First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server today…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?
Probably when I realized how short life was. By then I’d had my children, worked in several teaching related careers, and figured out that I didn’t want to die without having written for publication. My daughter told me recently I won’t ever be able to die because who could finish my books? I’m with her on that!
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
Like many writers I started out with a novel that was a thinly disguised memoir. (Unpublished, of course, but it was great writing practice!) About the same time I got a curriculum writing assignment that grew into more work-for-hire. I wrote for a monthly newsmagazine while experimenting with early fiction.
I wrote my first novel, Best Friends Forever in response to a contest. I didn’t win but soon found a publisher for the story. During my early publishing years I dabbled in various genres before finding my niche in historical fiction.
The turning point was when I attended the Highlight’s Foundation Children’s Writer Workshop at Chautauqua, NY. There I met my dream editor, Carolyn Yoder who reviewed the manuscript I’d submitted. She was a tough critic but four years later, we published Blue together. There was an eleven year gap between those first two books. During much of that time I was also writing and researching my newest book, Healing Water. (also with Carolyn Yoder and Calkins Creek Books)
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
Healing Water takes place in a leprosy settlement on the Kalaupapa Peninsula, Molokai, Hawaii. Read it because it’s about broken relationships, because it’s populated with heroes, and because it explores the dark and light of human nature. Buy it because you’ll want to own it and to loan it to your friends.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My seventh grade language art teacher. On one of my written book reports, she introduced me to the word plagiarism (by suggesting that I might have copied from the book). I was insulted for about two seconds until I realized she was saying that I was as good as the author of the book I was reviewing. She also announced at my 8th grade graduation that I’d be a great writer some day. I’m trying my best to pull that off and I’m unspeakably grateful to this woman for showing me who I am.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
I’m one of eight children. At our last reunion of my parents and their descendants we had 92 people present (and 10 missing). Amazing what two people can accomplish, huh? My hubby and I have 2 children and 4 grands so when we get together things are a little less complicated.
Thrilled to have an author in the family? How would you feel if you found yourself as one of the bad guys in my books? Well, actually - there are no bad guys in my family. (But out of 100 plus we do have a few interesting characters.) My family is pleased for me and very affirming. I love that they buy my books and give them away as gifts, plug them to bookstores, and assist me at author events. My husband has willingly given up the benefits of being a two income family so that I can write. For years he financed my writing habit. He is the full-on finest thing that ever happened to a writer!
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Carbs – not necessarily chocolate or sugar – but mashed potatoes, pasta, tomato sandwiches, and cereal. Milk.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
I step on the scales, drink coffee, and head for my computer to read blogs, email, & writer listserves.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?
Would you be surprised to find me in the basement hurling dorm sized refrigerators and muttering under my breath? My hubby has a fix-it obsession The basement houses used appliances, lumber, washing machine motors, doorknobs, rolls of wire, and lots of thinga-ma-gigs. Upstairs there are computers, printers, fax machines, and computer components. (The good news is that this same man helps keep our actual living space clean and clutter free.)
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Green – the color of living things. It’s vibrant and restful at the same time. And there are many shades…
Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Charlie Brown for his loyalty and lack of guile. We need more Charlie Brown’s in the world. (I married one.)
Which cartoon character is most like you?
I asked my hubby (Chuck) this question and he too quickly said, “Lucy” So what does that tell you about me?
1. I hand out lots of unsolicited advice.
2. I holler at Chuck a lot!
3. I’m just plain crabby.
But wait! Would Lucy put up with all the odd appliances, spare parts and lumber clogging up our basement? So maybe I’m actually chatterbox Frieda with the naturally curly hair.
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?
Do I get to take my laptop and indoor plumbing? Or cappuccino and high speed internet? Truthfully, I’m fascinated with many points in history but most of them are less comfortable and no happier than the one I’m in (and granted, this isn’t the best of times). I do remember waking one morning in 1989 to the cheers of Berliners on my radio alarm. The Berlin Wall was coming down. I would like to have been chipping away at that wall, experiencing the terror and the thrill of liberation, and witnessing the reunion of East and West.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?
I love bluegrass, Celtic, mountain and folk music. I actually believe a little twang is a good thing. Oh, and I love acapella. The style isn’t as important to me as the lyrics. I’ve got to hear the words over the instrumentals. And they should surprise me or take me somewhere deep and challenging. Sara Groves, who is kind of a bluesy pop artist is my new favorite musician because her songs do that.
I occasionally listen to music while writing (if the mood fits with my story). But I don’t need it. Silence is music to me. It allows me to focus on my words.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?
I watch American Idol. (Don’t tell Laurie Halse Anderson because I’m pretty sure I heard her say, “Real writers don’t watch American Idol.”) The one movie my hubby and I watch repeatedly is a Canadian film called “Strangers in Good Company”. It’s slow – mostly a character study. I wouldn’t expect a teen to sit through it even once. We also watch old episodes of Northern Exposure— more great characters! I’m a fan of Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep. But, I can’t even remember the last movie I saw in the theater.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
You mean something that doesn’t sound like it came from their moms, a teacher, or a preacher? I’ll simply share a bit of wisdom I picked up on the Kalaupapa Peninsula where Healing Water takes place – “Smile. It no broke your face!”
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
A Blue sequel will find its way to bookstores in ‘09. After that, my future definitely holds more history. I thought I’d written my last disease book for awhile but um, well, illnesses seem to stalk my writing plans. For those students who wonder if all my stories are sad, I can only say, “I’m trying to do better!”
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
The pleasure is all mine.
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