Tales from the Rushmore Kid

Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton

I have met Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton several times over the years.  She has been an inspiration and she is a prolific writer.  She gave many of us hope of publication with her tenacity and encouragement.  It is my great pleasure to interview Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton for my blog.

When and why did you start writing for children?

I began writing for children the first year I was teaching school in 1977.  I wrote with a friend and did everything wrong.  I thought because I was a teacher I could just wing it.  I read children's books every day--so I just figured I could write a book.

Corn - Art for Cash sake

For many years I illustrated black & white spots for different food magazines.  If the art director really loved it they would bump up the size to feature it, all for the same work-for-hire pay.  My assignment would be very basic like " Something to do with corn. And don't forget a space for type. Oh and we want it tomorrow."
It was a challenge to do something creative.  I must admit the thought of people, place or thing usually came up. With my trusty splattering toothbrush in hand, I would deliver.

Lee Bennett Hopkins

The poet, Lee Bennett Hopkins, is a legend in our business.  For many years he has entertained us with his wonderful stories and has introduced new authors through his anthologies.  He is talented, kind and generous and I am so pleased that Lee Bennett Hopkins agreed to be interviewed.

When and why did you start writing for children?

After publishing professional books for several years, my first anthology of poetry for children appeared in l969:  DON'T YOU TURN BACK: POEMS BY LANGSTON HUGHES (Knopf).

Art for Art's Sake - Paris, sketch book art

One of the coolest things about Paris is that you see the Eiffel Tower from everywhere.  It dominates the city and you can use it to find your way around.  The Parisians dress for dinner, which I love, because being an ornament is one of my favorite games.  But, this trip I traveled solo and only stopped over for a few days before I met my girlfriends in Jordan, to hike the ancient ruins.  All I had with me were jeans, a back pack and hiking boots, but no cocktail dress.  So, at this fancy hotel every night, I took dinner in my room with a million dollar view of the city and a sketch book for company.

East - Edith Pattou

Rose  never  fit in with her other six sisters.  Always  different,  Rosa is a wanderer and not a homebody like the rest  of  her family.   When an enormous white bear  arrives one day ,  Rose  makes a deal to  leave with the  bear in exchange for health and prosperity for her family.  In this wild  fantasy,  Rose  eventually  discovers the  true  identity  of the bear and her  place  in  a prophecy .  Through wild ice kingdoms, Rose takes enormous risks to help the bear and herself. What  a great  story.  This  book was put into my hand and now  I put it in many others.  A must read fantasy.

Shrinking Violets top ten marketing tips

Last year, authors Robin La Fever and Mary Hershey started a promotion blog for shy authors, Shrinking Violets Blog.  I asked them to give me ten marketing tips to help us writers start off the new year.

1. Practice good marketing karma.
Don’t always be thinking “how can I promote my book” but rather how can I entertain my audience or serve my reader. 

Sketchbook Art - Santorini - Greece

The Greeks say that after God made the world he had a few rocks left over and threw them into the ocean to make the Greek Islands.  Santorini is one of those rocks.   Set 1800 feet on top of a crater this town is amazing.  You have to take a burrow or these bubble trams up a sheer cliff.  On top I was not surprised to find the breathtaking view, the traditional blue and white buildngs and a onion dome church.  But I was surrprise to find Cartier, Louis Vutton, Valentino and many other Beverly Hills type stores! Apparently, this was one of Jacky O's haunts.

Mississippi Jack - A Bloody Jack adventure

I am a  huge  fan of  the Jacky Farber series.  These are the most action packed, rich with texture, sumptuous stories.  L. A. Meyer is a master story teller and keeps me at the edge of my seat. In the 5th book of the series, the sixteen year old irascible mid-shipman Jacky Farber is still being chased by the Royal Navy for piracy.  This time she heads out to American's frontier during the ealry 1800's, where danger and adventure are around every corner.
L.A. Meyer paint a vivid tale on the Mississippi, where Jacky commandeers a barge and with a motley bunch of crew turns it into a showboat/battle ship.

Mary Lee & Franki - A Year of Reading

Mary Lee Hahn & Franki Sibberson are just amazing. Every year, these two teachers try to have read the upcoming Newbery winners.  They write about it on their well known blog, A year of reading.  They also write book reviews and thoughts on children's literature.  Both are judges for the Cybils, a childrens and YA bloggers literary award and they are also authors in their own right.  I am delighted that these gals found the time to be interviewed.

How many children’s books do you read a year?

Franki:  I read between 25-35 children’s novels a year. I don’t keep track of picture books and poetry.

Mary Lee:  My goal is 52 children’s novels per year.  I’ve had that goal since 1987, and there have only been a couple of years when I didn’t meet it.  I have a small shelf full of the Book Logs where I’ve kept track of all the books I’ve read in the last twenty (gasp!) years.

Art for Cash Sake

This was a painting I did for a Mexican restaurant.  If I'm lucky, I get to know the clients like I did here.  They loved their dog and their restaurant was unique because they delivered.  So this is a painting of their beloved dog Hunter delivering food to Ventura County, I thought the red T-bird spruced it up.  It has a place of honor hanging in their restaurant, Mexican Express.

Cynthia Lord

MOST POPULAR INTERVIEWS 2007

One of this year's Newbery Honor winners, Rules, is a book that I had to finish once I started.  A heart warming story of 12-year old Catherine struggling with her own embarrassment, anger and frustration over her younger brother, David's autism. This is a fabulous story that shows the weight of an all-encompassing disability on a family and how all kids, even the disabled ones, need to belong.  The story was so authentic that I was not surprised to find that the author has a child with autism. I am so pleased that Cynthia Lord agreed to be interviewed for my blog.

When and why did you start writing for children?

I  started writing RULES in 2000-01.  I've always loved reading  children's books, and I have a special fondness for middle grade novels.  When I started RULES, my own daughter was Catherine's age, so I wrote it partly for her.      

Ralph Nader - The 17 Traditions

MOST POPULAR INTERVIEWS 2007

Ralph Nader  has made our cars safer, our lives greener and our hearts wiser by refusing to settle for a government "as is".  He has written a new book, The 17 Traditions, about family values that he and we were brought up on and how, in this hectic electronic age, we can bring them back into our lives.  I am honored that consumer advocate, two time presidential candidate and civic organizer, Mr. Ralph Nader agreed to answer a few questions about his new book.

Of the seventeen traditions featured in your book, which three traditions would you recommend a family practice on a daily basis?

Traditions of Listening, Independent Thinking and the Tradition of Civics.

Happy New Year 2008