| Interview with Kathryn Erskine |
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 loved writing but never thought to make it a career—until my mother died and I realized I should
start now because who knows what will happen?
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
I took a children’s writing class and found a group of wonderful writers. We’re still together 10 years later! I
attended many conferences and seminars, including Chautauqua and a Highlights Foundation workshop,
where I met Patti Gauch, and eventually was lucky enough to work with her on a manuscript. She was, and
is, my dream editor.
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?
What I like to say is that Quaking is a story of finding peace, no matter where you’ve been or where you’re
going.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
That’s tough. I’m constantly touched by people or issues and can’t help writing about them.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My sister and husband are my greatest supporters. They’re so happy and proud. I feel very lucky. My
children think it’s pretty cool, too. My daughter wants to be a writer and my soon is a natural book promoter,
especially of my books!
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Chocolate!
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
First, I figure out what’s on my list for the day (hoping that I’m not forgetting anything!), then I make coffee
and check email.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
My pillow “library,” as my husband calls it. I have an assortment of 17 pillows but still haven’t found one
that’s consistently comfortable. I’m a poor sleeper and constantly switch pillows to try get the best possible
sleep.
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?
Teal. It’s a color found in nature (some water, some plants) and I find it both soothing and inspiring.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
I love Dory from “Finding Nemo” because I understand her. Sometimes I feel so scattered but I usually
remember the important things (like Dory: “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney”). And which character is
most like me? Um . . . Dory?
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?
Medieval England, preferably a castle. I’ve always been fascinated by that time period—the people, the
clothes, the food, the music, everything.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I find it too distracting to listen to music while I’m actually writing but I use it to get in the zone or while
thinking about a particular character, and listen to the music from that character’s time period and culture. I
like upbeat music or music that’s soothing but not depressing. I love Ladysmith Black Mambazo. That’s my
soul music.
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?
I’m not a big TV person but “A Christmas Story” is my favorite holiday movie that I watch every year. The
last movie I saw in the theater was part of a local film festival, a fascinating documentary called “The Virgin
Diaries 2002” about a Muslim woman facing an arranged marriage and what she did about it.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Do what you believe in. You know best what’s right for you, so don’t worry about what other people say.
(Assuming it’s legal, of course!)
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I’m working on a novel about a boy who grapples with both math and his genius father. It’s filled with crazy
characters and is humorous, despite the undercurrent of the serious father-son relationship. Also, I’m going
to Canada, where I used to live, to finish a novel set there about jealousy, friendship, and self-discovery.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thanks for giving me a chance to chat!
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 loved writing but never thought to make it a career—until my mother died and I realized I should
start now because who knows what will happen?
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
I took a children’s writing class and found a group of wonderful writers. We’re still together 10 years later! I
attended many conferences and seminars, including Chautauqua and a Highlights Foundation workshop,
where I met Patti Gauch, and eventually was lucky enough to work with her on a manuscript. She was, and
is, my dream editor.
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?
What I like to say is that Quaking is a story of finding peace, no matter where you’ve been or where you’re
going.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
That’s tough. I’m constantly touched by people or issues and can’t help writing about them.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My sister and husband are my greatest supporters. They’re so happy and proud. I feel very lucky. My
children think it’s pretty cool, too. My daughter wants to be a writer and my soon is a natural book promoter,
especially of my books!
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Chocolate!
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
First, I figure out what’s on my list for the day (hoping that I’m not forgetting anything!), then I make coffee
and check email.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
My pillow “library,” as my husband calls it. I have an assortment of 17 pillows but still haven’t found one
that’s consistently comfortable. I’m a poor sleeper and constantly switch pillows to try get the best possible
sleep.
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?
Teal. It’s a color found in nature (some water, some plants) and I find it both soothing and inspiring.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
I love Dory from “Finding Nemo” because I understand her. Sometimes I feel so scattered but I usually
remember the important things (like Dory: “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, Sydney”). And which character is
most like me? Um . . . Dory?
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?
Medieval England, preferably a castle. I’ve always been fascinated by that time period—the people, the
clothes, the food, the music, everything.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I find it too distracting to listen to music while I’m actually writing but I use it to get in the zone or while
thinking about a particular character, and listen to the music from that character’s time period and culture. I
like upbeat music or music that’s soothing but not depressing. I love Ladysmith Black Mambazo. That’s my
soul music.
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?
I’m not a big TV person but “A Christmas Story” is my favorite holiday movie that I watch every year. The
last movie I saw in the theater was part of a local film festival, a fascinating documentary called “The Virgin
Diaries 2002” about a Muslim woman facing an arranged marriage and what she did about it.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Do what you believe in. You know best what’s right for you, so don’t worry about what other people say.
(Assuming it’s legal, of course!)
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I’m working on a novel about a boy who grapples with both math and his genius father. It’s filled with crazy
characters and is humorous, despite the undercurrent of the serious father-son relationship. Also, I’m going
to Canada, where I used to live, to finish a novel set there about jealousy, friendship, and self-discovery.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
Thanks for giving me a chance to chat!