Q&A with Constance Lombardo

Author Constance Lombardo and illustrator Micah Player

 

 

Constance Lombardo is the author of the new children's picture book Itty Bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash. Her other books include Itty Bitty Betty Blob. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina. 

 

Q: What inspired this second story about your character Betty?

 

A: My editor, illustrator, and I felt that Itty Bitty Betty Blob called for another adventure. When I remember my school days, Drama Club stands out as particularly memorable.

 

But what would Betty do? I imagined her over the summer, hanging with her friends the puffs, diving gracefully into the waterfall pool so beautifully created by Micah Player.

 

So, joining the Diving Team felt right! But how do Betty’s dives compare with those of the other monsters? (Spoiler: most monsters love cannonballs!)

 

Q: Do you think she’s changed from one book to the next?

 

A: Yes, I think Betty is now much more comfortable being a little pink blob of sunshine in a world of sepia-tone monsters. And yet she continues to find out what it really means to be yourself. I’m working on that, too!

 

Q: What do you think Micah Player’s illustrations add to this book?

 

A: I am incredibly fortunate to work with Micah; his artwork is gorgeous, multi-layered, and full of heart. I provided the idea for this world, and he ran with it. There’s so much rich imagery on each page, and so many hidden treasures.

 

A few of my favorites:

 

1. Mom’s blobby car, which I desperately want.

 

2. The page with Betty’s classmates geared up for afterschool activities is hysterical – one of the monsters looks like a folk musician.

 

3. The pool water is dark indigo and makes me think of The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

 

4. All of Betty’s facial expressions are so vivid!

 

Happily, Micah and I met in person this year at the ALA conference, and we are now friends for life.

 

Q: The One Minute Book Reviews review of the book says, “It’s a reminder that sometimes the best way to stand out is to be yourself, even if you’re a little blob in a big pond.” What do you think of that assessment?

 

A: It’s perfect! Especially with the current environment and push toward conformity, the idea that kids not only can, but must be encouraged to be truly themselves feels so important. It’s the radical act of loving yourself as you are. Life-saving.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Thank you for asking and for hosting me on your wonderful blog. I’m super excited to be working on a third Betty book, with Micah, of course! The adventure continues…

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: A little blob can make a big splash. Also, blob is only one letter off from blog. Lastly, Micah’s debut picture book as a writer/illustrator, This Is a Moment, came out this year. Gorgeous! 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Constance Lombardo. 

Q&A with Claudia Daher

 

 

 

Claudia Daher is the author of the new young adult novel R.A.T.S.: Revolutionary Army of Teens: We Are One. She lives on the island of Aruba. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write R.A.T.S., and how did you create your character David?  

 

A: R.A.T.S. was born from a deep desire to inspire young people to believe in unity, peace, and the power of doing good. I wanted to create a story that encourages a return to family values and respect for our planet.  

 

David is a very authentic character who does not follow the crowd — he acts from pure kindness, yet he is extremely courageous and wise. He came to understand the true meaning of We Are One — that we are all deeply connected: G-d, humanity, and nature as one creation.  

 

The book itself is a gateway to open meaningful conversations with the younger generation about family values, artificial intelligence, climate change, and mutual respect among peoples and religions.  

 

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

 

A: Yes, I knew the ending from the beginning, because to me it was clear that the end would actually be the beginning of a series.  

 

I wanted to close the story by opening a new path — a symbolic continuation of hope and renewal. However, the writing process was full of discoveries, challenges, and lessons that shaped not only the characters but also my own growth as a writer.  

 

Q: How did you create the novel’s world of 2040?  

 

A: When I began writing in 2012, the year 2040 seemed far away, almost unreachable. Yet time has passed quickly, and many of the ideas I imagined are already part of our reality in 2025. It’s astonishing how technology now advances at the speed of light, reshaping how we live and think.  

 

Still, the novel travels through different time periods to show that our past, present, and future are all intertwined — and that the seeds of tomorrow are planted in the choices we make today. 

 

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

 

A: Because R.A.T.S. is written for teenagers, I wanted to offer a story free from profanity, promiscuity, drugs, and the negative messages often present in today’s media.  

