The Sunday Salon: Accomplishments

So what have you done lately that you're proud and happy about? I'm still a bit happy that I actually FINISHED The Count of Monte Cristo. It was starting to feel a little like the book that had no end. My review of that chunkster is here. I also finished the A to Z challenge this past week. My X title. My U author. That was a big sigh of relief for me.

I've also been busy planning for Macbeth week. The last week of October, I've got BIG plans all Macbeth related. This is a multi-day event, and if you should want to join me, you're welcome to. Just read or watch Macbeth. Or read a Macbeth variation. :)

But coming up even sooner than that, I've got an interview with Kathi Appelt. The Kathi Appelt. Author of The Underneath. Tomorrow and Tuesday, I'll be featuring my interview with Appelt. Discussing her writing career. But mainly focusing on the novel The Underneath. I was super-excited to have this opportunity to ask her some questions about her book.

And I've got a handful of other author interviews in the works. Jessica James author of Shades of Gray. Frances O'Roark Dowell author of Shooting the Moon. Alan Gratz author of Something Wicked. Peggy Gifford author of the Moxy Maxwell books. And a handful of others. I've got interview questions to write for most of those. :) But soon, very soon, I hope to offer interviews with these wonderful authors for my readers!


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One.

Lathan, Sharon. 2009. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One. Sourcebooks. 309 pages.

(This post *could* be considered a bit PG-13...since it addresses an adult book. And really I can't discuss it without mentioning what it is about.)

I admit it. I'm skeptical of sequels. Of Jane Austen sequels. I know right off that it has the potential to be really, really good...or just plain awful. Literary Variations--prequels, sequels, and such--are books that take the characters of one author and seek to give them new life, new adventures. There are several things to consider--in general--when it comes to fiction of this kind. On the one hand, if the author (the original author) has wrapped up the book (the original book) neatly with a happily-ever-after ending, then the new author of this new book has a few choices...they can either go the route of introducing new conflict, new characters, and climb towards a new climax....or they can forget matters of plot and spend several hundred pages doing nothing in particular hoping that they can mimic the characters and/or literary style of the novel so closely that readers won't notice the lack of a plot. They'll just love being with these friends again. There is another option--one that is a frequent choice though it is a boggling one to me--use familiar characters written by famous (but-now-dead) authors and write erotica. After all, the original novels often lacked these bedroom (and not-so-bedroom) scenes. There is a market apparently for writers and readers to share together that explores these types of scenes and scenarios. On the other hand, there are books where the author (original author) hasn't wrapped everything neatly up. The author has chosen to be more ambiguous, to leave things hanging, to leave questions answered. In this case, new authors can write how they envision the characters to continue on and progress were the action to continue off the page.

Of what sort is Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy? The seemingly plotless* semi-erotic variety. Oh, it goes there. Mostly. In an almost-classy, not coarse or vulgar way; at times awkward, at other times melodramatic**. (Overuse of exclamation points!) I say seemingly plotless...it does have a plot. But it takes around two-hundred pages to get there. And once you get there, it is the introduce a villain (and in a hurry) so there will be an excuse for a sword-fight or duel later on so Darcy can play hero variety. On the one hand, the presence of this plot keeps it from being plotless altogether. And it does add some variety. I've seen plots a hundred times weaker on soap operas every day of the week. And I'm sure it is about the same sort of plot you'd find in other romance novels. No better or worse than anything you'd find in others' works.***

Elizabeth and Darcy. The author admits finding inspiration from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. And perhaps that explains it in a small way. I have nothing against the movie****--either that one or any other adaptation--but basing a book on a movie that is based on a book...doesn't make for the strongest characters overall. The dialogue. It is what makes Austen's work sparkle. (Perhaps sparkle isn't the best word to use since it tends to associate itself with Twilight now....but I digress...) What makes this relationship work in the book is intelligent, subtle dialogue with romantic undertones. There is tension in the original. There is attraction. There is chemistry. In this sequel, well, it's lacking.

Lots of "oh's" and "my's"....My beautiful. My darling. My love. My soul. My everything. My world. My precious. Oh, darling. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. This couple exists primarily to reassure each other 24/7 that they are madly, deeply, truly in love with each other...andt a good 80% of their conversations revolve around stating just how much in love they are. How they complete each other. How lucky they are to be together. How perfect their lives are now. How happy they are. How content they are to be in each other's arms. All day. All night. They exist to gaze in each other's eyes. And, for other purposes as well, as you can imagine. I got to the point where every time Darcy would talk about how beautiful, how flawless, how perfect, how amazing, how glorious, how wonderful, how tremendous Elizabeth was....I just wanted to throw the book across the room. While the doting could prove repetitively harmless, there were a few scenes that were just awkward: scenes where Darcy and Elizabeth were talking dirty to one another (trying to at least). These scenes weren't dirty enough to be completely or outrageously filthy or vulgar. But much too much to be classy. To me, they were just awkward, embarrassing. Not every scene. Some were more classy than others. None were out-and-out explicitly graphic in the what-goes-where sense. (Well, compared to other smutty books out there where not one iota is left to the reader's imagination. And this is no Fanny Hill. It is more tasteful than most.) But plenty to squirm about if you prefer to read clean books and not introduce such stuff to your imagination.*****

In a way, this relationship reminded me of how Bella and Edward are portrayed: so sickeningly happy as long as they're together and there to talk about how wonderful the other really is. Actually, the more I think about it, the more this one reminds me of Breaking Dawn. Not that it has super-vampire-sperm or imprinting...but the weak climax and the hundreds of pages dedicated to sex where nothing much else happens. (Plenty of people out there love Breaking Dawn and think it's great. So I wouldn't be surprised if there are people who think this one is good too.)

