Favorite Author Friday, Katy Kelly

One of the super cool parts about having this blog is sometimes, authors read my reviews and contact me.  Katy Kelly, the super funny author of great books including the Melon Head and Lucy Rose series did just that!  And she was nice enough to answer questions for Favorite Author Friday.  I hope that her next book tour will come close to me so, I can meet her, in the mean time I will enjoy her great books!
Why do you write for kids?

I love writing for kids. Mostly I like making them laugh. I also like it when kids tell me that one of my books helped them. I did not write the Lucy Rose books as a divorce guide but but loads of kids going through a separation tell me those books were comforting. I like knowing that.

You are known for writing funny books, have your ever tried to write a super serious book? How did that turn out?

Before I wrote my first published book, Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing About Me, I wrote a mystery for adults. I didn't know it at the time but what I was really doing was teaching myself to write a book. It is now in a rarely-opened drawer in my office. I'm grateful it's there and not in libraries. I would not want to be tied to writing mysteries.

Is it hard to write sequels or more books about the same characters without repeating yourself?

The hard part about writing sequels is remembering what you've written in previous books. I'm always having to go back and see if Melonhead is 9 or 10 years old and what grade Lucy Rose's dad teaches. It's tricky but interesting to figure out how to stuff all the facts in the sequel books. You have to introduce everybody quickly so you won't bore the people who read the original while also being thorough so a reader who starts mid-series isn't confused.

Is it hard to be funny? Are you as funny in real life as you are in your writing?

I think is one of the great compliment when people tell me I'm funny. When I write I tweak the humor as I edit and revise.

What kinds of jobs did you have before you “made it” as a writer?

The oddest job I ever had was being a detective for Lord and Taylor's department store. I was 17. They hired my friend, Julia, because in those days that particular Lord and Taylors had cabinets that hung down from the ceiling and Julia and I were too short to reach the upper shelves. They called us the knee-high spies. Even though our boss taught us many ways to spot shoplifters, we never caught anybody. Probably because we could not believe that people, much less adult people, would steal. After a while our boss said the store didn't need us anymore. It took me years to figure out that we'd been gently fired.

What is your current favorite book (can be a kid or adult book) and what was your favorite as a kid?

Such a hard question! I love P.G. Wodehouse's Bertie and Jeeves series. Lately, I've been reading the Adrian Mole series. Sue Townsend is brilliant at mixing the hilarious with the sad. And I have a long list of children's authors I love.

Do you have a favorite Newbery winner?

Katherine Patterson. She's extraordinary.

When and where do you write?

I don't write as often or as long as I should. I used to work in my office, which is pink and green, full of eccentric things and decorated with picture book art. But when I got a laptop I started working in the Politics & Prose bookstore cafe. A lot of writers work there and they have great sandwiches.

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

I'm currently working on the 4th Melonhead book. It is due at the end of May so I forcing myself to stop procrastinating. The third MH, Melonhead and the Undercover Operation, comes out next September.

Have you ever gotten rejection letters?

I have gotten one rejection from an agent. The other four agents I submitted work to (in 1991) haven't gotten back to me yet. Now I'm grateful. I like speaking directly with my publisher.

Do you feel like a famous author? Has anything fun ever happened because you are famous?

Every so often kids spot me and introduce themselves and occasionally booksellers, librarians and other writers recognize me. That is my idea of perfect fame.

How many bookcases do you have?

We have lots of 5 bookcases, each of which covers a whole wall. In the paperless future I'll just call them shelves. Maybe I'll start a Pez dispenser collection.

Do you have any book tours coming up that will bring you to Indiana?

I won't know where I'm going on tour until August. But I'd love to go to Indiana. When I was a kid our family drove to Evansville from Washington, DC every few years, in a car without a radio. My youngest sister, Nell, was carsick most of the way. But when we got there we would stay in the convent attached to St Mary's Hospital, with my great aunts who were the kind of nuns who wore the Flying Nun habits. My brother and sisters and I loved going because 1. We could pick anything we wanted at the hospital cafeteria, which we thought was living large. 2. People send nuns an amazing amount of candy. They had an open box policy. 3. They had overly-waxed linoleum floors that were great for sock-sliding.

