Q&A with Charlie English

 

 

 

Charlie English is the author of the new book The CIA Book Club: The Secret Mission to Win the Cold War with Forbidden Literature. His other books include The Gallery of Miracles and Madness. He lives in London. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The CIA Book Club?

 

A: At root, it’s just a fabulous story that no one had told. I hope I've done it justice.

 

A deeper answer is that I’ve been researching culture in conflict situations for about 10 years now.

 

The first book I wrote in this area was The Storied City (aka The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu), which examined how Timbuktu librarians saved their historic manuscripts from Al Qaeda during the city’s occupation in 2012. The second was The Gallery of Miracles and Madness, which looked at how Hitler used “degenerate art” to justify his extreme racist politics.

 

So a story about using literature as a way to win the Cold War seemed to me to fit well into my zone. I guess it is the third book in a trilogy of sorts.

 

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

 

A: Research was tricky for two reasons. One was that Covid hit just as I began it, which meant I couldn’t travel for some time. Two was that most of the material is still classified.

 

Luckily I was able to obtain the reports George Minden, the guy who led the CIA program. These recorded his meetings with a string of book publishers and smugglers. I took what I found there to Eastern Europe, where I interviewed people, mostly Poles, about their meetings and activities.

 

Gradually I was able to build a complete picture, through oral history and written sources. What surprised me was how this operation had remained secret for so long, despite so many people being involved. 

 

Q: Of the various characters you write about in the book, are there some that you found especially compelling?

 

A: There are several. Jerzy Giedroyc is one, but perhaps the most compelling is Miroslaw Chojecki, the central figure in the story. Chojecki, who died very recently, was a remarkable individual, whose modesty and secrecy meant he didn’t get enough credit, in my view, for what he had achieved during the Cold War.

 

He took a lot of secrets to the grave, including I am sure further details of his work with the CIA, but during our many meetings over the course of several years I got a good part of his story down.

 

Q: In a review in The New York Times, writer Joseph Finder said of the book, “[T]he publication of ‘The CIA Book Club’ feels perfectly, painfully timely...English’s book is a reminder of what’s lost when a government no longer believes in the power of its own ideals.” What do you think of that assessment, and what do you hope readers take away from the book in today’s political climate?

 

A: I agree. Joseph summarised the book’s current relevance very well. There’s a great irony here, in that certain politicians in the US are attempting to censor some of the very same books – including George Orwell’s 1984 – that the CIA once sent to the east in the name of freedom.

 

This is just a small part of this administration’s broad-spectrum attack on free speech, the independent media, and democracy. The threat Trump represents is there for everyone to see. Unfortunately, a large number of people appear to have forgotten the lessons of the Cold War, and don’t realise what a terrible thing authoritarianism is. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on a family memoir, a very different type of story from this one.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I don’t think so. Thanks for giving me this space. If people want to ask me more questions they can contact me direct via charlieenglish.net.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Angela Shupe

 

Photo by Olivia Stouffer

 

 

Angela Shupe is the author of the new novel In the Light of the Sun. 

 

Q: How much was In the Light of the Sun inspired by your own family history?

 

A: As a child, I was captivated by the stories my mom and aunts told about their lives in the Philippines before, during, and after the war, along with my aunt, who voice-trained in Italy with their nonna, a former Italian soprano.

 

The novel was inspired by their stories and by the desire to honor them and their experiences. My mom and aunts were strong women who, by example, showed it's possible to go through significant difficulty and still live life fully, with joy and hope.

 

Q: How did you research the novel, and did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: Along with interviewing my aunts and godmother, I delved into many resources, including firsthand accounts of people who lived through the war in the Philippines and in Italy.

 

I researched the guerrilla troops in the Philippines, the resistance in Italy, particularly women's roles within the resistance, and music in Italy under Mussolini, among other topics. I reached out to a few professors who helped direct me in my research efforts.

