Vicki Conrad is the author of the new children's picture book Introducing Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World!. Conrad's other books include A Voice for the Everglades. Also an educator, she lives in Seattle.
Q: What inspired you to write a picture book biography of vaudeville and circus performer Katie Sandwina (1884-1952)?
A: First of all thank you for featuring my book, I greatly appreciate it.
I had heard about Katie Sandwina on a history podcast. Her story was so unique and unbelievable, I immediately looked up photos of her and was fascinated with her as a person. I could not stop thinking about her and woke up in the middle of the night and wrote the first draft of my story.
I was particularly taken with her because I was a college athlete. I was a rower and incredibly strong. It was hard as a woman to have muscle, and feel okay in my own skin.
I was particularly taken with her story because she was just as strong on the inside as she was on the inside. I also thought her life with Max was so sweet and such a different love story.
Q: How did you research her life, and what did you learn that especially surprised you?
A: The research on her life was the most difficult of anyone I have ever written about. I scoured old newspapers looking for vaudeville ads featuring The Sandwinas. I contacted The Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports in Austin, Texas. They were helpful. I read a few books written about Circus Women.
It was very difficult because she did not keep a journal or write about her life. She was interviewed and written about, but much of her life timeline I pieced together through small newspaper ads in local newspapers to figure out where she was in different times of her life.
I really wanted to know more about her time in the Circus Suffragettes, but she never wrote about it. Her friend, Josie, a horse jumper and fellow circus performer, wrote a book. The only copy of that book I could find was rare edition, and cost over $50, but I ordered it and scoured it for any information about Sandwina or the Circus Suffragettes, but there was nothing there.
However, what I did find showed me how charismatic she was, and how much inner strength she had. She was so proud of her body, and celebrated it, and the world celebrated with her.
I did find a video of Max when he was older, talking about how much he loved her, and it was so heartwarming. The photos that exist of her are treasures. The editor at Calkins Creek was so helpful and helped me get permission and access to all the photographs I dreamed of having in the book.
Q: What do you think Jeremy Holmes’s illustrations add to the book?
A: Jeremy Holmes created incredible artwork that brought the feel of the circus era to life. I love every page, and all the small details he put in. A child could stare at the book for hours and find new things. The patterns in the background and the costumes are wonderful. I am blown away by the talent he has.
He modeled the layout after circus posters from the time, and it makes the book have a powerful visual presence.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “Though [Sandwina] wowed audiences with her astounding feats of strength, Conrad passionately emphasizes that she was celebrated for her femininity, too, mothering two sons and wearing ‘bold costumes’ that highlighted her muscles…” What do you think of that description?
A: I love that description. Sandwina literally changed the way society thought of beauty at that time. She proved a strong woman could be feminine and beautiful. She was famous in her day. Newspapers wrote articles about her and invented a new name for a woman like her that combined beauty and strength: a Titaness.
I am so glad readers are understanding that through my writing. I hope children understand that as well when they read it.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now I am working on another biography, more nonfiction picture books, and early readers. I teach full time and work with students with learning differences, so I have been working on early readers for a while.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Reading every day makes us better people. I work hard to read much more than I look at screens, and my life is much better for it.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
No comments:
Post a Comment