Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 17, 1993 TAG: 9309180044
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With complete sincerity, country singer Ricky Van Shelton says it was divine inspiration that drove him to create Quacker.
"It's just like God said, `Sit down and write,' " Shelton said in a recent telephone interview. "I wasn't thinking about a duck."
God does indeed work in mysterious ways.
Quacker has since become the center of a series of five children's books Shelton has written as a sideline to his music career.
A sixth book will be added to the series - when the time is right. "The good Lord ain't given me that one yet," Shelton explained.
Quacker is an endearing little duck that wags his tail like a dog. "It's just a little thing I do," Quacker explains in the first book, "Tales From a Duck Named Quacker."
Published last year, the book is about being yourself and accepting others for who they are.
The second book in the series, "Quacker Meets Mrs. Moo," should be out any day now.
Shelton wouldn't say what it is about. "You'll have to get it and read it," he said.
But, like "Tales From a Duck Named Quacker," it has a positive message. All of the Quacker books will have positive messages, he said.
Shelton, 41, doesn't have any children himself. "No, I just have a band," he said. "That says it all, doesn't it?"
Nor does he have any plans for any. Being gone all the time isn't a good way to raise kids, he said.
Shelton will play the Salem Civic Center tonight with guests Marty Stuart and Doug Supernaw.
"My career has been the forefront of my life. I guess it is my baby," he said.
Nor is there any keen interest in children's books. "I'm not an author. I write songs."
He does draw and paint, though. Those have been interests since childhood.
In fact, Shelton did the rough sketches for his Quacker characters, before a professional illustrator incorporated them into book form.
It wasn't easy finding an illustrator, he said. Most of them wanted to take liberties with Quacker and his buddies. "They all came back different characters," Shelton said.
"People don't read the directions."
It was their loss.
In a year, "Tales From a Duck Named Quacker" has sold 70,000 copies. Shelton said most new children's books from first-time authors sell only about 10,000 copies.
Of course, his name helped.
On the other hand, self-publishing the book probably didn't help.
Shelton and his wife, Bettye, decided to publish Quacker themselves after the publishing houses said it would take 18 months for them to get the book on the shelves.
It took Shelton only three months.
He gives Bettye most of the credit. She handles the business for the books, and he said after Quacker's success she has been getting offers to work for some of the publishing companies they had turned down.
Meanwhile, on the musical end, Shelton continues to remain among the top dozen or so artists in Nashville.
He just released his eighth album, "A Bridge I Didn't Burn," and is enjoying chart success once again with the single, "A Couple of Good Years Left."
A native of the Pittsylvania County town of Grit, Shelton always enjoys a warm, hometown reception when he plays the Roanoke Valley.
However, he said he isn't about to rest on his laurels. Already, he is looking to his next album.
For the first time in his career, the songs will be entirely written by him, he said. He also will have more control over the album's production.
It will be titled, "Totally RVS - The Real Me."
"You'll hear a lot of different flavors," he said.
It will be a risk for Shelton. Up to now, the record company has controlled the show, which he said has been a frustration.
"They're afraid of creativity."
But he said he finally has proved himself enough to convince the record company to give him the go-ahead.
Who knows?
He might even paint the album cover himself, he said.
If the inspiration is right.
RICKY VAN SHELTON: Tonight, 8 p.m., Salem Civic Center Auditorium. With Marty Stuart, Doug Supernaw. $19.50 reserved seats. 375-3004 or TicketMaster locations.
Keywords:
PROFILE
by CNB