 

I've also visited Italy several times, which helped as I wrote. If readers are interested, more information on my research can be found on my website.

 

One thing that surprised me while researching was how many women were affected by the Japanese military strategy of using what they termed “comfort houses.” Approximately 200,000 young women and girls were forcibly taken and subjected to brutal sexual slavery in Asia by the Japanese military.

 

Though I was aware that this happened in the Philippines, I was stunned and grieved reading about their experiences and at how many women were affected by this horrific practice. 

 

Q: The author Amanda Barratt said of the book, “This book is a powerful exploration of the courage of ordinary people, the unbreakable ties of sisterhood, and the abiding bond between music and hope.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I'm so grateful for Amanda's words. The idea of ordinary people overcoming in the most difficult of circumstances is one thing that draws me to a story. That Amanda found this in the book is very gratifying. Music has a unique and unifying quality to bring hope in times of struggle.

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The title came from my husband after he read an early draft of the manuscript. It is so fitting, and I was glad the title was kept through the publishing process.

 

Throughout the book, the characters are confronted with the struggle to overcome. Looking for the good in the middle of the difficulty is one way they keep going. I have found that to be true in my own life.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I've been doing research for another family-inspired novel that would go back in time, long before WWII. As the story would take place in several countries, the research is proving a bit difficult. But I'm forging ahead and hope to bring the story to the page.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I'm so grateful to readers who've read In the Light of the Sun. I appreciate that they've spent their time getting to know Caramina, Rosa, and their family. I love hearing from readers! Please feel free to reach out through my Instagram or my website.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Vikki VanSickle

 

Photo by Connie Tsang

 

 

Vikki VanSickle is the author of the children's picture book Into the Goblin Market. Her other books include The Winnowing. She lives in Toronto.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Into the Goblin Market, and how did you create your characters Millie and Mina?

 

A: Into the Goblin Market is my love letter to fairytales. I've always loved fairytales and fairytale retellings, and when I sat down to think about what story I'd like to retell, Christina Rosetti's poem “Goblin Market” immediately came to mind.

 

While it's not a traditional fairytale, it's incredibly visual, haunting, and has classic fairytale elements, but instead of a prince rescuing a princess, one sister rescues another. I thought that dynamic was unusual, felt contemporary, and was worthy of revisiting. 

 

Millie and Mina are based on the sisters in the original poem (Lizzie and Laura), but the “goblins” in my story are based on fairytale villains instead of the more animal-like goblins in various renditions of the original poem. That way I got to fold more fairytale references into the narrative.

 

I don't specifically call these villains out by name, but I let the reader make the connection on their own. If they don't recognize Snow White's witch, the Pied Piper of Hamelin, or the Wicked Witch of the West, it won't affect their enjoyment of the story, but if they do, it makes them feel smart and invites deeper engagement in the story and the art.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between the sisters?

 

A: There is a lot of mutual love and respect between them, but they are also baffled by each other. In some ways they are like a cat and dog sharing a space. They don't fully understand each other's hopes and desires, but they care for each other and are very protective in their own ways. 

 

Q: What do you think Jensine Eckwall’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Everything! I wanted to work with her because I love her attention to detail, which was necessary for the market scenes. But even with the highest of expectations I was blown away by how she elevated the story.

 

The page borders, black and white palette with a touch of red, the masks on the goblins--all her choices are references to Victorian literature and classic fairytales, but you don't need to know that to  appreciate her work.

 

I love when a picture book can operate on numerous levels and speak to different readers in different ways. I have looked at this art a hundred times, and I am constantly discovering new things when I read the story at events. 

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?

 

A: Mostly I want them to be delighted! Reading for me is an exercise in escape and wonder, and I want to create books where kids feel those things. I want them to be swept up in the world, compelled by the mystery, surprised at the twist, and then satisfied at the ending.

 

I also want them to appreciate how Millie outsmarts the goblins. It is her knowledge of books and fairytales (and her excellent inferencing skills) that leads to her success.

