Author Interview With David Fulk - Author of Raising Rufus

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Photo courtesy of David Fulk

I'm thrilled to be part of David Fulk's blog tour 
and am honored to have him appear on my 
blog. Thank you for taking the time to let me 
interview you and giving my readers a chance 
to know you better. David Falk's debut novel, 
Raising Rufus, is a delightful tale about what 
it takes to raise a dinosaur. Read our interview 
to find out what it takes to become an author.

What made you think of writing a book about raising a dinosaur? Was owning a pet 
dinosaur something you dreamed of as a child?

DF: Well, my mom would have never allowed a dinosaur in the house, so we had to settle for 
birds and turtles and fish. I don't think I fantasized about having an actual pet dinosaur... but 
for some reason I did sometimes imagine there was a fully grown T, rex in the front yard. 
Scared the bejeebers out of myself. As far as the book goes, I'm not sure how it first occurred 
to me, but when it did, I latched right onto it because it sure seemed like a great idea for a funny
adventure story with a lot of edge. 

What was the hardest part of writing your first novel? Tell us some of the challenges you 
faced in writing and in getting published.

DF: The hardest part for me is always going from zero to story. The blank page is terrifying! But 
once you've got your framework, the rest is a piece of cake by comparison, at least for me. The 
getting published part was much harder. You're competing with a gazillion other writers for the 
limited attention of agents and editors, so you have to (1) find a way to stand out from the 
crowd without being annoying, and (2) get lucky and be at the right place at the right time. It 
sounds harsh, but it's just the way it works, so a thick skin is is mandatory. The old cliche 
about being persistent is very true.

What were some of your favorite books growing up?

DF: First, a confession: I wasn't a big recreational reader growing up. I was more of a movie 
guy. But I loved a good story, as I do now, and lately I've been devouring as much of the great 
middle-grade stuff that's out there as I can. So, let's give a cheer for The Graveyard Book, 
When You Reach Me, Crispin: The Cross of Lead, Walk Two Moons, Wonder, Flora and Ulysses,
 Hoot, Holes. And Harry Potter, of course. And there are some wonderful debuts this year: The
 Honest Truth, My Near-Death Adventures (99% True!), I Am Drums, Dr. Critchlore's School for 
Minions, Blackbird Fly, many more. Am I over-sharing now?

Is there a children's book author you would really like to meet? If so, who, and why 
would you like to meet her or him?

DF: Though I'm not worthy, I would love to meet Gary D. Schmidt. He writes with such heart 
and such humanity. The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now are irresistible, and Lizzie Bright 
and the Buckminster Boy is wonderfully moving. Maybe by hanging out with him for a while I 
could get some of that talent to rub off on me.

 Now that your book is published, is there anything you wish you could change?

DF: That's a very interesting question, and I know the answer should be yes, but I don't think I 
can point to specific things I would change. I'm sure there are a lot of things that could be 
improved, but my feeling is that the "baby" is born now and should stand or fall on its own. I'll 
try to bring the improvements to my next one.

Give us a fun fact about writing your novel.

DF: Okay, fun fact: It started out as a screenplay! I decided to try it as a book after not quite 
getting a Hollywood movie deal. And the publishing gods smiled on me.

Which of your novel's characters do you most relate to and why?

DF: You suspect it, so I'll say it: Martin! I wasn't a super scientist, and I didn't grow up lonely in 
a small town, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't pull some of his traits from my own experiences. 
Fitting in is a major challenge for everybody―some more than others. I did struggle with that
 to some extent. And I did have a modest bug collection, and yes, I was fascinated with 
dinosaurs!

Do you have plans for additional novels? Could you give us an idea what you are working 
on?

DF: I do indeed. Right now I'm working on another funny middle-grade adventure with a boy 
hero and elements of fantasy. (Interplanetary travelers, anyone?)

What would you like my young readers to know about the book writing process?

DF: Well, I could say it's really, really hard... but you don't need me to tell you that. So let me 
put it this way: if you love books, and you love telling stories, and you love the English l
anguage, keep at it and don't let anything stop you from going after your goal. Be patient, 
be persistent, be brave, be generous, and always be learning. One day you just may wake 
up a published author.

 Last, since we know you don't have a pet dinosaur, do you at least have a dog? or 
another pet? (Would love for you to share a photo with your pet if you do.)

DF: Alas, no dog, and no cat. Allergic to both. So I have to settle for smaller companions: ants, 
fruit flies, the occasional centipede. Okay, they're not actually pets, but they do visit me on a
 regular basis, and we have an understanding. (Unfortunately, they've threatened legal action 
if I photograph them, so I guess I'll have to disappoint on that score.)

Thank you for inviting me today. Boys who read rock!

