The Top-Secret Diary of Celie Valentine: Friendship Over: Interview with Julie Sternberg - Blog Tour & Giveaway

I am very excited to welcome Julie Sternberg to Kid Lit Frenzy. I loved her Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie Series and excited about sharing Friendship Over with students once I wrestle it back from my niece who absconded with it the other day.  Thank you Julie for writing such fun books and for stopping by to answer some questions.

The Top-Secret Diary of Celie Valentine seems like the next step up in reading for your fans of Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. Was it intentional to take this next step? And what was it like to write for a slightly older audience?

I wish I could say it was intentional. I’d feel like such a good planner! But I didn’t have a particular audience in mind when I started THE TOP-SECRET DIARY OF CELIE VALENTINE. I just wanted to create a story using the different writings in many kids’ lives: journal entries; notes passed in class; emails; notes scribbled down for family members; homework assignments; and the like. That structure is a little more complicated than the one in LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE, so it works well for slightly older readers. As much as I loved writing PICKLE JUICE and its sequels, it’s also been a lot of fun exploring a new format. I hope Celie’s diary, and the various writings she tapes into it, are as fun to read as they were to write.

Celie’s father received a punching bag when he was 10 and when Celie turned 10 her dad gave her both a punching bag and a diary. Did you keep a diary as a young girl and did anyone ever get into it and read it?

I was the kind of kid who loved the idea of keeping a diary, but never managed to actually do it. Now I wish I had! I’d love a record of my childhood thoughts and feelings.    

Friendships and sisters can seem like the most challenging thing whether you are 10 or well even as an adult. Were any of the scenarios in the story based on real experiences?

There’s a moment in the book when Celie is stuck in a long timeout after kicking her older sister, Jo. Jo did something bad, too, but Celie alone is punished. So Jo feels guilty. She writes an apologetic note to Celie and slides it under the door of the room where is Celie is having her timeout. Celie then slides an angry response back under the door. The girls continue to exchange notes this way, until the timeout is over.  

My daughters used to slide notes back and forth under their bedroom door, too, when one was in a timeout and the other felt at least a little guilty about it. I’ve always loved the idea of those notes, and the dynamic between sisters (both love and conflict) that they capture. My earliest drafts of the book started with that exchange.  

Do you have any special writing routines, and what is your writing space like (coffee shop, office, other)?  

I try to write between the time when I drop my younger daughter off at school and when I pick her up. I tend to drink a staggering amount of tea—iced tea and hot tea—as I write. I write in both coffee shops and at home, depending on my mood and the logistics of my day. Here’s a picture of my writing spot right now. Note the pot of hot tea, which I’ve already finished, and the practically empty glass that held iced tea before I finished it, too:

Are you working on any new books/projects that you can share with us? 

I just finished the latest draft of the second book in THE TOP-SECRET DIARY OF CELIE VALENTINE series, and I’m starting the third book now. I also have a picture book coming out in the spring. It’s called BEDTIME AT BESSIE AND LIL’S.  

What has been your favorite question or letter from a reader (either at a school visit or in a letter/email form)?

I once received this photograph of a big sister reading one of my books (LIKE CARROT JUICE ON A CUPCAKE) to her little sister. That moment feels magical to me. I can’t think of a better reason to write.

Photo Credit: Meredith Zinner

About the author:
Julie Sternberg is the author of the best-selling Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie and its sequels, Like Bug Juice on a Burger and Like Carrot Juice on a Cupcake. Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie is a Gryphon Award winner and a Texas Bluebonnet Award finalist; Like Bug Juice on a Burger is a Gryphon Honor Book, a Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards Nominee, and an Illinois Monarch Award Finalist. Formerly a public interest lawyer, Julie is a graduate of the New School's MFA program in Creative Writing, with a concentration in writing for children. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York. For more information about her life and work and to download free activity materials based on her books, visit her website 

Check out the other stops on Julie’s blog tour!

