Caldric Blackwell, Author of The Enchanted River Race

Today we are interviewing children's book author Caldric Blackwell about his easy reader book The Enchanted River Race.

 Describe the plot of your latest release, "The Enchanted River Race," in a few sentences.
The story follows three children who enter into their village's enchanted river race. They must work as a team to defeat magical obstacles and cutthroat competition.

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
Children who like action, adventure, and fantasy. In terms of a target age group, I'd say the book is aimed at ages seven to eleven. The book is an early chapter book (easy-to-read) and is written for children transitioning to chapter books from picture books.

What were your major influences in writing this book?
The story itself is a result of my love of imaginative places. I've always enjoyed fantastical stories that are an escape from day-to-day life. The style of writing was influenced by the early chapter books I read growing up, such as  The Boxcar Children and the Magic Tree House series.

Who was your favorite character to write?
I really enjoyed writing Amy, the main character. She is intelligent and quick-witted yet unsure of herself. In The Enchanted River Race,  she must captain a ship or let her team down. In a sense, she's forced to become a leader and realize her full potential.

How long have you been writing?
I've been writing fiction since my late teens, but The Enchanted River Race is the first book I've had published.

What is your favorite book? 
Le Grand Meaulnes is my favorite adult book -- hands down. Reading that book was a really reflective experience for me. Alain-Fournier does an incredible job of revealing how a seemingly minor experience can affect an entire life.

What genre do you read most frequently?
There isn't any particular genre that I read most often. I'm all over the map with my taste in books.

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
I think my writing has become more organic, more natural. I've also gotten better at using words sparingly, which is important when writing children's books. No one wants to read a 100,000-word children's book.

Are there any specific aspects of writing that you've been practicing?
My next release will be a picture book, so I've been paying close attention to the interplay between the text and the pictures.

As a writer, one would assume English was your favorite class in school. If that was not the case, what was and why?
I loved English, but I also loved all my science classes. I enjoy learning how things work.

How do you feel about picture books on Kindle?
Most of the time they look great! My next picture book will be available exclusively on the Kindle (won't be available in other ebook formats), and I'm really excited about it.
 
What are your goals as a children's book author for the next ten years?
I'd like to release more books, possibly trying my hand at new genres. Within the next year, my next book, a picture book, will be released.

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
I hate making changes late in the writing process and having to go back and rewrite scenes.

Is there anything else you'd like to tell potential readers?
I'd like to tell potential readers to check out my website: https://www.caldricbooks.com/. All the necessary information about my book is there.

More Information 
Visit Caldric Blackwell's website 
Buy "The Enchanted River Race" on Amazon
Follow Caldric on Twitter