Q&A with Amy Novesky

 

Portrait by Julia Breckenreid

 

 

 

Amy Novesky is the author of the new children's picture book The Poet and the Bees: A Story of the Seasons Sylvia Plath Kept Bees. Her other books include Me, Frida. She lives in the San Francisco area. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write about the poet Sylvia Plath and her experience keeping bees?

 

A: It is important to me to be able to connect personally to a story I am writing. At the time I began writing this story, I was keeping bees, and when I learned that Sylvia Plath kept bees, and wrote poems about them, I decided that that was a story I wanted to tell.

 

I am also very drawn to writing stories about women artists, and I’ve wanted to write a story about a poet, and so it all came together in The Poet and the Bees.

Q: How did you research the book, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?

 

A: As with any story about a real person I write, I read many many books, writings, and interviews by and about that person.

 

If possible I try to experience what it was like to be that person; in this case, working with bees and harvesting honey allowed me to write with firsthand knowledge of the experience and the emotions it brings up.

 

It’s a big responsibility not only to keep bees, but to write about another, once living person. I take both seriously and try my best to get it right.

In researching Sylvia Plath, I learned many things that surprised me. Sylvia not only kept a hive for one year and harvested honey, she wrote poems about her experience. Her bee poems were included in Ariel, her final book of poetry, published after her death.

 

I also learned that Sylvia reviewed children’s picture books, and she wrote them, which is another way I was able to connect personally with her.

 

Q: What do you think Jessica Love’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: I am a big fan of Jessica Love. I adore her first book, Julian Is a Mermaid. I was super lucky to work with Jessica on Will It Be Okay?, a book I acquired while I was an editor for Cameron Kids; I love this book and Jessica’s work in it. She captures emotion so honestly and beautifully.

 

And so I was thrilled when Jessica agreed to illustrate The Poet and the Bees, and that she connected deeply with Sylvia Plath. I had a total faith in her ability to render Sylvia honestly and beautifully, and she did. Her illustrations bring warmth and humanity to the book.

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “Novesky successfully refocuses the lens from Plath’s tragic death to the poet as artist, centering her hopeful ambition and keen relationship with nature.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I am so grateful for Kirkus’s review. It makes me happy when readers see and appreciate my intentions as an author. It was important to me to show how Sylvia Plath loved the world.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: My next picture book is called To Wander, and it is an ode to travel of all kinds, including traveling through life. A wonderful illustrator was recently signed, and so I look forward to the book being officially announced soon; it is due in 2026.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Thank you to fellow writer Deborah Kalb for featuring my book and to you all for reading about it!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb