Digital Book Nook recently caught up with L.M. Haynes, author of “The Runaway Clock.” We are excited to share this insightful interview with our readers today.
When did you first discover that you enjoy writing and wanted to become a published author?
My first love was drawing. I have loved drawing since I was a small boy.When I got married raised a family and concentrated my career and energy on them, I did not draw again for many years. About six years ago, I decided the time was right for me to begin drawing again. As I rediscovered my love for drawing, I was also moved to try my hand at writing, and that lead me to write my first self-published book, “The Christmas Time Travelers 1.” I have since written and illustrated six other children’s books, bringing the total to seven.
What is your favorite and the most challenging aspect of writing?
For me, writing was very challenging. Other than any writing classes I may have taken in elementary or high school I have no formal training as a writer. Once I have an outline for a story on paper I do the very best I can to tell that story. Since I am writing for children, I try to tell the story using my illustrations and some very understandable vocabulary.
Tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is a book titled, “The Runaway Clock.” It is a story about three children and there wish to stay children forever in a troubled world. With the help of a mantle clock in the home they are blessed with the the ability to see themselves in the future and to understand what a difference they can make as faithful loving adults. “The Runaway Clock” is my seventh published book. My other published books are: “The Christmas Time Travelers 1,” “The Littlest Patriots,” “The Vanishing Doornob,” “Legacies,” “The Magical Christmas Tree,” and “The Christmas Time Travelers 2.” Both “Legacies,” and “The Christmas Time Travelers 2” won awards with Pacific Book Review in 2021.
How did you come up with the title of your book?
What I try to do when coming up with a title to my books is to capture the essence of the story in a few words and combine that with a cover illustration that I have done in order to make the cover interesting and eye catching.
What do you hope readers are able to get from reading your story?
When I first had the idea to write and illustrate children’s books, it was with the hope that I could influence their lives in a positive faith-filled way. As a child I was always read to by my parents and grandparents and it was a tradition that my wife Amy and I carried on with our three daughters. I believe that the time parents spend reading to their children is very important to both of them. It provides quiet time between a parent and a child and also allows for positive dialogue about the book and any positive message the book may be trying to send.
Follow L. M. Haynes at haynesbooks.com or lmhaynesbooks.com