Author Talk

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Marcus here compiles brief interviews with 15 well-known children's book authors. Using a similar set of questions for each interview, he offers a sense of the diversity of approaches to the writing life and balances his queries between those pertaining to the writers' childhoods and to their current careers. The authors' responses are insightful and often humorous: Blume explains her inventive approach to sixth grade book reports, "I didn't want to report on the books I was reading, so I made up books for my reports, coming up with a title, an author, a theme, and the major characters"; James Howe offers advice to aspiring young writers ("Writing is like digging in the sand for buried treasure: You have to be willing to do a lot of digging. Most of what you unearth won't glitter"); and Ann M. Martin comments that, as a child, "I didn't see writing as a career option. For a long time, I think I thought all writers were dead!" Marcus uncovers some intriguing morsels: when E.L. Konigsburg published her first two novels in 1967, one won the Newbery Medal, the other a Newbery Honor citation, and Russell Freedman retypes each of his book manuscripts on an antique typewriter at least four times. In addition to the editor's well-crafted introductions to the writers, the volume contains contemporary photos and childhood snapshots, reproductions of edited manuscript pages and a selected bibliography of each author's oeuvre. An excellent choice for aspiring writers and avid readers. Ages 8-12. (Aug.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

The subtitle goes on to list fifteen authors, all of whom have impacted children, won awards, stood the test of time, and who collectively represent poetry, fiction, nonfiction, humor, and more serious books. Marcus has chosen his subjects well. All of them are writers who have important things to say. Perhaps that is why he picked them and it is most definitely why the result is so superb. It takes a special gift to get words that matter from an interviewee. You must listen closely, question provocatively and respectfully, have an impeccable sense of timing and a willingness to follow your subject, and lead only when necessary. You must be engaging and thoughtful. Marcus' interviewing shows all these qualities. He begins each portrait with a sketch of the author, noting the childhood traits that later helped develop writing talents. He asks these authors about their childhood, following up with questions that make sense for that specific author. Marcus escapes what might have been a formulaic process and captures all the magic of their creativity and self-reflecting. Newbery award-winning Karen Cushman wrote her first novel because her husband dared her. Bruce Brooks thinks revision is badly named. The word implies that you are going back over something you have already done. But you are not going back. You are going on with the writing process. Freedman, best known for his incredible historical photo-biographies, had a father who was an editor in a large publishing house and brought authors to his home, "so as a boy, I would sit at the table and watch and listen to those colorful, larger-than-life men and women." Poet Lee Bennet Hopkins' father deserted his family when he was young,and his mother was alcoholic, but he didn't want for much because "whatever we wanted, our mother stole for us!" This book parallels the equally remarkable and award-winning series by Pat Cummings called "Talking with the Artists." 2000, Simon & Schuster, $22.00. Ages 9 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde

VOYA

This inventive and colorful book contains fifteen original interviews with contemporary children's and young adult authors. Their work spans every conceivable type of literature from fiction—Judy Blume, Bruce Brooks, Ann M. Martin—to nonfiction—Russell Freedman, Seymour Simon—to poetry—Lee Bennett Hopkins. Authors of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds are well represented, including Lois Lowry, Nicholasa Mohr, and Laurence Yep. The author's date of birth, birthplace, and a brief summary of the author's career introduce each friendly, conversational interview that ends with a list of selected works. Interviews reveal the author's childhood and its influence on later writing, professional writing career, and the inspiration behind some characters. Karen Cushman discusses her late start in publishing, and E. L. Konigsberg describes the girl who inspired Cynthia in Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth (Atheneum, 1975). Young readers undoubtedly will be fascinated by the disparity in the writers' early lives and how these differences are reflected in their writing. James Howe, Johanna Hurwitz, and Jon Scieszka discuss their model childhoods with loving parents who encouraged their creativity, whereas Gary Paulsen speaks frankly about the self-reliance he learned from being ignored by his alcoholic parents. Marcus does a splendid job of asking the questions that young readers would want to ask and of providing an intimate glimpse into the life of each writer. Dozens of photographs portray the authors as children and showcase their families, writing studios, and manuscript pages. School and public librarians will find this title awonderful supplement to book discussions, book or author reports, read-aloud programs, or as leisure reading for aspiring young writers. Illus. Photos. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2000, Simon & Schuster, 103p, $22. Ages 12 to 15. Reviewer: Leah J. Sparks