 

My goal was to remind young readers that it’s still possible to live a life that is clean, purposeful, and filled with love, respect, and kindness. The message of We Are One invites them to rediscover harmony — within themselves, with others, and with nature.  

 

If we embrace that sense of connection, we can create a world guided by understanding, compassion, and light.  

 

Q: What are you working on now?  

 

A: I’m gathering ideas to begin the continuation of the series. The first book is only the foundation — simple and literal compared to what is yet to come. Once I’m further along this new journey, I’ll be happy to share more.  

 

For now, I’m fully dedicated to spreading the message of We Are One around the world, together with the song I created with my son Keith, beautifully performed by the talented local singer from Aruba, Miguel Genser.  

 

Q: Anything else we should know?  

 

A: R.A.T.S. is not just a book — it is an inspiration for all of us who dream of a new and better world. In such a short time, humanity has found itself not only in wars between nations but also in a deeper battle between light and darkness, between good and evil — present in every country, every race, and every heart.  

 

The good must rise; we cannot end conflict with more hatred or division. There is still time to help one another, to learn from each other, and to rebuild respect and compassion.  

 

The slogan We Are One represents a movement for peace — because just as a small candle can light up a dark room, my deepest wish is that the conversations inspired by this book and its song will bring unity, love, and light to humankind.  

 

I truly hope that you, Deborah, and your readers will listen to the song and enjoy the book, as everything we gain from it will go to the children of our planet — and toward the long-awaited dream of world peace. 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Dec. 19

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Dec. 19, 1875: Carter G. Woodson born.

Q&A with Gail Jarrow

 

 

Photo by Alicia Sangiuliano

 

 

Gail Jarrow is the author of the new young adult book White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover-Ups. Her other books include Ambushed!. She lives in Ithaca, New York.

 

Q: What inspired you to write White House Secrets, and how did you choose the presidents to include in the book?

 

A: Since I was 11, I’ve enjoyed reading about the presidents. While studying medical history as I wrote previous books, I discovered that presidential health is often overlooked. Yet when the chief executive dies or is out of commission for weeks with an illness, it is a medical fiasco that poses a risk for the nation.

 

To decide which presidents to include in my book about cover-ups, I identified those chief executives who deliberately kept their medical conditions secret. I only chose the cases for which there was solid, well-documented evidence of deception––medical records, court testimony, first-person accounts, autobiographies.  

 

I didn’t include alleged cases of deception that were based on rumors, political animus, or personal opinion, because those are difficult to confirm.

 

Q: Of the various secrets you write about in the book, are there some that especially surprised you?

 

A: My book includes nine presidents from James Garfield (1881) to Joe Biden. Here are three of the more shocking stories.

 

Grover Cleveland (1885–1889, 1893–1897) was diagnosed with oral cancer in 1893. He and his closest aides devised an elaborate scheme to keep the situation secret. They arranged for a risky operation on a floating yacht, far away from nosy reporters. The surgery was a success, and Cleveland got away with the cover-up. The secret surgery wasn’t confirmed for 24 years, long after Cleveland’s death. 

 

In 1919, Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) suffered a devastating stroke. His left side was paralyzed and, at least temporarily, he was mentally incapacitated. His condition was covered up by his wife, his doctor, and his secretary. They didn’t inform even the vice president and secretary of state, who were next in the line of succession. Wilson's wife screened correspondence, making decisions in Wilson’s name and essentially taking control of the presidency. 

 

John Kennedy (1961–1963) cultivated the image of a young, vigorous president. Yet he had a life-threatening ailment for which he required regular medication. Kennedy and his doctor repeatedly denied that he had the disease. While in the White House, he was treated with addictive painkillers and amphetamines. That was kept hush-hush, too.

 

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “This work, a strong choice for young readers and adults alike, raises the question: What’s the best way to balance presidents’ right to medical privacy with their responsibility to govern the nation?” What do you think of that description, and how would you answer that question?

 

A: That’s the tough question at the heart of my book. As I point out, presidents have had various motives for concealing an illness.

 

Some coverups were for noble reasons, such as discouraging foreign adversaries from taking advantage of a president’s physical weakness. But many of the secrets have been for selfish reasons, such as maintaining personal power or winning an election.

