From the pens of babes: young sibling authors, the McCurry girls go professional before age 10 - self publishing - Brief Article

Black Issues Book Review, Nov-Dec, 2001 by Victoria Christopher Murray

Self-publishing can be a challenge even for the most experienced veterans. But what happens if you re only seven and ten years old? "You just do it!" Those are the words of Miya and Meryl McCurry, Los Angeles-based sisters who have written more books than they can count. "Even though we had other books, we didn't publish our first until I was ten," Meryl says. Meryl's first book, My New Friend, is about a neighborhood creature that befriends a new neighbor (another creature). The Sandfish in the Desert, Miya's first book, is about a boy sandfish that rescues a jackrabbit's eggs and receives a reward. Miya was only seven when she self-published that book. They did well with their first self-publishing ventures, selling to friends and relatives. Just two years later, the young ladies entered a publishing partnership with Milligan Books and published their second books, which are distributed nationally.

The Sea Monster's Darkest Night (by Meryl) and The Foods (by Miya) were published in 1999. Both girls have already completed sequels to be published in 2002. "The sequels are better," Meryl says assuredly. "There's a lot more action."

"We just love to write," the sisters say. That is an understatement when you consider that Meryl and Miya started when they were just toddlers. "When I was two years old, I began drawing and then I wanted to put stories to the pictures," Meryl says. The beginning was similar for Miya who followed her big sister. "Ever since I was little, I loved reading. And, I like to draw. I like putting stories together."

Both girls write their own stories and illustrate them. "My father taught me how to draw, and he is much better at it than I am" Meryl says. "He was an illustrator, and he passed down the talent. I hope one day he will get back into it" Miya says her drawing inspires her work. "My stories come from my characters. Like with The Foods, I drew the characters first and then I wrote the story."

Though most people are in awe of what these young ladies have accomplished, they are not finished yet. "Our next project will be our joint book. It's going to be something like The Foods meets the Sea Monster," Meryl explains. Their goals extend beyond their expected collaboration, however "We're interested in making an animated movie. We're taking classes for that now," Miya says. That's in addition to all of their other projects that include developing a comic book series called Turtle Trouble and doing workshops to teach children how to write and publish books.

All of this is accomplished while Meryl and Miya not only go to school, but also maintain a writer's schedule. In addition to the standard book signings, the McCurry sisters have been interviewed for both radio and cable television shows. They are committed to their craft--writing and drawing every day. And, they spend a lot of time in the library. "That's where I get a lot of my ideas," says Meryl. "I like to write about creatures and monsters. I'm not really into girlish things." The library is also important to Miya. "I love to read, and I get character ideas from other books."

"I've never met anyone like these young girls," says Dr. Rosie Milligan, their most staunch supporter and the person responsible for helping the McCurry sisters get their books distributed throughout the country. "I met them at the library when I was promoting another book. The girls walked up to me and asked if I could help them with a few things. They said they needed ISBN numbers and bar codes, among other things. I was so impressed. These young girls had done their homework." That was the beginning of their relationship with Dr. Milligan, who is looking for sponsors to help promote the girls and their projects. "Though I've worked with many authors, I don't have many like Miya and Meryl. They understand what it means to rewrite a book. When they give it to me and say, `It's ready to go to press' they mean it. I always know that when they give me that final manuscript, it is their best work."

What does the future hold for the sisters, now 11 and 14 years old? "There's still a lot for me to do" Meryl says. "When I grow up, I'd like to be an art teacher and make animated movies. I'd like to make an animated movie that has creatures and real people." Miya has plans also. "I'm younger, but I want to continue to write books and illustrate them too."

Who knows? In the next 10 or 15 years, it would not be surprising to see these young ladies on the New York Times bestseller list or to be watching one of their projects on the big screen. Then again ... 10 or 15 years? We probably won't have to wait that long.

For further information on the McCurry sisters or their books, contact Dr. Rosie Milligan at (323) 750-3592.

The Sea Monster's Darkest Night by Meryl Alyse McCurry, Milligan Books, December 1999, $7.99, ISBN 1-881524-67-1.

The Foods by Miya Lynn McCurry, Milligan Books, December 1999, $7.99, ISBN 1-881524-66-3.