What I can say about the book in a positive sense...while I prefer (more often than not) to stay outside the bedroom doors of my favorite literary couples, many readers get excited about the prospect of Jane Austen sequels. Many hope that such books are graphic, that they go above and beyond where the original was allowed to go. That they'll be able to be a-fly-on-the-wall to watch the hero and heroine be intimate with one another again and again and again. And for those readers looking for several hundred pages of Elizabeth and Darcy intimacy, then this will satisfy you. I'm sure for every reader that objects to such envisioning or re-envisioning, there are two more that are happy and pleased with it. I will say this much on its behalf...it is emphatically and unquestionably a thousand times better than the sequels by Linda Berdoll. (Chances are you'll agree with me. There are (at the time of this posting) 174 ratings that give that book only 1 star. 139 give it 5 stars. 37 give it two stars. 43 give it three stars. 83 give it four stars.)

I hope I've stated clearly enough that while this one may not appeal to me, it could very well appeal to you. To get a better idea of what it has to offer visit the author's blog. One other note, it is the first in at least a three-volume series (perhaps longer). So it could be that more plot will be coming. Other books in the series may prove more interesting and satisfying.

Other perspectives: Diary of An Eccentric; Armchair Interviews; Bookfoolery; Ex Libris; AustenBlog; Savvy Verse and Wit; AustenBlog (2nd review);

*some folks think a book of loosely connected sex scenes is a plot; who am I to judge them for thinking it is?
**Trust me, I'm glad it errs on this side of the line. I'd much rather have it be closer to classy and completely dignified than explicitly graphic. The two are obviously in love. And they're married. And there is nothing wrong with them taking pleasure with one another.
***In case you're curious--my romance tastes are this: I don't mind smut (and I don't mean smut in a derogatory way. Really. You'll just have to trust me on that.) occasionally. But I like a balanced approach: the hero and heroine fully developed, interesting dialogue that isn't of the drag and drop variety. (You know the kind where you could replace the names of any two characters and play switcheroo with scenes and insert them into other books without blinking an eye). The best kinds of love scenes are where the characters are so thoroughly themselves, so unique that it's all about them and not so much about what they're doing or how they're doing it. And the story. It should have a story. It doesn't have to be a serious story. Or a dramatic story. It could be lighthearted. It could be serious. It could be funny. It could be touching or tragic. It could be a parody. It could poke fun at itself or the genre. It could be silly. The story could revolve around anything--a ball, a dance, a party, a vacation or trip, whatever. But something needs to be going on outside the sex scenes. There are thousands and thousands of romance novels out there. And some I've enjoyed. Some I haven't. Some I thought were more tasteful than others. Some suited me. Some didn't. Some I thought were better written than others. But I've read at least a hundred or so (maybe more) through the years so it's not like I've no experience with the genre.

****I own the 2005 movie and the 1995 movie. I've seen both. Multiple times. I've probably watched P&P more than read it. I've only read it twice.

*****I believe in playing nice. Some of my readers do like fiction on the clean side. I have readers that like things smutty. I'm not playing favorites or picking sides. I try to let my readers know which is which so they can choose for themselves what they want to read. I would never criticize anyone for liking things on the smutty side. Everyone has a right to pick what they want to read.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Author Spotlight on Nancy Werlin

Nancy Werlin was born and raised in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA and now lives near Boston. She received her bachelor's degree in English from Yale. Since then, she has worked as a technical writer and editor for several computer software and Internet companies, while also writing fiction. Nancy Werlin is the author of numerous YA thrillers. Her works include The Rules of Survival, Double Helix, Black Mirror, Locked Inside, The Killer's Cousin, and Are You Alone On Purpose?
http://www.nancywerlin.com/index.htm

Author Interviews
Not Your Mother's Bookclub, December 2006
Cynthia Leitich Smith's Interview with Nancy Werlin, July 2006
Chatlog with Nancy Werlin from YAAuthorsCafe, May 2004
Cynthia Leitich Smith's First Interview with Nancy Werlin, 2001

Articles by Nancy Werlin
Nancy Werlin: Get Thee To A Bread Store (NPR), 2006
Working With Fear (Hornbook), 2006
The Subconscious and the Writing Process (Hornbook)

Island of Hope

Sandler, Martin W. 2004. ISLAND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF ELLIS ISLAND AND THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA. New York: Scholastic Nonfiction. ISBN: 0439530822.

ISLAND OF HOPE: THE STORY OF ELLIS ISLAND AND THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA is a simply wonderful nonfiction book about the whole immigration experience--focusing on the years 1892 to 1954.

What makes this book so incredibly wonderful is that it is just abounding in primary materials--quotes from people (either interviews, newspaper articles, unpublished manuscripts, etc.) who actually made the trip to America and entered the country through Ellis Island. Sandler blends in facts smoothly with people's recollection...they complement each other well. The book also has mini-articles (1-2 pages) about various topics such as the gold rush, mail order brides, child-labor laws, etc. And of course there are black and white photos to accompany the text.

