Oct. 4

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Oct. 4, 1880: Damon Runyon born.

Q&A with Patrick O'Donnell and Erik Mehlen

Patrick O'Donnell

Patrick O'Donnell and Erik Mehlen are the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Do Penguins Have Pediatricians?. Their previous book is Did Dinosaurs Have Dentists?. O'Donnell lives in Boyertown, Pennsylvania, and Mehlen lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for Do Penguins Have Pediatricians?

PATRICK: After Erik and I finished Did Dinosaurs Have Dentists? our publisher asked if we had any sequels in the works. We like the idea of helping kids think about and work through their fears, and I’d just had an experience in which one of my sons was worried about getting a flu shot. It seemed like “pediatricians” was a logical next step.

Erik Mehlen

Q: How did you pick the animals to include in the book, and what kind of research did you do on them?

PATRICK: My oldest son, who was in third grade at the time, came up with the title — I told him I needed something alliterative to go with “pediatricians” (he’d been working on alliteration in class). He thought up “Do Penguins Have Paramedics?” during recess.

He really pushed for “paramedics” at first, but came around once I explained the idea to him (phew!). I love arctic and Antarctic animals, and my kids do, too, so from there, it was easy to pick which animals would be in the book — we just went some of our favorites.

To do the initial research, my kids and I watched nature shows almost every weekend morning (David Attenborough is the best!). We also took trips to museums and zoos, and of course I read up on the animals.   

Q: Of the various animals in the book, do you have a particular favorite?

PATRICK: I love them all, but probably the narwhal – I mean, they’re basically underwater unicorns, and they use echolocation! How cool is that?

ERIK: Well my girlfriend’s been very vocal about the moose being her favorite, based on my depiction of it in the book. But I’d have to say sea otters are my favorite. I mean, have you ever seen one! They’re just too cute! Though it’s hard to choose because as Patrick said, I love them all! 

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

PATRICK: I hope that they come away thinking that going to the doctor isn’t something to be afraid of. I also hope they learn a little something about the incredible animals that live in some of the coldest regions on earth.

And I hope it shows them that asking questions — even if they seem silly — is OK. It’s how we learn.

 ERIK: I hope that kids and parents can share a moment of bonding, as I experienced when my mom sat and read to me my favorite children’s books at bedtime.

I hope that readers can connect and be amused by the book’s narrative, told from the perspective of an inquisitive child asking their parent silly questions; at the same time I hope kids can add to their vocabulary and learn a little something new about the different types of animals presented in the book’s glossary. 

Q: What are you working on now?

PATRICK: I’m working on multiple projects — two nonfiction books for clients, and two of my own: The first is a picture book that explores difficult feelings and talking to a therapist. It will be a more serious; a departure from the rhyming and silliness of Dinosaurs and Penguins. The second is a middle-grade novel that revolves around the adventures of a young girl who rescues wildlife.  

ERIK: I’m working on gallery art at the moment for some upcoming shows with fellow artists at our HijoleSA studio, along with some various commission work. I hope to also be working with Patrick on some new children’s books soon. 

Q: Anything else we should know?

PATRICK: We frequently update our social media pages with news and events, and sometimes even post special offers — please follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @Patrickfodonnellauthor and @erikmehlen.

ERIK: Many animals presented in the book are endangered and/or treated cruelly: polar bears displaced by climate change, harp seals brutally killed for their pelts. I firmly believe that as humans we have a great responsibility to care for all of Earth’s creatures, and protect not only all life but also the environment in which we all live.

There are many different organizations out there for you to support; World Wildlife Fund is one that leads in wildlife conservation and endangered species and your donations are tax deductible! Also, support the arts! Creativity and art is so important to a child’s development and mental health. We artists and authors want to contribute to that!

So don’t forget to support us by picking up our book and if you like it, leave us a review online and follow us on social media! Thanks to all our readers and a big thanks to Deborah Kalb! Happy reading everyone!

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Patrick O'Donnell and Erik Mehlen.

Q&A with D.A. Bartley

D.A. Bartley is the author of the new mystery novel Death in the Covenant, the second in her series about Detective Abish Taylor, which began with Blessed Be the Wicked. She lives in New York.

