Saturday, November 23, 2024

Q&A with Laura Buchwald

 


 

 

Laura Buchwald is the author of the new novel The Coat Check Girl. She is the co-host of the podcast People Who Do Things. She's based in Manhattan.

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Coat Check Girl, and how did you create your character Josie?

 

A: My inspiration was two-fold. First, I got to know the staff members at the restaurant Bistrot is based on and was fascinated by their dynamic – a loving, dysfunctional family of people who’d come to New York to do different things, taken restaurant jobs, and stayed far longer than they’d expected to.

 

I thought there was something book-worthy there – and then, I began to get creepy feelings right outside their ladies’ room, feelings that reminded me of the basement and attic of my childhood home.

 

I asked the bartender if the ladies’ room was haunted and he said, “Yes, other people have said that.” It was a very old building with a lot of history.

 

Q: Did you need to do any research to write the novel, and if so, did you learn anything that especially surprised you?

 

A: I did a lot of research – spent time in restaurants, went to New Orleans, crowd-sourced ghost stories. And then I did extensive research on the time period – my book is set in 1999 with flashbacks to 1974.

 

Things that surprised me: how many people have had otherworldly encounters and are eager to discuss them, and how much happened in 1999… it was a very rich time in our country’s—and world’s—history. Lots of cultural milestones.


Q: The writer Claudia Zuluaga said of the book, “Laura Buchwald’s gorgeous debut is about our universal search for wholeness and connection. While this book is wonderfully entertaining, don't be surprised if you find true spiritual comfort within its endearing depths.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love this description. One of the themes of my book is grief and how we navigate the process, and I strive to offer comfort and hope by exploring the very real possibility of an afterlife.

 

Grief is the most universal experience I can think of and it’s something that anchors us more deeply to the world and to one another. So if a reader feels spiritually connected to something larger after reading this, I’ve done part of what I set out to do.

 

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

 

A: Absolutely not! This story evolved an incredible amount through the course of my writing it over many years and there were many changes and surprises along the way. In fact my protagonist was originally intended as a secondary character.

 

I tend to start more with a premise than a plot and I discover the plot through the writing of the first draft or two. One of the big things that happens toward the end of this book actually came to me in a dream, which is one the coolest writing experiences I’ve had. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: The Coat Check Girl is the first in a three-book series. I’ve just turned in a draft of Book Two and am thinking about Book Three…

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: If you’ve read the book, it probably won’t surprise you to know that I do believe in an afterlife, and this is a source of great comfort for me.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Q&A with Sneed B. Collard III

 


 

 

Sneed B. Collard III is the author of the new book Birding for Boomers: And Everyone Else Brave Enough to Embrace the World's Most Rewarding and Frustrating Activity. His many other books include First-Time Japan. He lives in Missoula, Montana.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Birding for Boomers?

 

A: The initial impetus for writing the book came from my struggles with hearing loss. I noticed my hearing plummeting shortly after becoming a birder, and have spent a lot of time experimenting with how to keep birding.

 

During Covid, I thought, “Hm, I’ll bet a lot of other people also struggle with hearing loss. Maybe I should write a book to help them?”

 

As I began roughing out the first chapters, however, I realized that I wanted to write a book for all beginning birders. Why? Because even in my short decade of birding, I had accumulated a surprising amount of knowledge and experience to share.

 

Driving it all is my passion for birds and wanting to share the joy of birding’s excitement with others, regardless of age, background, or ability.

 

Q: The book’s subtitle describes birding as “the world's most rewarding and frustrating activity.” What are some of your most rewarding and frustrating moments as a birder?

 

A: The rewarding aspects of birding far outweigh the frustrations, and include:

* Getting to spend quality time with my son.

* Exploring places that I never dreamed of seeing if not in pursuit of birds.

* Garnering a greater understanding of birds, how they live, and their essential roles in our world.

* Giving me endless new topics to write about!

 

As far as the negatives, those largely revolve around my frustrations trying to learn certain birds—especially those that rarely show themselves and must be identified by their vocalizations.

 

Fortunately, great tools such as hearing aids and Merlin’s Sound ID feature have allowed me to deal with many of these situations. I sure wish I still had a 20-year-old brain, though!


Q: Can other age groups enjoy the book as well?

 

A: Oh, yeah! In fact, the main reason the book is called Birding for Boomers is that the title is so catchy, we just couldn’t let it go! However, we hope that people will read the ridiculously long subtitle and realize that this book will help all beginning birders.

 

I want to add, though, that I also wrote the book so that people could keep growing with it as they gain experience their first few years. That’s why the book includes both introductory topics and more advanced topics such as bird photography, tackling especially tough bird groups, and bird conservation.

 

Q: For someone unfamiliar with birding, what are some of the most important things to know?

 

A: Other than gardening, birds offer the easiest, most accessible way to stay in touch with nature. Why? Because birds are literally all around us. Even if you live in an urban area filled mainly with invasive birds, these creatures are still fascinating to identify, study, and enjoy.

 

What’s more, birding is a great way to connect with others. That’s essential in these days when so many of us feel isolated.

 

Beware: once you begin birding, be prepared that it may well take over most of your free time. And that’s a great problem to have!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: With four books out in 2024, I’m actually in a “recharging phase.” I have a couple of ideas for future adult books, but am letting them percolate, slowly gathering ideas and information.

 

Meanwhile, I continue to write articles for magazines such as Bird Watcher’s Digest (BWD), Montana Outdoors, and Big Sky Journal—and keep up with our blog, fathersonbirding.com.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Thanks to Boomers, I have quite a few speaking engagements lined up for the next year. If anyone is interested in inviting me to a conference, birding festival, school, bookstore, etc., feel free to reach out directly to me at sbcollardiii@gmail.com.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Sneed B. Collard III.

Nov. 23

 


 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Nov. 23, 1920: Paul Celan born.

Friday, November 22, 2024

Q&A with Tim McCanna

 


 

 

Tim McCanna is the author of the new children's picture book Cold. His other books include the Peach and Plum series. He lives in San Jose, California.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Cold?

 

A: When I’m thinking up new ideas for picture books, especially the concept-based nonfiction ones, I’m always on the hunt for a topic that is universally relatable, but also gives me opportunities to put my own creative spin on it.

 

In this case, the single word—COLD—came to me and I was immediately inspired to go down a rabbit hole and explore all the things that cold could mean. It’s a powerful word that hooks the imagination and has so many interpretations.

 

At the same time, climate change is a real threat to cold seasons and cold regions, so my hope in writing Cold is to inform young readers of what is at stake.

Q: What do you think Ramona Kaulitzki’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Ramona has done some really amazing things through her illustrations. She captures the beauty and realism of all these stunning animals and locations throughout the book, but she also adds a delightful touch of character to each creature. It makes us care for them and see the world through their eyes.

 

What she also managed to do was capture the essence of cold. A windy mountain, a misty meadow, frozen leaves, snowflakes, icicles, sea water—even the northern lights! It all amounts to a really rich reading experience that feels like a visual journey.


Q: Are you a fan of cold weather?

A: I have so many wonderful cold weather memories from my childhood. I grew up in rural Missouri and we had no shortage of ice storms, blizzards, and snow drifts. I built my fair share of snowmen and sledded down many long hills with friends.

 

I live in California now, so I’ve lost a bit of my cold weather tolerance, but I do enjoy cold weather to a certain degree (pun intended.) After diving into my research for Cold, I appreciate the value and necessity of cold weather even more.

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

A: On one level, Cold is simply about appreciating beautiful, cold environments around the world and the amazing animals that thrive in them. Cold seasons and cold weather and cold places are essential for how our world operates!

 

So, I also hope that through the back matter, which covers topics like temperature, how animals adapt to the cold, and the impacts of global climate change, it sparks conversations about how we can take responsibility for protecting cold and the animals that rely on it to survive.

Q: What are you working on now?

A: Well, I have a new picture book coming out in 2025 called When You Wish Upon a Ghost with illustrations by Alan Batson. It’s an original rhyming story set in Disney’s Haunted Mansion! Talk about a fun project.

 

Meanwhile, I spent much of 2024 focussing on a middle grade nonfiction book and a middle grade fantasy novel, so I guess I’m trying to branch out into some uncharted territories for me. I like challenging myself!

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Picture books weren’t really on my radar until I was in my mid-30s and had two young kids of my own. Before that, I worked in marketing and advertising as a graphic designer, played accordion in various rock bands, performed in theatre productions, and wrote musicals in New York City.

 

You never know how different paths in life might ultimately intersect, but all of those things certainly did, and have led to a truly rewarding career in children’s publishing.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Q&A with Nicole Dillenberg

 

Photo by Michelle Magdalena

 

 

Nicole Dillenberg is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Bennett Will Only Eat Blueberries. Also a singer-songwriter and recording artist, she is based in Los Angeles.

 

Q: What inspired you to create Bennett Will Only Eat Blueberries?

 

A: After a few years of finally feeling pleased with my bear greeting cards, I felt inspired to try a book.

 

I’d been digitizing home movies, and I rewatched a video of my infant son tasting his first banana. My poor baby ran the gamut of emotions; he was alternately terrified, then intrigued by this new food.

