The story was of great personal interest. The most important thing I learned about the Okies while I was writing the book was that they were tough and courageous and not prone to self-pity. They were hard-working and believed they could succeed in life if given a chance. Especially important is James Gregory's An American Odyssey. I struggled with education early on and this has something to do with the topics I select, which tend to focus on overcoming adversity.
Good writing requires good thinking, and good thinking requires good reading.
Read, read and read. Then write, and rewrite, rewrite and rewrite until you get it right. The most important part about the writing process is rewriting. Children of the Dust Bowl is being considered for a movie. In 1998, the Governor of Oklahoma, Frank Keating, came to the site of the school and dedicated a plaque to Leo Hart.