Q: This is your second book about Detective Abish Taylor. How do you think she's changed from one book to the next?

A: Abbie is slowly opening herself up to life. She was still reeling from having lost her husband in Blessed Be the Wicked.

In Death in the Covenant, we get to see her flirt with the idea of romance. She and her dad are making inroads in their relationship, and Abbie’s made peace with living in a place where she’ll never quite fit in.

Q: Did you know when you were working on the first book that you'd be writing another one?

A: Yes and no. I don't think I'm different from most writers in that when I was working on my very first book, it was pretty much all I could see.

Having said that, when my publisher asked me if I had more ideas for other books, the answer was yes. There’s a lot in Mormonism that’s intriguing and unique for a mystery writer. And then there’s the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a powerful, hierarchical organization that operates largely in private—how can you not play with that?

Q: The novels are set in Utah. How important is setting to you in your writing?

A: When I open up a book, I love being transported to some other place. I’ve lived in New York City for over 20 years—longer than I’ve lived anywhere else on the planet.

Before now, though, I moved a lot: I was born in Scotland, lived in France, Germany, and Utah before going to college in Boston. I spent a summer in Paris and a year in Leningrad/St. Petersburg. (Yep, I was there at the end of the Soviet Union). Then, I lived in Philadelphia for graduate and law school. 

Living in all those places taught me the magic of setting: the humidity in the air, when the flowers bloom, what kind of bugs are there, what does the dirt smell like, how tall are the trees, what color are the clouds when the sun rises and sets. I love all of it.

Q: Do you usually know how your novels will end, or do you make changes along the way?

A: When I got to the end of my first book, I knew when I sat down to my desk that I'd be writing the final scene, but it wasn't until I typed the last word that I knew exactly how the story ended.

Now that I work with deadlines, I do some rough outlining to make sure my ideas work, but I happily change course when the story wants to go another way.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: The third Abish Taylor.

In Blessed Be the Wicked, I was fascinated with the question of what happens when a community ignores—but doesn’t disavow—a violent doctrine. In Death in the Covenant, I became enthralled with how valuing faith and obedience above all else can lead to some very dark places.

For this book, I’m obsessed with how a community creates its own history and what happens when that shared memory collides with fact.

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: If you love suspense and are going to be in New York City, please check out the calendar for the New York Chapter of Sisters in Crime. I’ve just taken over as president, and we’re doing a lot of exciting things. It’s a wonderful organization for readers and writers at all stages of their careers.

Our new website will be up—any moment now—at nysinc.org. 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Oct. 3

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Oct. 3, 1886: Alain-Fournier born.

Q&A with Jake Burt

Jake Burt is the author of The Tornado, a new middle grade novel for kids. He also has written The Right Hook of Devin Velma and Greetings from Witness Protection. He teaches fifth grade in Connecticut.

Q: You note that you experienced something similar to the bullying that your character Bell deals with in The Tornado. Why did you decide to write about it?

A: It was time. I started writing it just as my daughter began middle school. Her transition afforded me an opportunity to really reflect on my own middle school experience, and I was stunned by how much I couldn’t remember. Every time I tried to recall something positive, the experience of being bullied - and, just as importantly, not standing up for others who were similarly treated - rose to the forefront.

I always knew that it impacted me, but I wasn’t quite ready to come to grips with just how profoundly it did. The Tornado was my way of more fully exploring and coming to terms with the ways it shaped me.

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

A: The title is one of over 60 references to The Wizard of Oz in the book. Bell’s story can be viewed as a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s work, told from the Cowardly Lion’s perspective.

I always found him a fascinating character - he’s the self-proclaimed “king of the forest,” but lions don’t live in the forest. He’s self-diagnosed a deficiency in himself that he doesn’t actually have. And it’s only through the support and belief of a disparate group of newfound friends that he’s able to rediscover what makes him powerful in the first place.

That angle has always appealed to me, and the title is a nod to the swirl of uncertainty that serves as an agent of change in Baum’s book and the following movie. Of course, I play with the symbolism of it liberally in the novel...

Q: You write that you did some research to write the book--how did you research it, and did you learn anything surprising?