 

In preschool, my son was briefly food avoidant and started to lose a bit of weight. That terrified me. Our culture – especially American culture – is so disordered when it comes to food.

 

This little story came to me pretty much in response to all of these things. I lucked out when Bruce Socially at Henry Gray Publishing offered to publish the book. Bruce is an incredibly patient editor, and fortunately, he likes bears. 

 

Q: How did you create the book’s illustrations, and what is the history behind the bear family?

 

A: My inspiration for the photos started with the 1960s WC Jones-style postcards I treasured as a child. Typically printed in Japan or West Germany, the colors were deeply saturated, and the settings were dressed with wonderful dollhouse props.

 

My grandmother began to collect West German miniature bears in the 1960s, and I spent much of my childhood playing with them. She constructed a bear house for us out of a cardboard drum, which had paper mache’ bark and real working nightlights inside. 

 

In 2019, I began to photograph bear dioramas, originally because I planned to make postcards and toddler T-shirts. This morphed into my designing holiday cards to send out to friends and family.

 

 I’m not a professional photographer by any means, but eventually, I got comfortable with depth of field and perspective. It helps that each time I photograph the bears, one of them always comes to life for a split second, enabling me to grab the shot I need – Bennett and his friends are magical bears.

 

Q: Did you work on the text first or the photos first, or both simultaneously?

 

A: I wrote the text first, as a fiction manuscript. Even though it was short and simple, I went through about five drafts, tweaking every word and comma until the story flowed.

 

Once the story was locked, I storyboarded each scene as if I were shooting a film. I dedicated a full day to dressing and shooting each of the three settings. Ultimately, I went back and did pick-up shots (re-shoots) in both the kitchen and Bennett’s bedroom. My favorite time to shoot is around 2 p.m.

 

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

 

A: My hope is that “Bennett” and his family inspire toddlers to feel more courageous about tackling new experiences. Also, we’re excited that teenaged girls and grandparents are responding so well to the book. We welcome all to Bennett’s den with open arms!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m quite excited to be in pre-production on a “Bennett" ABC book, as well as a new story about Bennett’s female cousin, a young bear who feels like nobody likes her. 

 

Also, about a year ago, I began experimenting with framed art photographs of the bears, and I'm continuing that work as well.


Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: We would love to reach out to children suffering through illness or natural disaster. Please feel free to contact us if you know of a charity or shelter that might like a donation of our “Bennett” books.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Q&A with S.G. Fessel

 


 

 

S.G. Fessel is the author of the new novel Switchling. She lives in San Francisco.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Switchling, and how did you create your characters Beth and Gravel?

 

A: Inspiration struck when I was lying in bed one night, paddling in the shallows of sleep. I heard a noise from outside and an image sprang to mind of figures in flowing robes carrying staffs. They were dragging an object across a windowsill from the downstairs apartment.

 

I started to wonder who these mysterious people might be and what they were stealing. They became the Honourable Society of Beam Reapers and the story developed around them.

 

For Beth I wanted to create a character who was not an obvious all-round natural leader or hero-type and would struggle with certain aspects of the quest. She was originally inspired by a close friend who is both shy and brave. As the book progressed, Beth gained some of her own attributes and idiosyncrasies.

 

In Gravel, I tried to imagine what a person would be like who had not always been human and how his experiences might have shaped him.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between them?

 

A: Their dynamic is complex and changes during the story. Initially, Beth treats Gravel as her pet but also as a friend and confidant who she feels understands her. When she discovers that he is not only a cat, she’s initially unsure how to relate to him.

 

Beth has not had many human friends and having known Gravel first as a cat helps her to trust him. Gradually, they begin to understand each other’s points of view and they learn more about cats and humans in the process.


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

 

A: If you are asking whether I’m a “plotter” or a “pantser” (writing by the seat of one’s pants) the answer is somewhere in between; I had an idea of how I wanted the story to finish from the outset but ended up making some major changes.

 

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

 

A: First, I hope people will enjoy the adventure for itself but also that they will think about how one’s point of view, whether animal or human, influences one’s interpretation of the world. I love the way that fiction can help us to imagine alternate perspectives and I hope Switchling does that.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: A sequel to Switchling and, with two artists, The Cake Pirate and The Fog Monster, which are both picture books for younger readers.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: There is now an audiobook available of Switchling, read by the very talented British actor Emily Bevan. I’m a huge fan of the Lockwood and Co audiobook series and was thrilled when she agreed to record my book.

 

For further details, interested readers can visit my website at www.sgfessel.com

 

Switchling has won two book awards this year.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb

Nov. 22

 


 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Nov. 22, 1958: Jamie Lee Curtis born.