Favorite Author Friday: Tracy Richardson

When you live in the middle of nowhere, like I do (okay, the gravel road I live on has a number instead of a name), it is a rare and fun treat to meet someone who lives nearby that is doing what you want to do.  I was really excited when Tracy Richardson mailed me to books, Summer Sanctuary by Laurie Gray and Indian Summer by Tracy herself, that she had published.  I was excited when she surprised me and came to listen to my Mock Newbery Orientation at Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library.  And I loved it when she was kind enough to visit HMMPL again and talk about how young authors could bring characters to life.  Thank you, Tracy for being a local favorite! 

Why do you write for kids?

I started writing for kids when my own children began reading all the books I loved as a kid and story ideas begin forming in my head. I think adolescence and young adulthood are such exciting times in our lives and thus provide a great environment for exciting stories. We are discovering ourselves and the world and quite literally anything is possible. Also, I want to explore the world beyond what our five senses can perceive, a sort –of ‘magical realism’ and children are very receptive to that.

What advice do you have for kids who want to be writers?

I think the most important part of being a writer is using your imagination, so I encourage kids to ‘exercise’ the muscle of their imagination all the time. It doesn’t have to just be with creative writing. They should listen to music of all kinds, create art and go to art exhibits, do crafts and of course read, read, read! Reading good literature is important to train your ear to how truly good writing sounds, but popular fiction is important to get the voice of the characters as well. Practice your writing and enter writing contests for kids.

What is your current favorite book (can be a kid or adult book) and what was your favorite as a kid?

My favorite book of all time is “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, but my current favorite book is usually whatever I’m currently reading. I just finished “Artemis Fowl” in audiobook and I loved the “Hunger Games” series. My favorite book as a kid was “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle. She wrote with a type of ‘magical realism’ that I use as well.

Do you have a favorite Newbery winner?

“A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle is one of my favorite books of all time. I majored in Biology in college and I think I was influenced by the way she incorporated science into her writing. I realized something interested a few years ago. Meg’s parents in the book are named Kate and Alex and we named our twins Katie and Alex not realizing it. Kind-of a spooky coincidence! I also loved “Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech.

When and where do you write?

I write whenever and wherever I can. I am able to tune out background noise, so I can write in a coffee shop or at the airport. I don’t have writer’s block – I know basically how the story will go before I ever start writing and once I get going, the characters kind-of take over! I do have an office at home where I write in the evenings, but sometimes I write on the deck if it’s nice out or at the dining room table for a change of scenery.

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

I am working on a story about Marcie’s older brother, Eric, who appears in Indian Summer. It is tentatively titled “The Field”. He’s a high school soccer goal keeper and it delves into the power of the mind to affect the world around us . My teenage reading group (my children and their friends) are helping me make sure I get the teen voice right.

Have you ever gotten rejection letters?

Yes, I’ve gotten rejection letters, but more often you get no response at all.

Do you feel like a famous author? Has anything fun ever happened because you are famous?

I don’t feel like a famous author (yet!). The most fun thing about being an author is going to schools and talking to kids. I am very excited as I am dong an author talk at the public library in the town where I grew up which is the inspiration for the town where Marcie lives in Indian Summer.

How many bookcases do you have?

I have seven bookshelves now and we are planning to build a wall of bookshelves in my office. Both my husband, writer Chris Katsaropoulos, and I love, love, love books.

What lake did you spend time at as a child?

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan. We went to the beach all summer long and one of my friends owned a catamaran (two hulled sailboat) that we sailed on the lake.

Did you ever race in the 4th of July regatta?

No, I haven’t raced in the regatta, but I do take the sunfish out on Lake Wawasee every now and then.