 

Does the public need to know every health detail, however embarrassing? Probably not. Some conditions have nothing to do with whether the president can perform duties now or within the term of office. 

 

If the president’s health potentially affects the nation, however, I think the public deserves the information. The press is in the position––and has the responsibility––to get those facts. Too often in the past, reporters hid critical evidence or failed to investigate obvious signs of a president’s declining health.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book, especially given the current political climate?

 

A: I hope the book helps readers appreciate how far medical care has progressed since the middle of the 19th century. The stories also reveal a pattern of presidential deception about health.

 

A common theme in all of my books is to show what happens when we aren’t sufficiently skeptical. Whether the subject is history, science, medicine, or politics, I encourage readers to question and analyze what they see and hear.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: When I was doing research for White House Secrets, I learned about other presidents who suffered life-threatening conditions but didn’t cover up their ailments. I decided another book was necessary to tell the complete story of significant presidential illnesses.  

 

The President Is Ailing: Tales of Medical Crises in the White House will be published in Spring 2027. This is the fifth book in my Medical Fiascoes series. Besides White House Secrets, the others are Blood and Germs (about Civil War medicine); Ambushed! (about the assassination and slow death of President James Garfield); and American Murderer (about the South’s hookworm epidemic). 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Gail Jarrow. 

Q&A with Teresa Robeson

 

 

 

Teresa Robeson is the author of the children's picture book Clear and Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story. Her other books include Clouds in Space. She is based in Indiana.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Clear and Bright?

 

A: While there are a ton of books out there on the more well-known holidays in the U.S. (e.g. Christmas, Halloween), there are far fewer books on holidays celebrated by other cultures.

 

In addition, the holiday/festival books for Chinese cultures were only ever about New Year or the Mid-Autumn, or Moon, Festival (still is the case). That’s all fine and well, but they were never my favorite holidays.

 

My favorite memory of a holiday was the family gatherings at grave sites to honor our ancestors during the festival of Ching Ming. It wasn’t too noisy, like New Year, and I wasn’t forced to eat mooncakes, which I never liked. Instead, for Ching Ming, we had other delectable foods that I actually loved.

 

And I also loved listening to my elders recounting stories those who had passed away…I was always drawn to family gossip.

 

Plus, aside from New Year perhaps, this is the oldest Chinese festival, celebrated for probably over 3,000 years!

 

So when an editor at a conference mentioned that more books about holidays that weren’t the same-old-same-old were needed, I immediately set out to write about Ching Ming.

 

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

 

A: “Clear and bright” is the literal translation of Ching Ming, and it also goes with the final scene I had envisioned, so I knew I wanted to use the phrase.

 

My editor was the one who suggested the subtitle to make it more obvious what it’s about, which was a great idea. I’m too close to it and couldn’t see that the allusion/word play would be lost on most people.

 

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book calls it a “solemn yet loving tribute to an important tradition.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I think that’s the nicest thing Kirkus ever said about any of my books. I almost fell out of my chair reading it. Hah!

 

Q: What do you think William Low’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Oh my goodness…I don’t have enough superlatives to describe William’s art. He captured not only the warmth and joy of family, but at the same time also the cool dampness of spring touched with a tinge of sadness at the hardships that the family had endured.

 

I was absolutely thrilled when the publishing team got him to be the illustrator! He used family photos and friends and their children as models. That makes me so happy. The book is all about family, after all.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m currently working on a picture book with the editor for my Bruce Lee graphical biography. It’s so fun to work with her again!

 

I’m also in the final edits for a book on the Chinese Zodiac with a publisher in the UK.

 

And, lastly, I’m revising and drafting four early readers on severe weather phenomena for MIT Kids Press, the publisher of my Clouds in Space: Stardust, Nebulae, and Us picture book.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: There was an editor who critiqued this story once and she told me, in so many words, that it would never be published because it’s about a holiday she had never heard of (even though she’s also Chinese-American) and because I’m not famous enough to sell a quiet story.

