| Interview with Peter De Witt |
First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My
name is Jen, and I'll be your server toda...oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out
of your writing schedule--which I'm sure is busy!--and answering a few questions for your readers and
fans.
Let's get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
I've always enjoyed writing. In college, I enjoyed reflection pieces and would write about things that
happened in the past. I actually liked when my professors gave me writing assignments!
Then, I taught elementary school for eleven years and read children's books to my students, I secretly
dreamed my name was on it. I guess I don't have to dream anymore!
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It was long and complicated. I wrote a few picture book manuscripts about five years ago and I received
personal notes from publishers saying they liked my style (bu they still turned me down!). Then I had a
publisher ask me if I ever wanted to write longer works. My first answer was, "No way!" But then I got an
idea about a place called Toaster Pond (long story!) and then I couldn't stop writing. I sent a few copies of
it out and my publisher, DNA Press picked it up. It took me another year to finish it but it was well worth the
wait.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
My first novel Toaster Pond came out last summer. It's a fun adventure novel where kids have to use their
brains and work as a team to save the day. It has all the elements of a good story. Action, adventure,
three normal kids, and an evil villainess. What could be better!!!
Isabella and the Room of Lost Brooms is another YA novel and will be out in the fall of this year. It has a
female lead character, Isabella who finds a mysterious hidden room in her basement that is filled with old
brooms. Trial and error teaches her that it's her job to deliver them back to the witches who used to own
them. But Isabella has to watch out for the Broom Mistress!
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
Wow, that is a hard question! I would say I have been inspired by many people in my life. All of the
students I taught, my family and friends. Also, I'm an elementary school principal, so the students in my
school are really amazing and they inspire me as well.
Let's hear about your family, who I'm sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
I am the youngest of five, and even though I'm in my late thirties, my mom is extremely proud. My siblings
love Toaster Pond!
My dad passed away when I was very young, so my family is very close and really important to me. The
coolest thing for me was when my whole family came to my first book signing. It was a very special
moment. They can't wait to read Isabella!
Now for some fun facts. What's your greatest comfort food?
Sesame noodles. Pizza.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
I drink a small glass of orange juice, grab a cup of coffee, and go take a shower. What can I say, I'm
boring! I have to get to the office early in the morning, so I don't have much time to get ready.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what's the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
I'm a neat freak! I get made fun of all the time. All of my clothes are color coded and everything has to be
ironed before I put it in my closet. Does that make me strange???
Everyone asks the question about "if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?" so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Green. It's the color of life.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
My favorite cartoon character is Johnny Quest because he's adventurous. Which one is most like
me...hmm...I'm a little bit Wylie Coyote a little bit Road Runner. Ahh, who am I kidding, I'm most like
George Jetson.
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world ("Beam me up, Scotty!"), during any time in history,
where and when would it be--and why?
Great question! I would get beamed to Poestenkill Elementary School because that's where I'm a principal
and I love it there. However, my second choice would be New York City during the roaring twenties. It
seems like such a great period of time (before the great depression though).
So what's your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you're writing?
I'm a classical music fanatic! Which is what I listen to when I write. However, it's got to be solo music, like
just a piano, or just the violin. Evgeny Kissin, Murray Perhia, Joshua Bell and Hillary Hahn. Have you
heard of them?
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie
you saw at the theater?
My all time favorite tv show was a tie between Magnum P.I. and Friends (How's that for being completely
different!).
I have been watching a lot of American Idol lately, although I think the judges are mean sometimes.
The last movie I saw in the theater was Dreamgirls.
A movie I watch over and over--.there are two of them. Field of Dreams, and any of the Harry Potter
movies.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Read Toaster Pond! Kidding.
I was a horrible student growing up. However I never gave up. I got my act together while I was in a
community college. Now I have a masters degree and an advanced study degree. So my biggest advice
is--don't ever give up. It may be the only life we have, live it to it's full potential. Don't let anyone tell you
that you can't do something, because I'm proof that you can.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Catcher's Mitt (Centering Corporation, summer 2007) and Isabella and the Room of Lost Brooms (DNA
Press, fall, 2007). Visit me at www.toasterpond.com.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thank you for visiting with me!
name is Jen, and I'll be your server toda...oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out
of your writing schedule--which I'm sure is busy!--and answering a few questions for your readers and
fans.