What fun things have come from having your book published?

It is fun to have people I don’t know read my book, love it and say nice things about it!

What are the challenges of running Luminis Books?

Mostly it’s a lot of fun because I get to read lots of great submissions and work with people who love books as much as I do. The biggest challenge is having so many different responsibilities. We work with the author, cover designer, marketing people, book distributor, and editors to get our books ready to publisher and out to readers. I enjoy it all.

Favorite Author Fridy: Jon Scieszka

I have been a fan of Jon Scieszka for a long time. My parents read The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales to my brother and I before we could read.  Last year I was "reintroduced" to Jon by  Maria Salvadore.  Maria was nice enough to let me interview her about being on the Newbery committee. During the interview it came up that my brother, Matthew, doesn't really like to read.  Maria asked what kind of things Matthew liked and recommend Knucklehead for him.  We bought the book and Matthew LOVED it, in fact its review is the first, and so far only, guest post on my blog!  Actually, my whole family LOVED it, Matthew laughed so hard while reading the story that we asked for him to read out loud to us, this was great except for the fact that he laughed so hard that we couldn't understand what he was saying.  We ended up taking turns reading it out loud!  It is no surprise that Matthew liked Jon's book because he is really good at writing books that guys read, but you don't have to be a boy to be a fan.  He is so good at connecting to kids that he was the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.   I was thrilled to get to meet Jon at ALA, and to tell you the truth every time I saw him there he seemed to be having a great time!  It was really nice of him to respond to my recent plea and agree to be interviewed, he also sent me Spaceheadz, which I LOVED and am loaning to Matthew.  I told my mom that I should just send Jon an email when ever I need a laugh.  She pointed out that he had other things to do than be my personal laugh guy.  Lucky for us he has written tons of great books for all of us whenever we need to laugh! 

Why do you write for kids?

Kids are the best possible audience for a writer. If you give them a good enough story, they will get lost in it completely. And they will read and reread and reread and reread your story. Adult readers hardly ever do that.

You are known for writing books that boys like, do you have any objection to girl fans???

My girl fans are just as important as my boy fans. I think a lot of boys relate to the stories I write because I take a lot of my ideas from my growing up with five brothers. So a lot of the stuff that happens in my books is stuff that happens between boys.

I started GUYS READ to help just boys because as a group, boys struggle with reading more than girls do.

But I know plenty of girl readers that love to laugh at a good crazy story. So please help me get the word out that I want all girls to enjoy Jon Scieszka books too!

You spent some time going to school in Indiana (where I live), do you have any favorite Hoosier memories?

I did go to Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana for my last three years of high school. I mostly remember how cold and dark it was in the middle of February when I had to actually MARCH (!) to breakfast with my whole company.

But the spring and the fall were beautiful. And the people in Indiana are some of the nicest people I have ever met.

Is it hard to be funny? Are you as funny in real life as you are in your writing?

It is very hard to be funny in writing. The stories that finally get published as books have usually been written and rewritten at least 10 times. I rewrote the stories in The Stinky Cheese Man over and over as I read them to groups of kids around the country. But I think it is the rewriting that makes good writing.

In real life I am usually joking around a lot, just like in my writing. I'm not sure why, but I'm always thinking of funny things.

I saw you MC the book cart drill team at ALA (SUPER fun!), do you have a favorite story of all time for that?

Now that contest is weird and funny all on its own. I don't even have to do much to make that more funny. Librarians from all over the country form teams of synchronized library cart dancers. And then they have a dance-off to see who is the best in the country. One of my favorites of all time was the group that did their moves to Michael Jackson's thriller. They had dry ice that made smoke and scientists that turned into zombies. (I think some of that is on YouTube.)

What advice do you have for kids who want to be writers?

Read, read, read. It's a great way to study how other people tell stories. And there are thousands of different ways.

Then comes the hard part – you have to make yourself sit down and write, write, write. That's the hardest thing for me. I would much rather just goof around.

And then the hardest part of all – you have to . . . rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

Do you have a favorite Newbery winner?

I have two. The Giver is one of favorite children's books of all children's books. It has such great drama and a great concept and it's not sappy. My other favorite Newbery winner is Holes. That is such a fun book because the story is so crazy and convoluted and funny. And I think Holes is the one and only funny book to ever win a Newbery.

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

Right now I am writing (and rewriting and rewriting and . . .) Spaceheadz Book #3! This one is a lot of fun because everything gets changed by a dramatic revelation at the end of the book.

And on September 21, Volume 1 of the GUYS READ Library will be out in stores. It's called GUYS READ: FUNNY BUSINESS. And it's a collection of 10 short stories from 10 very funny writers. Jeff Kinney, Mac Barnett, Adam Rex, Eoin Colfer, Christopher Paul Curtis, and more. I had the most fun writing a story with Kate DiCamillo. She is amazing. I learned a lot from her.

Our editor for FUNNY BUSINESS made a very fun video of all of the writers telling a joke that I wrote in the introduction. It's at:

How many bookcases do you have?

I have a whole mess of bookcases. The room where I work is almost all bookcases. Then I have another bunch in the basement. And then I just had a guy build four more in a hallway in my house.
The funny thing is that as soon as I get bookcases, they magically fill up completely. And I still have piles and piles of books all over the place.

Favorite Author Friday: Joyce Moyer Hostetter

This week's favorite author is Joyce Moyer Hostetter.  It is an interesting twist that I have never actually meet her.  I feel like I have from reading her books, her blog and "talking" on e-mail, but meeting in person is still on my "to-do" list.   Joyce is the author of several great books of historical fiction:. BLUE, COMFORT (Blue sequel),HEALING WATER and BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.  Sometimes historical fiction books get a bad reputation as being boring.  Joyce's books are not boring!  Instead her books are great stories with great characters that are set in interesting times and situations.  The fact that you learn history too is just an extra bonus when reading her books.  And I like that kind of bonus! 
I hope you get to check out some of Joyce's great books soon!

What advice do you have for kids who want to be writers?

Read a lot! Write a lot! Revise, even more!

What is your current favorite book (can be a kid or adult book) and what was your favorite as a kid?

I think The Diary of A Young Girl by Anne Frank is always going to be my favorite book.

Do you have a favorite Newbery winner?

Hmmmm – tough decision. Maybe Out of the Dust. Or Jacob Have I Loved.

When and where do you write?

Every morning, I take my laptop to a recliner with a cup of coffee. And after checking email and reading blogs (including Laura’s Life!) I start writing. Later I take my laptop to my desk, or the dining room table, with me in the car while my hubby drives, and even to my treadmill. If I have to leave the computer I keep writing in my head – imagining dialogue or thinking through what needs to happen next in my story. So, in some ways, I am always writing.

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

I’m writing a book on war and peace. It feels complicated to me and I’ve been struggling for several years to tell this story effectively.

 How many bookcases do you have?

I love this question. Hmmm let me see. Eight. And I also have boxes of books in my attic.

 How much research is involved in writing historical fiction?

Infinity! Seriously, it never ends. I start by reading everything I can about my subject. This gives me a feel for the overall story. From this research I begin to plot my story. I read the whole time I am writing it and all during revisions. By the time the book is published I am so hooked on the subject that I keep reading and learning. All this ongoing research comes in handy when I do school visits and public speaking.

What historical event would you most like to write about?

 I would love to write about the construction and the fall of the Berlin Wall. If only I could do research in the German language. Sigh….

Do you have a favorite time period? Do you wish you could live in another time?

I like writing about the first half of the 20th century. But I don’t want to go back to any other time. I like computers too much. And indoor bathrooms. And flying to other parts of the world.

