Q&A with Brittany Polat

  

Photo by Keni Parks

 

 

 

Brittany Polat is the author of the new book Jesus & Stoicism: The Parallel Sayings. Her other books include Stoic Ethics.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write Jesus & Stoicism?

A: An editor at Ulysses Press reached out to me about creating this book to follow in the footsteps of one of their bestselling titles, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings by Marcus Borg.

 

Borg was a Lutheran pastor and scholar of the historical Jesus who thought that different religions are simply individual manifestations of a universal path. I really admire his work and I loved the idea of this project!

 

I also realized that the relationship between Stoicism and Christianity had not been fully explored, so I was happy to bring more attention to the topic through this book.

Q: What are some of the parallels between Christianity and Stoicism?

A: In this book I focus primarily on ethical parallels, of which there are many.

 

Both Jesus and the Stoics defined success in internal (spiritual/psychological) terms rather than external (worldly) terms, which led them to reject and disapprove of wealth, power, and social status.

 

They were extremely critical of selfishness and hypocrisy, which they saw particularly in the upper classes of their respective societies.

 

They promoted internal virtue—or to use the preferred Biblical term, righteousness—which led to inner peace and social harmony.

 

There is so much more we could mention, but those are some of the major points of agreement.

Q: What do you think are some of the most common perceptions and misconceptions about Stoicism?

A: Unfortunately there are many misperceptions of Stoicism that have cropped up over the centuries.

 

One is that Stoics are not supposed to have any emotions, which of course is not true. The ancient Stoics recognized emotions as an important part of human life, but they noticed that strong negative emotions like anger, envy, and sadness can cause huge problems. So they developed a system of eliminating those bad emotions while promoting good emotions like joy and goodwill.

Another misperception is that the Stoics are detached from other people, but again, this is not true at all. It’s based on a misinterpretation of some of the ancient texts.

 

In reality, Stoics learn how to love others and have good relationships without falling prey to the wrong kinds of attachments, which are similar to cravings. We begin to approach our relationships with wisdom, leading to inner peace and a deeper happiness.

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

A: I hope readers come away with a renewed appreciation of the ethical parallels between Stoicism and Christianity, which are two renowned wisdom traditions that have shaped Western history and culture.

 

I also hope readers find inspiration for their own lives—when both Jesus and the Stoics are pointing us in the same direction, we know we need to listen!

Q: What are you working on now?

A: At the moment I’m working on two collected editions of Stoic writings for Pan Macmillan’s Collector’s Library: Embracing Resilience and Getting Along with Difficult People.

 

Each book has selected texts relevant to its theme, so if someone needs practical guidance on overcoming difficulties or getting along with difficult people, they will have Stoic advice right at their fingertips! The books should be out in 2027.

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: I would say that if you’re interested in learning more about Stoicism, make sure you get your information from trustworthy sources. There continues to be so much misinformation circulating online.

 

I recommend relying on books and articles associated with the nonprofit Modern Stoicism, or reading works published by university presses or classic imprints. And make sure to read the originals yourself—you can’t go wrong with Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Deirdre Sullivan

  

 

Deirdre Sullivan is the author of the new children's picture book Little Passenger. Her other books include the young adult novel Savage Her Reply. She lives in Dublin, Ireland.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Little Passenger?

 

A: Becoming pregnant was not a straightforward journey for me; there was a lot of hoping. When my child began to grow in me, I really wanted them to stay, and when we hit the 12-week milestone, I bought them a book, and began to read a bedtime story every night. It helped to keep us connected and allowed me to share something I love with this small life in the liminal space.

 

It was a lovely ritual, but being me, I began to overthink it, because the small life inside me had no context for suppers, or mermaids, or Wild Things. One night when I couldn’t sleep, I wrote a poem just for her, and that was the beginning of Little Passenger. 

 

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

 

A: I called her that, along with other names, when she was growing in me, and I remember one friend saying they really liked the phrasing of it. It was an organic part of the poem, and it was my relationship to her as well. I was her first home, and I’m grateful to my body for growing her until she was ready to meet the world. 

 

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

 

A: I was consistently blown away by Jessica’s responses to the book; she met it with such understanding and care. There were several visual narratives she worked through before finding the inspiration for the book as is, and it was a privilege to have insight into her process.

 

I feel her art met my words more seamlessly than I could have imagined, and I feel very grateful to have had such a beautiful experience making Little Passenger with her, and the team at Walker. 

 

Q: The Publishers Weekly review of the book says, “It’s a warmth-filled portrait that binds the loving act of making a quilt to one experience of growing a family.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I wanted to imbue the text with reassurance, warmth, and love, without being saccharine, and while retaining a sense of emotional truth, which has always been key to me with writing.

 

The visual narrative, all those special details, the colour saturation, the quilt developing and growing with the pregnancy, that was all Jessica. I think it was very heartfelt for both of us. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I have two more lyrical picture books under contract at the moment, and I’m working on some poetry and short fiction as well. I’m reading and researching a lot about birds right now, as well as folklore and mythology. I tend to fill the bucket up and then let it spill over. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Pregnancy and motherhood aren’t easy or simple, and the journey is different for everyone. It’s magical and messy, primal and painful.

 

There’s no one truth for any of us in this world, and with parenthood, there are so many feelings and experiences and complexities that co-exist. There’s no one way, or right way. There’s only you and them, and your love will be shaped differently from other people’s because it’s yours.  

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Gideon Sterer

  

 

 

Gideon Sterer is the author of the new children's picture book The Underwearwolf. His many other books include The Christmas Owl. He lives in New York City. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Underwearwolf?

A: Honestly, just the pun, and I have no recollection of how or why I thought about it. I think I had it in a notes app and one day I was going back through notes and was like, "Hey, this is still funny to me," so then I had to figure out how to make it into a book.

Q: What do you think Charles Santoso’s illustrations add to the book?

A: Charles is one of my favorite contemporary children's book illustrators and his illustrations are a wonderful combination of beautiful and a little spooky while also being commercially appealing and HILARIOUS, so I think he adds everything to the book, really. He rules. 

Q: The Publishers Weekly review of the book says, “Sterer and Santoso mash the monstrous and the truly mundane in this gleeful picture book outing.” What do you think of that description?

A: I love it! This book is really one big joke, so that works for me!

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

A: I don't know if there are any explicit "take-aways" that I'm hoping for, but I hope they are inspired to imagine weird and off-kilter stuff and have a curiosity and wonder for the woods and just further like the idea of books, generally!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

A: Lots of stuff! An interesting combination of hopefully poignant stuff and also a bunch of stuff with butt jokes.

Q: Anything else we should know?

A: I have another book with Simon & Schuster coming out called Tadpole Season, so look out for that!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

May 11

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
May 11, 1918: Richard Feynman born.

Q&A with Brittany Cicchese

  

 

Brittany Cicchese is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Tiny Worlds. Her other work includes illustrating The Kitten Story, written by Emily Jenkins. She lives in Denver.

 

Q: What inspired you to create Tiny Worlds?

 

A: Tiny Worlds was inspired by a mix of my own childhood experiences and the ways I learned to navigate a world that sometimes felt too big, too loud, or too much.

 

As a kid, if I found myself overwhelmed by an unfamiliar or busy environment, I would often retreat into something small and manageable, like drawing, building, or creating intricate, imaginative worlds.

 

The story itself really started to take shape during the pandemic. Since I couldn't do much in the bigger world, I took the opportunity to explore closer spaces, especially a little stream by my home.

 

I had spent years walking across it to continue on a trail, but finally took the time to really look closely at all the life flourishing in that beautiful micro-ecosystem.

 

It reminded me that you don't have to go far to find something extraordinary; you just have to slow down enough to notice it.

 

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

 

A: It’s a bit of both for me, but the text usually comes first in a loose, exploratory way. I do a lot of my writing while I’m walking or running, so early drafts tend to live in my head for some time before they make it onto the page.

 

Once I have a general structure, the illustrations really start to guide the story. I’ll go back and forth between words and images, refining both as I see how they complement each other.

 

For Tiny Worlds, the visual pacing was especially important (i.e. when to zoom in or when to pull back), so it definitely became an integrated process.

 

Q: How would you describe the relationship between your protagonist and his grandmother?

 

A: At its core, it’s a relationship built on love, but also on the trust between two people who can learn from each other.

 

Grandma wants to share the world with her grandson, and she does that in a very active, well-intentioned way. She’s constantly planning outings and experiences, hoping to give her grandson as much as possible. But in her excitement to partake in those big activities with him, she misses something important about how he prefers to experience the world.

 

What I love about their relationship is that it evolves. When the grandson shares his perspective, Grandma listens. She’s willing to slow down, to shift, and to meet him where he is. That mutual understanding, being seen and then choosing to see someone else in return, is really central to the story.

 

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “In addition to celebrating introverts, this book is particularly welcome as an intergenerational story that proves that older adults can and should take the time to learn from younger people.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I really love that interpretation, and I'm so glad readers see that message in the story!

 

When I was working on this book, I thought a lot about how we assume adults are the teachers and children are the students. But children have such a unique way of moving through the world, often noticing things we overlook, or making connections we never would have dreamed of. There’s so much we can learn if we take the time to really pay attention.

 

That idea of mutual learning felt especially important in an intergenerational relationship. Grandma isn’t just guiding her grandson, she’s also growing because of him. To me, that’s what makes their connection feel meaningful and real.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I'm currently working on the illustrations for two more picture books while also finishing up a few of my own picture book manuscripts. Apart from that, I work part-time at a public library, so I'm incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by so much inspiration!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I think more than anything, I hope Tiny Worlds feels like an invitation for both children and caregivers.

 

If a child invites you into their world, whether it’s imaginary or something they’ve discovered while exploring outside, that’s a really special moment. Slowing down, asking questions, and being present in that space can mean a lot more than we realize.

 

Thank you for these wonderful questions!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Edouard Prisse

  

 

 

Edouard Prisse is the author of the new book Sleeping with the Enemy: What the White House Still Misses on China. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Sleeping with the Enemy?

 

A: I was inspired by President Bill Clinton’s initiative in the year 2000, which was based on totally wrong arguments with which he started the now 25-year-old American free trade relationship with China.

 

I was inspired by the fact that this is so obviously an error, and that it was understandable early on that this was going to upset the power position of the US in the world, as is happening now.

Q: How would you describe the current relationship between the U.S. and China?

 

A: This economic free trade relationship is still maintaining a grave economic disequilibrium, because China has production costs of about half those of the US. With the ongoing free trade, the political and strategic consequences for the US are negative and are huge.

 

Q: What do you see looking ahead for the relationship?

 

A: It will gradually get worse if it is not competently tackled and repaired by the US government, in cooperation with the European Union. At present, nothing is even pointing in that direction, except for the fact that President Trump sees the danger quite clearly, but also handles it poorly, up till today.

 

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

 

A: I hope they will see that the above economic error, unchecked as it still is, will go on and will continue undermining our own industry and weakening our position in the world, unless checked.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Against many odds, I am trying to get the above view read and more widely understood. I am also working on an article about the generalized loss of macro-economic understanding in government circles, both in the US and elsewhere.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Yes. First, as a consequence of this ongoing drama, which is the result of human incompetence in our leaders, please realize that our democratic civilization is under threat, while general opinion is still blind to this so obviously degrading situation.

 

Second, that this book, based as it is on careful study and well-researched facts, gives a warning that our civilization is under threat and that this situation should be repaired; the White House seems to be asleep, when it comes to this grave situation.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

May 10

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
May 10, 1898: Ariel Durant born.