SOURCE: VOYA, October 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 4)

Children's Literature

When I read Dear Genius and Awakened By the Moon I found myself thinking how wonderful it would be to offer young readers this kind of insight into the minds of gifted writers and editors. As if in response to that wish, Leonard Marcus has come up with this spirited collection of conversations with fifteen of the best-known authors of children's books. The range is splendid, from Judy Blume to Laurence Yep. Jon Scieszka's interview rings with the feisty voice and ironic humor we find in his writing. Elaine Konigsberg fesses up to a childhood penchant for melodrama. Yep talks about being perpetually on the border between two cultures. It's wonderful stuff, the making of story, and Marcus takes us behind the scenes with people whose work children already know and love. A particular delight is the inclusion of photographs, and images of scratched up manuscript pages. 2000, Simon and Schuster, Ages 8 to 12, $22.00. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami

School Library Journal

Gr 3-7-In a format similar to that used by Pat Cummings in her "Talking with Artists" series (S & S and Clarion), Marcus interviews 15 children's authors, who speak about their childhood, their pleasures, their writing, and reading. Each interview begins with a lively and informative introduction in which Marcus draws a verbal picture of the author and gives some background information. The only quibble one can make with this format is that one often wants the interviewer to prod a bit, to ask why. Though the questions vary depending on the person, there is some continuity that allows readers to see similarities and differences in a very diverse group of individuals. In response to the question, "What do you tell girls and boys who want to write?" Lee Bennett Hopkins replies, "I tell them to read, that they're not going to become writers if they're not readers." Karen Cushman tells them, "To read a lot and write a lot-that it's like exercising muscles." Gary Paulsen says, "Read.-Read like a wolf eats!" Childhood photographs, drawings, and pages of edited manuscript complement the words in this handsome book. Although no African Americans are represented, the group of interviewees is varied. Just imagine sitting down with Judy Blume or E. L. Konigsburg or Nicholasa Mohr or Laurence Yep. Author Talk allows children to do just that.-Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

Karen Carden

For this project, Marcus interviewed 15 popular children's book authors, and what has resulted is this engaging and informative volume...Information in this book is accessible, satisfying, and entertaining, so this could easily become a top choice for students' perennial book-report assignments.
—The Christian Science Monitor

Kirkus Reviews

Similar in format to the Talking with Artists books, this is a welcome addition to the field of author biography. Marcus (Dear Genius,not reviewed, etc.) has produced a fascinating compilation of 15 interviews with some of today's most successful authors of children's books. Beginning each six- or seven-page segment with a brief but meaty biography, he includes contemporary and childhood photographs of his subjects, question-and-answer interviews, and selected bibliographies—the "Bruce Brooks Reader," for example. One perceptive photograph in each profile pictures a manuscript page marked up with editorial comments and author revisions, something most children will find similar to their own schoolwork. Also fun is a chance to see the studio or office where each author works. In the interview sections, Marcus's well-chosen and insightful questions elicit sensitive and sometimes very personal replies. Many of his questions are those that kids would have asked, such as "What's the best part of being a writer for you?" To which Ann M. Martin replies, ". . .mostly it feels exciting, especially when I'm involved with the characters or the scene. I can feel the excitement in my stomach. It's almost like being at the circus." In answer to "How do you know when a book is done?" Russell Freedman says, "A book is never really finished. At some point you just have to say to yourself, I've done as well as I can do." Among those interviewed are Judy Blume, Karen Cushman, Lois Lowry, and Jon Scieszka. Children receive not only a glimpse of their favorite writers' lives, but also advice and inspiration for theirownwork. (Nonfiction. 10-12)