We’re excited to bring you an exclusive interview with Sherry Roberts, the author of The Galaxy According to CeCe, which was featured in our September 2024 tween box. Sherry shares her inspiration for the series, her favorite characters, and some advice for young aspiring writers. Get ready to dive into her creative process and learn more about what’s next for CeCe and beyond!
Q: What was your first inspiration for writing The Galaxy According to CeCe?
Sherry Roberts:
The story was inspired by one of the moves my family made from North Carolina to Missouri. The house we moved to wasn’t what we thought, because we weren’t actually told we were moving into a house attached to an observatory. We are a family of musicians, not astronomers! I thought the concept of moving into this house created a great background for a fun series.
Q: Without giving anything away, do you have a favorite character or one that you relate to the most?
Sherry Roberts:
I would say CeCe is one of my favorite characters because I relate to her the most. She is me in many ways when I was that age. I played the flute in band, worried about living in a weird house, was the new girl in school more than once, and understood the difficulties of fitting in and dealing with the “mean” girl.
Q: Are you currently writing any books right now?
Sherry Roberts:
Right now, I’m putting the finishing touches on the third and final book in the CeCe series, which will be out in February 2025. The second book just came out in August and has gotten great reviews. Although the story in book three is very exciting, it will be sad to move on from her.
I’ve also started another book that will come out later in 2025. It’s been really fun to research, and this time, the main character is a young boy. This one won’t be a series, but it’s a fun read. And yes, sometimes I work on more than one book at a time!
Q: What advice would you have for kids who want to write a book?
Sherry Roberts:
The best advice I got when I started writing was to write what you know. I’ve followed that advice for both my picture books and my middle-grade writing. It makes the process so much easier when you have a connection to the story. It doesn’t have to be exactly what you did, but if you have some connection or experience, the story will come to you more naturally.
Another great piece of advice I received was to just write. Don’t worry about structure, grammar, or the technical aspects at first. Focus on getting the story out, and then you can go back to revise and edit. If you worry about perfection from the start, you’ll never get started.
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Sherry Roberts:
I’ve always loved making up stories. When my nieces and nephews were little, I used to tell them stories all the time. I also write in a journal for fun and as a way to express my feelings. About twelve years ago, I decided to finally write down my stories. I attended workshops, talked to published authors, and started taking my writing seriously.
Q: What is your favorite experience you’ve had as a middle-grade author?
Sherry Roberts:
My favorite experience is talking with middle-grade students about writing. As a former middle-grade teacher, I enjoy this age group and their curiosity about the world. There are so many talented writers, even at this age, and it’s fun to see their creativity.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed getting to know Sherry Roberts and the inspiration behind The Galaxy According to CeCe. Be sure to check out the second book in the series, and keep an eye out for the exciting finale in February 2025! Whether you’re a budding writer or a reader looking for your next favorite story, Sherry’s advice and her relatable characters are sure to inspire.