I met Erica Perl though the Kidlitosphere community. Blogger, author and editor-at-large for Abrams, Erica Perl is one funny lady. Her new book, Chicken Butt, is a scream, and I'm so happy to be part of the Chicken Butt Blog Tour 2009. Erica is also giving away prizes the last day of the tour. Go to her blog, leave a comment and sign up for the drawing. I give you Erica Perl.
When and why did you start writing for children?
I’ve always written and I’ve always loved children’s books. As a kid, I wanted to be an author-illustrator when I grew up. I’ve had many other jobs along the way (including being a trial lawyer and teaching dog obedience), but I’m pretty thrilled to have accomplished half of what I originally set out to do!
For a long time, I wrote but wasn’t sure I wanted to “be a writer” – it seemed too solitary for me. I was pleased to discover that as a children’s book writer, I would have many opportunities to get out and share my work with librarians, teachers, and best of all, children.
What is the most valuable advice you can give to a newly published writer?
Carry your book with you at all times! You never know who you’ll meet where, and it is very handy to be able to pull it out and show it to people. Read your book wherever people will let you, even if only one kid shows up. Make positive connections with book lovers and purchasers to ensure that people remember you as both a good writer and a genial human being. Because although this is your first book, hopefully it will not be your last!
What is one of your favorite children’s books that you'd like to recommend?
Just one? That’s hard. I have a lot of favorites. Really, I could go on and on. William Steig’s SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE, Russell Hoban’s BEDTIME FOR FRANCES and all of Arnold Lobel’s books (not just Frog and Toad but OWL AT HOME, SMALL PIG, and GIANT JOHN) are among my favorites from my childhood. But I love a lot of contemporary authors and illustrators too, like Simon James and Mini Grey and Emily Gravett. Come to think of it, I have a real affection for the Brits. If I have to pick just one, I’ll say Simon James’s DEAR MR. BLUEBERRY.
What are you working on now?
My first young adult novel, VINTAGE VERONICA, comes out next spring from Knopf. It’s about a girl working at a secondhand clothing store and getting drawn into the drama of her coworkers’ lives. I also have a new picture book coming out next spring: DOTTY, illustrated by Julia Denos. It’s about a girl whose imaginary friend won’t go away.
Right now I’m working on a series of interconnected stories about two sisters. If my two daughters ask, please back me up and say that the characters are NOT based on them.
What is your favorite dessert and why?
Meyer lemon tart. I am drooling at the very thought of it. Super-tangy and that brilliant egg-yolk yellow. What’s not to like?
CHICKEN BUTT BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:
5/4 = Natasha Maw's MAW BOOKS BLOG: http://blog.mawbooks.com/
5/5 = Tina Nichols Coury's TALES FROM THE RUSHMORE KID: http://www.tinanicholscouryblog.com/
5/6 = Pam Couglan's MOTHERREADER: http://www.motherreader.com/
5/7 = Kimberly Willis Holt's A PEN AND A NEST: http://www.apenandanest.blogspot.com/
5/8 = Terry Golson's HEN BLOG: http://www.hencam.com/henblog/
5/11 = Elizabeth Bird's FUSE # 8: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379.html
5/12 = Shelly Burns' WRITEFORAREADER: http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/
5/13 = Susan Thomsen's CHICKEN SPAGHETTI: http://www.chickenspaghetti.typepad.com/
Erica S. Perl is an award winning children’s book author. Her first picture book, Chicken Bedtime is Really Early, received a starred review from Booklist and accolades from fans young and old. She followed this success with Ninety-Three In My Family, which received the Reuben Award and was a Book Sense Pick. Erica’s new picture book, Chicken Butt! is illustrated by Henry Cole and has been called “a laugh-out-loud, read-it-again delight for the whole family.” Her first young adult novel, Vintage Veronica, which will be published in Spring, 2010 by Knopf. Erica also writes about children’s books and media for Slate, works as an editor-at-large at Abrams Books for Young Readers and teaches creative writing. Her website is www.ericaperl.com.
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