Author Spotlight: Bruce Hale

© Roxyanne Young

October 6, 2017

Today we are super excited to feature award-winning author Bruce Hale! Bruce Hale has authored or illustrated over 40 books for young readers, including the very popular CLARK THE SHARK books.

Welcome, Bruce!

Be sure to enter to win a coy of CLARK THE SHARK, illustrated by Guy Francis (Harper Collins 2013)!

Tell us about your background and how you came to write for children. 

Before finding my way into children's literature, I was a cartoonist, a gardener, a DJ, and a corporate lackey. Although I had wanted to write children's books when I was in about fourth grade, I had largely forgotten about that idea until a friend and I started a toy company in Hawaii.

When we came up with a Hawaiian gecko toy, I decided to write a companion book for it. We self-published it, it did well, and that was my start.

What projects are you working on now? Anymore CLARK THE SHARK books?

No, there's only one more Clark the Shark book in the pipeline. (TOO MANY TREATS, which comes out next year.) Now I am working on a new series called Class Pets, about all the trouble classroom pets get into when humans aren't around. That's coming out next year from Scholastic.

When is your next project due out?  Can you tell us a little about it?

My next book, the third in the Monstertown Mysteries series, comes out on Halloween. INVASION OF THE SCORP-LIONS  is about best friends Carlos and Benny trying to deal with an infestation of these mutant creatures in their school. The boys discover there's something sinister going on in their town, and they have to fight to prevent a mad scientist from turning their town into a twisted science experiment.

What is your typical process for writing? 

I wrestle with the idea for anywhere from a month to 50 years (in the case of Monstertown). Once I figure out the best form for it, I spend time brainstorming the plot. Then I'll dive in and write a super messy first draft. That's followed by multiple revisions until I feel like I've gotten the story down the way I wanted to tell it. 

P.S.: my writing process relies heavily on periodic infusions of chocolate chip cookies.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers? 

Be persistent. Persistence is more important than talent, and so many people give up before they've managed to make their writing good enough so that their stories are sellable. Writing is a game that requires much patience and much belief in yourself.

What is one thing people don't know about you?

I'll give you two for no extra cost. First, I am the only non-meat eating rancher that I know of. My family has a small hobby ranch in the foothills of the Sierras (my dad's idea), and, being a fish-atarian, I've never eaten any of the beef we raise.

Second, I sing with a Latin jazz band called Mezcal Martini in Santa Barbara. I also play a mean pair of maracas.

Where can people find you on the internet? 

My website is: www.brucehale.com; on Instagram, I am mrbrucehale; and on Twitter I am @storyguy1.

A (Mostly) True Biography

Raised by wolves just outside Los Angeles, Bruce Hale began his writing career while living in Tokyo, and continued it after moving to Hawaii. He’s too modest to mention his Nobel Peace Prize and his Olympic Gold Medal (in long-distance procrastination) so we won’t mention them. Before entering the world of children’s books, Bruce worked as a magazine editor, toymaker, gardener, actor, corporate lackey, and DJ.

From picture books to novels and graphic novels, Bruce has written and/or illustrated over 40 books for kids. His popular series include the award-winning Chet Gecko Mysteries, School For S.P.I.E.S., and Clark the Shark, among others.

When not writing or illustrating, Bruce loves to perform. He has appeared on stage, on television, and in an independent film called The Ride, where he played a surfer’s agent. Bruce is a popular speaker and storyteller for audiences of all ages, from the lunchroom to the boardroom. In 1998, he won a Fulbright Grant to teach storytelling and study folklore in Thailand. (No, he doesn’t speak much Thai, but he loves the food.)

A member of the National Speakers Association, Bruce has presented at colleges, universities, and conferences, both nationally and internationally. On top of that, he has visited schools and libraries from New York to New Delhi. (And yes, he loves to travel.)

These days, Bruce lives in Santa Barbara with his wife, his sweet mutt, Riley, and his massive collection of hats. When he’s not at the computer or drawing board, you can find him hiking, kickboxing, watching movies, or bicycling. Bruce also sings with a Latin jazz band called Mezcal Martini.

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