Author Feature - Sheila Kelly Welch

Author - Sheila Kelly Welch - www..flavors.me/sheilawelch

Book - WAITING TO FORGET

Genre - Upper MG/YA

Publisher - namelos

Road to Publishing - When I was in junior high, I thought that someday I'd write and illustrate for kids. But it wasn't until after I'd had open heart surgery and could hear my artificial valve ticking that I decided someday had arrived. My first short story was published two years later. Since then, I've had a lot of stories and books published but I always wanted to work with Stephen Roxburgh because I'd heard him speak at a conference and liked his independent ideas. In 2009, I completed a novel that I thought he'd appreciate and when I sent it to namelos, he wrote back within a few weeks with an offer to publish it. His acceptance was the quickest of any I've ever had. I sent the sample chapters on January 12, 2010 and signed a contract on January 29, 2010. The book was released on October 1, 2011. My advice would be to read a lot, write a lot, and aim high. But give yourself time to relax and enjoy life., too.

Book Synopsis - WAITING TO FORGET takes place in a hospital where twelve-year-old T.J. is waiting to see if his little sister will regain consciousness after a bad fall. While he waits, T.J. recalls the traumatic life he and Angela led with their neglectful birth mother and how they were eventually adopted by a childless couple. But T.J. isn't sure he wants to be part of this family with Marlene, who insists on calling him Timothy and Dan, who seems to want a more responsible son. Their birth mother often lied because it was easier than telling -- or facing -- the truth. Back and forth between then and now, T.J.'s story unfolds until the past catches up to the present. And T.J. is faced with his own truth.

 WAITING TO FORGET has been chosen for the following lists:

Best Books of the Year, 2012 edition: Bank Street College

Best YA Books of 2011: Pennsylvania School Library Association

South Carolina's Junior Book Award Master List 2013/ 2014

#1 of 50 books: Realistic Middle School Fiction: Goodreads List


Disclosure - The questions were answered by the spotlight person in conjunction with my new feature.  I have not read the books.  I received nothing for this post.