Mon, Sept 29     Mother Daughter Book Club    http://motherdaughterbookclub.com/

Tues, Sept 30    5 Minutes for Mom   http://www.5minutesformom.com/category/feature-columns/5-minutes-for-books/

Wed, Oct 1      Sharpread   http://mrcolbysharp.com/

Thurs, Oct 2    KidLit Frenzy    http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

Fri, Oct 3        The Hiding Spot    http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com

Sat, Oct 4       Booking Mama   http://www.bookingmama.net/

Mon, Oct 6     Ms. Yingling Reads   http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/

Tues, Oct 7     GreenBeanTeenQueen   http://www.greenbeanteenqueen.com/

Wed, Oct 8     Great Kid Books   http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com/

Thurs, Oct 9   Teach Mentor Texts   http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3DP0vkvgi

Fri, Oct 10        Unleashing Readers     http://www.unleashingreaders.com/

Sat, Oct 11       Bermuda Onion       http://bermudaonion.net/  

Giveaway!

One lucky reader will receive a copy of FRIENDSHIP OVER: THE TOP-SECRET DIARY OF CELIE VALENTINE in hardcover (U.S. addresses only). Please complete the rafflecopter form to enter.

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Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - Sequoia by Tony Johnston

SEQUOIA
Written by Tony Johsnton; Paintings by Wendell Minor
Roaring Brook Press (September 23, 2014)
Audience: Ages 8 and up
Trees * Poetry * 
IndieBound | WorldCat 

Description from GoodReads: 
Standing tall above the tree line, Sequoia stretches his ancient arms and gathers clouds to him. He watches as days, seasons, years pass by. His branches are home to owls and choirs of frogs. Beneath his broad canopy, a world grows.This is his story. Through controlled verse and luscious illustration, Tony Johnston and Wendell Minor do justice to the enormous figure of the sequoia tree. 

About the author: Tony Johnston has written many award-winning books for young readers, including Bone By Bone By Bone (Roaring Brook Press). Since her youth she has been devoted to nature. Mrs. Johnston has a ranch in California, where evenings she sits on the porch and gathers sunsets to her.

About the illustrator: Wendell Minor is the illustrator of over fifty children's books including The Last Train (Roaring Brook Press, 2010). His interest in nature and the environment has taken him from the east coast to the west coast and everywhere in between, most recently the majestic sequoias in this book.

An interview with author, Tony Johnston...well maybe some reflections...
In 1991, I moved to California and began teaching at a small school in Altadena. As I created my classroom library, I began with titles from various authors and illustrators, but I had multiple books from authors such as Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, Tomie dePaola, Bill Martin, Eve Bunting, and Tony Johnston. At that time, I never imagined that I would meet one of these incredible authors let alone several of them. 

Around this same time as I was starting out teaching, Tony Johnston had written a poem about a very special tree, a sequoia, and filed it away to hopefully be pulled back out and shared with others when the timing was just right.  Twenty-three years later, this ode to one of our great trees ended up in a picture book with paintings that bring the words to life and honor and respect the beauty of this majestic tree.

Well, that picture book ended up in my hands, and I just happened to bring it one Saturday morning to a group that attend, which is comprised of librarians, teachers and some authors. One of those authors just happens to be Tony Johnston. Now how do you talk about a book when the author is two seats away from you? 

Oddly enough, at the break, Tony approached me. Someone had mentioned my blog to her and she wondered if I might mention the book on it.  I suggested not only mentioning it but also turning it into an interview.  Knowing that Tony was likely quite busy, I suggested sending her a few questions by email. Quickly, I discovered that Tony wasn't one for electronic communication, such as email. 

After working out some of the details, Tony and I decided to meet at one of her favorite restaurants for brunch.  We arrived around the same time and I discovered that this was more than Tony's favorite place. She was treated like family by the staff. Over a lemon creme brulee scone for her and waffles for me, we chatted about teaching, and children's books, and writing inspiration, and more. 

Here is where I must confess that I am terrible about in person interviews. I really despise turning on a recording device. It just seems to muck up the mood and hinders the flow of dialogue. So instead of an interview, this is more of a reflection of my time with Tony. 

During our meal, I discovered that Tony first started out as a teacher at a school about a mile from where I began teaching. I learned of her move to New York City and then Mexico as her husband's work took them to different places. As a result of her time in Mexico, Tony's quite fluent in Spanish and you can see how it has influenced many of her books. 