Author bio:

David Fulk is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter/director, 
and novelist. He grew up near Chicago and has lived in Missouri, Louisiana,
Michigan, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas, Belgium, India, and
Wisconsin. He currently lives near Boston with his pet T. rex, Rosie.

Web: www.davidfulk.com

Twitter: @davidfulkwrites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davefulkthewriter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/361905.David_Fulk

Check out my book review of 
Raising Rufus HERE

Author Interview: Tor Seidler

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Photo of Seidler by Charles Gold

Some of my favorite email exchanges are with the authors of the books I read and review on my blog. 


      Interview with Tor Seidler:
         author of: Firstborn, Toes, Brothers Below Zero, 
                Brainboy and theDeathmaster        



Tell us about your experience doing research for Firstborn. How long did you spend observing wolves? Where?

 Seidler: By my standards, I did a lot of research for Firstborn. Beyond the whimsical premise of the animals speaking in complete sentences, I wanted the story to be as close to nature as possible.  I read fictional and nonfiction accounts of wolves, but more importantly I had a friend who was a great source of information: Jean Craighead George, author of Julie of the Wolves, among many other books.  Best of all,I went wolf watching with Jean in and around Yellowstone Park in late May and early June, 2005.  The wolves had been reintroduced into the park in the mid 1990’s, and by the time of our visit they were pretty well established.  The pack we observed in the northeast corner of the park had twenty-six members.  We would arrive before sunrise and set up our viewing scopes on a hillside above a creek.  Often we got to see the alpha male lead the other hunters back from their night hunt on the other side ofthe creek and distribute food among the pack’s six new pups.  An amazing experience!  In more recent years I’ve also visited the wolf reserve in northern Westchester County.  But there’s nothing like seeing animals in the wild.

What did you find most challenging about writing your book?

 Seidler:There are always a lot of challenges for me in writing any novel, but in this one I think the biggest was figuring out how to tell the story.  I initially wrote it from an omniscient point of view, focusing solely on the wolves.  The story began with Blue Boy, the alpha male wolf, awaiting the birth of his pups.  But the story wasn’t quite lifting off.  When I hit on the idea of writing it from the point of view of a bird, a magpie who attaches herself to the pack, it seemed to give the material another dimension.

After writing a book about animals, do you have a favorite animal? Which one and why is it your favorite?

 Seidler: I’m a great believer in bio-diversity, so I like all animals.   But I must say in studying the wolves I gained a deep respect for them.   Their life is very hard.  Few live to see their first birthday.  But the way they learn to work together, both socially and in the hunt, is awe-inspiring.  I also have a soft spoke for coyotes, who lead much more individualistic lives than wolves.

Unlikely friendships develop in Firstborn. Did you observe any unlikely animal behavior or relationshipsin doing research? 

 Seidler: I’ve read about unlikely relationships developing between different species, but to be honest I didn’t observe any in my wolf watching.  I love the idea of multi-culturalism, though, and I’ve written about it before in the animal world, especially in a book called The Wainscott Weasel.

Your book involves conservation efforts for wildlife reintroduction. Are there any conservation efforts you would like to encourage in your young readers?

 Seidler: I’m a fan of all conservation efforts, be it joining the Sierra Club or encouraging your parents to recycle orminimizing your carbon footprint.  I have a particular fondness for the World Wildlife Fund.

 What made you want to become a writer?

 Seidler: Reading.  I enjoyed books so much as a kid that I thought, “Hey, maybe I can do that!”

What suggestions do you have for young readers who might like to become writers someday?

Read. And then read some more. And don’t accept what people tell you. Look at things with your own eyes and reach your own conclusions.

 Is there anything you would like to add about your writing and/or books?

 Seidler: Well, I hope some of you enjoy them!

Author Interview: Amy Herrick of The Time Fetch

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I love author interviews. It gives me a chance to share the faces and personality behind the names on book covers. 

Featuring Amy Herrick: Author of The Time Fetch

Amy Herrick is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Every morning, she and her dog take a long walk in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, looking for adventure. They’ve seen and heard many wondrous things there, some of which have served as inspiration for this story. The Time Fetch is her first book for young readers.

1. The Time Fetch is your first book for young readers. What inspired you to write for children?

AH: Learning to read is kind of like learning to ride a bike.  It’s a very wobbly business at first and there’s a lot of different skills you have to bring together to make it work.  In the beginning you’re very klutzy and you’re focusing with all your might and then all of a sudden----Presto! Alacazam! It clicks! You’re doing it!  That time of your reading life, when you first take off and you’re free and you’re flying and nobody is holding on, is the golden time, the glorious time.  It is the time when you first realize all the treasures that reading can hold—that it can entertain you, that it can allow you to travel through space and time, that you can get yourself terrified without having to actually put yourself in danger, that it can give you the power to see inside of other people’s heads.At this age, when you love a book, it takes you over completely.  It sears itself on your memory and you carry it with you for the rest of your life.Imagine writing a book that someone would experience in that way.  I thought I’d give it a shot!

2. Where do you get the inspiration for your characters? Are they modeled after anybody you 
know?

AH: Edward was the first character I created.  In the beginning, he was the only one.  He was inspiredby my older son, who was pretty lazy as a kid and still who tends to be in his head a lot, trying to figure out the true nature of reality.Then Feenix showed up because I felt that Edward needed a nemesis. In the beginning she was much nastier than she ended up being.  I wanted someone who was all fire and restlessness and always in trouble and she was based largely on my younger son who is a wild thing and who spent most of his middle school and high school years in detention.  Danton came in a side door and I wasn’t expecting him to be so important, but I realized that if Edward needed a nemesis, he also needed a sidekick who could center him and the reader, and who represented a more balanced, natural way of being in the world.
Brigit arrived, I think, because I wanted the symmetryy of two boys and two girls.  Her shyness is based largely on my own early, always blushing years.

3. Speaking of the writing process, how long did it take to write The Time Fetch and what part of writing takes the longest.

AH: It took me a long time to write this book.  I worked on it over several years.  I wrote a complete draft, which I ended up scrapping because it felt too lightweight to me.  The hardest part for me is always the first part, the getting a story off the ground—like a kite.  The kite has to have the right shape and weight and tail and then you’ve got to get lucky with the weather and the wind.  Once you’ve got it up there, it gets easier and easier to just let the string out.

4. What is the most important message from your novel you would like readers to grasp?

AH: I was trying to explore a lot of ideas that interest me in this book. But probably the one I’d most like readers to take away is voiced by Mr. Ross, the science teacher.  He’s talking about entropy —the tendency for everything in the universe to move from a state of order to disorder, to die, to fall apart.   He says to his students:  “But think about it, my young seekers. There may be ways to slow entropy down. Even reverse its progress.  You can align yourself to fight alongside the powers of order and creation.  You can battle to keep things going, even join the ranks of those who devote their lives to making greater harmony and knowledge.  Or you can sit back and allowthings to run down.”

5. Tell us what it is like to see the final cover of your novel and see it in print?

AH: Doesn’t matter if you’re four years old or ninety-four, it’s always gratifying to have other people react with thought and care to something you’ve made. When you feel like an illustrator and a designer have created a cover that really catches the heart of what you’ve tried to do, it’s hard tostop thanking your lucky stars and kissing strangers on the street.  That’s the way I felt when I first saw this book with its cover on.

6. Who are some of the children's book authors you look up to?

AH: Oh so many wonderful authors I read over and over.  Last night I was rereading George MacDonald’s Princess and Curdie written back in 1872.  The goblins in this story are as well-imagined as any fairytale creatures lurking under beds or feet.  It is said that George MacDonald influenced many around him and many who followed—including Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L’Engle, each of whom have influenced me and so many other readers and writers.   Afew others I keep by my desk: E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web (for White’s perfect, delicate, hilarious touch), Katherine Briggs’ Hobberdy Dick (a moving historical fantasy about a moment intime when old beliefs are giving away to new ones), Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising (suspenseful and often verging on the good-edge of scary, this is a story which uses mythology, Arthurian legend and ancient Celtic folklore)

7. What advice would you give to young readers who dream of becoming writers someday?

AH: Read a lot. Keep a journal.  Ask other people for their stories (especially the old folks!) and write the good ones down in your journal. Be brave!

8. What kind of feedback have you received that has helped you in writing your next book? Will there be a sequel to Time Fetch? Tell us about your next project

AH; Since so many people have asked me if I was planning a sequel and since I feel I’m not quite ready to let go of Feenix, Danton, Brigit and Dweebo, I’ve decided to give it a try.  The Time Fetchwas a winter solstice tale, so this next one will be a companion story that takes place at the summer solstice.


Check out my review on The Time Fetch.

BLOG TOUR: Author Interview: Michelle Edwards

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I am proud to introduce Michelle Edwards, author of Max Makes a Cake

 What made you decide to become a children's book  book author? 

In graduate school I started making letterpress books, like Dora Skale in my picture book, Dora’s Book. I like being able to add text and story to my images. After I finished my MFA in printmaking, I started to think about more about stories and images. That led me right to picture books.

 Many young readers don't realize the illustrations to a picture book aren't added until an author has already written the story. Tell us what it is like to finally see the illustrations added to your work.

I have illustrated many of my own picture books, so it’s always a surprise for me to see how someone else illustrates my characters and stories. Sometimes it shakes my vision. Sometimes, like in Max Makes a Cake, it thrills me. I love the way Charles Santosos captured Max’s spirit and personality.

 Have you ever made an unusual cake like Max and what was it like?