 

So, I just want to give a huge shoutout to Leonard Marcus who believed this story, helping it to win Silver in the Astra International Picture Book Competition and then publishing it. I owe him everything for bringing the story of my heart to the world. Sometimes, your biggest proponents are those not in your identity circles.

 

And I really appreciate you, Deborah, for helping to promote this book! I hope more people will read it and appreciate the fact that Chinese culture is more than just New Year and mooncakes.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Teresa Robeson. 

Q&A with Hannah Chung

 

Photo by Cat Laine

 

Hannah Chung is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Bread Days. She also has created the picture book The Most Perfect Persimmon. She is also an adjunct professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, and she lives in Providence, Rhode Island, and in Seoul, South Korea.

 

Q: How did your late dad inspire the creation of Bread Days?

 

A: My dad loved baking bread. He even had a sourdough starter named Paolo! Every loaf had its own personality, and I could feel his love in each slice. Even before I became an author-illustrator, I wanted to write about our Bread Days and the special bond he had with Paolo.

 

Three years after he passed, it finally felt like the right time to tell this story. I learned to bake sourdough using his journal and tools, keeping the ritual alive. I named my starter Paoliño—little Paolo. Baking became my way of holding onto those memories and keeping his love alive.

 

Q: How did you create your character Nara?

 

A: Nara represents so many moments from my own grieving process. She is resilient, hopeful, and brave. Caring for my own starter helped me connect with her even more.

 

I thought a lot about how she might respond as she navigates grief—what would bring her hope, and how she would lean into her bravery. Through Nara, I wanted to show that starting something anew takes courage—and that courage is beautiful.

 

Q: The Booklist review of the book says, “This is a wonderful book for children who are dealing with the aftermath of a familial loss. While it features a heavy topic, it’s done in a way that is light and shows how life goes on.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I appreciate this review. It exactly captures what I hoped for. Grief is a natural part of our lives, and the legacies of our loved ones live on in the memories, small moments, and rituals we hold onto. I hope this book gives readers a comforting, safe space to explore their feelings, especially during life’s big changes.

 

Q: Do you have a favorite kind of bread to bake?

 

A: I bake sourdough all the time, usually with little designs on top. My starter is almost two years old now, and it has a gentle personality. The loaves always come out fluffy, golden brown, and just a little bit sour.

 

The next bread I want to make is a cheesy Gruyère loaf my dad used to bake. It looked like a delicious, bubbling volcano. I’d love for all my readers to try baking bread someday!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: My next book explores family dynamics and all the feelings that come with them—excitement, doubt, conflict, and joy. It might be a little longer, with lots of illustrations. I can’t wait to share more when it’s ready!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Hannah Chung. 

Q&A with Tinsley Galyean

 

 

 

Tinsley Galyean is the author of the new book Reframe: How Curiosity & Literacy Can Redefine Us. He is the CEO and founder of the nonprofit organization Curious Learning.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write Reframe?

 

A: More than a decade ago, I was inspired by a simple question: Can children learn to read without schools or teachers? This question ultimately led me to co-found and lead Curious Learning, a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating illiteracy worldwide. 

 

The result has been incredible growth in literacy rates in some of the world’s most underserved communities using inexpensive smartphones and specialized apps. 

 

As I traveled around the world to ascertain the effectiveness of our programs, I began focusing more and more on the importance of curiosity. I realized that to achieve real transformation in anything, not just literacy, people need to overcome their self-imposed limitations.  

 

At this unique time in history, as the world faces so many global challenges, I wanted to share this story and the insights I gained by writing Reframe. I hope my book will resonate with anyone seeking to make meaningful change in their own life or community.

 

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

 

A: The title, Reframe: How Curiosity & Literacy Can Redefine Us, reflects the book's dual focus on external action and internal transformation. "Reframe" refers to ferreting out and adjusting the limiting beliefs that reside in our minds and blind us to what is possible.

 

Ultimately, the title signifies that curiosity is the magic vehicle used to free us from these limitations, aligning us with a life of learning and growing.

 

Q: What did you see as the right balance between memoir and analysis as you wrote the book?

 

A: I balanced the book by framing it as "part travel memoir, part spiritual journey, and mostly a recipe for prosocial success."