The author's note reveals that how Martin Sandler became interested in Ellis Island and the whole immigrant experience. When he was a kid, his elderly grandfather came to live with him. At first he was really embarrassed of his grandfather because he was Polish, and only spoke broken English. However, an assignment given by a junior high teacher changed all that--the assignment was to interview his oldest relative. He then learned firsthand about his grandfather's journey to America, his time at Ellis Island, and how hard it was to succeed in America. "When my grandfather finished his story I was speechless. Finally I said to him, "Grandpa, you're a real hero." I will never forget his reply. "I'm no hero," he said. "There were millions of us, and we just did what we had to do." (137). Sandler goes on to say, "As you've seen, I have told much of the story through their own words. If much of it seems remarkable, it is because what they did was remarkable" (137).

The reader could tell--even without the revealing author's note--that this is a subject that the author was passionate about. It is well written and well documented.

Reflections on Blogging

It's now been a little over a year since I wrote the post To Blog or Not To Blog in which I explained all the reasons I love blogging. I followed up that post with a mission statement of sorts called Becky's 5 W's. This was soon followed by posting my review policy in the sidebar of my blog. My review policy has gotten a little lengthier over the past year.

But my blog has gone through some transitions--amazing changes that I hadn't expected--and so I thought I'd update everything.

My purpose is still the same. I blog about books because I love books. I love reading. I love talking about books. Books are my passion, my obsession. Here is the "official" purpose:

To promote the love of reading by providing teens, tweens, parents, teachers, librarians, fellow bloggers, and booklovers of all ages, with reviews of current books published for children and/or young adults.

I love helping readers connect with books. I want to help promote reading. I want to introduce books and authors to readers. The site helps me do this. It is also immensely satisfying to do this. It helps me keep track of what I read. It helps me connect with a community of readers.

I am a reader, first and foremost. I am a reader who happens to have a background in English literature and library science. I have a BA and MA in English literature from Texas Woman’s University. I have a MLS degree from Texas Woman’s University. My specialization is children’s and young adult literature. This is my calling in life to promote the love of reading, the love of books, to connect books with readers, to encourage lifelong reading habits.

What has changed is that I've expanded my blog to include some adult titles (both contemporary and classic), and I've moved my reviews of picture books, chapter books, board books, activity books, etc. to Young Readers.

I've also discovered the world of reading challenges. So now almost every week--or every other week--you'll find mention of me either creating, updating, or completing reading challenges. While I know these posts won't be helpful to every reader, the challenge-addicted community is a valid percentage of my readership. So I don't feel too guilty since I'm still providing at the very least five reviews a week.

My reviews can be found on this website Becky's Book Reviews.
My reviews of books for the under ten crowd can be found at Young Readers.
I also contribute (about 2x a month) to Young Adult Books Central.
Reviews of my ‘clean reads’ can be found on Deliciously Clean Reads.
You'll also find me over at Favorite PASTimes.
I have participated (and plan to do so) in reviewing books for The Edge of The Forest.

So I've added a few (three) more places on where to find my work but it's no big deal.

I'm happy, super-thrilled, to feature author interviews whenever I get the chance. These most likely will always appear on Monday. I haven't had one for every Monday. But I've accumulated a good many since introducing the feature last fall.

Another feature that I was happy to introduce was TRAVEL THE WORLD Wednesdays where I focus on books (picture books to novels) with an international perspective.

The biggest change over the past year has to do with WHERE my books come from...what my SOURCES are. When I wrote the original post in April 2007, most of my books--half at least--were library books. The remaining sources were borrowing books from the TWU review center and my own small collection of books that I've bought new or used. So the first nine to ten months of my blog, the amount of review copies I was receiving was small. Last summer, however, publishers and authors began responding to my review policy, responding to my blog, and I began receiving review copies, ARCs, and catalogs. It started small. But it steadily grew (and grew and grew), steadily increased. Within six months, most of my books were review copies provided by publishers. Now fourteen months later, about 80% of the books I review on my blog came from publishers and authors. Library books are about 10% and borrowed TWU books are the remaining 10%.

While some of my reviews are better than others, I like to feel that they all have a certain degree of integrity. My goal in blogging is to be honest and direct. Just me being me...talking about books. Free book or not, I'm not going to pretend to like something. Here at my blog, you'll find positive, negative, and mixed reviews.


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Ongoing List of Author Interviews

• Alan Gratz (10/28/08)
  
• Annette Laing
• April Lurie
  
• Barbara Kerley (1/14/07)
• Barry Lyga (1/7/08)
• Brandon Mull (3/10/08)
• C.G. Watson (11/19/07)
• Carrie Jones (12/10/07)
• Clare Dunkle (5/26/08)
• Consie Powell (10/24/07)
• Deb Caletti (1/21/08)
• Dianne Salerni (1/28/08)
• Elizabeth Scott (11/12/07)
• Elizabeth Scott (11/17/08)
• Frances O'Roark Dowell (11/24/2008)
  
• Jeanne DuPrau
  
• Jeannine Garsee (12/17/08)
• Jessica Day George 4/14/08
• Jo Knowles (3/3/08)
• Kathi Appelt day 1, day 2
  
• Laura Wiess (2/25/08)
• Linda Urban (12/24/2007)
• Lisa Ann Sandell (12/03/07)
• Mary Ann Rodman (8/19/08)
  
• Mary Jane Beaufrand (5/5/08)
• Nancy Crocker (2/11/07)
• Natasha Wing and Sylvie Kantorovitz (12/31/07)
• Nicole Baart (10/08/07)
• Peggy Gifford (11/10/08)
  
• Robin Brande (2/4/08)
• Sara Lewis Holmes (11/26/07)
• Sara Zarr (2/7/08)
• Sarah Deming (10/29/07)
• Sarah Miller (11/05/07)
• Susan Beth Pfeffer (2/18/08)
• Susanna Reich (11/3/08)

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

You Make My Day Award...

