on earth. The little girl Moonling tells her Mommy that she wished the earth children knew about her. Her Mommy asked why, and she shared all the reasons why. The story is about how we are more alike than different and to be kind to others even if they are different. By the end of the story, the reader discovers what a Moonling looks like.

What do you hope readers think when they read your children's book?
I want the reader to enter the world of imagination and discover that Moonlings are just like Earthlings, they may look different, but they enjoy some things, like reading, singing, etc.

What part of your characters did you enjoy writing the most?
I enjoyed the little girl in the Moon and her love for the earthlings.

What was your unforgettable moment while writing THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE MOON?
When I painted her, it took me a while to decide what a Moonling would look like. I remember talking with a longtime friend, Jinx Burk, a former professor and award-winning artist. I remember she pulled out a piece of paper and said, describe your vision. As I spoke, she began drawing, and by the time I finished, she had a rough picture of the character. I remember being so excited and started painting her.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I would introduce Harry from my book Harry the Camel to the Little Girl Moonling from my book The Little Girl in the Moon. Harry would be excited to meet a Moonling who thought he was exceptional, which would make him love himself even more. Likewise, the little girl Moonling who looks nothing like an Earthling, will enjoy a new friend who likes her just the way she is.

Which incident in your life totally changed the way you think today?
I believe when you become a parent, it changes you. Life is no longer about you but the big picture, "Family!" Family is first, and I learned to have a give and take. I learned to listen to my children's and my husband's needs growing up. It helped me mature and brought a balance to life. I continue to learn and do my best to be a good listener. I am proud of going from the young girl where life was all about me to a mature woman, a good listener, discovering what makes others excited about their life and talents, and connecting them to others I know. By being a good listener, I have become a suitable connector.

Who has had the most influence in your life?
My parents had the most influence on my life. They were always supportive and told me I could be anything I wanted to be. It might take a while, but if you want it, then never give up.

What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a kid?
I feel lucky to have been born when I was. The world still allowed you to be a kid. Things were simpler back then. If you lived close to your school, you could walk safely to and from school. Schools were smaller, so teachers had time to know you and help you develop your talents. Sundays, at least for my family and friends, were about: a. family time lunch or dinner with grandparents. b. enjoying car rides with the family and enjoying the local cafe and grandparents exploring with you.

Summertime meant no school, just relaxing, hanging out with your neighborhood friends, and walking to the park or the local swimming pool. Parents sat in their lawn chairs in the evening as the neighborhood kids came together and played games like, Hide and Seek. Some kids would form a band and then play their songs for the parents and other neighborhood kids. Those are just a few examples I could go on and on about the simpler days and kids enjoying childhood.

What is your happiest childhood memory?
Every year when I was little, Mom and Dad loaded up all of us kids in the station wagon to look at Christmas lights in River Oaks, Texas. We would sing Christmas Carols in the car, and everyone was happy. There was no fighting which was incredible since there were six kids.

What was the best memory you ever had as a writer?
The first time I held my first published book in my hands.

What is your greatest adventure?
The company called Mountain High, owned by Julie Lewis's had her second expedition of women who would travel to the artic and dog sled to raise awareness for breast cancer. Not only did we raise money for cancer research, but at least in my case, I discovered new things about myself. For example, a. the ability to handle the cold b. take care of my dogs that pulled my sled and me throughout the artic. In addition, I captured the beauty of the artic and the people that live there. It was an adventure of a lifetime.

THINGS YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME.
  • 1. To be a better listener in class.
  • 2. To take Home Economics class.
  • 3. To take a Psychology class.
  • 4. To take Astronomy class.
  • 5. To take extra history and govt classes
  • 6. To participate in the Gardening Club
  • 7. To participate in the Photography Club.
  • 8. To participate in the Debate Club.
  • 9. To join the Newspaper Club.
Your journey to publication
I have always been a storyteller, and one day, working in the garden, it came to me to put my stories to print. My journey to having my stories published in books has been a long journey. One that I am now grateful for being turned down as it gave me time to find my voice as a writer.

Many things happened over a few years, two of my three children were off on their new journey as young adults, and my youngest daughter started college. During the school holidays, she joined us in Dubai and even had the opportunity to have summer jobs. I became friends with someone who decided to start her own publishing company for Hybrid-Indie authors. She read some of my stories, and the rest is history. I had my first book published with OC Publishing out of Halifax, Canada. Receiving my first book was incredible. I kept staring at the book and my name. I still smile, thinking about that moment.

My Family is very proud of me and my husband, John Boehm; I can not even begin to tell you how supportive he is. I am blessed to have their backing; sometimes, they are sounding boards for new ideas. In addition, my youngest daughter Katherine is the artist for my Moonling Adventures Series.

I also do something a little different than many authors; I choose to have different illustrators for my books to give a variety of illustrators a chance to be published. I want to help others see their work published as I know what it means to me.

I now have two publishers to have at least two stories a year; I am grateful to O C Publishing and Texas Sister Press for enjoying my stories and helping me get them out to the world.

I have also learned it is important to have a publicist. I had no idea you did not have to be rich and famous for one. I am blessed to have met Mickey Mikkleson, the owner and founder of Creative Edge. I am still learning under his guidance.

Every night the little girl in the moon watches the earth from afar just like the earthlings gaze at the moon and wish upon the stars. One night she sees so many wishes not quite reaching the stars and she tells her mommy how it worries her. She wants, with all her heart, to help the wishes get to the stars so they will come true. Her mommy whispers a secret to her that sparks the little girl's imagination. Before long the Little Girl in the Moon gets a 'Big Idea' and she and her Moonling friends write a song to go with it. All the moonling families gather to sing the song and something very special happens. The "Big Idea" works! And, for a moment in time, there is peace and harmony in the universe.
You can purchase The Little Girl in the Moon at the following Retailers:
        

And now, The Giveaways.
Thank you CREATIVE EDGE for making this giveaway possible.
1 Winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card. 
jbnpastinterviews

8 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. I was really scared before my cancer surgery.

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  3. When my husband was going a couple hours away for farm work and he wasn't home when he should've been. I was so scared, I was crying. It ended up he broke down and my in-laws just happened to see him when they were driving by. This was in the late 90's before a lot of people had cell phones.

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  4. When my daughter's school was on active shooter lockdown

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  5. When my daughter was born with a heart problem.

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  6. Daily loud barking dogs scared me as a kid when I walked to school

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  7. fainting without knowing why

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