Favorite Author Friday: Jacqueline Kelly

I fell in love with 2010 Newbery Honor winning book, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, when I read it.  Callie Vee is the kind of character that makes you think authors understand kids.  In many ways I am a little like Callie and in other ways I want to be like her.  The book is so good that I tried hard to NOT read the last chapter so that it didn't have to end.  I got to meet Jacqueline Kelly at ALA, and in one of the more amazing moments of my life I found myself sitting in between her and Rebecca Stead at lunch talking all about books and writing; I will never forget it.  I wish we all could have lunch with Jacqueline often but as the next best thing you can grab a snack and read her answers that she shared! 

What advice do you have for kids who want to be writers?

Anyone who is interested in becoming a writer has to be a voracious reader. Turn off the television. Turn off the computer. Read everything you can get your hands on. Reading widely trains the inner "ear" of the writer so that she can hear the difference between a really good sentence that sings like poetry, versus a really bad sentence that falls with a loud clunk upon the page.

Were you like Calpurnia when you were young?

I must have been, because she is very much based on my own personality. I would say she is about 70% me, about 20% my mother, and about 10% friends of mine.

(My own mother is very funny, and not at all like Mother in the book, thank goodness.)

What is you current favorite book (can be a kid or adult book) and what was your favorite as a kid?

I read so many books that it's hard for me to name a favorite at the moment. But it's easy for me to name my favorite book when I was growing up: The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. I loved it then and I love it now. It's one of a small handful of books that I re-read over the years. The book was published a century ago and is now one of the great childhood classics.

When and where do you write?

I try and write in the mornings between about nine and noon, but that doesn't always work out for me in light of my other work. I have a bright, sunny guest room upstairs that looks out onto the street and into the branches of a big old oak tree. I can sit at my desk and watch the squirrels chase each other when I need a little diversion. I also have a sound system that is usually tuned to the local classical music station. I find that chamber music is especially helpful for stirring up the creative part of the mind.

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

I am just finishing up The Willows Redux, which is my sequel to The Wind in the Willows.

I expect the publication date to be some time in 2012, when they release a movie of the original book.

Have you ever gotten rejection letters?

Oh, yes. There isn't a writer alive who hasn't. And if they deny it, they're lying to you.

Do you feel like a famous author?

I don't especially feel like a famous author except when I go into a bookstore and sometimes the people there know who I am.

How many bookcases do you have?

Gosh, at the moment I have six. I would like to have more, but storage in my house is limited and I have to periodically get rid of old books in order to make room for new ones (this just about kills me).

Favorite Author Friday: Rita Williams-Garcia

One of the fun parts about being a reader is that you can "discover" great books.  When I first read One Crazy Summer earlier this year, I felt like I had found something wonderful and had to tell EVERYONE I knew.  I wanted everyone to read it, to love it, to feel it.  It is that good.  And for me it got even better because Rita Williams-Garcia answered an email, and then more emails and I got to know an amazing author and teacher (she teaches at the Vermont College of Fine Arts)!  And because I am having One AMAZING (and a little Crazy) Summer I got to MEET Rita in person at ALA.  So cool!!!  Other readers have known Rita for years because she has written several great books.  But, she is new to me and what a first introduction!  Rita was kind enough to answer a few question for me (what a lucky girl I am), but before you read her answers go right now and get a copy of One Crazy Summer, it is a must read!  And if you are on the Newbery committee here is a hint:  it is THAT good!
And you now can get it as an audio book, so no excuses!
Why do you write for kids?

I began writing for teens because I couldn’t find contemporary books that reflected the lives and experiences of young people of color. I now write for kids because I’ve always been enchanted by story and that enchantment began in my childhood.

What advice do you have for kids who want to be writers?

Be sense alert! Engage the world around you with open eyes and ears. Be curious about taste, textures, and places. Pay attention to detail; how one thing is like another, or how things are very much opposed to each other. Write a little bit every day, and above all, read. Enjoy the music and pulse of words.

What is you current favorite book (can be a kid or adult book) and what was your favorite as a kid?

I’m a fickle book lover. I fall in love with whatever I’m reading. I just finished a re-read of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and am luxuriating in the details of setting. Jackie Woodson’s Feathers stays with me but right now I have a special place for Keeper by Kathi Appelt. As a kid, my list--so hard to choose one--includes a translation of the original Pinnochio, Reba Paeff Mirsky’s Thirty-One Brothers and Sisters and Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet The Spy.

Do you have a favorite Newbery winner?

My favorite Newbery winner would have to be Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins. Karana’s life was dangerous and hard, yet she endured life without her community. I felt like I was watching her grow up. I think that’s why I put her in Delphine’s hands.

When and where do you write?

I get up in the morning, read my Bible then sit at the edge of my bed and write in longhand or I type on my gigantic laptop that sits on a tray in my bedroom. I stop around 2pm, exercise (treadmill or jump rope), get cleaned up, eat and read email. I grab my work (both paper notepad and small netbook) and I hop on the F Train and ride to somewhere to get more work done. I leave my apartment so I can be glad to come home in the evening. But honestly, I go outside because I’m a living being and I need sunlight.

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

I’m working on a gaming novel set in another time and place called Game On. It’s for readers ages 9-12 who like gaming and adventure. So far, I’ve been told it’s like Russell Hoban’s Ridley Walker, so I’m dying to finish so I can read Hoban’s work. I’m inches away from finishing. Since this story is such a departure from my other work, I know it’ll need a lot of editing so I’m thinking 2012. But you haven’t heard the last of Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern. I do have a sequel in mind and I jot small scenes whenever their voices get rambunctious.

Have you ever gotten rejection letters?

Of course! I began my writing career at 12 receiving rejection letter after rejection letter. Thank goodness I got them early. It wasn’t so shocking when I continued to receive them as an adult. And yep, they still keep a-coming!

Do you feel like a famous author? Has anything fun ever happened because you are famous?

Nope. The biggest difference is I get more email, do more online interviews, schools and libraries are requesting me to do author visits, and I actually see my book in more bookstores. The coolest things so far was going to ALA and running out of books at my signing. The second was, after the conference, my editor (Rosemary Brosnan) and I were about to board the return train but there was a mistake on mistake on my train ticket. My editor told the agents I was an important author, so they held the train in the station while the error was adjusted. Wow!

How many bookcases do you have?

I have four bookcases, several stacks piling in my hallway, and a few African stools stacked with books. That’s fine for a house, but I’m in a small apartment. I’m cozying up to the idea of ebooks.

Have you ever gone to a book store and bought copies of your book just for the fun of it?

Of course! It never gets old. I turn my jacket covers face out. I beg my relatives and friends to go to their local bookstores to ask for my book. My local bookstore is on to me.

One Crazy Summer has raised lots of awareness among kids about The Black Panthers, do you have any suggestions of other books kids can read to learn more?

Kekla Magoon’s most excellent, The Rock and The River springs to mind. Kekla’s novel was the first to introduce the Black Panthers to teen audiences. I’m sure more stories and works of non-fiction will and should follow.

Cecile is hard to like at times, what do you think of her?

I think she was someone who was damaged in her early life. I think she was someone who lost her childhood too soon. She reminds me that not all parents are ready for the job, and that we don’t know everything about our own parents. Even our parents are a mystery.

Which one of the sisters are you most like?

I’m a little like all three. Does that make me schizophrenic? I wasn’t as cute as Fern, but I am the youngest of three and was always off into my own world, daydreaming. Telling myself a story. I had a very responsible nature like Delphine. Like Vonetta, I long to perform but was and am shy--although Vonetta is all ham with a touch of stage fright.

Did the characters names come from particular inspiration?

Delphine came to me in a flash. I had the rhythm of their names before I actually knew them. But once I had Delphine, I heard Vo/net/ta and Fern. Then I began to tell myself the story behind their names. In their names I could see the hope, the heartbreak, and stubborn will. But honestly, I just love saying them out loud. “Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern.”

