James Roland

James Roland is a lifelong journalist who found his niche covering education and health. In his spare time, he loves writing books for children. James lives in Sarasota, Florida, with his wife and three children. They are all history and Scrabble buffs who love to gather at the table, make each other laugh, and share the details of their day.

Interview

What was your favorite book when you were a child?: The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
What’s your favorite line from a book?: ”It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?: Michael Chabon, J.K. Rowling, W.P. Kinsella
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?: I’ve always loved good stories in any form—novels, biographies, movies, news features, plays, comic books, etc. I got into journalism because I enjoyed telling stories, reporting the news and learning new things all the time. Becoming an author is just an extension of all that. It’s an opportunity to tell stories and report the facts in a whole different way.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?: If you have a story in your head that just keeps hanging around, that’s the one you need to get down on the page. And write every day, even if it has nothing to do with the books you want to finish. Just crafting sentences, paying attention to details and writing anything with a beginning, middle and end will help.