I do like to experiment in the kitchen. And like Max, I am a major fan of frosting. The most unusual cake I ever made was one I had to rescue with frosting. The cake was birthday cake for my husband. I was impatient and took it out of the pan before it had cooled. The cake fell apart, so I glued it back together with frosting. Because it had a very rough and crumbly look, I used M and M’s to decorate it.

 Did you pattern any of the characters in Max Makes a Cake after anyone you know?

Tell us a little bit about how your characters are formed.Max is a spunky, confident can-do kid. He and my three daughters are very much a kindred spirits. My characters are usually what drives my stories. I spend a lot of time thinking about them.

What is the hardest part of being a children's book author?

For me, I think the hardest part of being a children’s book author and illustrator  the waiting. Waiting for a publisher  to buy my story. Waiting for a an editor to respond to my revision. Waiting for the book to be published, available and reviewed.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Creating. I love being in my studio and playing with ideas. The early stages when all that matters is that I show up, ready to play.

How often do you write and how long did it take to get your first book published?

I work every day. That means that almost every day, I am in my studio, doing something – writing, sketching, reading. It took me many years to be published


Who are some of your favorite children's book authors? Do you get inspiration from any of them?

There are so many authors and illustrators I admire. I’ll name just a few of my favorites: Vera B.Williams, Maira Kalman, E.B. White and Katherine Applegate. They inspire me everyday. I study their books. Sometimes I even type them up – that way I get close to how the books works word by word.



Bio:
Michelle Edwards is the author and illustrator of many books for children, one book for adults, and nearly one hundred essays and cards for knitters. Her picture book titles include Chicken Man, winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Michelle lives in Iowa City, Iowa, with her husband, a house full of books, yarn, and the artifacts of their three daughter's childhoods. Her next picture book, A Hat for Mrs. Goldman will be published in 2016 by Schwartz and Wade and illustrated by Brian Karas. 


Author Social Media Links: michelledwards.com   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest

Thank you to Michelle Edwards for taking the time to to an author interview with me. I love meeting the authors of the books I review. It makes me appreciate what goes into the writing process.

Check out my book review of Max Makes a Cake HERE.

Author Interview: Cindy Cipriano

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Author of The Circle, Cindy Cipriano, was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions about being an author for my blog readers. I am happy to share my interview with her.

 What inspired you to write your debut novel, The Circle?

Once when I was in "time out," I daydreamed about lifting a tile in the floor and wondered what I'd find below it.  I imagined a wise man hunched over a desk working by candle light.  This person became Uilleam and is really where the idea for the series began.

If you had to choose one character in your book you are most like, who would it be and why?

I'm really not like any of the characters in The Circle.  They are much, much more interesting :)  I will say my favorite character is Donnelly.  He's just so fearless.

 Who are some of your favorite children's books and how have they inspired you to be a writer?

C.S. Lewis is probably my all-time favorite children's author. I was inspired by his brilliant use of magical realism, in that it's not "in your face," but thoughtful and skillfully placed throughout his novels.

 What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a writer?

Finding enough time to write!

 What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I love the actual writing part, sitting at my computer, completely immersed in my story.

 Have you ever experienced "writer's block" and how do you get past that?

I have experienced "writer's block," and the best way for me to get past it is just to sit down and start writing.

 The Circle is a fantasy novel. Is that your favorite genre to read as well? What other genres do you love?

I love anything that is middle grade/young adult fantasy. 

 Can you tell us a little bit about your next book that we might not know from reading the first?

The Lost is the second book in the Sidhe series. In this book, Calum and his friends will be tested regarding their friendship for and devotion to each other. And, yes, there's more about Finley :)  There are also some deleted scenes from The Circle posted on my website: http://www.thesidheseries.com/deleted-scenes.php

What advice would you give to somebody thinking about becoming a writer?

Join a good critique group, now.  I would have saved so much time had I joined one earlier.

Once your book was published, was there every anything you wished you could go back and change? Why or why not?

I really felt The Circle was "done," when I submitted my manuscript to Odyssey Books.  Thanks to my amazing editor, Michelle Lovi, I don't feel the desire to go back and change anything.  I would love for readers to let me know what they think about The Circle.  I encourage them to please visit my reviews page and post a review. http://www.thesidheseries.com/review-links.php

Cindy Cipriano's middle grade fantasy, The Circle, is available through Amazon or other local retailers.

Check out my review HERE.

**This is NOT a sponsored post. No money was exchanged in return for the post.**

Author Interview: C. Alexander London

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C. Alexander London on his own accidental adventure

Interview with C. Alexander London: Author of An Accidental Adventure Series Books 1 and 2

                                                                                                                       

I love author interviews. It is always fun to find out what goes into creating a great piece of children's literature. Mr. London's interview was especially fun because he has had his own accidental adventures which led to the creation of his Accidental Adventure series, We Are Not Eaten By Yaks  (Book 1) and We Dine With Cannibals (Book 2). C. Alexander London was very gracious to take the time to answer my questions. Read on to see what he had to say.

1. What is your favorite real life accidental adventure?

The funny thing about adventures is that they usually happen when things don’t go as planned. Some of the adventures I’ve had have been scary (On my 22nd birthday I was in the city of Goma, in the Eastern Congo, when Mt. Nyiragongo erupted, forcing a rapid evacuation across the border into Rwanda) and some of them have been fun (I got lost in a village in Burma and ended up witness a festival to celebrate the arrival of a new abbot at a buddhist monastery…the whole village came out for a parade). I don’t know that I could pick a favorite real life accidental adventure, however, as each one has its own charms and its own perils. The ones I like best are the ones I share when friends and family. I used to travel alone, but now, I much prefer good company. With someone to share it with, any adventure can be a lot more fun.

2. You mention on your blog you are more like your book characters, Oliver and Celia, and would rather be watching TV. Is there one place you still want to see that would get you willingly off the couch?

There are many places! I have always wanted to visit New Zealand and also Nepal and Fiji, Japan (I’ve only ever passed through the airport) and China. The world is big place and there is much to see. I hope I’m never too much like Oliver and Celia. I want to get out and explore!

3.  You also mention you don’t like lizards. What animals from your adventures do you like?

I’d love to meet a yeti! But other than lizards and bugs, I like most animals. I find tigers, while scary, also stunning and beautiful. Yaks are great creatures and who doesn’t like a friendly monkey?

4.  What are some of your favorite adventures within the confines of your home city? What types of adventures would you suggest children look for close to home?

Those are the best adventures! I love exploring my own neighborhood, finding new nooks and crannies. I love playing the woods (I live in New York City, so there aren’t a lot of woods to play in), and I think every childhood needs a little wilderness from time to time, even if it’s the wilderness of skyscrapers and sidewalks. Of course, the library contains infinite adventures in its collection of books, and I can’t overpraise the power reading has to take you anywhere.

5. Oliver and Celia are siblings who fight, but still look out for each other. Do you have a sibling like that? If so, tell us briefly about him or her.

Celia is based very much on my sister (who is actually four years older, rather than three minutes and forty-two seconds). We never argued as much as Oliver and Celia do, but mostly because my sister always won! She and I remain very close and our disagreements often help bring new ideas to each of us, just like Oliver and Celia’s arguments do. I think arguing can be great fun and great for learning, as long as it comes from a place of respect and love.


6.  What is the scariest thing you have ever encountered on an adventure?

Well, the strange bite on my toe in Thailand was pretty scary. My foot swelled up and hurt and I complained even more than Oliver Navel would have! The erupting volcano in the Congo was scary, because the lava moved very fast and put a lot of people in danger. Personally, I was more afraid of the rebel army in control of the city at the time, than of the volcano itself, but overall, it was not an experience I’d like to repeat.

7. What country is your favorite to visit and which one is your least favorite?

I’m not sure I can choose a favorite or a least favorite! Everywhere in the world has its unique character, its charms and its challenges. I guess, though, my favorite would have to be where I live, New York City. The whole world comes here and there are endless new discoveries to be made. I like the old saying, if most cities are nouns, New York City is a verb. It’s not just a city where you live, it’s a city that’s a character, everyone who lives here has a relationship with it.


8. Were you an avid reader growing up? If so, who were some of your favorite authors?

I was actually not an avid reader growing up. I was what would now be called a reluctant reader and came to reading much later. But there were a few books that sparked my imagination and made me want to become a story teller. I loved Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet and Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth (in fact, Milo’s ennui probably influenced Oliver and Celia’s general attitude of being just so over it all). Most of all though, I loved Redwall, by Brian Jacques. It was the first big book I read on my own and I loved it! The action, adventure, and heroism, the richness of his imagination. I wrote to Brian and much to my surprise, he wrote me back! I was 11 years old, and I don't recall what I said to him, but in his response, he wrote: "I hope you will grow up to be a writer, and remember, you need to use your imagination, a writer needs to have a vivid and lively imagination." That letter played a large role in setting me on a path to become a reader and writer. I hope to live up to the vividness of his imagination and to his generosity of spirit with my own readers.

9. What is the one author who has inspired you the most and why?
See above! Of course there are many others, authors for adults that I admire and find regular inspiration from…Wade Davis, an explorer and nonfiction writer, David Mitchell, one of the finest living novelists today, and journalists like Sebastian Junger, Ryszard Kapuscinski and Philip Gourevitch. I also love some of the classics, Rudyard Kipling and Robert Louis Stevenson are two of my favorite adventure writers of times gone by.

