FAQs

(Frequently Asked Questions, or Fried Armadillo Queens? You decide.)

What inspires you to write stories?

Inspiration does not usually come from one particular event or a sudden burst of an idea—kahblamo!—that hits my brain cells. That would be very exciting! (And potentially painful.) For me, inspiration is a bit more complicated. And much less abrupt. It starts with a character, and then is shaped by a culmination (that’s a fun word to say, isn’t it? Culmination…) of several seemingly unrelated things—happenings, objects, and feelings—that I notice over a period of time and end up stitching together in a story. 

I jot my ideas in a notebook or two (or seven) and think about the character for a very long time until I can clearly “hear” his/her voice. After that happens, then I start writing. 

Not all inspiration ends up in a story, though. Some of it will not make it out of the notebook. A lot of ideas are just ideas and don’t have any wheels to carry a story. Did you know that stories have wheels? Well, they do. And legs, too.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on the book. But on average, about 2 to 3 years. What can I say? I write very SL……OW…….LY.

What inspired you to write/illustrate, and when did you know you would become an author/illustrator?

I’ve always been an avid reader, and as a kid I liked to make up stories to entertain myself and my friends and family. Even though I secretly wanted to be an author, I kept that buried deep inside. It wasn’t until many, many, many years later that I found the courage to try.

What was your favorite book growing up?

I have a hard time with favorites. Picking just one thing seems really unfair. There were so many wonderful books I loved as a kid. Charlotte’s Web, anything by Beverly Cleary or Judy Blume, The Secret Garden, The Outsiders.

Do you have any pets? 

We have two rescue dogs, three chickens, two hermit crabs, one goldfish, and one gerbil. Would you like to know their names? I’ll tell you anyway.

Dogs: Scout and Moon Dog 

Chickens: Princess Leia Eggs, Ruth Bawka Ginsburg, and Edith the Egg Lady

Hermit Crabs: Active and Slightly Active

Goldfish: Gafudo

Gerbil: Jean Valjean

Name three of your favorite authors/children’s book authors of all time.

Again with the favorites. I suppose if I have to pick only three, I’d choose Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo, and Jeanne Birdsall. But there are so many more…

If you could live in any book, which would it be?

I think I could be very happy being a Penderwick on Gardam Street.

If you could have a magical talent (i.e., becoming invisible, or the ability to fly), what would it be? 

My daughter and I ponder this question with some regularity. I think I’d like to have the ability to heal people. Also, being able to breathe under water would be super cool. Also, being able to shrink things to pocket-size. Like cars, for example. Which would be really helpful when I’m trying to find a parking space. 

What is your favorite food? 

Peach pie. Also, soup. Also, cereal.

Has it changed since childhood? 

Nope.

What food did you hate growing up but came to love in adulthood?

Vegetables. Specifically, green ones.