 

The narrative uses personal experiences and data-driven analysis to transport readers across the globe to places like India and Ethiopia. This blend was intentional to chronicle the fight against global illiteracy while also providing tools for deep self-awareness and organizational effectiveness.

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to write this book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

 

A: The writing process was a deeply reflective and collaborative experience that supported my own continued learning and growth, particularly in collaboration with my colleagues at Curious Learning.

 

I hope that sharing our story inspires those working to end illiteracy and encourages all readers, whether individuals or organizations, to examine and transcend their own limiting beliefs.

 

The core takeaway is the recognition that curiosity is key to freeing us from limitations and enabling a life centered on learning.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I continue to serve as CEO of Curious Learning, focusing on the fascinating and curious journey of how to give everyone the opportunity to learn to read, a goal that continues today.

 

Our work leverages mobile technology, which is accelerating rapidly, to curate apps and develop distribution strategies. We are actively engaged in building experiments, running cost-effective campaigns, and collaborating with partners like the World Bank to maintain learner engagement and influence social norms around education.

 

I am also writing shorter pieces that reflect how the world and my understanding of it continues to transform.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: At Curious Learning, we believe that true sustainability is defined not by the perpetual existence of the organization, but by the result of generating sustained positive impact on individuals and the global community.

 

Our ultimate goal is the completion of our mission—to bring a whole generation into literacy and effectively eradicate illiteracy—leading to Curious Learning becoming obsolete.

 

The most important support any of us can receive, as both an organization and individuals, is assistance in illuminating and changing our own limiting beliefs.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Dec. 18

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Dec. 18, 1870: H.H. Munro born. 

Q&A with Katy Farber

 

Photo by Kurt Budliger

 

 

Katy Farber is the author of the new novel The Board. Her other books include the middle grade novel The Order of the Trees. She is also an assistant professor of education at Saint Michael's College. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Board, and how did you create your character Liv?

 

A: The spark for the book came from Brendan Deenen of Blackstone Publishing. He had the seed of an idea about a corrupt school board, and a narcissistic principal also acting as a superintendent. They were looking for a writer with K-12 teaching experience, and I fit the bill! 

 

The book is inspired by many things: the rise of book banning and uncivil school board meetings across the country; the threats to teachers for working to teach true, hard histories of the United States and to protect the identities of all of their students; and the many ways women are made to feel small and undervalued in our society as many of our rights are stripped away.

 

I created Liv based on the idea that many women have had to face workplace harassment and discrimination and might not have done what they think they should have, and how this informs their future decisions and actions. 

 

Q: The novel is set in a small town in New Hampshire--how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: New England, I hope, feels like a character in this book. I want the reader to feel steeped in place, and season, the end of fall and the beginning of what we call stick season (even before Noah Kahan’s song!). That sense of coziness and beauty at times, but also of foreboding and fear in the crunch of leaves and the starkness of the sky and trees.

 

The setting allows for the reader to imagine a place that is small town and beautiful, but also closed minded and insular. I think the story would be lost if it were not of this time and place in New England. 

 

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

 

A: No, I did not know the end before I started writing it. I had a sense of the final scene, in that I wanted it to connect to and rhyme with the opening one, but how to get there in between, I wasn’t clear.

 

I also worked with my editor to create a few more moments of the plot shifting in unexpected ways and had to circle back to plot points that emerged and make sure everything made sense and hung together. 

 

Q: The Publishers Weekly review of the book says, “Farber nicely captures Liv’s mounting anxiety and makes her amateur investigation feel high-stakes. It’s a sharp exploration of parental unease.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love that description because it hits at what so many parents are feeling after the pandemic with the stark increase in anxiety rates of children. We went through a collective trauma, and our kids are still facing the consequences of that time.

 

Parents are constantly barraged with negative news, advice about what they should be doing, and how they are failing their kids. It is hard to be a parent, and to feel like you are “getting it right.”

 

I wanted to capture that feeling with Liv and her daughter Piper, who is highly sensitive, creative, and struggles with a very regimented and inflexible school environment. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m in the middle of my next thriller novel, the details of which will remain hush-hush, only to mention that it's told from four different women’s perspectives while on an ill-fated safari  trip. I am looking forward to some cold and sleet and early sunsets to help me get this draft finished! 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: There is a playlist for The Board made by my daughter, and it captures the essence of many aspects of the book. Give it a listen! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6lFhztnKG8yxPO46t8XjHh?si=f3ff41507ac7435e

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Brendan Gillen

 

 

 

Brendan Gillen is the author of the new story collection Hang Time. His other books include the novel Static. He lives in Brooklyn.

 

Q: Over how long a period did you write the stories in your new collection?

 

A: The earliest piece in the collection is “Tully”, a flash fiction piece from the perspective of an aging boxer, which was published by Molotov Cocktail way back in 2018.

 

The most recent piece is “What Gouda Knew,” a story about a cat that assists in healing the grief of a young woman who has just lost her twin sister, which JMWW just published last month.

 

I’m currently working on a novel-length version of the final story in the collection, “Man Up,” about a basketball player navigating insomnia and personal trauma amidst the microscope of major college basketball. So, to answer your question, some are from the vault, while others continue to evolve.

 

Q: How was the book’s title--also the title of one of the stories--chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: In the title story, a high school basketball player disrupts the space-time continuum in the middle of the game, freezing the entire gym—teammates, opponents, coaches, fans—as he ponders his future as a ballplayer and as a man.

 

It’s that in-betweenness that really interests me as a writer, the moments right before…before a personal transformation, before disaster strikes, before the dissolution of a relationship, before we become the person we hope to be.

 

In many ways, most of our days are a sort of “Hang Time,” the elongated parenthesis of the present moment. It’s in these moments that life occurs, if we can only slow down enough to notice it. 

 

Q: The writer John Brandon said of the book, “These tense, urgent tales explore the past-your-prime turbulence of adulthood with the lush sentence-writing of Barry Hannah and the stop-short eeriness of Raymond Carver.” What do you think of that description, and of those comparisons?

 

A: I’m a huge admirer of John Brandon. I first became aware of this work for Grantland, the now-defunct sports literary journal that launched a number of fantastic writers to a broader readership (John Brandon, Hua Hsu, Chris Ryan, Molly Lambert, Jay Caspian Kang, etc.). And John’s novel Citrus County is one of my favorites of all time.

 

So, when John not only agreed to read and blurb Hang Time, but lend such kind words, I was incredibly honored.

 

Carver and Hannah, it goes without saying, are titans, so I’m beyond flattered to be mentioned in the same breath. I once heard someone hilariously say that LaCroix flavored sparkling water tastes like someone shouted the name of a fruit from another room…maybe that’s me with Raymond Carver and Barry Hannah. 

 

Q: How did you decide on the order in which the stories would appear in the collection?

 

A: Largely by feel. I wanted to create a sense of flow, stacking shorter and longer pieces together to establish a rhythm of peaks and valleys. When I’m reading story collections, I sometimes feel overwhelmed when I know there are say, three or four 30-page stories in a row. So, I was keeping that in mind.

 

But readers should also feel free to skip around, like picking up the needle on an album to find your favorite track. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m currently working on a novel manuscript, which is an extension of the final story in the collection, “Man Up.” As I mentioned above, the story takes place in the world of major college basketball, centering on a star player whose mother was a WNBA player before she passed away.

 

I won’t spoil it, but I’ll say lots of other intense shit goes down leading up to the biggest game of the season, all of which contributes to the protagonist’s nightmarish insomnia, a subject I unfortunately know plenty about.

 

My dad was a college basketball coach for 30 years, so I also know plenty about the ins and outs of the sport, about what the game can give you, and what it can take away. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Even if you don’t like sports, there’s plenty to dig into with this collection: surfing, monster truck rallies, a dystopian Miami gun range bachelorette party, rollercoaster vomiting, Scottish Fold cats…something for everyone!

 

I hope anyone who picks it up can find something to enjoy, but there’s a lot being written about how men no longer read fiction…I hope this collection can play a small role in counteracting that narrative. 

 

I also just want to thank Scott Bolohan and .406 Press for the belief and support; John Brandon, Emily Costa, and Eric Rasmussen for their words; and Jared Hedges for the cover design. I’m proud of this collection and grateful to have had the chance to work with so many talented people to bring the book to life.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Brendan Gillen. 

