Interview with Children’s Author Clarike Bowman-Jahn

Clarike Bowman-Jahn likes to write children’s books and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She likes to write creative nonfiction and memoir in her spare time and has been published in “A New Beginning Newsletter.” She has a dog and two cats and is living the life of her dreams. Clar is happiest when she is writing. She can be found at http://clarbojahn.wordpress.com on her blog.

Hello, Clar. Please tell us about your new children’s book.

Hi Linda! Thanks so much for having me.  I am so happy to be here. The book is about time and clocks and is a basic concept book for early readers. It helps teach time for ages four to seven. It has analog and digital clocks in it and is about a little girl Annie, who has a different adventure every hour.

Where did you get your inspiration for this book?

Once when I was sick I was listening to the sounds from outside my window. It was May and early spring. First I heard the crows and later I heard the more musical birds like the cardinals and mocking birds. It was very early in the morning, about four a.m. so the world was just waking up. I wanted to record it. I wished I had a recording. I have always loved hearing the birds sing. So since I didn’t have a recording machine I started writing it down, what a little girl heard each hour.

This book is about what a little girl experiences each hour. It is her birthday and she celebrates it by having a birthday slumber party that keeps her awake. I don’t want to tell the whole story though. I don’t want to give it all away.

What does your family think about your writing?

My sons are grown and flew the coop and now it’s only my husband and I. He couldn’t be more supportive and has taken the role of being my agent. My sons read my blog and like it. They think it’s great that I write now after supporting them with my nursing career. Writing is my second career.

How wonderful! I think that’s awesome that your sons read your blog. That’s real support. Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

In Holland where I was born, ‘ike’ is often added onto names to make it “the small version”. So Clarike is Dutch for “little Clara”.  I kept this name as my author name though my friends call me Clar and my middle name is Katrina. So my whole real name is Clara Katrina Bowman-Jahn. My two last names came from keeping my late husband’s name and adding my present husband’s name to it.

Very interesting! I was wondering what language your first name was because I hadn’t heard it before. I like it. Thank you, Clar, for being on my blog. This was fun getting to know you and your new children’s book.

Clar's facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ClaraBowmanJahn
Clar's twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/@Cbojahn
Clar's blog: http://clarbojahn.wordpress.com
To buy Annie's Special Day: http://www.etreasurespublishing.com