We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joan Marie Galat. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joan Marie below.

Joan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Writing the book—Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet (Aladdin/Beyond Words)—was a particularly meaningful project. This comprehensive guide for middle readers encourages kids and teens to make the changes they want to see in our world. It delivers essential human rights background, strategies for change, and the perspective that every contribution matters.

My challenge was to figure out the best way to raise often-sobering topics for readers ten years and up. How could I inspire them to turn toward difficult issues rather than away? It took more than one strategy! I incorporated humor, where appropriate, a conversational tone, and fun sidebar elements to keep readers engaged. I included compelling examples of kids, teens, adults, and organizations facing local, national, and international problems. Seeing how others work to save animals, protect habitat, safeguard the environment, ensure safe schools, promote peace, reduce poverty, and confront other injustices is sure to help kids realize, “I can do this, too.”

Make Your Mark, Make a Difference has been named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. It’s exciting to think how young readers might use this book to create a better world.

Joan, we love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a professionally published author with titles for both adults and children. My career officially started at age 12 when I became a paid columnist for a weekly newspaper. (An editor invited me to contribute after seeing my honorable mention in a writing contest.) The work was conducted by mail, and I’m not sure whether she ever knew my real age! I liked dreaming up ideas, conducting research, and polishing my words. I still enjoy these things!

An avid reader, I’ve always wanted to write books. Interested in the natural world too, I pursued postsecondary study in biological sciences. Today my career allows me to combine my passion for words with my love of the outdoors, and use my skills to spotlight important and interesting topics. I write nonfiction and fiction, and often explore science themes. My publishers include National Geographic Kids, Aladdin/Beyond Words, Scholastic, DCB, and others. I’ve been humbled to have a Canadian national bestseller, translations in seven languages, and titles recognized with awards and other accolades.

Publication has led to wonderful opportunities. I’ve been able to accept invitations to promote literacy and science across Canada and internationally. I visit schools, libraries, and other venues, and take part in events that allow me to amplify the ideas shared in my books including light pollution, conservation, social justice, and activism.

The second expertise is plain language talking. As a trainer, I present in a style that helps participants gain the confidence they need to immediately apply new skills to their own unique circumstances. Clients tell me that this factor sets my training apart. My custom workshops encompass writing, editing, creativity, public speaking, media training, goal setting, and other topics. Whether I’m writing speeches, editing annual reports, or delivering training, I’m always learning new ways to support my clients.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

A theme is driving my creative journey! A look back at my 25+ published books reveals I may be obsessed with getting other people interested in the same topics I care about. When a subject engages me, I want others to experience the same excitement I feel.

This feeling motivated me to write books about the stars, planets, auroras, and other night sky objects in my six title Dot to Dot in the Sky series. These books partner sky science with the stories ancient cultures first told about the night sky, and I wrote them to inspire others to look up at the amazing sites overhead. This enthusiasm also led me to write about how remarkable it is to live in outer space (Mortimer: Rat Race to Space, DCB) and the astounding impact of trees (Branching Out: How Trees are part of Our World, Owlkids).

Other times, however, I’m inspired by issues that concern me, as you can see in these books:

– Make Your Mark, Make a Difference, A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up For People, Animals, and the Planet (Aladdin/Beyond Words)
– Wildlife Crossings: Giving Animals the Right of Way (Orca Book Publishers)
– Too Much Trash: How Litter is Hurting Animals (Orca Book Publishers)
– Dark Matters: Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution (Red Deer Press).

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

My father could be described as the chief resource to impact my entrepreneurial spirit. The environmental movement hadn’t taken off when I graduated from biological sciences and it was tough to find permanent jobs in my field. I eventually found work in radio and my role included selling commercials. A skilled negotiator, Dad offered the encouragement and advice I needed. He helped me develop a positive attitude to rejection and persevere with optimism. These skills served me well when I established MoonDot Media: Broadcast & Print, and when I pursued book publishing.

My journey to becoming an author taught me it’s not enough to master the craft of writing. It is also necessary to understand how the publishing industry works. I read articles and books, met with writers-in-residence, and attended conferences where I learned from industry experts. Memberships in professional organizations further helped me network and advance my career.

Now I’m a resource! I offer private consulting sessions with aspiring authors, edit query letters, offer manuscript reviews, and take the opportunity to recommend these books, which informed my own approach:

– The First Five Pages: A Writer’s Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman (Touchstone)
– Bestsellers: Top Writers Tell How by Richard Joseph (Summersdale)
– The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them) by Jack M. Bickham (Writer’s Digest Books).

Contact Info:

• Websites: www.joangalat.com and moondotmedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmgalat
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Joan-Marie-Galat/125108027581967
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joangalat
• Twitter: twitter.com/JoanMarieGalat @joanmariegalat
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/joanmgalat

Image Credits
Image of Joan Marie Galat in orange shirt – credit Rob Hislop Photography.