Q&A with Naomi Helen Yaeger

 

 

 

Naomi Helen Yaeger is the author of the new book Blooming Hollyhocks: Tales of Joy During Hard Times. She is also a journalist, and she lives in Duluth, Minnesota. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Blooming Hollyhocks?

 

A: In 2011, when my mom was 81, she told my brother Charles and me she had kidney disease. She preferred to keep it private, but I felt an urgency to interview her and preserve her story—especially her remarkable public health nursing career.

 

She inspected nursing homes in Maine; served at the Indian Health Service Hospital in Gallup, New Mexico; cared for patients in Florida, directed Public Health Nursing on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation; and worked with Hispanic migrant families in Minnesota’s Red River Valley. As a preschooler, I sometimes played with the children in the sugar beet fields while she visited families.

 

Her favorite work was maternal and child health nursing in Polk County, Minnesota, where she believed a single home visit could prevent child abuse. Later she worked as a school nurse across several Polk County schools, and if you attended schools in that county she may have checked your hearing or given you an immunization.

 

But despite that long résumé, she didn’t want a book about her career. She wanted a book about her childhood—growing up in a small southwest Minnesota town with three brothers, one sister, and a lively extended family. Counting her siblings, 26 cousins shared a tight bond. Those were the stories she wanted to see bloom on the page.

 

Q: Did you need to do much research, or did you know most of the story already?

 

A: Like many kids, I’d listened to her childhood stories with “half an ear,” so interviews were essential. I recorded her while scribbling in my reporter’s notebook.

 

My mom’s cousin, Donald Minehart, wrote Fields of Dreams, which helped me verify names and dates and happenings on the farmstead. Her brother Gordon’s memoir, My Story, help me add depth.

 

Toward the last two years of writing, I emailed Aunt Phyllis every day to ask about people and events. She had been my mom’s childhood friend and married my mother’s brother, Jim.

 

Mom told of a train trip from South Dakota to Minnesota when the snowdrifts were so high the train stopped and the family stayed overnight with a stranger in Pipestone, Minnesota. Research confirmed it was the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940. Parents say, “The snow was way higher when I was a kid,” and—well—this time she was right.

 

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

 

A: Choosing a title was a struggle. Early versions included An Avoca Childhood, Fortunate Janette, Do All the Good You Can, and The Girl with the Can-Do Attitude.

 

My early favorite was Yellow Tulips. Wendy Grethen suggested it because my mom loved bright yellow. I loved it too, but tulips bloom far too early to fit our Minnesota–South Dakota stories.

 

Then, during a phone call, my cousin Jenny reminisced about making hollyhock dolls on the family farm with her sister Martha and Aunt Nina. Hollyhocks were sturdy, cheerful, old-fashioned, and rooted in our family’s memory. That’s when I knew the book had found its name.

 

Q: What impact did writing the book have on you, and what do you hope readers take away?

 

A: At first, I thought the book would be only for family. Then my goal became to write it well enough for others to enjoy. I assumed young adults might be the main audience, but older adults have embraced it—drawn to its nostalgia and the resilience it celebrates.

 

Writing it taught me how eyesight issues were passed down, how farmland changed hands, and how deeply my great-grandparents and grandparents valued education for girls as well as boys. My grandpa even turned down promotions so the family could stay rooted.

 

Their good parenting shaped my mother—and those blessings extend to my daughter, me, my brother, and his son.

 

I hope readers see how joy and hardship can sit side by side, and how community support can transform even the toughest years.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I write news and feature stories for Duluthian, Positively Superior, and Northern Wilds. I’m creating a devotional companion, a journal, and study guides for Blooming Hollyhocks. Chapter 1 includes lessons on hard vs. soft water, constellations, and the Northern Lights. A friend who homeschools her grandchildren inspired me to expand these guides for students.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I spent 14 years working on this book and sharing it has become a joyful journey. Visit NaomiWritesWords.com for events. And if you come to a book event, you might hear my husband, Terry, playing the banjo—we make a great storytelling team.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb