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 Judy Blume Home: Key West, Florida How long she’s been writing: Since 1969 Most famous titles: “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret;” the Fudge books (“Superfudge, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing”); “Blubber;” “Just as Long as We’re Together” Judy Blume is arguably one of the most renowned children’s book authors of our time. She is also an advocate for writers and children’s education, and is the founder and trustee for The Kids Fund. Blume and her husband reside on islands off the East Coast. OCF: Why did you start writing children’s books? JB: I was in my 20s when I first started writing, and I remembered everything about my childhood. I had a tremendous amount of creative energy, and when I began to write, these are the stories that came naturally. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? JB: Reading is fun. Reading is about how others can help you solve your problems. Reading can fire up your own imagination. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? JB: From everything I see and hear, from my two children (who are grown up now). From my grandson. From my own memories. And most of all, from my imagination. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? JB: That’s like asking a mom who her favorite child is. Each character is special in her/his own way. I can never choose. OCF: Many moms have ideas for books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? JB: It’s not so much about the idea, as the way you tell the story. It’s about making characters come alive through your writing. After that, it helps to have an original idea, or an original voice. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? JB: I loved “Madeline” by Ludwig Bemelmans. I memorized that book. And I loved the “Betsy-Tacy” books by Maud Hart Lovelace. OCF: What are you working on now? JB: I’m finishing a four-book series about a brother and sister who call each other The Pain & The Great One. The third book, “Going, Going, Gone!” has just been published. Jamie Lee Curtis Home: near the Pacific Ocean How long she’s been writing: 17 years Most famous title: “Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day” Jamie Lee Curtis is an actress-turned-author and mother of two. She attributes her successful career in the literary arts to her oldest child, Annie, who she says has incredible foresight. OCF: Why did you start writing kids’ books? JLC: My daughter said something funny when she was four about what she used to do and what she could do now. I wrote down: “When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old’s Memoir Of Her Youth.” It made me laugh. I wrote a list of her accomplishments and at the end of it, I realized it was a book. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? JLC: I am not a doctor or a therapist. I barely got through high school. I want kids to feel seen and heard, that an adult understands what it is like to be a child. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? JLC: I usually hear a book from the mouth of a child. My book “Where do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery” was born at a birthday party when a child untied all the party balloons and they went up into this dark grey sky and a little girl tugged on her mom and asked, “Where do balloons go?“ It was magic. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? JLC: I have no recurring character. Each child is unique, like in life. OCF: Many moms have ideas for books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? JLC: I never thought I would sell one, let alone nine, books! OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? JLC: “Go, Dog. Go!” by P.D. Eastman OCF: What are you working on now? JLC: I have a couple of new books, which will start to take shape after “BIG WORDS For Little People” is published in the fall. Stacia Deutsch Home: Irvine How long she’s been writing: Seven years Most famous titles: The “Blast to the Past” series; “In the Stars,” “Batman: The Dark Knight Jr. Novel” Before Stacia Deutsch started writing, she worked as a rabbi at the Hebrew Union College back in 1995. And before she wrote children’s books, Deutsch wrote adult fiction. OCF: Why did you start writing children’s books? SD: One night, I was reading a story out loud to my kids, and the idea for a children’s series popped into my head. I called my friend Rhody Cohon and told her the concept. She encouraged me to write it. I told her I was too busy and didn’t know how. She suggested we do it together, and a partnership was born. By 2010, we will have written more than 23 books together. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? SD: When Cohon and I began the “Blast to the Past” novels ... we wanted chapter books that would both teach and entertain. When a kid is done reading one of these novels, they will know a great deal about the times and life of the main person in the novel, whether it’s Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney or Betsy Ross. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? SD: We both have kids in the 7-to-11 age range. We listen to them and watch what goes on with their friends. They are an endless source of inspiration. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books? SD: I love all the kids in the books. They are fun and funny and interesting in their own ways. OCF: Many moms have ideas for books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? SD: If you believe in your idea, you should always jump in with both feet. I mean, who would have guessed that I would be the co-author of 23 books? I went to graduate school for something entirely different. If we are flexible, the possibilities are endless. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? SD: I loved reading time-travel stories. I’ve read them all: “Magic Tree House,” “Time Warp Trio.” Anything with a time element gives me a rush! OCF: What are you working on now? SD: We were asked to ghost-write some young mystery novels. Can’t tell you what they are, but they are about a very popular girl detective. One thing led to another, and we have now turned to writing movie tie-in novels. We did “Batman: The Dark Knight” and have another movie-based series coming out with a film to be released in April. Back to top Debra Garfinkle Home: Aliso Viejo How long she’s been writing: 10 years Most famous titles: “Storky: How I Lost My Nickname And Won The Girl;” “Stuck In The ’70s;” and “Supernatural Rubber Chicken” Debra Garfinkle is a Southern California native who resides in Orange County. She is busy raising three children, and in her spare time, she writes for the OC Register and Writer’s Digest. OCF: Why did you start writing children’s books? DG: I’ve always been a bookworm, but I got sidetracked by a career as an attorney. The day after I quit my law job to spend more time with my children, I started writing my first novel. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? DG: My main goal is to make kids and teens love books. I try to slip a message into every book, but I try to make it subtle. I want my readers to laugh so hard, they don’t realize they’re learning. OCF: Where do you find inspiration? DG: I have a teenage daughter and two young sons who not only inspire me, they also critique my manuscripts. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? DG: I’m quite fond of Ed, the supernatural rubber chicken. He’s old and unkempt and cracks jokes a lot, but he’s really nice inside – kind of like me. OCF: Many moms have ideas for books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? DG: It takes more than a good idea to make a good book. Children’s books, like books for adults, must have a good plot and interesting characters and great style. What works for me is trying to come up with a unique idea that will interest children, having other writers critique my work and doing a lot of revisions until I get my story the best it can be. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? DG: I loved “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” by C.S. Lewis, and the entire Narnia series. As a teenager, I loved “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger. OCF: What are you working on now? DG: I’m drafting a humorous children’s novel with another author. We plotted the story together, and now we’re taking turns writing chapters. It’s fun. I’m also revising a humorous novel for teens. Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator) Home: Newport Beach How long she’s been illustrating: 13 years Most famous titles: “Tea for Ruby;” the “Fancy Nancy” series; “Daddy's Girl;” “America, a Patriotic Primer;” “You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum;” “Alexander;” and “Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move” Wearing lace-trimmed socks helps me draw better,” says Robin Preiss Glasser, a Newport Beach resident and illustrator of the renowned “Fancy Nancy” book series. OCF: Why did you start illustrating children’s books? RPG: I started out as a professional ballet dancer. When I stopped dancing, I went to college to get an art degree. Having some life experience behind me when going back to school, and knowing what I actually wanted to get out of it, helped me more directly reach my goal of illustrating children's books. Still, it took me five more years to break into the publishing business. It takes a lot more perseverance than most people might realize. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? RPG: I try to cram a lot of storytelling into my pictures so the viewer will want to return again and again to discover something new he or she hadn't seen before. I'm afraid that technology is stealing the cozy experience of turning the page and meandering through a book. So much is thrust on our children so fast, I worry that leisure time and internal discovery might be getting lost. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? RPG: I’d like to think of myself as a sort of Jerry Seinfeld of figure things out. For instance, in my latest “Fancy Nancy” book, “Bonjour Butterfly,” there's a page where Nancy is having a hissy fit because she can't go to her best friend's party. The words on the page are "I sulk." Nancy, in one of her best dresses, is schlumped over a rope-swing in the back yard. The reader gets to determine the back story just before she schlumps: Did she put on her best dress to try to cheer herself up? Was she out on the swing trying to fly like a butterfly, as demonstrated on the opening page? This is the sort of effort I encourage from my readers. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? RPG: Nancy, in the “Fancy Nancy” series, is my favorite. She's such a drama queen, and she tries so hard, but things don't always work out. It's very close to who I am. I know her soul. OCF: Many moms have ideas for books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? RPG: I'm the illustrator for picture books and can only speak about why I'm attracted to a manuscript. The craft of writing for children is something that I admire greatly. I view our best picture-book writers in the same vein as our great poets. To conjure up a whole world in so few words is a talent that goes beyond just a good idea. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? RPG: I loved “Eloise” and “Harriet the Spy.” I love humor and a bit of naughtiness in the books I choose, even today. OCF: What are you working on now? RPG: This fall, I’ll be going on a two-month national tour for Sarah Ferguson's “Tea for Ruby.” I adore meeting all the young kids who come to my book signings dressed in their fanciest clothes. The books I’ve been writing are about dressing up and good manners. D.J. MacHale Home: Southern California How long he’s been writing: Six years Most famous titles: “Pendragon: Journal of an Adventure Through Time and Space” D.J. MacHale began his career in the film industry. After graduating from NYU, he made commercials and industrial films, followed by many years of writing, directing and producing children’s television for ABC, NBC, Showtime, PBS, HBO, Nickelodeon and Discovery Kids. “Pendragon” is his first book series. OCF: Why did you start writing children's books? DJM: When I came up with the idea for "Pendragon," I thought it was too long for a movie and too big and expensive for TV, so I thought it was the perfect project to live as a book series. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? DJM: The theme that runs through all my work is self-empowerment. I put characters into challenging situations, and they have nowhere to turn for help but themselves. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? DJM: From real life. Simple as that. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? DJM: It's a toss-up between Bobby Pendragon and his nemesis, Saint Dane. Bobby Pendragon is my alter ego, maneuvering through incredible challenges with skill and humor – something I can only aspire to. And Saint Dane is a villainous genius. OCF: Many moms have ideas for children's books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? DJM: The first thing you should ask is: "What is it about my story that will stand out from others?" because that's the first thing an agent, editor or publisher will ask. Being good isn't good enough. Be unique. And write from the heart. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? DJM: I went from Dr. Seuss straight to Dr. No. I devoured all books by Ian Fleming and adventures by Alistair McLean. OCF: What are you working on now? DJM: I'm finishing up the final Pendragon book. Then I have three new series: “Morpheus Road,” a spooky trilogy; “The Equinox Curiosity Shop,” a fantasy series; and “The Monster Princess,” a picture-book series for little girls. Back to top Barney Saltzberg Home: Los Angeles How long he’s been writing: Since 1981 Famous titles: “Peekaboo Kisses” and “Crazy Hair Day” John Lennon inspired Barney Saltzberg to play the guitar and learn music. He also picked up a pen because Lennon loved to doodle. But Saltzberg eventually took a different path: He began drawing, and it would later become his trade. Saltzberg has recorded four children’s CDs, but art and writing have brought him fame. OCF: Why did you start writing children’s books? BS: I fell in love with William Steig’s “The Amazing Bone” (Steig is the author/illustrator of “Shrek”). I wanted to be in the forest where the story took place, and I loved it. Writing and illustrating picture books sounded like a wonderful way to spend my life. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? BS: To not give up – there’s always a creative way to solve problems; and to be supportive of your friends. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? BS: My children, who are now in college, were always finding themselves in situations that made me say, “Ah-ha!” OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? BS: Cornelius P. Mud. He is a little pig with a wonderful imagination. He’s silly and fun. I hope that rubs off on both children and parents. We can be so serious. Life is short. Have fun! OCF: Many moms have ideas for books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? BS: As simple as a picture book might seem, they are really hard to write. You need objective listeners. Our children, friends and family are not the way to decide if the story works. The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, (SCBWI.org) has critique groups all over the country. Join a group. Have other writers give feedback. Have an open mind and leave your ego at home. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? BS: I loved “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Stuart Little” and “Are You My Mother?” OCF: What are you working on now? BS: I just finished the first draft for my first chapter book, which is a big departure for me as far as writing. I am also illustrating a picture book, which I wrote for Candlewick, called “All Around The Seasons.” I have about four other books in various stages. Gary Soto Home: Berkeley How long he’s been writing: Since 1977 Famous titles: “Baseball in April;” “Chato’s Kitchen;” “Too Many Tamales;” “Buried Onions” Gary Soto’s character-driven stories have been captivating young readers for many years. OCF: Why did you start writing children’s books? GS: After my first story was published, I got responses from my readers in colleges around the country. That rarely happened with my poetry books. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? GS: I want to bring a deeper sympathy to my characters. Many of them are flawed, like you and me, and the reader feels for them, roots for them and gets frustrated with them. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? GS: Writing is my career, so I have to make it happen on my own. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? GS: My favorite set of characters is these low-riding cats named Chato and Novio Boy, who live in East Los Angeles. OCF: Many moms have ideas for books. How do you know if your idea is good enough to sell? GS: Even publishers aren’t sure what will or will not sell. Ideas are not quite enough; editors want to see a manuscript. Children and young adults don’t write for commercial success. We write because we have something to say, even if the book may not appeal to a large audience. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? GS: “Pinnochio!” I’ve always disliked liars, and his donkey ears were rightful punishment. OCF: What are you working on now? GS: I have a poetry book for middle-grade students called “Partly Cloudy: Poems of Love and Longing,” due in early 2009. Mo Willems Home: Massachusetts How long he’s been writing: Five years Most famous titles: “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive The Bus” and “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale” Mo Willems wrote for “Sesame Street,” earning him six Emmy Awards. Today, he’s a full-blown children’s author. OCF: Why did you start writing children’s books? MW: Making kids’ books is one of the few things that I have the remotest aptitude for. It’s fun to be on the same team as kids. OCF: What message do you hope children take from your books? MW: First, I grimace at the idea of having a “message.” I strongly believe what I say, but I hope I don’t have anything to prove. I try to be honest and trust in readers’ sense of decency and humor. OCF: Where do you get your inspiration? MW: My mortgage. It keeps me working. OCF: Who is your favorite character in your books and why? MW: My favorite character is my next character. OCF: What was your favorite book when you were a child? MW: As a kid, I was as lonely as Charlie Brown, as philosophical as Linus, as self-centered as Lucy and as coordinated as Woodstock. Those “Peanuts” collections I bought at the drugstore were a perfect fit. I also dug “Spiderman” in the ’70s. It was like Charlie Brown with superpowers. OCF: What’s on your plate now? MW: I’m surviving a move and renovation (“Don’t Let the Pigeon Get a New Studio!”). In addition to January’s release of “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed,” I’m excited about some upcoming projects, including my first picture book to be illustrated by someone else (the awesome Jon Muth), a “pop-out” book and further adventures of my pals Elephant and Piggie. Kathleen Crain is a contributing writer for OC Family magazine. Back to top |
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