Q&A with Jody Catherine Bucher

   

 

 

Jody Catherine Bucher is the author of the new children's picture book Mrs. Gourd. She lives in Virginia.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Mrs. Gourd?

 

A: I didn't choose this story for the book, the story chose me! Mrs. Gourd is a story inspired by my children’s real-life bedtime chaos and how one especially wild evening brought Mrs. Gourd to life, transforming our bedtime routine forever.

 

Over time, Mrs. Gourd became so popular that nieces, nephews and neighbors would beg for Mrs. Gourd to visit whether it was story time or not. It turns out, ANYtime is a good time for Mrs. Gourd!

 

She became a family tradition (our Elf on the Shelf!) and at the urging of my husband and the three kiddos who inspired her arrival, I finally began to write a story named “Mrs. Gourd.”

 

If you’d like more details on what went down that fateful night….

 

My daughter was 6 and my twin boys were 4 at the time. We were all giggling and having fun and doing everything but getting ready for bed and I remember looking at the clock thinking I know my friend next door has her children in bed at her set time like clockwork every night and I can hardly get these guys in their pajamas!

 

I was feeling defeated. I was just a mom in a state of complete overwhelm. At that moment, I knew I needed a break, so I silently slipped into the bathroom and took a deep breath.

 

When I was ready to get back into the mix, I opened the door and spontaneously became this character. It even surprised me! I called the room to attention in this very authoritative British-sounding voice and all three children stopped in their tracks (so did our two golden retrievers!).

 

The children began asking me my name to which I exclaimed, “Mrs. Gourd!” Completely unplanned, Mrs. Gourd had made her debut in that moment of absolute chaos. She went on to read their bedtime stories and before I knew it, all three were fast asleep. The night was saved and I felt like a superhero.

 

Q: What do you think Asha Butler and Monica Joy’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: When I’m writing really anything, at the same time I’m choosing the words, I’m envisioning the illustrations on the page. So, as important as writing the story was choosing the right illustrative style and illustrator for Mrs. Gourd.

 

Monica Joy and Asha Butler’s interpretation of the characters and illustrative style were the perfect match for the Mrs. Gourd universe. They are colorful, engaging and just bursting with energy.

 

The illustrations really help readers, young and old, feel the energy swirling around the room on those opening pages, sweeping them right into the story. From the very first page, my goal was to immerse readers in the story. These beautiful illustrations helped accomplish just that.

 

Q: What got you interested in writing for kids?

 

A: I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been the person making up silly songs, creating characters, and turning ordinary moments into little stories. Thankfully, my children have always loved it as much as I do and have been the perfect audience!

 

The moment that really sparked the idea of turning that playful creativity into a children’s book came from a very special gift from my mom. She had discovered a play I wrote for an elementary school project and found the original manuscript.

 

She shared it with the three little ones who were part of this true story, and they secretly rehearsed, put together costumes, and surprised me with a living room performance of the play as a Christmas gift.

 

By then, Mrs. Gourd had already become a household name in our family and eventually with friends, too. Even as the kids got older, her popularity just kept growing. That little play was the spark that finally made me listen to my husband and my children, who had been encouraging me for years to bring Mrs. Gourd to life in a book.

 

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

 

A: I hope Mrs. Gourd sparks their imagination and reminds children that a little creativity can turn an ordinary moment into something magical.

 

Mom didn’t come out of the bathroom dressed up as a different character. She BECAME Mrs. Gourd by embracing the character’s persnickety personality, speaking in a silly voice and wearing her glasses down at the end of her nose. No feather boas were required!

 

I hope this encourages children to use their own imaginations and find their own ways to create something uniquely theirs!

 

I hope young readers can see a little bit of themselves in the three children in the story and give them a chance to see things from another perspective.

 

It might help them to understand that Mom, Dad, and other caregivers are experiencing those moments right alongside them. Maybe they’ll even walk away with a little more empathy for the grown-ups who are doing their best in those wild, wonderful moments.

 

And, of course, I hope they finish the story eager to read more of Mrs. Gourd’s true tales!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: There are many more true tales to tell! Soon, the world will be introduced to Mrs. Gourd’s sister, Ms. Cantaloupe! I can’t wait!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I hope Mrs. Gourd inspires families to create their own version of magic, whether that's a Mrs. Gourd, a Mr. Gourd, or another imaginative tradition all their own.

 

Mrs. Gourd shows us that the wild energy of everyday family life can be transformed into something meaningful when it’s guided by presence, intention, and imagination.

 

I love Mark Twain’s quote, “No word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” I hope Mrs. Gourd leads others to find the beauty, opportunity, and fun that can exist amidst life’s chaos. They might just find it somewhere in the middle of that pause. They just need to take one.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Jody Bucher. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of five signed paperback copies of Mrs. Gourd. One lucky grand prize winner will receive a signed hardcover copy with a personal note from the author, two pairs of Mrs. Gourd dress-up glasses, a gingham check picnic blanket, and a Jellycat Bashful Toffee Puppy stuffed animal.