I was curious about what it was like to work with some of the most amazing illustrators. She has been paired with Yuyi Morales, Tomi dePaola, Raúl Colón, Ed Young, Tony Di Terlizzi and many more. However, it was the story of reaching out to Jeanette Winter to illustrate Day of the Dead that was most special.  Tony refused to take "no" because she just knew that Jeanette was the right illustrator for that book.

Some day, I want to see the place where Tony stores all of her book ideas. I can imagine that a career spanning 40 years would have resulted in twice or three times as many stories still to be told than what has made it to printed form. Though I won't reveal any of the ideas that were tossed around during our time together, I already know that I am going to be eagerly anticipating a few of them.

Of course, we had to discuss her latest books Winter is Coming illustrated by Jim Lamarche and Sequoia illustrated by Wendell Minor.  I was curious about her favorite painting from Sequoia.

I shared with her how powerful the image of the fire sweeping through the forest had been for me.

We both loved the image of the majestic sequoia in full winter coat.

However, it was the jacket cover that was one of her favorites (and mine).

I am more than thankful for the time that Tony graciously shared with me, and I hope that there may be more in the future. She is incredibly vibrant and passionate and it comes out in her work. 

If you haven't marked your calendar, by all means do so.  Sequoia comes out later this month on September 23rd. 

Note: All images used with permission by Macmillan Children's Publishing. Copyright 2014 Wendell Minor.

Giveaway:
Thank you to Macmillan, one lucky reader will win a copy of Tony Johnston's book SEQUOIA. To enter for a chance to win a copy of the book you need to be 13 years old or older and have a US mailing address. Please, complete the rafflecopter below. 

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Don't forget to link up you nonfiction reviews here:

Don't forget to link up you nonfiction reviews here:

YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL Blog Tour & Giveaway

I am excited today to welcome Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant to Kid Lit Frenzy.  Their first picture book YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL comes out this Tuesday, August 5, 2014. 

Hi Anna & Christopher - First, I would like to say that I loved YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL. One of the things I enjoyed about the book was the idea that in addition to being a picture book, it can easily double as an easy reader for children just beginning to read. Consequently, it seemed to have a bit of a Dr. Seuss quality to it. So, I was wondering what inspired you to write this story in this style?

Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re both thrilled that you enjoyed the book. The writing style wasn’t a conscious decision but it naturally emerged from the dialogue, starting with the first confrontational sentence. In fact, the debate that the creatures have with each other is a conversation I’ve played out in my head since I was a child. I remember feeling indignant when told, “You are X,” or “You are not Y.” Kids do this all the time (as do adults), but as I grew older, I realized that these labels were someone else’s subjective perspective and not necessarily my truth or the whole truth. The story and writing style is a reflection of that revelation.

In most cases, writers and illustrators do not have contact with one another and communication is done through editors. In your case, there would not necessarily be a need for a middle person. This can be good and this can be...well it can be a bit of a challenge.  How was it working together? Were there any challenges?

Anna: We’re still married, so that’s a good sign! Of course, for me, having Chris right downstairs was a huge bonus. I knew I didn’t want these creatures to be human or a particular animal and I could express that to Chris, who was on board with that idea from the beginning. After that point, I had to learn to keep quiet and let him do his job. Which he sometimes/often had to kindly remind me. That was the biggest challenge for me because I was trained as a visual storyteller, so when I write, I picture everything. But I’m pretty certain it was a lot tougher for Chris because I’m so opinionated. Fortunately, we’re both thrilled with the way the book came out. And we’re still talking to each other.

Christopher: Having Anna as the in-house writer to bounce ideas off of was such an asset for me. Luckily, we both have similar sensibilities so we were already on the same page when we discussed the writing and illustration. Once we found the creative space for each of us to have our own vision for the book (an important step), then we were able to move forward together and benefit from each other’s strengths. Not surprisingly, it was a like a marriage in that regard.

 Anna - I noticed in your bio on the jacket flap that you like to read, travel, laugh, eat, and nap. What was the last book you read that made you laugh out loud?

 It’s been a while, but off the top of my head: Naked by David Sedaris, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole, and Bossypants by Tina Fey.

 One place you would love to travel to?

There are so many places I’d love to visit: Africa, Eastern Europe, India, Turkey, and more specifically, Angkor Wat, Petra, Machu Picchu, the Pyramids, and a bunch of places in the U.S.

 Favorite hole in the wall restaurant? 

The food trucks in Los Angeles, In-N-Out Burger, and Sao Mai in the East Village. Sao Mai has great pho.

Are you a cat-napper or long afternoon naps?

I’m definitely a cat-napper. After a fifteen-minute snooze, I feel human again.

Christopher - How was the process of completing a picture book similar or different from the cartoons that you draw for The New Yorker? 

I found the process to be very different. With my New Yorker cartoons, I’m the sole author and artist so it’s one direct path from my brain to the page. Also, since it’s only a single panel cartoon in black and white, the execution is quick.

As the illustrator for You Are (Not) Small, I had the opportunity to focus on Anna’s wonderful characters and bring them to life visually. I enjoyed the process of working in color, creating characters and having fun with their personalities. The visual timing for humor in a children’s book is so different than that of New Yorker cartoons as well. Being able to do both types of art was amazingly rewarding.

Children are faced with hundreds of images every day.  The concept of visual literacy has become more and more critical in learning to read. Any advice for teachers who may not be as comfortable with teaching visual storytelling?

I don’t know if I’m qualified to give advice to teachers! Since the days when humans lived in caves, we have been expressing ourselves and exploring our world visually. Visual storytelling is a fundamental part of our evolution as a species. I think most people will remember a fact or concept when it’s presented visually. When combined with words, it’s even more powerful. 

Any new projects that you are working on that you can tell us about?

The “sequel,” That’s (Not) Mine, will be published in August 2015.

What is your favorite independent bookstore and why?

Anna: Montclair Book Center in New Jersey because of its vibe and the sheer volume and diversity of its used books. You can easily spend an afternoon browsing. Vroman’s in Pasadena, California, because it was my haven after I had my first child.

Christopher: I love the Strand and Argosy in New York City. And almost any old, used bookstore where I can find New Yorker cartoon collections.

About the illustrator and author: 

Christopher Weyant's work has been published worldwide in books, newspapers, magazines, and online.  His cartoons are in permanent collection at The Whitney Museum of American Art and The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City.  Anna Kang received her MFA from USC's School of Cinematic Arts.  YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL is their first children's book; they are currently at work on a sequel.  They live with their children in New Jersey.

Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Christopher Weyant from YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL by Anna Kang. 

Check out the other stops on the YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL Blog Tour:

Mon, Jul 28        Cracking the Cover         http://www.crackingthecover.com/

Tues, Jul 29       As They Grow Up            http://www.astheygrowup.com/

Wed, July 30      Susan Heim on Parenting      http://susanheim.blogspot.com/

Thurs, July 31     5 Minutes for Books         http://www.5minutesformom.com/category/feature-columns/5-minutes-for-books/

Fri, Aug 1             Kid Lit Frenzy                     http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

Mon, Aug 4        Geo Librarian                     http://geolibrarian.blogspot.com/

Tues, Aug 5      Just a Little Creativity       http://www.justalittlecreativity.com/

Wed, Aug 6       Children's Book Review   http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/

Thurs, Aug 7     Children's Book Review   http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/

Fri, Aug 8          Once Upon a Story          http://mariaburel.com/

Thank you to Two Lions for offering a copy of YOU ARE (NOT) SMALL to one lucky reader.  Complete the Rafflecopter below in order to enter the giveaway. Participants must have a US mailing address. 

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Interview with NINJA! author & illustrator, Arree Chung

Thank you Arree for stopping by Kid Lit Frenzy to talk about your new book NINJA! and share something about the process of making it and also in answers some questions.

I just read NINJA! to a group of K/1 students and they really seemed to enjoy the story. Since many of my students are English Language Learners, we spent some time working on understanding the text and also how the visuals may tell a bit of a different story. One of the things the students wanted to know was if you pretended to be a ninja when you were a child? 

I didn’t pretend to be a Ninja but I did pretend to be Bruce Lee a lot. He could be a ninja, no problem! I still think he's really cool. I was always sneaking up on my dad and others. Oh, and I loved playing hide and seek with my friends in the parking lot.

On your website, you have character bios for Maxwell and Cassandra and even “Goldie” the Dragon. Were these based on children you knew or something you just created as part of the story? 

Maxwell is channeling the kid in me. Design wise, I love kids with long busy hair. His design is inspired by a lot of different influences. As for his personality, it's a lot of how I acted like when I was a kid.

Cassandra is loosely based on my niece.

I love her expressions. She's also the kind of girl who wants to do everything. I'm the youngest in my family, and I always wanted to do all the things my brother did. So there's a little bit of me in Cassandra as well.

When developing he characters, imagined Maxwell and Cassandra to be mixed race kids. There's been a lot of recent discussion about the need for diverse books in kid-lit and I am in complete agreement. I didn’t want to make it a big deal though. It’s just a matter of fact. So if you look closely, you can see that Mom and Dad have different racial backgrounds.

When designing the characters, I didn’t want them to look like specific kids; I wanted them to look cartoony so that every kid could relate to them. I still wanted to make specific enough; finding the right balance can be a little tricky.

Goldie the Dragon came much later in the process. I didn't discover Goldie until I was painting the book. I knew I wanted Maxwell to go into "ninja" mode and that I wanted to change the color palette to red. When I did, I felt something was missing. That's when the idea of a dragon appeared! I named her Goldie, the dragon that represents Maxwell's wild imagination. I felt the story gained more depth when she was added.

Along similar lines, did the ideas for the scenes in the story come from personal experiences? 

Well, I did sneak up on my dad a whole lot and I still sneak up on my mom. She still gets mad at me for doing that! At night, I still go on secret missions for milk and cookies but I feel much more guilty about it now.

I tried deciding, which was my favorite illustrative spread in the book. I realized that I had too many favorites (Maxwell surprising his father, Maxwell celebrating his accomplishments, Maxwell dishonored – just to name a few). Do you have a favorite illustration in the book?

I think my favorite spread, if I had to pick one would be the "I’m dishonored” spread. I think every kid can relate to that feeling, of “oh man.” It’s dark and lonely place to be and you know you shouldn’t have done it.

My second favorite would be the “mission accomplished” spread. Looks like we think alike!

When you are working on a book, do you have a particular process that you follow?

Yep!

1. SKETCH STAGE: Loose sketches. Don’t be precious. Everything is a mess. Especially when you start. Play, be messy. It’s ok.

Take the best ideas and reduce.

Scribble lots. Be messy, then reduce.

Work on the words. Sometimes I write the words down on index cards to simulate page turns and test how it sounds out loud.

Tie it all together.

Take a nap. Look at it with fresh eyes. 

2. DUMMY STAGE: Make a dummy with loose sketches. Revise.

Show people you trust. Show kids. Show kids you don’t know. Revise. Make as many dummies as you need until you the story works.

3. DESIGN PHASE:

Draw the character. Look at references. Dream. Have fun.

I like to look at lots of art and photos when designing the scene. I make inspiration boards and print them out.

Do research for the environments. Find photo research. Make lots of loose paintings. Practice.

Make a color script. Collect lots of interesting things.

4. FINAL ART:

After making a few sample illustrations, I get into production mode. At this point, I generally know how the book is going to look like. Most of the planning of the book is already done at this point so the final art shouldn’t be too difficult. It’s actually a lot of fun at this stage. You can just focus on making each illustration as awesome as possible.

Now that NINJA! Is about to be released, do you have any other projects that you are currently working on that you can share with us? 

I am doing a lot more books!

I’m illustrating a couple of inventive potty training books titled, “How to Pee.” They are hilarious.

I have lots of picture book ideas and more stories starring Maxwell. One of them is a ghost story that I’m really excited about.

And I’m also working on a middle grade novel about my experience growing up as an ABC (American Born Chinese.) 

What was your own book journey like as a child and teen or did you find books later? Do you have particular books that acted as the backdrop to your life as a child and teen?

My journey to books is a long and windy one. I drew a lot as a kid but never took it seriously. Like a lot of Asian families, my dad wanted me to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. I went to college and studied economics. I even worked in the business world for four years before deciding to be an artist. Quitting and going back to school to be an artist was scary but it was also the best decision I made in my life. In art school I fell in love with picture books. It’s where I belong. You read about my path to publishing on my blog: http://arreechung.blogspot.com

What is in your TBR pile currently?

I’ve been reading the Ivy and Bean series, lots of Judy Blume and Jack Gantos recently. Here’s a picture of my TBR.

I also enjoy biographies, economic books and good fiction.

What is/are your favorite indie bookstores and why?

Oh so many! I love Keplers, Books Inc in Alemeda. My favorite people are Jerry and Elizabeth. We talk books all day long there. Books of Wonder in NY and Vroman’s in Pasadena are great places too.

Thank you!

Once again, thank you for stopping by and sharing more about NINJA! with us. ~ Alyson

Watch the Official Book Trailer for NINJA!

About Arree Chung:

Arree Chung makes picture books but he didn’t always do so. Once he made spreadsheets all day long and he decided that he wanted to make pictures instead. Arree learned how to draw, paint and think a little bit differently at Art Center College of Design.

In the past decade, Arree has worked in the games industry as a designer and Art Director. Arree’s first debut picture book, “Ninja!” publishes June 3rd, 2014. When Arree is not practicing his Ninja moves, you can find him playing basketball or riding his bike.

Where to find Arree: website | blog | facebook | twitter | tumblr

Check out how to Ninjafy yourself at Ninjafy Me!

Check out Arree's journey to becoming an author and illustrator.  Don't miss the interview on Design of a Picture Book.

Reviews for NINJA! Kirkus | Publisher's Weekly

Interview with MOUSEHEART Author, Lisa Fiedler

I am excited to welcome author, Lisa Fiedler to Kid Lit Frenzy.  You can check out more about her new fantasy adventure, MOUSEHEART, here.

How did you wind up writing a Middle Grade adventure novel featuring a mouse with less than adventurous tendencies as the main character? Seems like a bit of a departure from your previous novels?! 

Nobody is more surprised than I am, but here we are. MOUSEHEART is a perfect example of how, with the support of a wise and imaginative editor, a writer can explore all sorts of new themes, settings and characters. Ruta Rimas and I worked closely in creating this trilogy. We knew animals would figure in somehow and agreed that swords would be a nice touch. But it wasn’t until one morning when Ruta spied a rat scuttling along the subway tracks and disappearing mysteriously into the darkness that we realized we had our setting ... and our species! I credit her with so much of this story—it’s been a true exercise in teamwork and I think it’s all that much stronger because of it. Of course there are still plenty of elements in MOUSEHEART that make it not entirely unlike the books I usually write--the humor, for example, and that little hint of romance between Zucker and Firren, which may or may not become a bigger factor in book two ... stay tuned!!!

There have been a number of comparisons between MOUSEHEART and the REDWALL series by Brian Jacques. Comparisons can always be tricky. What are your thoughts on this? 

I think if you’re going to be compared to something, it’s always nice to be in the company of greatness … and REDWALL is without a doubt great fiction. I’m flattered that my work is rubbing elbows with that series. I’ve also heard positive connections made to THE CRICKET IN TIME SQUARE, THE TALE OF DESPERAUX, THE WARRIORS and even STUART LITTLE. Wow! I’m absolutely thrilled even to be mentioned in the same breath as such wonderful books as these. Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to gather together all the great rodents of children’s literature together and throw a party for them? Can you imagine the cheese budget!?

In MOUSEHEART, the story begins in modern day Brooklyn, and ends up going underground but almost back to a medieval setting (without time travel)? Was there a particular reason for this decision? 

For me, giving Atlantia a medieval vibe lent a sense of timelessness to the story. I wanted readers to imagine that this sort of thing has been going on for ages. The presence of an Emperor, an evil queen, and a host of sword-wielding foot soldiers also heightened the fantasy factor. And the incredibly talented Vivienne To was able to really capture this mood in her gorgeous illustrations. As if talking rats weren’t extraordinary enough … let’s put them in a jerkin and really make it interesting!

MOUSEHEART is the first in a trilogy. Are there any secrets that you can reveal to us about what is in store for our friends in the next book? 

Pup is going to figure very prominently, but I don’t want to spoil it by revealing exactly how. Let’s just say he’s going to discover his rebellious streak. Hopper is going to find himself in unfamiliar territory once again … this time on a very famous bridge in a certain borough of New York. He’ll also make a new friend … one who is every bit as brave and loyal as Zucker only this friend isn’t a rodent. What is he? Hint: Meow!

Though I like everything from children's picture books to young adult novels, middle grade novels may be some of my favorite books ever. What drew you to writing for this age group? Have you always wanted to write for children? 

I agree … middle grade novels are the best! I still read them, and not just as ‘market research’ or to ‘check out the competition.’ Kids are such a great audience … a discerning audience to be sure ... which is why those of us who write for them need to be on our toes. I worry that people think a novel for a ten-year-old is somehow less valid than ‘grown up’ fiction but nothing could be farther from the truth. I always knew I would write but I never made a conscious decision to write for children. That was kind of a magical thing that happened. I was driving in my car and the first line of a novel just sort of came to me out of nowhere. And it was pretty obvious that it was a line that would be the beginning of a book for young people. It’s almost as if I was ‘invited’ by the story to be the writer of children’s fiction. And when you receive that invitation there’s only one possible response: Yes, thank you!

What was your own book journey like as a child and teen or did you find books later? Do you have particular books that acted as the backdrop to your life as a child and teen? 

My mother read to me a lot when I was little and I learned to read before I went to kindergarten. So while the other kids had nap time, I was allowed to sit off by myself and read! It was awesome. In third grade I discovered HARRIET THE SPY. Harriet was my hero! She wanted to be a writer, just like me. I didn’t have the guts to climb through my neighbor’s windows and spy on them (probably a good thing) but I did feel a real kinship with Harriet. I also loved all the magic-themed books by Edward Eager, especially KNIGHT'S CASTLE, which I read four times in one summer. I would get to the last page, close the book, then open it up again to page one and start reading it all over again. As a teenager I read Judy Blume (and blushed) and S.E. Hinton (and cried).

Okay, time to fess up, did you ever "borrow" permanently a book from the library or your classroom that you simply failed to return? What book was it? 

Yes, but not on purpose! I took out Bulfinch’s Mythology from my high school library. That thing wasn’t just a book, it was a TOME!! Nine or ten zillion pages! But it told the story of every single mythological god and goddess and I found it fascinating. I’d borrowed the book at the very end of the school year, and forgot to return it before summer vacation. And then I was too embarrassed to bring it back in September. I still have it. And I still read it!

What is in your TBR pile currently?

I was lucky enough to be on a panel at Books of Wonder in New York recently and met all of these fabulous authors of middle grade fiction. I bought a signed copy (love those!) of each book and I plan to read them on the beach this summer! The list, in no particular order:

The Ninja Librarians (Downey)

The Tomb of Shadows (Lerangis)

We Hold These Truths (Clements)

Lantern Sam (Beil)

Space Rocks (O’Donnell) and

The Door (Marino).

What is/are your favorite indie bookstores and why?

The Dinosaur’s Paw in Newtown, Connecticut! It used to be in Fairfield and about twenty years ago I wandered in and met the owner … who just happened to be the wonderful Patricia Reilly Giff! She taught a writing workshop … it was amazing. Pat really helped me perfect the manuscript of Curtis Piperfield’s Biggest Fan which would become my first published YA novel. That wasn’t the only thing I got from that workshop—I found some wonderful writing buddies and we still meet for ‘writing group’ to this day!

I also love Anderson’s Book Shop in the Chicago area and RJ Julia in Madison Connecticut. I love people who love books! And that’s what the indies are all about.

If you could do a book tour with another author (living or dead) who would it be and why?

William Shakespeare. Talk about talent … and staying power! I love that he had such a sense of how we human beings operate. His characters are deliciously complex. And the language … amazing! Just being in the presence of that kind of genius would be a thrill.

What is the view from where you write? 

My office is off my kitchen (convenient for frequent coffee re-fills). Our golden retrievers, Montague and Capulet (Monty and Cappy for short) hang out with me while I write. The window overlooks the backyard, which on spring mornings is like bunny-rabbit rush hour. And occasionally a black bear (yes … really!) ambles across the lawn. I write best when it’s raining. Why? No idea. I just do.

About Lisa Fiedler:

Lisa Fiedler is the author of several novels for children and young adults. She divides her time between Connecticut and the Rhode Island seashore, where she lives happily with her very patient husband, her brilliant and beloved daughter, and their two incredibly spoiled golden retrievers.