Let's get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
I've always enjoyed writing. In college, I enjoyed reflection pieces and would write about things that
happened in the past. I actually liked when my professors gave me writing assignments!
Then, I taught elementary school for eleven years and read children's books to my students, I secretly
dreamed my name was on it. I guess I don't have to dream anymore!
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It was long and complicated. I wrote a few picture book manuscripts about five years ago and I received
personal notes from publishers saying they liked my style (bu they still turned me down!). Then I had a
publisher ask me if I ever wanted to write longer works. My first answer was, "No way!" But then I got an
idea about a place called Toaster Pond (long story!) and then I couldn't stop writing. I sent a few copies of
it out and my publisher, DNA Press picked it up. It took me another year to finish it but it was well worth the
wait.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
My first novel Toaster Pond came out last summer. It's a fun adventure novel where kids have to use their
brains and work as a team to save the day. It has all the elements of a good story. Action, adventure,
three normal kids, and an evil villainess. What could be better!!!
Isabella and the Room of Lost Brooms is another YA novel and will be out in the fall of this year. It has a
female lead character, Isabella who finds a mysterious hidden room in her basement that is filled with old
brooms. Trial and error teaches her that it's her job to deliver them back to the witches who used to own
them. But Isabella has to watch out for the Broom Mistress!
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
Wow, that is a hard question! I would say I have been inspired by many people in my life. All of the
students I taught, my family and friends. Also, I'm an elementary school principal, so the students in my
school are really amazing and they inspire me as well.
Let's hear about your family, who I'm sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
I am the youngest of five, and even though I'm in my late thirties, my mom is extremely proud. My siblings
love Toaster Pond!
My dad passed away when I was very young, so my family is very close and really important to me. The
coolest thing for me was when my whole family came to my first book signing. It was a very special
moment. They can't wait to read Isabella!
Now for some fun facts. What's your greatest comfort food?
Sesame noodles. Pizza.
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
I drink a small glass of orange juice, grab a cup of coffee, and go take a shower. What can I say, I'm
boring! I have to get to the office early in the morning, so I don't have much time to get ready.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what's the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
I'm a neat freak! I get made fun of all the time. All of my clothes are color coded and everything has to be
ironed before I put it in my closet. Does that make me strange???
Everyone asks the question about "if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?" so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Green. It's the color of life.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
My favorite cartoon character is Johnny Quest because he's adventurous. Which one is most like
me...hmm...I'm a little bit Wylie Coyote a little bit Road Runner. Ahh, who am I kidding, I'm most like
George Jetson.
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world ("Beam me up, Scotty!"), during any time in history,
where and when would it be--and why?
Great question! I would get beamed to Poestenkill Elementary School because that's where I'm a principal
and I love it there. However, my second choice would be New York City during the roaring twenties. It
seems like such a great period of time (before the great depression though).
So what's your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you're writing?
I'm a classical music fanatic! Which is what I listen to when I write. However, it's got to be solo music, like
just a piano, or just the violin. Evgeny Kissin, Murray Perhia, Joshua Bell and Hillary Hahn. Have you
heard of them?
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie
you saw at the theater?
My all time favorite tv show was a tie between Magnum P.I. and Friends (How's that for being completely
different!).
I have been watching a lot of American Idol lately, although I think the judges are mean sometimes.
The last movie I saw in the theater was Dreamgirls.
A movie I watch over and over--.there are two of them. Field of Dreams, and any of the Harry Potter
movies.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Read Toaster Pond! Kidding.
I was a horrible student growing up. However I never gave up. I got my act together while I was in a
community college. Now I have a masters degree and an advanced study degree. So my biggest advice
is--don't ever give up. It may be the only life we have, live it to it's full potential. Don't let anyone tell you
that you can't do something, because I'm proof that you can.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
Catcher's Mitt (Centering Corporation, summer 2007) and Isabella and the Room of Lost Brooms (DNA
Press, fall, 2007). Visit me at www.toasterpond.com.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thank you for visiting with me!
| Visit Mr. De Witt's Website! |