 

Millie is not a traditional hero--she's a homebody, bookish, and generally quite adventure-adverse--but that doesn't mean she can't save the day, in her own way, when it is required. I think that's something we can all be reminded of. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: In keeping with the spooky vibe of Into The Goblin Market, I am putting some finishing touches on a collection of Halloween poems due next year, called Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown. It is “Mother Goose,” but for little witches, goblins, and Halloween creatures. The illustrator is Jennica Lounsbury, and I absolutely love her work! Look for it next fall, from Tundra Books!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: If you get your hands on a physical copy of Into the Goblin Market,  be sure to take a peek under the dust jacket. See if you can spot all the differences between the image on the dust jacket and the one stamped on the cover.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Oct. 30

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Oct. 30, 1871: Paul Valéry born.

Q&A with Alex Pavesi

 

 

 

Alex Pavesi is the author of the new novel Ink Ribbon Red. He also has written the novel The Eighth Detective. He lives in Surrey, England.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Ink Ribbon Red, and how did you create your cast of characters?

 

A: I'm always looking to try new things. The idea of writing a mystery novel in which it was unclear what was real and what was fiction (fiction within the fiction) really appealed to me.

 

It wasn't long before I hit on the idea of a birthday party where the host asks his guests to write stories for him, instead of giving him presents – stories that are specifically about murder – and the rest followed from that.

 

Six felt like the optimal number of participants for this party, so I began by modelling the characters after the characters in the TV show Friends. I altered them substantially to fit better into the world of the book (which is a lot darker than Friends) but it was very helpful to have those characters as a starting point.

 

Q: The author Martin Edwards said of the book, “Quirky and unpredictable, Ink Ribbon Red is a Rubik’s Cube of unreliable narratives.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Martin has a great way with words! Unpredictability is a quality that I look for in a novel, when I'm choosing what to read, so I was glad to see that Martin described my book in that way.

 

I think a lot of crime fiction caters to a desire for familiarity, which is something that I do occasionally enjoy, but to me there is nothing better than reading a book and having no idea where it's going to end up.

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: I liked the idea of having a title that at first glance didn't appear to make much sense, which then becomes straightforward once you get to a certain point in the book. I felt that mirrored the structure of the book itself.

 

I picked out that particular phrase because I felt the three short nouns were quite impactful when combined together.

Q: Did you write the book in the order in which it appears, or did you move things around as you were writing?

 

A: I moved things around a lot and tried various orderings and combinations. Quite a few scenes were cut as well. This was an extremely time-consuming process of trial and error and was probably the most difficult aspect of writing the book.

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I won't say much about my next book because a lot is still to be determined, but I will say that it focuses on code breaking. There are surprisingly few mystery novels that centre around codes and ciphers, so I decided I would try to write my own.

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Due to the large number of murders in this novel, and my desire to keep them interesting and varied, I found a page on Wikipedia called "Lists of unusual deaths," and read those lists from top to bottom. If anyone out there is seeking some morbid (though educational) entertainment, I would recommend taking a look. They're really fascinating!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Lana Schwartz

 

 

 

 

 

Lana Schwartz is the author of the new novel Set Piece. She also has written the book Build Your Own Romantic Comedy. She lives in New York City. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Set Piece, and how did you create your characters CJ and Jack?

 

A: Creating the world and characters of Set Piece was a close collaboration with 831 Stories founders and editors Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo. We talked a lot about the idea of someone caught up in the machine of Hollywood, like Jack, who has to “play the game” in order to advance his career, vs. CJ, who cares so much about her craft, but wants to live a normal life.

 

When we first started talking about the book, we knew we wanted CJ to be behind-the-scenes in some way.

 

Coincidentally, I’d just finished re-listening to the You Must Remember This season all about Polly Platt called “The Invisible Woman.” She was a production designer who worked on so many films and really elevated everything she was a part of, but never got the credit she deserved. So I was really inspired by her story, in combination with the ways stardom has evolved over the years.