What is your favorite thing to get for Chinese take-out?

I love scallion pancakes and Peking duck. Well, I’m cheating. It’s hard to get duck for take-out.

Favorite Author Friday: Kathi Appelt

I love talking to authors!  One things that is very cool is that they are often friends with other authors and can suggest great books that their friends have written.  Rita Williams-Garcia, author of One Crazy Summer, who I got to meet at ALA, told me about  Kathi Appelt and  Keeper.  And in a funny series of events Nora Baskin helped me get my hands on the book.  Once I got it I "consumed" it; that is what my moms says when I will not put a book down.  I wrote to  Kathi Appelt to tell her how much I liked it and it turned out she was having dinner with Rita and talking about me.  I guess that is what you call a small world.  Both Kathi and Rita teach at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, as part of the MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults Program.  I guess you would not be surprised to learn that I think that would be the best thing ever to go there!!!!!  If you follow Kathi's blog you can see that in addition to great teaching they really have tons of FUN!  I asked Kathi a few interview questions and she was great about sharing.  I know I can't wait for her next book! 

Why do you write for kids?

I started writing for kids when my sons were very young. They’re all grown up now, but when they were kids, my favorite part of the day was when we sat down together and read. It felt magical, to be together, sharing great books. It made me want to write stories that other moms and dads and kids would share. I wanted to be part of that magic.

What advice do you have for kids who want to be writers?

(1) Read everything you can get your paws on. (2) Write like your fingers are on fire!

What is you current favorite book (can be a kid or adult book) and what was your favorite as a kid?

Hmmm…my current favorite book? That’s hard because I like so many. I’m thinking it would be American Gods, by Neil Gaimann. But my all-time favorite book is Black Beauty.

Do you have a favorite Newbery winner?

Yes I do: Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant. Followed closely by Holes, by Louis Sachar. It’s hard to go wrong with a Newbery title, isn’t it?

When and where do you write?

I do my best work at my desk, which is upstairs in our house in College Station, TX. But I’ve also learned how to write pretty much anywhere. It’s one of the great things about being a writer—you can take your work with you.

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

I just now starting a new book, and I don’t know too much about it yet. I’m in that discovery stage where everything is possible.

Have you ever gotten rejection letters?

Hah! I’ve gotten way more rejection letters than acceptance letters, that’s for sure.

Do you feel like a famous author?

I feel like an author who writes every day.

Has anything fun ever happened because you are famous?

I have gotten to travel like crazy, and also I’ve had the great fortune of meeting some terrific fellow authors.

How many bookcases do you have?

One on every wall in our house pretty much.

Have you ever gone to a book store and bought copies of your book just for the fun of it?

I’ve done this so that I could give one of my books as a gift. But I haven’t done it just for the fun of it. Nevertheless, I confess that I always check to see if my books are on the shelves. Recently, I was in Montreal, Canada, and I stopped in to Babar en Ville, a children’s bookstore there and voila’, Keeper was in the front window. That was a thrill, for sure.

Will Keeper be part of a series or have a sequel?

At this time, I’m not planning for Keeper to have any sequels.

What inspired you to name Keeper (the character) Keeper?

My grandmother always told me that I was a “keeper.” It made me feel so important and worthy.

Did you live by the sea as a child?

Yes, my grandmother lived in Galveston, so my sisters and I spent a lot of time there, especially during the summers. I still love the beach in Galveston. It feels very familiar and sweet to me.

What pets did you have as a child?

We always had pets—dogs and cats. And my younger sister Patti had two white mice, plus four chickens. The dog in The Underneath was based upon a dog my sisters and I had when we were girls. His name was Sam.

What pets do you have now?

I have four beautiful and smart cats: Hoss, Jazz, D’jango, and Peach.

What is your favorite book you have written? Other authors have said it is their most recent book, but for you would that be Keeper or Brand New Baby Blues?

Hmmm…for me, it’s always the book that I’m working on because that is where my focus and attention is. I don’t know much about this new book, only that I want there to be a horse in it. So, I’d have to say that that is my fave right now.

What are the stories behind Captain and BD and Too?

My grandmother had a misbegotten dog name BD. His name actually stood for Bird Dog, because he loved to chase birds along the beach. One night a storm blew in and a seagull slammed into my grandmother’s kitchen window. She nursed it back to health and the gull and BD became best friends. She also drove an old green Dodge station wagon, and she often took BD and the seagull with her. When my sister and I were with her, we had to sit in the back seat, whereas the dog and the bird sat in the front.

Do Keeper, Signe, Dogie and the other characters have any hidden stories?

No hidden stories that I know of. I loosely based Dogie on my oldest son who has dreadlocks down to his waist. And he also plays the ukulele. He mostly plays the double bass, but he’s been known to play the ukulele. Signe just reminds me of all those moms who would swim the seven seas for their babies, regardless of whether they were their real moms or not. And Keeper, she’s a girl who wants to make things right, just like most girls I know.

Favorite Author Friday: Nora Raleigh Baskin

I had such an amazing time at the ALA conference a few weeks ago (no, I am still not over it!).  Part of the reason I had such a great time was meeting so many authors.  As a huge book lover and aspiring author it was very exciting to get to talk to some of the people who write the books I LOVE.  My fun made me think that other kids might like hearing from authors, too.   So, I am going to try a new thing on my blog:  Favorite Author Friday.  On some Fridays I will post interviews I have done with an author I love.
First up, Nora Raleigh Baskin.  Nora wrote the 2010 Schneider Family Book Award winner, Anything But Typical, a book I adore.  And meeting Nora made me like her even more; she is really nice and especially good at making you feel at ease when nervous.  I even got to tell a whole room full of people what her book meant to me, and she was really nice about it!  A huge THANK YOU to Nora for answering some of my questions!  I can't wait to read more of her books!

Why do you write for kids?

I didn't start out writing for kids, but all my stories were ABOUT kids, mostly about my own life and memories. I tried writing for kids when my older son was in third grade and it just worked and felt right. I got my best and most personal rejections from children's publishers..so I knew I was on the right track!

What advice do you have for kids who want to be writers?

Don't worry about being published..Write. And don't worry if it's no good. It's not supposed to be ...(my first drafts are always awful!) Find a good reader..someone who is kind and smart and will give you good, positive feedback.

And read a lot.

What made you interested in writing a book whose main character is a child with a disability?

I had a personal connection to autism and I didn't even know it until I started writing the book. So maybe I was drawn to the character (and I loved the character) before I even understood what I was doing.

What is your current favorite book (can be a kid or adult book) and what was your favorite as a kid?

My favorite book as a kid were the three E.B.White novels..Trumpet of the Swan, Charlotte's Web, and Stuart Little.

Now, I love anything by Sue Miller, Anne Tyler, Margaret Atwood..too many to name...

Do you have a favorite Newbery winner?

You won't like this, Laura..but I loved Holes. I also loved Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth

When and where do you write?

on my lap top, which means I can write anywhere...usually close to the kitchen so I can cook or EAT!

What are you working on now or having coming out soon we can look forward to?

I have the Summer Before Boys coming out in June 2011.

Have you ever gotten rejection letters?

Oh, boy have I! And they hurt, every time. No one likes rejection, but I learned a lot from them...I mean, I learned to keep going. Never give up. And try and get better..read more. write more. Write from the heart..not for the market.

Do you feel like a famous author? Has anything fun ever happened because you are famous?

No, I don't feel like a famous author..but being published is a very good feeling. Especially after nine years of rejections. What has happened is that now I can keep writing..I feel more legitimate, if that makes sense.

How many bookcases do you have?

oooo...good good question. So many. James built me a whole (same) room of shelves..but I have books in every single room..all over. I think there should be a book to grab and look at no matter where you are in the house...