The ALSC Blog has been invited to participate in a “blog interview tour” next week. Interviews on blogs are inexpensive ways for librarians, teachers and students to access authors and illustrators. Jenny, Aimee, Diane and I discussed how/if participation would work for our association’s blog. We agreed that interviews with authors/illustrators who have had works selected by past ALSC committees would be a nice fit for future posts.
We are pleased to announce that next week we will feature four different authors as a kick-off for an “Author Spotlight” on the ALSC Blog. Here’s the schedule:
- Monday: Kirby Larson, author of the 2007 Newbery Honor Book, Hattie Big Sky.
- Tuesday: Deborah Hopkinson, author of the 2005 ALSC Notable Children’s Book, Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains; the ALSC 2007 Notable Children’s Book, Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building; and Bluebird Summer, part of ALSC Quick Lists Committee’s Books on Separation and Loss.
- Thursday: Ken Mochizuki, author of Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story, a 1998 ALSC Notable Children’s Book as well as a 2001 ALSC Notable Children’s Recording which he narrates, and Heroes which was selected by the 2000-2002 ALSC International Relations Committee for its The American Experience: Strength from Diversity book list.
- Friday: Barbara Jean Hicks, author of Jitterbug Jam: A Monster Tale, a 2006 ALSC Notable Children’s Book.
All four authors graciously answered the same list of questions. I believe the questions were open enough to allow their individuality to shine through. In case you are interested, I have listed the questions below. In the meantime, I welcome your suggestions of ALSC-honored authors/illustrators to feature in the future.
1. What is your personal history and how has it informed your work?
2. Describe your writing process.
3. How do you select your books’ topics?
4. Why do you write for children? What experiences have influenced your writing for young people?
5. Please describe a few of the collaborations that you have developed because of your writing, either during the writing process or after the project is completed.
6. Share any experience you may have regarding audiobooks.
7. Describe yourself as a reader. What books influenced and inspired you as a child? As an adult?
8. What role did libraries play in your childhood? What role do libraries play in your life now?
9. What do you consider the challenges and rewards of being an author? Of being an author who visits schools and libraries?
10. What do you want children to come away with after reading one of your books?
11. Please share a little about your current work.
12. At this point in your career, what has been your most memorable experience?
13. In this world of instant communication and concerns about privacy, how does the Internet (if it does at all) affect you personally and as a writer?
14. What are your goals and aspirations?
15. What piece of advice has been the most valuable to you?
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of the ALSC Blog?
-posted by Teresa Walls