Rita Williams-Garcia: It was a short story called Benji Speaks, about a boy in the Philippines who wants to talk to birds. I love your very first, first, the one at Highlights. I gave me a whole lot of hope, and I kept that book on my desk at work. I was working for a marketing and media software company at the time, so I was so far away from my dream that just seeing it really brought me closer to my dreams. Oh my goodness, it just lifted me up so high. I remember seeing it for Blue Tights, which was my first novel. It's the first indication that you know that your book is being published. Rita Williams-Garcia: The really big one for me was when I finally saw the galleys, which is the manuscript that's been edited, and it's almost ready for publication. Unfortunately, it didn't get printed, but they did pay me. The second time was when I sold a story to Essence Magazine.

When that acceptance finally came, and then we finally saw the story in print, it was such a big thing. My sister and brother used to always tease me about those rejection letters.

That was really exciting, because it was a dream come true. My first one was, I would send out short stories to magazines, and I'd get a lot of rejections, but I got my first story published by Highlights Magazine when I was about 14. Grace Lin: What was it like when you finally saw your name in print? I always dreamed of seeing my name in print, just like in the books that I read as a child. I was always enchanted by stories, telling them, telling tall tales, but especially writing them down because I liked seeing, 'by Rita Williams.' I had not met Peter Garcia yet, so I was just Rita Williams. I would always flip through the pages of books, even before I could read, and tell myself the stories. As soon as I was able, I started writing stories. So I would make up stories just to entertain myself. I would say, because I was the youngest of three, I always left to myself- especially inside my wooden playpen as a toddler.

Rita Williams-Garcia: Oh, good question, Tilly. Grace Lin: What inspired you to be a writer? Today's kid question is from a person named Tilly. Grace Lin: Are you ready for today's kid question? Be Eleven, and Clayton Byrd Goes Underground. Today, I am here with Rita Williams-Garcia, the author of middle grade novels such as, One Crazy Summer, P.S. I'm Grace Lin, Children's Book Author and Illustrator of many books, including the middle grade novel, When the Sea Turned to Silver, and the picture book, A Big Mooncake for Little Star. Welcome back to Kids Ask Authors! Today, Grace Lin and Rita Williams-Garcia answer a wonderful kid question “What inspired you to be a writer?”

Blue Tights by Rita Williams-Garcia