About Wiley Blevins
Wiley is a writer and educator living in New York City. He is originally from West Virginia, taught school in both the United States and South America, trains teachers throughout the US and Asia, and graduated from Harvard University. He also teaches a writing course at the Highlights Foundation.
Read BookTrib’s review of Wiley’s book, Trevor Lee and the Big Uh-Oh.
BOOKS:
Trevor Lee and the Big Uh-Oh! (2019)
Ick and Crud Series
Scary Tales Retold Series
Max Has a Fish
Many more can be found on my website.
Biggest literary influencers:
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass has taught me the power of the emotional journey in a story and how to include that in my books.
Last book read:
The Orange Horse by Hsu-Kung Liu. It’s an AMAZING picture book I read in Asia, but it is coming to the US this year. It’s about an orange horse who is searching for his long-lost brother, using one half of an old photo as a clue. It’s a powerful look at what it means to be family.
The book that changed your life:
Shiloh & Other Stories by Bobbie Ann Mason. It was the first book with rural southern characters who were like me and the people I knew. I read it in my twenties and it showed me that my stories mattered and were worth being told. Up until then, rural southerners were invisible in the literature I was exposed to and made me ashamed of where I was from and who I was.
Your favorite literary character:
Odd Thomas (character by Dean Koontz). I don’t know why, but I am fascinated by his life and his journey.
Currently working on:
Countdown to Thanksgiving—a humorous look at this popular holiday through the eyes of a turkey.
Words to live by:
When I sign my books, I always write, “Make a difference.” I think no matter what we do in life we should try to make a difference in the lives of the people around us through our kind words and deeds. My other motto is “Never look back.” When we concentrate too heavily on the bad things in our past—such as feeling hurt or angry towards people—it freezes us in the past. To move forward and live happy, successful lives we have to let go and stop looking back.
Advice to new and aspiring authors:
YOUR STORY MATTERS. TELL IT.
Articles / Reviews:
Testimonials
” Oh, Trevor Lee, you are adorable! I really didn't expect for a "children's book" to make me feel so many feels. I have a son who will be in 3rd grade next year that struggles with reading comprehension. This contributes to his willingness (or lack of) to read vs. having me or his dad read to him. I am an avid reader who has had a lifelong love of books and assumed that reading would come easy since books are a staple in our house. I appreciate the POV from Trevor and seeing it from another prospective instead of my own. I loved that he overcame his reading obstacles with the help of the adults in his life who only want the best for him, much like my own son. I especially loved the end the most and that the author based this book on his own childhood. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, it will definitely be added to our collection when it is published.
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