A: The three biggest areas I needed to research were the works of da Vinci, the psychological impact of bullying on school communities, and (weirdly enough) my hometown.

I’ve always been fascinated by da Vinci’s sketches, but it was great to take a deep dive into his approach, and I learned some awesome things while I did. For instance, I didn’t know he wrote many of his notes backwards, or that he may have intentionally sabotaged some of his own designs. Reading some of the theories historians have to explain each was often just as entertaining as finding out about da Vinci’s quirks themselves!

The research into bullying was more sobering, but just as important, and I used it to better inform the way that the supporting characters react to Parker’s machinations. It was important to get Bell right, but that was relatively easy, since I patterned his reactions off of my own. But not all kids react in the same way, and not all communities handle bullying equally (or effectively).

I wanted to make sure I portrayed Bell’s world realistically...and, since his world is closely based on my hometown, I had to take a trip back to my old middle school. They were gracious enough to give me a full tour, so that Village Green could accurately reflect the modern-day Wyoming Middle School (and man, does typing that make me feel old…).

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

A: I hope readers are entertained. That’s always goal #1. I hope they laugh, and cheer, and think. If they managed to see themselves in Bell and his friends, or maybe find a glimmer of hope should they be going through a similar situation, then I’d be overjoyed. And if a teacher or librarian found the novel a useful resource to inform students about ways to support each other? That would be divine.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: ALL THE THINGS. Seriously, though, it can feel that way sometimes. I just finished copyedits on my fourth novel, Cleo Porter and the Body Electric. It’s my first science fiction novel, and I can say unabashedly that it’s my favorite thing I’ve ever written. I love that book with my whole heart (not that Tornado isn’t fantastic, too. I adore it, too).

I’m also about to leave on tour for Tornado, and I have events almost every day throughout October.

I can’t say too much about book #5 yet, save that I’m 50K words in...and that it’s middle grade horror...

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: I actually owned chinchillas for most of my life. Fuzzgig (Bell’s pet in The Tornado) is based on my beloved chin, one I had to find a new home for when I moved from North Carolina to Connecticut. Still thinkin’ of you every day, little guy...

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Jake Burt.

Q&A with Eileen Pollack

Eileen Pollack is the author of the new novel The Professor of Immortality. Her other books include A Perfect Life and Breaking and Entering. She was the director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan, and she now lives in New York City.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for The Professor of Immortality, and for your character Professor Maxine Sayers?

A: I had just moved to Ann Arbor to teach in 1994, and the Unabomber manifesto [written by Ted Kaczynski] came out in The Washington Post. Not long after, David Kaczynski and his wife went to the FBI—they recognized some of the language and the ideas. It was hard for David to turn his brother in.

The University of Michigan realized [Ted Kaczynski] got his Ph.D. in math from Michigan. If you’re a graduate student at Michigan, you have to take a course outside your area of study. 

As someone teaching writing [as I did], you got to know your students well. I have had many students who were young men, were bright—and were angry. I’d always taken them as my special projects. I have a physics degree from Yale; I have an older brother who could be a handful. I’d always try to connect with them. Often, I broke through and we became close. I thought many of them were in a lot of pain.

I was interested in Kaczynski. The more I read about him, the more I began to feel for him. If I’d read the manifesto and recognized the words of a former student, would I have turned him in? I’m interested in radical action, in what shaped him.

So I had a figure of a professor who starts to suspect a former student she cares about. I was interested in the issues Kaczynski brought up in the manifesto—he was trying to alert us to the dangers of technology, of climate change. I wanted a professor who would have taught someone like Kaczynski and could speak to the same issues. At what point does action become too radical if you’re trying to save lives? I don’t think you should send bombs.

Maxine’s a professor of Future Studies. I’m interested in where the future is headed….to have a woman as a futurist really interested me. What take would she have on the future? She’s based a little on me, and a little on [professor and psychologist] Sherry Turkle. 

I’m interested in the idea of human immortality. What would human life look like? How would it happen? It’s all in the book, too. Kaczynski became Kaczynski because he was so lonely he snapped. Now we call these people incels.

Q: How closely is the Technobomber in your book modeled on the Unabomber? What did you see as the right blend of fiction and history as you wrote the novel?

A: Most of the biographical details of his childhood and young adulthood were drawn from Kaczynski’s biography. There are some touching details. I kept those but changed what was needed for the plot. It’s set later, so the timeline is different. I made changes because I didn’t want the ending to be a foregone conclusion.

Q: Did you need to do much research to write the novel?

A: I read about Kaczynski. I read about future technology, futurism, immortality studies. I did research on the legal aspects—once Maxine goes to the FBI and sets in motion the search for her former student, I wanted to get that right. I got into the FBI in Detroit. When you’re writing fiction, people like police, law enforcement, are so eager to talk to you.

Some of it came from having taught for 25 years. I didn’t have to research that!

Q: You’ve talked about technology--what role do you see it playing in the book, and what do you hope readers take away from the story?

A: I want them to think about who is making the future for us. Straight white young men are designing technology for us…I wanted people to think about it from a woman’s point of view.

I wanted people to think about lonely angry young white guys. They might just be trolling on the internet, but now they could be shooting up [somewhere]. Kaczynski’s ideology came afterward. He wanted to kill people, and he needed an ideology to justify that.

It's easy to say incels are horrible rather than ask why they feel the way they do. There’s not an obligation to placate them, but pain is pain, loneliness is loneliness. Some of the white supremacist ideology is primary, but some is because the ideology is vilified. It might behoove us to think what’s really going on there.

I’m interested in young people and how they think. In our generation we’ve noticed changes [with technology] in our lives, but my students grew up in that technology. They’re funny, wise, caring, but often dismissed as not as good as the generation before them.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I took a break. I left Michigan. I’m now a professor emeritus. I moved to New York—I wanted to shake things up. I’m living in Manhattan.

I’m interested in how older women are portrayed in society and fiction—I’m writing some stories about that, about growing older, sex, romance. Some of the stories are pretty brave.

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: I got to Michigan in ’94. Timothy McVeigh blew up the Murrah office building in Oklahoma City [in 1995]. He was connected to the Michigan militia. 

I have written a novel, Breaking and Entering, that asked how in one city, state, or country, people with radically different views could get along. People in New York said, What century are you living in? 

Now that book makes a lot of sense. I’ve been writing about domestic terrorism for a long time. I’m hoping people go back to Breaking and Entering.

This is something I’ve worked on since 1994. I had a hard time finding people to connect with it. Now it’s really relevant.

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Eileen Pollack.

Q&A with Nicci French

Nicci French, photo by Johnny Ring

Nicci French (the pen name for the wife-and-husband writing team of journalists Nicci Gerrard and Sean French) is the author of the new novel The Lying Room. Their other books include the Frieda Klein series, and they live in Suffolk, UK.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for The Lying Room, and for your character Neve?

A: The two ideas came together. The germ of the book was the image of a woman – married with children – looking down at the body of her murdered lover. Should she call the police and upend her life?

We immediately knew what kind of woman this needed to be. We’d spent a decade writing about Frieda Klein, an extraordinary woman, mysterious, a loner, different from us. By contrast, Neve is a woman like us, middle-aged (which we still are, just about) and struggling with the pressures of everyday life, children, work, a chaotic social life. And she’s also dealing with a crime investigation that she herself has sabotaged.

Q: Many of the novel's scenes involve Neve riding around various parts of London on her bike. Why did you decide on her being a cyclist?

A: Again there was a contrast with Frieda. Frieda walked around London, often alone, often in the middle of the night. It was her way of thinking. But Neve is always in a tearing hurry: she doesn’t have time to walk. We cycle around London too, we know her routes, we know the pleasures and anxieties of urban cycling.

Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

A: In planning the book, we knew the starting point, we knew the end of the journey and we knew the main stages of the story. But as always, once we started writing and we really inhabited Neve’s mind, new possibilities occurred in her frantic attempt to hold her life together.

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

A: As soon as we thought of this, it felt perfect for the story. This is a story with sexual intimacy at its heart, but it’s also about another kind of lying: it’s about how little we know each other, even those who are closest to us. This isn’t a book about fearing your enemies; it’s about fearing your friends and your lovers.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: Our next novel is about a woman who has to solve a murder while in prison.

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Nicci French.