Get to know Dotti…

Dotti began her publishing journey in 1995, writing for popular children’s magazines. Her work has been included in Babybug, Ladybug, Children’s Playmate, Nature Friend, Turtle and many more.

As a professional storyteller, she’s entertained at numerous schools, libraries, museums and festivals since 1993. She especially takes pride in her vast collection of original stories and folktales, and specializes in “participation” stories, allowing her audience to join in the fun. She’s a native Texan, living with her family in Houston, Texas. For more info, visit her website.

Let the conversation begin!

Are your characters completely fictional? Or do you base them off real people?

Many are based off real people. Lots of times I use the characteristics of popular fictional characters and add my own spin. In my Ghost Detectors series there is a character named Dandy. He was easy to write because I always pictured Butters from South Park. In the YA I just finished revising, I pictured one of the characters as Rupert Grint. And in Man in the Moon, the main character is me. I drew most of it from childhood memories.

When are you the most productive? (Morning, noon, or night?)

I am NOT a morning person. I tend to start about lunch time. I take my work to a restaurant and try not to drip egg salad on the main character’s face.

What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Be patient. Take time to learn the craft. Take classes. Read (a lot!) Find a good critique group or beta reader, then grow an extra layer of skin and take their advice to heart. Write as much as possible and as often as possible. If you’re writing a novel, stick to it. Don’t jump from project to project and end up with a lot of half-written manuscripts. It takes discipline. Push yourself to write something difficult. And give yourself permission to write a bad first draft. You’ll have a lot of disappointments along the way, but that’s part of the learning process. Just enjoy it.