 

Q: The author Laura Hankin said of the book, “Brimming with wit and charm, Set Piece perfectly blends Hollywood wish fulfillment with real depth.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Well, first of all, I’m very grateful to Laura for providing such a kind blurb!

 

Secondly, I think the book really delves into what it’s like to be famous. While I’m not a movie star myself, obviously, I think a fair amount of it is probably glamorous, but I think a lot of it too is probably really annoying — at least in terms of all the silly events you have to go to and meetings to take.

 

So instead of CJ being really swept up in the excitement of being a movie star, it’s more about the capability of these two people being able to do the real work of building a life together, but still set against the backdrop of this still sort of romantic movie world.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Jack and CJ?

A: I think it’s ultimately very much based on respect. Each of them respect the other as full, multi-faceted adult people, who have careers and friends and family they value.

 

I think they ultimately have a very grown-up dynamic, which makes it easier for them to balance each other out, since Jack is a dreamer and schemer and CJ is more down-to-earth. CJ helps ground Jack and he helps her to think bigger, important in a partnership

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The title was chosen in collaboration with 831 Stories. For me, it signifies taking this fun production term and using it to communicate the meaning of these characters’ relationship, especially since it nods towards their love of film and their mutual passion for it.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I have another novel I’ve been working on that has been through a few drafts. It takes place in the music world, so a little different, but deals with similar themes around art and fame.

 

Otherwise, you can check out short humor and essays I’ve published recently on my Instagram, @characteractresslanaschwartz. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Definitely check out all the other 831 books! They’re all a little different and complement each other in a great way.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Amy Poeppel

 

Photo by George Baier IV

 

 

 

Amy Poeppel is the author of the new novel Far and Away. Her other books include The Sweet Spot. She lives in New York City, Germany, and Connecticut. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Far and Away, and how did you create your characters Lucy and Greta?

 

A: I always enjoy building large ensemble casts and writing from multiple perspectives.

 

In the case of Far And Away, I decided to write a book in which two families (plus a neighbor or two) become entwined in complicated and ultimately satisfying ways. I wanted scandals, loads of miscommunication, and happy reinvention for every character in the book, which was both a challenge for me and a total joy.

 

As I got to know Lucy and Greta, my two main characters, through the drafting process, I realized that while they needed to be quite different from each other in many ways, they nevertheless had to share important beliefs and attitudes about life and family.

 

It took many, many drafts to figure out exactly who Lucy and Greta are, how they think, and what they would do in the many tricky situations I put them in.

 

Q: The writer Lynda Cohen Loigman called the book “a hilarious, laugh-out-loud romp that is also a fresh and insightful commentary on motherhood, marriage, and the pursuit of joy.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Well, first let me say that I love Lynda Cohen Loigman! She writes beautiful, smart novels that are totally engrossing. If any readers haven’t had the pleasure of  reading The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern, The Matchmaker’s Gift, or The Two-Family House, please do! I highly recommend them!

 

And I love Lynda’s description of Far And Away. (Thank you, Lynda!) I wanted all the characters to have their deeply held ideas about parenting and marriage challenged, so that they can move forward and make positive changes. And making readers laugh-out-loud is always a happy moment for me.

 

Q: Why did you choose Dallas and Berlin as the book’s locations?

 

A: I love the idea of a house swap! When I was choosing cities, I decided to pick places where I’ve spent a lot of time and that I truly love. 

 

I was born in Dallas, Texas and lived there until I was 17. I love Dallas, and I visit my sister there every chance I get. Dallas has great food and the most wonderful people!

 

Next, I chose Berlin, Germany. I lived in Berlin for two years when my kids were young, and I return every chance I get. It’s a truly fabulous city – amazing museums and incredible architecture. My German language skills are terrible, so I’ve had many funny and difficult moments, even when trying to do the most basic things.

 

I was pretty sure when I started writing that the contrast between the two cities (and countries) would serve the story well. Both places are special to me, and I felt sure that I could bring out the differences in fun and unexpected ways.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the novel?

 

A: I tried to convey that – in my view - travel and new experiences can lead to enormous change and growth. Almost every time I take a trip or try something new, I find I am better for it.

 

Otto, my German character who is perennially discontent and very set in his ways, is taken by surprise by the people he meets and the things he discovers in Texas, and over time he becomes more open-minded and more understanding … and happier.

 

Each character - even Mason in his biosphere! - learns to appreciate life and family and to embrace change.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am working on a new book that takes place in New York City! Stay tuned…

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I have read so many good books recently! I highly recommend Culpability by Bruce Holsinger, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, and Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Amy Poeppel. 

Q&A with Claudia Friddell

 

 

Claudia Friddell is the author of the new young adult biography The Mysterious Virginia Hall: World War II's Most Dangerous Spy. Friddell's other books include Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call. She lives in Maryland. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write a biography of the spy Virginia Hall (1906-1982)?

 

A: As a nonfiction author I often receive suggestions for book projects. In 2018 my brother sent me an article about Virginia Hall, who was not only from Baltimore where I live, she had also attended the same school as my daughter.

 

Like most people who learn of Virginia’s heroic life story, I was fascinated by her heroics, and I immediately dove head-first into her history. Her “more exciting than fiction” real life story inspired me to write her biography in a way that would be accessible and exciting for middle and high school readers.

 

Q: How did you research her life, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?

 

A: I started my research journey at Roland Park Country School’s archives. Since Virginia was the editor of her senior yearbook and a leader in many school sports and activities, I found wonderful, personal primary sources from her 12 years at her all-girls school.

 

I then explored her fascinating spy files (SOE, OSS, and CIA) that are now in the public domain. While Virginia didn’t share her spy experiences, other Resistance fighters, spies, and colleagues did write about her invaluable contributions to the fight against fascism in World War II.

 

What was most surprising was learning that Virginia’s niece, Lorna Catling, lived three blocks away from me! My interviews and family photo treasure hunts with Lorna and her son, Brad, provided me an amazing window into Virginia’s life, and our get-togethers are among my most cherished memories as an author.

 

Q: The Booklist review of the book says, “Friddell’s love letter to a lesser-known WWII spy presents an impressive true story in an inviting format… A riveting exploration of Virginia Hall’s life and work, especially her undercover escapades, told with as much ease and enjoyment as a wartime spy mystery.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Well, funny you should ask! It is one of my favorite reviews. I did feel like it was a combination of a love letter and an homage to Dindy because of the strong personal connections I made with her family and RPCS, the school that both Virginia and my daughter attended for their entire precollege education.

 

Of course, I’m thrilled the Booklist reviewer found the book to be a riveting exploration that read like a spy mystery because Dindy’s life was truly as mysterious and riveting as a fictional spy novel! I chose to write her multi-layered life story in a format and style that I hoped would captivate even the most reluctant readers.

 

As a former teacher, my goal is to share exciting true stories that inspire children and young adults to pick up a book that they can’t put down, and then perhaps get excited to research and write stories of their own!

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: I hope readers find Dindy’s life story an inspiring and timely testament to the positive impact that one person can make. She is the ultimate unsung hero—a person who overcame flaws, obstacles, and unimaginable dangers to defend democracy.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am in the research stage of my first historical fiction novel that is set in Virginia in the early 1970s. I love diving into new genres and time periods!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I am currently collaborating with two incredible educators, Kelley Brown and Laurie Risler, with the support of the Library of Congress, in a Teacher Institute program—The Author’s Journey to Powerful Pairings: Joining Primary Source Inquiry and Narrative Non-Fiction in K-12 Classrooms.

 

We share a passion for engaging students and educators in history and literature by providing meaningful strategies that weave primary sources with narrative nonfiction stories. It has been wonderful to interact with teachers and librarians who are inspiring their students to read and relate to true stories!

 

Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on these questions. I love your blog and appreciate being included among so many wonderful creators!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Claudia Friddell. 

Oct. 29

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Oct. 29, 1925: Dominick Dunne born.

Q&A with Maria Marianayagam

 

 

Maria Marianayagam is the author of the new children's picture book Curry Means More. Her other books include The Amazing Power of Girls. She lives in Alberta, Canada.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Curry Means More? 

 

A: As a Sri Lankan, curry has been part of my story since birth. Its aromas, colors, and flavors have always meant home, love, and connection to me. But I realized that for many, “curry” is seen as just one dish, when in truth it’s a world of dishes, each with its own unique spices, memories, and meanings.

 

When I came across a major article that described curry as being made from “just one spice,” it struck me how misunderstood this food still is. I wanted to create a story that celebrates the making of one particular curry dish but also all the stories, people, and ingredients that come together to make it special.

 

Q: What do you think Geeta Ladi’s illustrations add to the story? 

 

A: Geeta’s artwork took my breath away. She infused every page with warmth, vibrancy, and emotion. You can almost smell the spices and hear the laughter in her illustrations. Her own connection to South Asian cuisine made each spread feel deeply authentic.

 

Geeta didn’t just illustrate the story—she expanded it. Her art brings the sensory joy of curry to life, making readers want to jump right into the kitchen (or maybe even the book itself!).

 

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book called it a “clever stew of poetic words spiced up with joyful illustrations.” What do you think of that description? 

 

A: I couldn’t love it more! It perfectly captures the heart of this book. I wanted the text to feel lyrical and alive, and Geeta’s joyful art truly spices it up. I’m so honored that readers and reviewers are feeling that energy.

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book? 

 

A: I hope kids see that food is never just food—it’s a story, a history, and an expression of love. I want them to be curious about what’s on their plates and proud of the cultures and traditions that make them who they are. 

 

Q: What are you working on now? 

 

A: I’m diving into a middle grade novel centered on a Sri Lankan Tamil mind-reader—a story full of mystery and cultural depth. It’s very different from Curry Means More, but it shares that same heartbeat: identity, belonging, and seeing the extraordinary in the everyday.

 

Q: Anything else we should know? 

 

A: I truly believe that stories, like food, have the power to connect us. They can inspire, educate, and build empathy in ways nothing else can. My hope is that this book leaves readers hungry—not just for curry, but for more stories that celebrate who we are and where we come from. Keep reading, keep tasting, and keep discovering.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Michael Slack

 

 

 

Michael Slack is the author and illustrator of the new kids' graphic novel Tate Tuber Space Spud. His many other books include Smoosh's Super-Duper Fun Day. 

 

Q: What inspired you to create Tate Tuber Space Spud?

 

A: A cute potato, and the Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles." I saw a photo of a potato that's surface imperfections gave it an adorable face. I wondered what its story would be. A funny sci-fi twist on the first vegetable grown in space seemed like a great place to start.

 

Then I thought about the Star Trek episode, how something that seems so benign grows into a huge problem that takes over the spaceship. I thought it would be funny if a successful space farming experiment on the ISS leads to it being overrun by rambunctious space spuds trying to be astronauts.

 

Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?

 

A: For Tate Tuber Space Spud I did something different. I wrote a first draft then did a voice recording doing voices for the narrator and all the characters. I reworked the story while listening to the recording over and over again until I had a final draft. Which I then re-recorded. Then I worked up the sketches. 

 

Q: Did you need to do any research to write the book, and if so, did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: I did a little research for the fun facts at the back of the book. The one thing that struck me was how close the ISS is to Earth. You kind of imagine it farther in space than it actually is. 

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the story?

