FAQ
I often get the same questions from many of my readers and Junebug Books and Collectibles' customers. Before you send me a message, please read these FAQs to see if your answer is here. If you don't find what you're looking for, use the contact form to send me a message and I'll get back to you asap.
Contacting, Contracting, Inviting, Interviewing or Mailing Donny Bailey Seagraves
Q: How do I contact you?
A: Use my contact form or email me here.
Q: How can I buy a signed copy of Gone From These Woods?
A: Visit my online store, Junebug Books or email me.
Q: Who is your agent?
A: Andrea Brown. (Note: She represents only my work for children.)
Q: How can I get permission to use an excerpt from Gone From These Woods?
A: Go here.
Q: How can I get you to make an appearance at my school, writer’s conference, convention, trade show or other event?
A: Email me here.
Q: How can I get information on optioning or buying movie rights to Gone From These Woods?
A: Contact: randomrights@penguinrandomhouse.com.
Advice to Authors
Q: How did you sell your first book to Random House without an agent?
A: I attended an SCBWI SpringMingle Writers Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, February 2007. One of the editors there was Michelle Poploff, VP and Editorial Director of Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. As a result, I was able to sell the manuscript that would eventually become Gone From These Woods to Michelle without an agent. Please note: This almost never happens. But it happened to me. To read more about how this happened, read my Breakthrough article from the October 2011 issue of The Writer Magazine.
Q: How can I get published?
A: Study your craft by reading books on writing, attend conferences where you can listen to and meet editors and agents and published writers, take online courses, join or form a writers’ group, and most of all: NEVER GIVE UP! For more information, read my blog post about your odds of getting traditionally published here.
Q: What are your tips on writing and rewriting?
A: For me, writing is rewriting. I realized after going through the eight-month rewriting and editing process with my editor of Gone From These Woods, that I had never gone far enough in my rewriting process on the nine books I had previously written.
L-R: Author Donny Bailey Seagraves, Random House Editor and VP Michelle Poploff, author Edith Hemingway at an SCBWI conference in Maryland. Photo provided by Edith Hemingway.
Books and Other Published Writing
Q: What is your latest book?
A: Cooking With Annie Southern Recipes Seasoned With Pettyjohn Family History.
Q: Where can I find out more information about your newest book?
A: Visit this page. You can also find out more about Cooking With Annie D on the FAQ page for this book.
Q: Where can I buy a copy of Cooking With Annie D?
A: You can buy a copy of Cooking With Annie D in my store here. It is also available online on most websites that sell books. If you live in the Athens, Georgia area, you can buy a signed copy of Cooking With Annie D in my booth J-14 at Junk in the Trunk, 590 Olympic Dr., Athens, Georgia 30601 (exit 9 on the Athens, Georgia bypass).
Q: What other books have you published?
A: My first published book was Gone From These Woods, a children's middle-grade/YA novel published as a Delacorte Press hardback in 2009 by Random House (now Penguin Random House). Random house published this book in a Yearling paperback edition in 2011. It is still available online as an ebook. You can read more about it and buy an ebook version here. I also have signed paperback copies available from my website here and in my booth J-14 at Junk in the Trunk, 590 Olympic Dr., Athens, Georgia 30601 (exit 9 on the Athens, Georgia bypass).
Q: Why did you write this book?
A: I wanted to tell a fictional story based on a real life event that had haunted me since childhood.
Q: So, it was inspired by a true story?
A: Yes. Gone From These Woods was inspired by a real life event that happened in the family of my second grade teacher many years ago in Athens, Georgia. Even though my story is based on a real event, it is not a retelling of that event. My characters, plot, and setting all are fictional. Really, I made it all up.
Q: I thought Gone From These Woods was just a retelling of the real story.
A: Nope. It’s a totally fictional novel. In the real story, there was no hunting involved, no woods, no dogs, no alcoholic dad, etc. I made up my characters, setting and story. Really.
Q: How did you come up with the setting for your book?
A: It came from my early morning exercise walks around my rural neighborhood in Winterville, Georgia, where I lived while writing this book.
Q: How did you create your fictional characters?
A: I used memories of my uncle, Terry Bailey, who died young to create Uncle Clay. I combined parts of my son, brother, nephew and neighbor boys down the street for the main character, Daniel. Many of the other characters were inspired by real life people I knew/know.
Q: Is Gone From These Woods a kid book or an adult book?
A: It’s a children’s middle grade novel for young readers aged 9 – 12. It also appeals to some young adults and adults.
Q: What research did you do to write Gone From These Woods?
A: I had to learn how to shoot a gun and I had to learn about hunting. I also had to make sure all the details in my book fit the 1992 era in which my book is set, meaning no cellphones, computers, etc. I also researched the stages of grief.
Q: Do you have a book trailer for Gone From These Woods?
A: You’ll find one done by a reader here.
Q: Do you have lesson plans and/or study guides for Gone From These Woods?
A: Yes. Discussion questions/guide is here.
Q: Is there a paperback edition of Gone From These Woods?
A: Yes. The Yearling paperback edition of Gone From These Woods was published February 8, 2011. Both the Delacorte Press hardback and the paperback editions are out of print but you may find copies on my Junebug Books and Collectibles website and on other sites including Amazon.com. The Kindle ebook edition is still available on Amazon.com here. (Paid link.)
Q: Is there a sequel to Gone From These Woods?
A: Not yet, but hopefully, some day.
Q: Is there a movie of Gone From These Woods?
A: Not yet. Hopefully, some day.
Other Published Writing
Here is one of my newspaper columnist photos. This one is from the Athens Daily News in Athens, Georgia.
Q: What did you write before Gone From These Woods?
A: I wrote nine other books that are not yet published and hundreds of magazine articles, newspaper columns, poems, and story stories, many of which are published. Visit my About Me Page to read some samples of my published writing.
Q: Tell me about your next book.
A: I am working on several different books, some fiction and some non fiction. Some are for children and some are for adults. You can find information on some of my forthcoming books on the books page.
Donny Bailey Seagraves as an Athens Observer columnist in 1983.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Send me a question or comment using my contact form. If you prefer to send snail mail, my mailing address is: Donny Bailey Seagraves, 1512-L Eatonton Rd #1019, Madison, GA 30650, United States.