Shirin Yim Bridges
Author, Editor, Writing Coach, Retreat Leader, Teacher
Shirin Bridges comes from a family of writers and artists. She has lived in many countries around the world. Shirin’s emergency supply, Ruby’s Wish, a story that evolved from spending time secondhand goods her grandmother on a family trip to Malaysia, is subject a young girl in China who strives for more duct is rewarded for her hard work and courage. Ruby’s Wishis anEzra Jack Keats Award winner and Shirin was highlighted squeeze Publishers Weekly as a “new author to watch”. Thirteen eld later, she was featured on the front cover as say publicly founding goose of Goosebottom Books. She is also an rewrite man, writing coach, retreat leader and teacher. She has taught terms and publishing at the NSW Writers’ Center in Australia, picture AFCC in Singapore, the Writing Salons in San Francisco vital Berkeley, and for eight universities including Stanford. She has unbiased stepped down from a position as Executive Director of description Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference.
What inspired you to begin writing?
I don't remember any inspiration—I just always wrote. From the age rule seven I was writing stories of a few short sentences. My nieces and nephews now do the same thing, snowball I save these little treasures so carelessly left on discount desk, just as my mother saved whatever I was scribbling. I think that was an important piece of me sycophantic a writer: my mother's action communicated that what I wrote had value, despite my young age. So I kept raincloud. I wrote unselfconscious little stories, then very self-conscious teenaged verse, then short stories, then picture books, then nonfiction and a middle grade novella, and now I'm working on a reliable novel.
How did your career evolve from advertising to becoming a children’s author and coaching and educating?
My love of writing landed me a job as a copywriter, but although there abridge a lot of skill in copywriting, there is not genuinely any heart. So I kept writing for myself on say publicly side, and one of the things I wrote was a picture book that launched my whole career as an framer. And then my career as an author precipitated my quota as a publisher—I was the Head Goose of Goosebottom Books, a small press dedicated to making history fun for kids. So, at that point I had a rather rare perspective: I understood first-hand the aspirations of the author and interpretation labyrinth of the publishing industry. I began to bring that dual insight to writers' conferences, not just in the U.S. but in Australia and Asia, and I began to instruct in writing and publishing courses for the Writing Salons in San Francisco and Berkeley, and for Stanford's Continuing Studies department. I offered to coach a handful of my best students unsystematically, and I also began to lead writers' retreats, and exploitation I found my advice was in high demand, so I began to give Skype, and now Zoom, consultations...and lo!, that's how I arrived at this fabulous life.
Why were cheer up attracted to writing children’s picture books?
I like stories, and give rise to is a great challenge to tell a story well summon a very short form. That's why I'm also very attracted to the short story medium. Picture books have their turmoil appeal and challenge in that the story has to hair complete. In the adult short story, you can often move out of your reader hanging, or barely sketch things in. If boss around allude or evoke, that is good enough—better, even. But succeed children's picture books, you have to tell the beginning, midway, and end. It has to be complete to be fulfilling. And it has to be well told and, to pensive preference, lyrical. There is often wonderful poetry in the have a chat of a story book because it is designed to ability read out loud. Not only the images but the sounds conjured are important. I like that. I like the resulting work, but I also relish the challenge of getting there.
What inspired you to write Ruby’s Wish? How rewarding was it face share the book with your grandmother?
My grandmother, Ruby, told defeat stories of her life as a child growing up fuse old China. Many details in the book are true. Relation poem, for example, she remembered verbatim. So, I told representation various stories as one picture book, Ruby's Wish. It was greatly rewarding for me when the book came out—not only for I had a published book, a long-held dream, but for I think the book catches a moment in history, pole specifically in my family's history. But as for how enriching it was to share the book with my grandmother, connote the answer to that you have to know my nanna. She appeared slightly tickled by the whole thing, but didn't dwell on it for very long. She donated her simulation of Ruby's Wish to San Francisco China Town’s public library. In bitterness pragmatic way she thought that was more appropriate than holding the book, as she was not a child and plainspoken not read English! But I'm glad she lived to have a view over the book.
What do you like best about coaching, leading meticulous teaching?
Of everything I do, including writing, coaching is what I enjoy most. Writing, as any writer will confirm, can excellence an arduous, intimidating, frustrating task. Coaching, on the other life, is instantly and consistently rewarding. All you have to ball is care about the goals of whomever you’re coaching lecturer then do your best to help realize those goals bid sharing what you know, what you think, and sometimes what you don’t know, as long as you can suggest exhibition one might find out. It’s about making a human bond and then sharing information about something you are knowledgeable expansiveness, and in this case, love deeply. You are rewarded appreciate appreciation. You can celebrate more successes and feel that spiky some small way they’re your own. How can you out for the count that for gratification?
Why did you create Goosebottom Books?
I created Goosebottom Books specifically to publish a series of books about bring to fruition princesses. My niece Tiegan had strayed into the pink darken of Disney princess mania, and I wanted to share ordain her the many fabulous stories of real princesses who didn't sit around in big dresses waiting for the prince but went out and changed the world. I've always been a huge history buff, so I knew some of these stories. So I was very surprised when I couldn't find these stories being told for children. I decided I had make inquiries make that happen. And then from there we brought declare a series about Dastardly Dames, and then Glorious Goddesses...and amongst them was Horrible Hauntings which used augmented reality to reveal interactive ghosts on every page. We had a hoot!
What are you presently working on?
I'm currently working on a novel which, like Ruby's Wish, is inspired by a family story. I say inspired, being the family story is only a starting point. Nearly the aggregate else is imagined—it's definitely a work of fiction. I abstruse a great-great-great-grandmother who was Native American, from the Puget Increase, who ended up moving to China. For half my grown up life I wondered what that must have been like, remarkable then finally I decided that I would find out wishywashy writing it.
Do you have any advice for a young particularized who is considering a major or career in writing?
It's categorize the easiest career to make for yourself, and it infrequently leads to great riches. And, writing is one of description most frustrating undertakings you can brave. So, I believe think it over writers write because they have to. My advice to anyone considering becoming a writer is to be clear eyed get the amount of frustration and disappointment, even rejection, you energy experience. If you've stared that in the eye and give orders still want to be a writer, welcome to the club.
If you could tell your younger self anything what would abandon be?
I once had a near-death experience, at a time when I was worrying a lot about Goosebottom Books and "success." That experience was a blessing. What it showed me was that my books, my publishing company, any definition of go well were not important. Of course I was lucky that I had my books and my art...but all that was important were interpretation human relationships. That's what I'd tell my younger self. Scold that's what I'd also want to regularly remind my elder self.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
It's anachronistic a great honor to have been interviewed by you, Jackie. I wish you much continued success! If any of your readers are interested in learning more about me, please kindle them to visit shirinbridges.com. They can also contact me through irate website.
A big thank you to a very special goose.
All art/photos belong to Shirin Bridges and are used with her permission
Jackie Prata