Author Spotlight: Marcie Colleen

August 4, 2017

We are delighted to present to you the super talented author, Marcie Colleen! Marcie is the author of the kid-favorite series SUPER HAPPY PARTY BEARS (Macmillan) and she's got some new books on the horizon including LOVE, TRIANGLE illustrated by Bob Shea. Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a copy of SUPER HAPPY PARTY BEARS BOOKS #5 AND #6!

Welcome, Marcie!

Tell us about your background and how you came to write for children. 

I have always been a reader and a writer. But my first vivid “dream” of being an author came in 1985 when the movie Back to the Future released. Towards the end of the movie there is a scene when George McFly receives a big box of his novel. He then hands a copy of the novel to his son, Marty McFly, and says, “like I've always told you, you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”

Although I was only in fifth grade at the time, I remember thinking “I want a box like that.” 

Fast forward through careers in teaching and theater, the focus was always on children’s literature and entertainment.  So, even though I did not become interested in writing children’s books until late 2010, I feel as if I have been on this path my whole life.


What projects are you working on now? Any sequel to LOVE, TRIANGLE or any of your many other books? 

I wrapped up Super Happy Party Bears #8 in May and have been spending this summer focusing on picture book projects, as well as stretching myself with a super-secret collaborative effort with a close friend of mine in a totally different format than I have worked in before! 

When is your next project due out? 

On August 15th, the party continues with two more Super Happy Party Bears books—#5: BAT TO THE BONE and #6 THE JITTERBUG. September will see #7: TINY PRANCER hit the shelves, as well as a boxed set that includes the first four books in the series! Then, on October 3rd, LOVE, TRIANGLE is out! I am super excited about this, as it is my debut and illustrated by Bob Shea!

What is your typical process for writing? 

I do a lot of work on the front end of an idea before I even start writing. Daydreaming, brainstorming, stream-of-conscious writing, reading, dreaming some more, outlining, etc. This process can take weeks or months or sometimes years. But putting this kind of care and thought into an idea before I even start writing really helps me to draft and revise a little quicker when I do start to write. 

During this process, I have two folders for each of my story ideas/manuscripts—one on the computer and one physical folder. The physical folder is usually packed with scribblings, doodles, and notes. The computer folder is where I store outlines and pieces of drafts. 

Once I have a strong draft, I share it with my critique partners. Sometimes I go through two or three rounds with them before sending it on to my agent. My agent is also editorial, so we then worked to revise even further together before finally subbing out. Oh…and then I revise with the editor. Sensing a pattern here?

What advice would you give to aspiring writers? Where do you get your inspiration?

“If you can dream it, you can be it.” Read a lot. Write a lot. Take classes. Attend book events and conferences when you can. And never give up on your dream. It will be hard work. It might take a while. But any dream of yours is truly worth it.

As for where I get my inspiration, really it comes from the process of creation itself. The more I create, the more ideas I generate. Sure, some of those ideas are crap. But I find that I must create crap to fine-tune my skills and create some stuff that is better than crap. 

I find that using a word like “inspiration” to describe the process of writing is deceiving because inspiration is something we have been told we need to wait for. Truth is, there is no waiting in creating. Just action. Waiting is an excuse. 

Create and the ideas will continue to come. Just start. Nothing happens if you never begin. Now go get some inspiration for yourself. ☺



What is one thing people don't know about you?

Several years ago, I learned the answer to the question “if my friends jumped off a bridge, would I follow?” The answer, apparently, is yes. A bunch of my girlfriends decided to go skydiving, and although it was nothing I ever thought of doing, I did it. Maybe for the sole reason that “everyone else was doing it.” Chalk it up to peer pressure, but it was a great experience!



Where can people find you on the internet? 

Stop by my website at www.thisismarciecolleen.com or find me on Twitter: @MarcieColleen1. And please, don’t be shy about reaching out. I love to hear from readers and fans! Additionally, I did an interview with StoryMonsters Ink that was featured on the Huffington Post. Needless to say, I am darn proud of it. So, check it out. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/marcie-colleen-invites-young-readers-to-her-super-happy_us_57b4b41fe4b07c799cb073d9



Marcie Colleen has been a teacher, an actress, and a nanny, but now she spends her days writing children’s books. She is the author of the Super Happy Party Bears chapter book series (Macmillan/Imprint). Her debut picture book, Love Triangle, illustrated by Bob Shea (Blazer+Bray/HarperCollins, October 3, 2017) sold in a five-house auction. It is about best friends Circle and Square, and Triangle who comes between them. Other upcoming picture books include The Adventure of the Penguinaut (Scholastic, Fall 2018) which will be illustrated by Emma Yarlett. Marcie is a frequent presenter at conferences for SCBWI, as well as a faculty member for Kidlit Writing School offering courses with a focus on plotting and revising picture books. She lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their mischievous sock monkey. Visit her at www.thisismarciecolleen.com or on Twitter @MarcieColleen1. 

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