 

A: A good laugh and inspiration to create a comic book of their own. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I just finished two early comic book readers called Funjeepups, coming out next year. I'm also working on a follow up to Smoosh's Super-Duper Fun Day. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Many of the characters from my books arrive while I'm working on personal art for art shows. You can see my paintings and ceramic sculptures on my website. www.slackart.com

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Q&A with Janee Trasler

 

Photo by Toni Burks Photography

 

Janee Trasler is the author and illustrator of the new kids' graphic novel Bitty and Bub, Best Buds. Her many other books include the Frog and Dog series. She lives in Texas.

 

Q: What inspired you to create Bitty and Bub--the book and the characters?

A: I remember the exact moment I graduated from listener to reader. It still feels like one of the greatest events of my life. As an author and illustrator, my biggest goal is to give new readers an enjoyable experience rather than a struggle. I hope I’ve accomplished that in Bitty and Bub, Best Buds.

Rather than chapters, I’ve written five short, self-contained stories about two friends. I think finishing a story feels like a much bigger accomplishment than finishing a chapter. I want the reader to feel that sense of accomplishment! I’ve kept the words and sentence structure simple, and I’ve designed the illustrations to help in decoding the unfamiliar words.

I love drawing outdoor scenes, so that helped shape the characters. I knew they would be a bunny and a squirrel right away, but I confess, their names took a bit longer. I sent my agent at least five different versions of the dummy book—each one with different names. 

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between the two characters?

A: Bitty feels like the leader to me. Not because she’s bossy or anything; just because she feels slightly older than Bub. Bub is more like a younger sibling. His emotions are big and immediate. He hasn’t quite mastered control of them yet. I think most readers will recognize themselves in one or the other character.

 

Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?

A: I almost always work on the text first. I find it’s easier to change the text than the illustrations, and easier to send a text manuscript to my critique group (Hi, Jeebies) for input.

When I do start illustrating though, the storyboard and sketches very much affect the writing. At that point, it becomes a back and forth between the two, until the pacing, page turns, and marriage of text and images feels just right.

 

Q: The School Library Journal review of the book says, “This ­collection of short comics is perfect for emerging readers who like ­humorous friendship series like ‘Elephant and Piggie,’ and Tina Kügler’s ‘Fox Tails.’” What do you think of those comparisons?

 

A: I think both of those series are excellent for emerging readers, so I’m thrilled to have Bitty and Bub mentioned in the same breath!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on the final illustrations for the second book in this series, Bitty and Bub, and Friends.

 

I’ve also just completed drafts of two other young graphic novels that I’m excited to send out and see where they land.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Yes, the Holiday House team has been a joy to work with!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Diane Botnick

 

Photo by Erin Wik Photography

 

 

Diane Botnick is the author of the new novel Becoming Sarah. She lives in Cold Spring, New York. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Becoming Sarah, and how did you create your character Sarah Vogel?

 

A: It was a filmed interview of a survivor talking about being liberated from the camps at war’s end and put on a boat filled with refugees bound for Palestine. He didn’t know how old he was (about 6, he figured), his own name, who his parents were, or where he was from. It was chilling. 

 

I didn’t know what I had to add to the oeuvre or, with no survivors in my own family, if I even had a right to, but I wanted to write a novel about someone like him, a different kind of survivor. And in fact, judging by the various survivors I’ve known, there are only different kinds. Just like people, there are no survivors like any others.

 

Having always been drawn to books that reveal a character’s tragic flaw, I took that as my charge. But unable to pin the sum of my life to one central event, tragic or otherwise, I began to wonder why my protagonist should have to?

 

And as she took shape on the page, I remembered that writing fiction, like living a life, involves so many choices. If her origin story and physical appearance felt like givens, her future lived only in my imagination. The identity she was forced to invent for herself? That was up to me.

 

So the Sarah Vogel my readers will get to meet is unsentimental, tough, hardworking though not opposed to shortcuts, and like a terrier will lock on to whatever she can that might smooth her way forward . . . even if that means telling a few lies along the way. She is a survivor but one no better or worse than any one of us.

 

Because of that, one of my readers described Becoming Sarah as a subversive Holocaust novel. That excited me.

 

Q: The writer Amy Friedman said of the book, “Becoming Sarah opens with a gut punch crafted so beautifully, if feels almost divine.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: Not to pat myself on the back, but I’ve now read through my book, I don’t know, a hundred times, and I still feel that gut punch. I paid great attention to the prose throughout the piece, but the opening, in particular, carries me along like a piece of music, and I feel so honored that at least one reader has also felt the rhythm and flow of its melody. I hope other readers will, too.

 

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

 

A: I feel like I’ve been researching this book my whole life, obsessed with Holocaust literature since I was a kid. Anne Frank, Leon Uris, and later, Elie Wiesel, Sophie’s Choice, Levi, even In Paradise, Peter Matthiessen’s novel about a retreat held in modern-day Auschwitz, so many chapters of history books, and of course, the Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C., a great source of inspiration as well as information.

 

But in foraging around for this book, I learned that while most of those murdered upon entering Auschwitz were women, those of them not sent directly to the “showers” actually fared better than men—women being predisposed to recreating family-like groups, bonding, helping each other, sharing their meager resources, hugging each other to stay warm.

 

The men reportedly hugged only themselves, seeing both inmates and guards as opponents, like gladiators battling for survival. I tried to capture that duality—the survival of the fittest versus united we stand, divided we fall.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the novel?

 

A: I hope when my reader finishes Becoming Sarah she feels the triumph of the human spirit. I hope Sarah will stay with her. I hope the book shows her what the world looks like through the eyes of an “other,” uncomfortable in her own skin, having nowhere to fit in, feeling like everyone’s speaking a foreign language even when they’re not.

 

I want the reader to struggle with the concept of identity, asking herself who she might have been if it had been up to her and her alone.

 

And I’d like her to ask herself why some survive and others fail to thrive. Does surviving mean you were any stronger, more resilient, or simply luckier than others? Does succumbing mean you were weaker or less-determined? What kind of survivor would you be? I’d ask my reader if I had the chance.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I have two projects in my drawer awaiting my attention. One is a novel with a gothic feel set in 1970s New York. It’s about a young woman with extraordinary powers who falls into the hands of an ambitious gallerist and becomes part of his plan to build a new art empire in the heart of the city. It needs at least one more draft.

 

The other is a collection of short pieces that I hope will grow into a novel that tracks the evolution of a woman’s thought, experience, and memory over the course of her life. Its four parts, each a bundle of 20 to 25 years, hold stories of friendship, death, love . . . all the big topics.

 

I’m still not sure what form it will take, but mining my own history for memories has felt less like writing and more like digging up broken tiles to polish and mortar into a luminous mosaic or cutting up old dresses to be sewn into one of those patchwork quilts that gets passed down.

 

Preserving the integrity of each memory, freeing them from hindsight, crafting them to feel like they’re rooted in their timeframe of origin, is a conceit I hope readers will find refreshing.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Not to know, but to think about . . . The current climate of anxiety seems inescapable. I’ve never directly experienced antisemitism, but it is once again a fraught time to be a Jew. A fraught time to follow or to ascribe to any particular brand of spirituality.

 

I hear people refer to religious groups as cults, the followers brain-washed. And I don’t disagree, but effective brain-washing (the kind I had) is hard to undo.

 

I think in part because it offers so much: communality, traditions that manage to bring families together when nothing else can, moral constructs that when they work keep the peace and instill order, the wonder of spirituality ... the inherent goodness of doing unto others.

 

I believe it’s entirely possible to be a good person without religion. Sadly, the question seems to have become, can one be a good person with religion? I’m hoping so.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb