Michelle Staubach Grimes is the author of the children's picture book Where Is Pidge?. She has worked as a lawyer and in sports marketing, and she lives in Dallas.
Q: How did you come up with
the idea for Pidge and her family?
A: While Where is Pidge? is a
work of fiction, those that know my family will recognize some truths. The
character is named after my mom, Marianne Hoobler Staubach. Her childhood
nickname was Pidge. Her dad said she slept like a little pigeon so he called
her Pidge.
I named the character Pidge
to honor my mom; however, the character’s personality is not like my mom. My
mom is the oldest of five children and a rule follower. Pidge is the middle of
seven children, curious, and doesn’t always follow the rules.
The idea of Pidge came from
various real incidents in my life while raising my kids, yet it also embodies
my childhood. I’m one of five children. While I’m not technically the middle
child, the first three daughters were born in four years (two more siblings
came six years later) so I was raised like a middle child sandwiched between
two sisters.
In the story, Pidge is trying
to find her place in her family and feel validated, which I can relate to
growing up in a big family. I believe we are all trying to find our place be it
in our family or in the world, and working to make our families and the world a
better place.
Q: What do you hope young
readers take away from the story?
A: I hope every child knows
they are loved, even when they may not feel loved. I want children to know that
their emotions are real, that they feel validated, understand the importance of
gratitude, and serving others.
Pidge is the story of one
child learning that she is loved and important despite her misconceptions. But
the story is bigger than one child. The message conveyed to every child that
reads this book and any adult reading the book is - we are all important with a place in this
world, and we have a duty to help others.
Q: At what point did you see
the illustrations, and what do you think they add to the book?
A: I was involved with the
illustrations from day one. I collaborated with my illustrator so I was able to
tell him I wanted Pidge to have blonde, curly, frizzy hair, etc.
I gave my illustrator some
thoughts on my vision of the characters and the scenes, then I let go and he
went to work. I’m not an illustrator so our minds work differently. I was
amazed at his art and fell even more in love with Pidge and her family after he
completed the illustrations.
One can’t place a value on
the illustrations. They bring the characters to life visually for the reader. I
will be forever grateful to my illustrator.
Q: What are you working on
now?
A: Right now I’m working on
Pidge Book #2 (title to be determined). I’ve written and the manuscript has
been edited. The illustrator is working on the final art. I hope to launch
Pidge Book #2 in the fall of 2017.
I’m also writing another
children’s book about a mother’s unconditional love for her son. This is not a
part of the Pidge series, but I hope to publish it in the next few years along
with more Pidge books.
Q: Anything else we should
know?
A: I’m a mother of three
teenagers and have been married to my very patient husband for 20 years. We
also have two dogs. I love to write and create new stories. I also enjoy the
editing phase of the book with my fabulous editor, although editing can be very
tedious and stressful at times.
I began my writing career in
2012 when I enrolled in the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Continuing Ed
Creative Writing Program. I wanted to hone my writing skills and planned to
write a short non-fiction piece.
I fell in love with creative
writing and drafted a women’s adult novel while I continued taking classes
studying the art of storytelling. One day I began writing the story of Pidge,
and my passion continues through the expression of the written word.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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