10. My goal is to get boys to read more. What suggestions do you have for boys to get them to read more?

Meet them where they are. Sometimes that means finding ways to bring in nonfiction and books facts, sometimes that means fart jokes and wedgies, or video games and sports. It won’t always be the literary novel and that’s okay. There are lots of ways to experience the joy of reading, to create and receive stories and we do readers a disservice to privilege the literary novel over all other forms of reading. At the same time, there is a lot of joy and inspiration to be found in some of those great books, so read-alouds can expose boys to books they might not be inclined to pick up on their own. We also have to remember that some boys do indeed like literary novels and poetry and romance…we need to be sensitive to the wants and needs of each reader as an individual and avoid forcing them into broad categories of boy books and girl books.


Thanks to C. Alexander London for a great interview. If you would like to find out more about him, please visit his website. http://www.calexanderlondon.com/
  
For a chance to win both books in An Accidental Adventure series click HERE.

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Author Interview: Jospeh Bruchac

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Joseph Bruchac is the author of Wolf Mark and over 120 books. You can find out more about him and his books on his website http://www.josephbruchac.com

1. I read you have written over 120 books. Do you have a favorite and if so which one?

I usually say that my favorite is the book I am working on at that moment--because

I put so much of myself into any new project. Right now, though, I have to confess

that I am very very fond of WOLF MARK and my main character, Luke. I wouldn't mind

writing another book about him.

2. How hard was it to get your first book published?

     "Hard" is not a hard enough word to describe how difficult it was. Excruciating might

be more on the mark. 

I don't know if you have to be stubborn or masochistic when you first start out and 

have to absorb all the rejection a beginning writer (as I was) can expect. My first book to 

be published was a collection of my own poems called INDIAN MOUNTAIN. That was in 1971,

but even though it was 40 years ago, I still remember vividly how it felt whenever that

package arrived in the mail with poor manuscript and another rejection letter in it.

  That manuscript was turned down more than 30 times before it was taken. Two years 

worth of rejection letters. Every one of them, even the polite ones, felt like a knife in my heart. 

And when my book finally was accepted I had to control myself from writing a letter to the 

publisher saying "Excuse me, but you've made a terrible mistake. I'm sure you actually mean to 

reject this book."

However that experience taught me several things. One, of course, was perseverance. But 

another was to use rejection as an opportunity to look at my own work again as if it was someone 

else's, to gain the distance to be more objective, and then to revise and make it better. 

3. Beside the fact that you are of Abenaki descent, what other reasons did you decide to inlcude Abenaki characters in your books?

     I felt that many of the aspects of Abenaki culture that I knew really tied in well with the story.

Plus, and I think other writers will understand this, my character insisted on it. It was one

of those cases where the more I wrote, the more my main character told me about himself

and his story.

4. Is Wolf Mark the first novel for young adults you have ever written?

     My first novel that could be called YA is a book called DAWN LAND that takes place in pre-

Columbian America and features a young Abenaki man and his three faithful dogs. That was

published in 1993 and crossed over between the adult and YA audiences. I'm excited

about the fact that it has just appeared in a totally new format, as a graphic novel, illustrated

by Will Davis and published by First Second Books with the same title of DAWN LAND.

Trailer for Dawn Land:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URB6gMdzvdg

 5. Is there anything about Luke that reminds you of yourself?

     I think that every writer always puts something of herself or himself into their main

character, especially when writing in the first person. Luke is very different from me

in a lot of ways (lucky for me), but he shares with me a love of and deep connection

to the natural world, and like me feels happiest and most at ease when he is in the forest.

Luke and I share a love of poetry (I've memorized and quoted poems since I was

in grade school) and for Russian literature.

And motorcycles. I've had several in my life, including a 1959 Harley with a suicide

shift (which never got over 100) and a 1972 Triumph Bonneville (which could go a little

faster). However, I sold my last motorcycle a while ago and used the money to buy a new

Guild guitar--one of seven guitars I own at present, no eight. (Hmm, another thing in

common with him.)

Like Luke I have a real passion for martial arts. I've been a student and teacher of

martial arts for over 35 years and hold the rank of Master in the Indonesian martial

art of Pentjak (or Pencak) silat. 

I also identify with Luke's romantic problems, remembering all too well the ache 

of hopeless first love. And I shall say no more about that!

 Further, like Luke, I do have what might be called a sardonic and sometimes

self-deprecating sense of humor.

6. How did you come up with the book idea for Wolf Mark?

     As has been the case with several of my books, I found myself hearing the voice of my

main character one morning when I woke up, got up and started sort of taking

dictation from him. So in a way the story found me. That said, I love fantasy and 

horror and always wanted to add something to that genre from an American Indian

perspective. And I am very interested in writing stories for the reluctant reader,

especially young men who often feel little connection to books at that stage in their

lives--even though I believe they need good stories even more in their teenage years.

7. How long have you been writing?

     Well, I remember writing poems for my teacher when I was in second grade. But I made

a real commitment to being a writer my junior year in college at Cornell University. And

I was rewarded for that commitment two years later when I was given a full scholarship,

a Writing Fellowship, to Syracuse University where I got my master's degree.

8. As an established writer, do you ever get any book rejections?

     Oh yeah! In fact (and this kind of tickles me) my initial proposal to do this book, accompanied 

by the first few chapters, was rejected by another publisher that had brought out several

of my earlier books, And that rejection was with the comment that I shouldn't feel bad because 

some people just can't write for the YA reader.

9. So many middle school and high school boys are reluctant readers. What would you say to them?

     First of all, don't feel like you are a dummy because you may have had some problems

reading or more likely, wanting to read. You just haven't found the right books yet.

     There are lots of books out here for you to read. Check out the website www.guysread.com

Don't feel bad if you don't want to read the books that people say are "good for you." 

Maybe you're not ready to read those books yet. Read the things that you enjoy reading.

The more you read, the more you'll get out of it and you'll get better at reading. And

being a good reader will be useful to you for your whole life.

     Read about sports. Read non-fiction. Read stories that are exciting. Read graphic

novels. Just read.

Click here to win a copy of the awesome young adult novel, Wolf Mark by Joseph Bruchac.

Debut Author Interview: Molly E. Johnson

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Molley E. Johnson

                           Author of Spartacus and the Circus of Shadows

1. Is Spartacus and the Circus of Shadows your first book? What inspired you to write it?

Yep! This is my first book. There's too much going on in it, though, to name just one inspiration. My literary inspiration is easy to pinpoint. Spartacus and his voice were really inspired by Jerry Spinelli's Maniac Magee. I know, I know, that book is from forever ago, but I remember how much I loved that book when I was ten...and again when I was sixteen...and when I was twenty-two... I really started out creating a fantastic person in a normal world, like Maniac...but then, as it went on, I realized that Spartacus was really just a normal kid in fantastic circumstances.

2. How long did it take to write Spartacus?

This is kinda embarrassing... Spartacus was my undergrad thesis and then my graduate thesis-and it started out as just a short story. I've been working with this character on and off for...um, ten years. I know, it's ridiculous. I re-wrote the story four times: once for each thesis, once when I left a laptop with the only digital copy in the back of a cab in China (ARGG!!!), and once after RainTown accepted it. I feel like Spartacus exists in about fifty different realities where everything has happened at least once. If I hear one more person say, "Hey wouldn't it be cool if Spartacus..." and it's something that was in one of the other versions, I'm gonna scream.

3. Are any of the characters in your book based on anybody you know? If so, explain.

I'd say 90% of the names have connections to friends-and Lousy the cat was a real, whiskey-drinking cat I knew of. But the biggest connection would be with Will and my older brother, Casey. His wiliness is definitely sprinkled throughout Will's character. When I was Spart's age, I suspected Casey was always one step away from doing something atrocious. But I think Will's attention to Spartacus is totally misunderstood-as I suspect my brother's was too. From Spart's perspective, Will is a complete jerk, but if you take a step back and look at Will's actions-I mean, the sheer amount of time Will takes to plan and carry out his pranks could almost be flattering (that is, if they didn't end up so badly for Spartacus). I dunno. Call me sentimental. I like to think my brother really liked me and that's why he got me to lick the driveway, or smell his feet, or clean his room, right...?

Right...?

4. What is the most surprising thing you learned in writing and publishing Spartacus?

Discovering how huge the MG/YA community was! I mean, I was on Twitter as a normal person, talking with friends and stalking celebrities, but I never knew that everyone was out there, just Facebooking and blogging and tweeting away-I mean, there's a #writingparty every moment! And I spent so many Friday nights where I typed away alone, feeling pathetic. It's really encouraging knowing you're not the only one slaving away.

5. What is your favorite scene or favorite part of Spartacus?

I love all the random circus and sideshow knowledge (and random trivia about rats in cracks and semi-trucks and New Mexico and, and, and) that went into the story. Two circus examples:

1. Robin Marx, a character in the book, was an alias that carnies would give back in the old days. It was a play on the words Robin (i.e. robbing) and marks which were the suckers on the mid-way, spending money on junk. Get it? Robbin' marks?
   
   
2. Circuses never, ever play the song Stars and Stripes Forever unless something goes terribly wrong. It's a secret code to let the performers know there is an emergency without frightening the audience...They call it the "Disaster March."

6.  Do you ever get emotional about your characters or situations when you write? Explain.

I don't think you can write some scenes if you're not feeling it yourself. One night in winter, while on a deadline, I was sick and exhausted and typing away at an emotional scene between Spart and his mom and I was really moved. (So moved, in fact, that I think the scene is a bit heavy-handed.) But at the time I wrote it, I knew how Spart was feeling because I put myself in his shoes. And, I've blogged about this, too, that I write with music a lot to get me feeling how I want the character to be feeling. It's a really fun writing trick.

7. Who are some of the writers you admired growing up? Do you have a writing mentor?

I mentioned Jerry Spinelli earlier. I loved his writing while growing up and I still love it now. But I also wasn't someone who was picky about books as I could never get enough, so I read (and reread) a lot of crap right along side great books like Hachet (Gary Paulson), Forever (Judy Blume), The Indian and the Cupboard (Lynn Banks), and Charlotte's Web (E.B. White).

And my writing mentor is actually my fiancé, who is also a writer. He's one of the few people I've met whose edits and opinions I trust-and whose edits and opinions I'm not afraid to argue with.

8. What is the hardest thing about writing?

Being disciplined enough to do it! And then sitting down to do it, even when you feel like there isn't a creative thought left in your head. But when something does come out of that creative desert...it's really something.

9. Are you working on another novel? Tell us about it.

I am, but it's barely out of that Desert Stage right now-I'm afraid if I even talk about it, it may dive back under the sand. But I'll keep you posted. 

Thanks to Molly Johnson for a great interview and the insight into the writing process. I loved Spartacus and the Circus of Shadows.  A very funny first novel. Congratulations! 

Click here for my book review.

Author Interview: Sarah Aronson

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Interview with Sarah Aronson
   Author of Beyond Lucky 

     What motivates you as a writer?  

  Getting to stay in my pajamas all day? I like being able to work from home.

     But seriously, like many other writers, I am motivated by character. I love exploring characters and figuring out what they would do under different circumstances. 

 You mention you haven’t always been athletic. What made you decide to write about sports?

     I may not be coordinated, but I LOVE watching sports, listening to sports radio, analyzing every game.   During a great game, I love watching the momentum turn—how one play can change the entire course of the game.  It is so much like a story!   I also have to confess that I enjoy competition. The higher the stakes, the more fun it is for me. Of course, I also like to hear about individual players. There are so many stories connected to any one game. It makes a great setting!

      Do you have a favorite sport?

     Pretty much everything but golf! Sorry, Tiger.  It’s so boring!

Soccer and football are great to watch on TV. My family enjoys going to minor league baseball games. My son swims for his high school. So now I like watching swimming, too.

    Did you enjoy reading sports books growing up?

     Not really. I was definitely a reluctant reader. At one point, my mom paid me to read! The first books I enjoyed were actually plays. I LOVE reading dialogue and action. Description? Not as much.

     What was the hardest part of writing Beyond Lucky?

     Mac’s story. I love Mac, but he has some big problems he has to deal with. In real life, I don’t always like dealing with conflict. Ari and Mac and Parker had to be braver than I could ever be. 

      How long did it take you to write Beyond Lucky from the start to the publication?

     It took me a looooooooong time to get this book ready for publication. I put it away a couple of times for many long stretches. But then I went back to it. Why? I loved the characters, but I couldn’t completely embrace the conflicts. It was not until after I finished my MFA and deleted the entire text (yes that is not a typo), that I could write this story the way it wanted to unfold.

    What is your favorite book?

     Are you trying to get me in trouble? 

     I like a lot of books. I think Charlotte’s Web is a perfect book. Some books that I use to teach writing are Nancy Werlin’s Rules of Survival, Barbara Park’s Mick Harte Was Here, and Katherine Patterson’s The Great Gilly Hopkins.  When it comes to nonfiction, there is no better writer than my dear friend, Tanya Lee Stone.  And I love funny books, too. Like Bunnicula and No More Dead Dogs. I just finished Tommy Greenwald’s Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading. It is hilarious.

Do you have a writing hero? Who? And why?

     That’s a great question.

     I admire Walter Dean Myers. Not just because he wrote Monster—one of my all time favorite books—but also because he is a writer who gives back to his community.

     As part of my beyond lucky celebration, I am hosting an auction and fundraiser. You can check it out on  my website. All the money goes to Grassroot Soccer, a local nonprofit.

Often boys are afraid write. What advice would you give to those boys?

     Don’t worry. Write. It doesn’t have to be good. You can always rip it up and rewrite it tomorrow.  The truth is: to be a writer, you have to be willing to fail every single day.

 Are you working on another novel? If so, tell us about it?

     I just started working on a companion novel to Beyond Lucky from Parker’s point of view. A girl who is friends with guys was too tempting to turn away. I’ve been thinking that maybe she should take up hockey! 

Be sure to check out Sarah Aronson's website for her online auction. Click here to go directly to the online auction. All proceeds will benefit GRASSROOT SOCCER. Thank you Sarah for the great interview and for giving back to the community.

Click here for a chance to win a signed copy of Beyond Lucky.