I was so pleased to be awarded the "You Make My Day" award a few days ago. And I wanted to pass along the love.

Five blogging writers brighten up my days...

Susan Beth Pfeffer's blog is wonderfully chatty and at times quite clever. I love it when Pfeffer shares her stick drawings. And the past few weeks, she's been blogging about her possible third book (aka P3B). It's fun to get inside her head. By the way, I am SUPER SUPER excited that I have an interview coming up with her. It will be posted February 18th.

I love, love, love Ellsworth Journal featuring Ellsworth, Winchester, and "The Writer" (aka Candice Ransom). It is one of my favorite blogs. Her posts have character, personality, and a little-something-extra that just brings a BIG smile to my face.

The third writer whose blog I just adore is Sarah Miller. Whether she's reviewing books or just providing commentary on life in general, I find myself loving what she has to say.

Sarah Dessen's blog has long been a part of my routine. Though Sarah Dessen doesn't know I exist, I have been a long time fan. And one of my prized possessions is an autographed The Truth About Forever.

And Lisa Graff's blog is completely new to me. I discovered it through Miss Erin, but I am LOVING this weeks posts. I hope she keeps blogging, blogging, blogging because I am loving getting to spy on her.

Other bloggers deserving of the award...

Miss Erin. A long-time favorite of mine. One of the first blogs I started reading--among the first anyway. And I especially especially love her recent posts about Shannon Hale. They're just so fabulous :)

Bookshelves of Doom. I love reading this blog. I do. You never know quite what you're going to fine. But you can take a pretty good guess that whatever it is she's posting about--it'll be a good thing. Fun. Serious. Thought-provoking or all of the above.

Little Willow. When I look at her long, long list of author interviews I am just in awe. I want to be her when I grow up. There's definitely much to admire and respect. :)

I'm sure I'm forgetting someone...but these are the people on my mind today. I love so so so so many blogs. Some that update daily, and some that update weekly, and some whose updates are rarer and harder to find but who I still love anyway. :)

Becky Interviews Sara Lewis Holmes

Here is my interview with Sara Lewis Holmes, the author of Letters From Rapunzel. She is graciously sharing a photo of herself as a child. You may visit her official site or blog. She is also a regular contributor to Poetry Friday. I especially loved one of her recent poems, "Credo." You can read the first portion (letter) of Letters From Rapunzel online. Here are some blog reviews: Jen Robinson, Reading YA: Readers' Rants, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. Here's what I wrote in my review:

When "Rapunzel" finds a scrap of a letter in her father's chair addressed to "Box # 5667", she begins an unusual correspondence with one of her father's inspirational muses. Her father, a poet, has been hospitalized with clinical depression. Rapunzel, however, is too young to really understand that diagnosis. All she knows is that her father is under an evil spell. She hopes by writing her father's friend--his poetic guide--that she will somehow break the spell. That she will be rescued from her tower--the horribly yucky after-school Homework Club. And that her father will be rescued from his tower--the hospital. (Or clinic, or institution--I can't remember if the book was too specific in saying where the father was being kept).

Who is Box #5667? A mystery that won't be solved until the final chapters. I certainly won't tell--or even hint. But the correspondence isn't so much about "Box #5667" as it is about a young girl's inner thought life. Her joys. Her concerns. Her worries. She can be funny. She can be entertaining. But she can also be quite serious. She wants to do anything and everything she can to help her father. But there is nothing she can do. School and the homework club are just two of her troubles. Homework--so isn't fun. Teachers--so don't understand her sense of humor. Classmates--don't understand where she's coming from.

Letters from Rapunzel is a truly enjoyable read. The characters are well-written, and the story is heartfelt.

What do you love about being a writer? Is it something you’ve always wanted to do?

I love playing with words, wrestling with Big Questions, and being able to work in my pajamas. Also, I can justify reading children’s books as part of my job. I talked about being a writer in high school, but I loved science and theater and other things too, so I didn’t pursue fiction writing until much later.

How long did it take for you to write Letters From Rapunzel? What was your inspiration? What kept you going through the years?

Letters From Rapunzel first appeared as a scribbled book title idea in my journal of June 1997. There’s a brief note to myself that reads: “Letters From Prison: A Princess Writes From Her Tower. Could this be a fractured version of Rapunzel?” (No, as it turned out, because Rapunzel became a real girl, not a fairy tale character.) There was also this picture, which says so much about what the book would eventually become, especially that mailbox!



What has been the most surprising thing about your journey to publication?

Winning the HarperCollins Ursula Nordstrom fiction contest was a complete surprise. I absolutely didn’t expect to win. The most I had hoped for was to have an editor read my work, and jot something encouraging in the margin, like a smiley face.

What do you hope readers will walk away with after reading your book?

I want them to know that rescuing yourself is hard work. I want them not to be afraid if someone they love is coping with something that can’t be easily solved. And I want them to hold onto every story that helps them do either of these. I also hope they laugh, and share the bits they like with their friends.

Does award-season (best-of lists, awards, etc) make you nervous or excited as a writer?

Only a teeny, tiny bit. There’s not much I can do about any of that, so I’m more apt to get nervous or excited over a school presentation or an interview or anything that I’m currently creating.

How excited were you to find out that your book, Letters From Rapunzel, had been nominated for the Cybils?

Well, I was thinking of paying my brother a quarter to submit my name, and then I didn’t have to, because someone I don’t know nominated me! (Saved me a quarter, too.)

Who has been your biggest supporter?

My husband, no contest. Not only does he shamelessly promote my book to everyone he meets, but he’s the one who disagreed with me when I thought I should put Letters From Rapunzel in a desk drawer and count it as my “first failed novel.” He told me that “someone out there really needs this story,” and he laughed and cried every time he read it. That convinced me.

Can you tell us anything about your work in progress? Will it be another novel? Or will it be poetry?

My work in progress is another middle grade novel, which was inspired by the quote: “Be kind, for everyone you know is fighting a great battle.” It’s about theater, and military kids, and knowing who and where you are. I’m also working on some poetry in the form of picture book manuscripts.

What do you love about blogging?

The connection to the wider world. New friends. Being able to shout about the good things I find. Immediate feedback. It’s kind of like performing in that way.

Do you think it is important for authors to have a presence on the internet?

Only if an author truly wants to. But I’m always glad when an author I love has a website or a blog. How else would I ever get to meet them?

This one is for you both as a reader and an author. Do you write fan letters to authors you admire? And have you received any fan letters from readers? How important do you think it is for readers and authors to connect with one another?

I wrote a blog post to Connie Willis for Tell An Author You Care Day. But I think my choosing to be a writer is, in a way, my “fan letter” to my favorite authors growing up.

I have received a few fan letters, mostly via email or through my web site. Here’s one. And once, my aunt, who was a teacher at the time, had her class write letters to me after they read my short story “A Tale of Quiet” in Cricket magazine. I think I got 25 letters, and I answered all of them. They were so important to me.

Growing up, what were your favorite books? Which ones have stayed with you and made a lasting impression? Which ones still give you warm fuzzies?

Lloyd Alexander’s five books in the Prydain Chronicles were (and still are) my favorites. My dad read them aloud to me, and I read them aloud to my kids, and I adore them with a white-hot passion. They are so full of wisdom, sorrow, joy, humor, and the most beautifully unadorned writing I’ve ever read. Plus, it helps that I’m part Welsh, and they’re based on Welsh mythology. I also loved The Phantom Tollbooth, the Anne of Green Gables series, Enchantress from the Stars, Nancy Drew, the Narnia books, Half Magic, Harriet the Spy, The Great Brain, books about magic tricks and all the Andrew Lang fairy tale collections.

Did you have a favorite time and place to read?

I always read while I eat lunch, or at any meal where it wouldn’t be rude. And I like reading whenever I’m on a train, and outside on my deck. If I had a deep windowsill, I’d read there. I used to like to read upside-down.

In your opinion, what makes a book a classic?

The ones that stay with you long after you’ve put them down. These are not necessarily perfect books. That surprised me, when I started trying to read more “classics.” There were plenty of flaws, if you looked, or if you were just sensitive to them because you’re aware of the craft. But books don’t have to be perfectly written to be classics. They have to be perfectly LOVED.

If you had twenty-four hours, a time machine, and a limitless supply of money, what would you want to do?

I’d like to hold my children as babies one more time. And I’d like to tell my niece’s family about her cancer early enough that they could have defeated it long before now. And I’d like to meet Shakespeare. None of those would cost money, so I’d use the pile of cash to buy a killer pair of shoes and give the rest (anonymously) to every school library in the country to buy books kids want to read.

Becky interviews Sarah Miller!

I am very happy to be bringing you an interview with Sarah Miller. She is the author of Miss Spitfire, a historical fiction novel that was released this past July. It is doing very well, in fact, I just learned that it is the Readergirlz's December selection! Sarah blogs regularly, and I especially appreciate her latest postings about Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Little House books. In her latest posting, she is offering a hardback copy of Little House in the Big Woods to the first person who sends in a picture of him/herself eating a slice of head cheese. Read about it here. Her official site is here. (What I love about it most? She does monthly listings/reviews of what she's been reading!!!) Sarah Miller has done a few interviews, I read several before I wrote my questions, and I tried not to repeat. (In case you're wondering why I didn't ask a few *obvious* questions.) (Little Willow, Miss Erin, Laura Bowers, etc.)

Here is a snippet of my review of Miss Spitfire.

What did I think of Miss Spitfire? I loved it. Absolutely loved it. True, I was already interested in the story. Already compelled to love it based on my prior history, but Sarah Miller's writing was remarkable. I not only fell in love with the story. I fell in love with how she told the story.

"I'm not sure I can do this job. Yet a part of me understands Helen better than she does herself. I'm no stranger to frustration, anger, isolation. I wonder, though, how Helen can be content to deprive herself of my affection? The thought of her indifference makes my throat sting, yet I can't help feeling drawn to her. If I could only touch her heart, I know I could reach her mind. But she won't even let me hold her hand." (43)

"It seems nothing I do comes out right. But in my heart I know what's right for Helen: obedience, love, and language. Come what may and hell to pay, I'll find a way to give her all three." (64)

Annie Sullivan is a young woman on a mission. Her job? To teach a child--a six year old child--who is blind, deaf, and dumb. It won't be easy. There has only been one successful case in the past to base their hopes and dreams on: Laura Bridgman. But Annie is strong-minded and determined. She'll need every ounce of stubborness she has if she's going to master the willfullness of Helen. Used to getting her own way, Helen runs wild. And as Annie soon points out, the family expects better behavior from the dogs than they do their young daughter. Helen has never been disciplined a day in her life--at least since an illness left her blind and deaf. This journey from despair to hope, from chaos to communication, is an important one. It is full of emotion--as day by day Annie struggles to teach and love a child who fails to comprehend the meaning of words altogether. Anger. Frustration. Rage. Joy. Happiness. Fear. Hope. Despair. It's all here. Annie and Helen. This is their story.

And for the record, I loved, loved, loved the ending. It was oh-so-magical.

What did you learn about language and communication during your research and writing of Miss Spitfire?

I picked up a lot in my linguistics classes before I actually started Miss Spitfire, but one important thing I wanted to emphasize is that it doesn't matter what form language takes. Spoken and signed language are equally valid ways to communicate. I also came to the conclusion -- somewhat reluctantly -- that thought is indeed possible without language. That said, the idea that fascinated me most was the realization that Helen couldn't even speak to herself in her own mind. She had no inner voice at all.

Has language always been something that intrigued you?

Probably not in the way you'd expect -- not in the sense of an interest in other languages, anyhow. I completely avoided taking a foreign language in high school. I took Russian in college mostly to be perverse. I didn't really discover the linguistics side of things until after I saw The Miracle Worker. But I have always been into books and words.

You write historical fiction, was history always your favorite subject? Or is this interest something that came later?

My favorite subject throughout school was English, but I've always had these little passions for particular historical events. I can remember saving up a small fortune (probably $60) for a book on the Titanic when I was 11 or 12 years old.

Does award-season (best-of lists, awards, etc) make you nervous or excited as a writer?

Yep - both. I'm probably supposed to pretend like I'm completely oblivious, but not a chance. I vacillate between "What are the odds?" and "Well...you never know!" It's surreal to know that I'm even eligible.

How excited are you to be part of the Cybils?

Oh, that's really cool. I so like the idea of getting to meld both quality and mass appeal. There's a whole lot of good stuff between ground chuck and filet mignon, if you know what I mean.

What do you love about being a writer?

I love spreading my own fascinations on to other people. If someone comes to a better understanding of Annie Sullivan or wants to learn more about her because of Miss Spitfire, that's a greater compliment to me even than a reviewer saying the book is well written. I like to think that by the end of Miss Spitfire, my readers and I might have a mutual friend in Annie.

What do you love about being a blogger?
I love that I can blather about bookish things and people (apparently) pay attention. I also get a big charge out of spreading buzz for books I'm excited about.

What do you love about selling books?

Getting my greedy paws on advance copies of upcoming books! It's also fun to feel like you've picked out the exact right book to match with an individual kid. Plus, I've been able to meet a load of authors in the last five years.

What do you think independent bookstores have to offer the customer that the big chain stores do not?

When I'm feeling like a smarty-pants I tell people, "We read the pages, not just the covers." That makes a huge difference. Kids are all different, and by knowing the books we can adapt to individual needs. For example, if you've got a 4th grader who's reading at an 8th grade level but obviously isn't ready to digest junior high issues and content, we can find a "safe" book for you. You won't get that in a big-box store -- mostly you can just barely get someone to point you toward the general vicinity of the children's books. We also hand-pick our books, so if they've made it to our shelves you can be assured they're good stuff.

Do you have a book or two (or three) that you would recommend that everyone read? What handful of books are must-reads in your opinion?

That's hard. I have my personal favorites, of course, but everything's not for everybody. A true across the board must-read is a rarity. If pressed, I think I'd say Speak , by Laurie Halse Anderson.

What are some of your favorite books of 2007?

That's easy!

Aurora County All-Stars, by Deborah Wiles
Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick
Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt
Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale
Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature , by Robin Brande
Lottery, by Patricia Wood (grown-up)

What books are you most looking forward to in 2008?

At the moment I'm itching to get my hands on Mary Leaves Little House/Mary Ingalls on Her Own (not sure yet which is the final title). I'm also eager to read Peeled , by Joan Bauer. I'm lucky that I've already been able to read some of next year's goodies -- A Curse Dark as Gold, by Elizabeth C. Bunce and Trouble, by Gary D. Schmidt, for example.

Who are some of your favorite authors? Have you met any of your ‘favorites’?

Favorites I've met: Donna Jo Napoli, Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, Richard Peck, Laurie Halse Anderson

Favorites I haven't met (yet): E.L. Konigsburg, Anne Lamott, Robert Fulghum, Frank McCourt, Maya Angelou

I've also met a few authors that I ended up loving even *more* than their books: Brian Selznick, and the duo of David Small & Sarah Stewart.

This one is for both you as a reader and an author. Do you write fan letters to authors you admire? And have you received any fan letters from readers? How important do you think it is for readers and authors to connect with one another?

Very occasionally. I've got a list of folks I intend to write to, but I rarely get it done. (I was partway through a letter to Trina Schart Hyman when she died.) I do enjoy connecting with authors on MySpace, where I can leave a quick "I liked your book a bunch" sort of message; even though every book doesn't change your life it's still nice to let people know you enjoy their work.

I've had a bit of fan mail so far. Mostly my feedback's been face-to-face at the bookshop. I tend to get awfully squirmy about taking compliments, and I have an inkling that no matter how genuinely I mean it, people are hoping for more than a "thank you" and a smile when they tell me nice things about Miss Spitfire. (I know I would.) Gotta work on that....

Of course, making author-reader connections is super, but here's the thing: if you connect with the characters, it's pretty safe to assume that you've connected with the author on some level even if you don't track them down to tell them so.

How much time do you spend reading? How much time do you spend writing? How do you balance the two?

I definitely spend more time reading than writing. (Think of it this way -- eating is a whole lot easier than cooking.) I've just lately come up with a new balancing act: On days I work at the bookshop, I don't *have to* write. On my days off, I do. That way I guarantee myself a few guilt-free reading days a week, as well as some get-down-to-business days.

Can you tell us anything about your current work in progress?

It's a novel about the four daughters of Tsar Nicholas II, the grand duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia.

Do you have a reading hero? Someone who inspired you? Someone you love, respect, and admire? A mentor who made a great impact on you?

My family always encouraged me, and Donna Jo Napoli has been very kind to me in the last few years, but other than that, no single person stands out.

Growing up, what were your favorite books? Which ones have stayed with you and made a lasting impression? Which ones still give you warm fuzzies?

Castle in the Attic, by Elizabeth Winthrop
Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh
Magic Elizabeth, by Norma Kassirer
Wait Till Helen Comes, by Mary Downing Hahn

They've all stayed with me pretty well, but considering the plots and characters I think only Magic Elizabeth qualifies as a "warm fuzzy" book. ;)

Did you have a favorite time and place to read?

Nope. Anytime, anywhere was good enough for me. Nowadays, I'm partial to the wicker lounge on the front porch.

In your opinion, what makes a book a classic?

Endurance and devotion. I'm pretty old school in my classics definition -- 20 years isn't long enough to qualify for me.

Are there any out-of-print books that you wish would make a come back?

Magic Elizabeth, by Norma Kassirer
Anne Sullivan Macy, by Nella Braddy

If you had twenty-four hours, a time machine, and a limitless supply of money, what would you want to do?

Heh. I’d probably run around spying on a lot of famous dead people to make sure I get/got them “right.”

Sunday Salon: Reading, Read, To Read #12

Happy Sunday everyone! Still challenge happy this week! I was expecting the thrill of the Spring Reading Thing (which started Friday) because she'd been posting about it leading up to the big sign-up post, but I was ecstatic to see Carl's Once Upon A Time III challenge pop-up. I must admit I'd been checking his blog for days and days hoping that it would suddenly appear. :) If you've never tried joining a reading challenge, I'd really encourage you to join one of those. These were my very, very first challenges that I ever joined.

I also learned this past week the dates for the upcoming 24 Hour-Read-A-Thon. So consider joining that one when the time comes. (There isn't a post to sign up for being a reader or a cheerleader yet. Those posts will come at some point. And I'll try to let you know when they do.) Those dates are April 18/19th starting at noon GMT.

Have you seen Twilight yet? Are you planning on it? I got my DVD yesterday. And I liked it. There were parts I just burst out laughing. And there were a few places I got the giggles. (I could have done without the "sparkling" side effects. Couldn't anyone have admitted how lame that was?) But I liked it. I can't completely forget that unsatisfied feeling from reading Breaking Dawn. (Though it leads me to guess how anyone might film that into something...worth watching...what with it being 50% vampire marathon sex and 30% weird and creepy pregnant Bella with the horrifying birth scene and odd imprinting of the mutant baby with Jacob. Leaving the rest of the time for building suspense into a non-climax with the villains. It may be in this instance that varying from the book could salvage it. Maybe the script writers could actually spend time with it and have it have a climax worth waiting for. Who knows?!)

I've got a few interviews in the works. I've sent out interview questions to a few authors. And I've emailed a few others. Heard back from some, but not all. I need to write questions for Lisa Mantchev and Carol Lynch Williams. I've got a few questions (in my head, not on paper yet) but if you've got a few you want me to ask...leave a comment!!! Lisa Mantchev is the author of Eyes Like Stars. And Carol Lynch Williams is the author of The Chosen One. (Links to both of those reviews can be found below.)

What I read in a previous week, but reviewed this week:

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. 2004. Random House. (YA Fiction/YA Romance/Dystopia/War) 194 pages.
Graceling by Kristin Cashore. 2008. Harcourt. 471 pages. (YA Fantasy/YA Romance)
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams. St. Martin's Griffin. 224 pages. (YA Realistic Fiction)

What I read this past week and reviewed:

No Kisses, Please! by Hans Wilhelm. 2004. (Paperback release 2009) (Early Reader) Scholastic
My Summer on Earth by Tom Lombardi. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 243 pages. (YA Science Fiction)
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev. 2009. Feiwel and Friends. (July Pub) 368 pages. (YA Fantasy/YA Romance)
Michal by Jill Eileen Smith. Revell. 382 pages. (Adult/Christian Fiction)
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. 1962. 272 pages. (Adult/Science Fiction)
Chicken Soup by Jean Van Leeuwen. Illustrated by David Gavril. Harry N. Abrams. 2009. (May) (Picture Book)
Scaredy Squirrel at Night by Melanie Watt. Kids Can Press. 2009. (February) (Picture Book)

What I read this past week and haven't reviewed yet:

The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak. 2009. Bantam. 288 pages.
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. 1847. Wordsworth Classics. 246 pages.
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent. 2009. Tyndale. 343 pages.

What I've read and really really need to review:

Mansfield Park Revisited by Joan Aiken. Sourcebooks. 201.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 2009. Quirk. 319 pages.

What I'm currently reading:

Streams of Babel by Carol Plum-Ucci (I'm exactly 100 pages in)
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens (middle of chapter twelve)

What I'm just fooling around that I'm reading:

Book Thief by Markus Zusak. (I listened to this on audio in January. I wanted to read along with the audio. But the book reading stopped. So technically I've finished this one already this year.)

What I've abandoned:

Riding by H.S. Cross


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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34. You've Been Summoned

You've Been Summoned. Lindsey Lamar. 2024. 376 pages. [Source: Library] [adult mystery, adult fiction]

First sentence: Wear your best costume and tell your worst secret....you've been summoned.

My thoughts (preview): This one definitely requires some suspension of disbelief. But if you go with the flow, you might get caught up and forget how unrealistic it is. 

Premise/plot: YOU the reader are being asked to go through the files of a case and make a recommendation to the police on who to arrest for the crime. The files are unusual--hence why you will need to suspend your disbelief. You'll have access to the INTERIOR thoughts of Jane--the sister of the victim of the crime. These are "Jane's Recount." They are not an interview. They are not diary or journal entries. You'll have access to a diary of a woman (another twin) Mary who lived in 1940s at this same house. There are amateur interviews conducted by Jane, and professional interviews conducted by the police. There are physical documents/evidence--notes and letters found on the scene. There is digital evidence as well--text messages, etc. There is a "call transcript" from 911. YOU the reader are being asked to sift through these files and make your best educated guess as to who, how, and why. 

After you have made your recommendation, the author lets you know what really happened and how it all played out. In other words providing the "correct" answer to your amateur detecting. 

My thoughts: Technically, I don't find the premise believable. BUT all that aside, I found it great fun. I did find it an engaging/compelling read. I read through the first file folder in one sitting. I read the other nine file folders in one sitting. I found it that gripping. 

Did I guess right? Yes. Did I arrive at my conclusion reasonably and logically piecing together all the clues and evidence? No. The ending lists out all the clues that point to the right answer. I missed most of them. Because they required a lot of reading between the lines, noticing what was missing or going unsaid; things that should have been present or accounted for but weren't in other words. I wasn't randomly guessing, mine was more of a following my gut.

 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #11

This week I read six books.

24. The Rose Bargain. Sasha Peyton Smith. 2025. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Fiction, YA Fantasy, YA Horror, YA Romance] [3 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy YA fantasy with faeries or fae
• You enjoy alternate history
• You enjoy YA romance on the steam side
• You enjoy BIG twists
• You can tolerate unbearable cliffhangers

25. Daughters of Shandong. Eve J. Chung. 2024. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [adult historical fiction, coming of age, refugees, adult fiction] [4 stars]

Read this if...

• You enjoy adult historical fiction with coming of age themes
• You enjoy historical fiction set in China
• You enjoy refugee stories
• You enjoy stories based loosely on the author's family history

24. Hi, Cat. Bye, Cat. Jade Orlando. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [board books, cats]

Read this if...

• You enjoy board books with CATS
• You enjoy rhyming stories for little ones

25. Squash the Cat: Stuck in the Middle. Sasha Mayer. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, cats, jealousy, toys, picture book]

Read this if...

• You enjoy picture books with CATS
• You think Toy Story would have been improved with CATS
• You love, love, love fat orange cats

23. A Book of Comfort for Those In Sickness. Philip Bennett Power. 1876/2018. Banner of Truth. 97 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

Read this if...

• You are looking for a classic Christian devotional-style book on pain, suffering, and God's goodness
• You are looking for a great read that is encouraging

24. The Wages of Cinema: A Christian Aesthetic of Film in Conversation with Dorothy L. Sayers. Crystal L. Downing. 2025. 256 pages. [Source: Review copy] [philosophy, film history, biography; 3 stars]

Read this if...

• You want Dorothy Sayers as a metaphorical guide to film theory
• You have an interest in the intersection between theology and films

Century of Viewing Week #11

1910s

• 1915 Those Bitter Sweets is a short little take on the dangers of love triangles. Mostly. Not really. Two men rival for the love of one girl. Except when one doesn't get his way, he sends his supposed 'love' a box of poisoned chocolates. Later feeling remorse, he rushes over to stop her from eating them only to discover that she's given the box away to someone else--a group picnicking on the beach. So off the three go to try to save those unsuspecting folks....I don't remember it ending tragically. But honestly this one didn't impress me much.
  

1920s

• 1926 The General is a feature film starring Buster Keaton. By the time this posts, I'll have seen it two more times--at least. (But at the very, very, very least once more.) Is this how I spend every Friday night??? Yes. Yes, it is. Buster Keaton and I have a steady date night. Hee hee. The plot? Johnnie Gray has TWO loves in his life--his train (The General) and his girl (Annabelle). When Northerner spies steal his ENGINE and his girl, he'll do anything to get them back.
  

1930s

• 1931 The Stolen Jools is unusual at best--disjointed is perhaps the better word. It's what I imagine would happen if you cram forty to sixty Hollywood stars together into the briefest of shorts with a flimsy plot. The plot: An actress's jewels are stolen at a Hollywood party, so the police investigate who robbed the robbers--gangsters took the gems originally. Buster Keaton is EARLY in the film as a police officer. And he's adorable as ever. However once you've seen his cameo, I'm not sure there's reason to persist because there's not much payoff except seeing all the stars get about thirty seconds of screen time each.
  

1940s

• 1945 State Fair Mom thinks I don't like State Fair because of the 'farm stuff.' But I don't think that's it. Not really. I think it's more my overthinking EVERYTHING in terms of the two grown children. Wayne annoys me greatly. Every time he's on screen all I can see are red flags waving. Here he is with a steady girlfriend, Eleanor. Is he true and faithful to her? No. Why? He's too busy sulking over not getting his way AND too lusty over a girl he's known less than ten seconds. Is there anything real with Emily? I doubt it. I think Wayne is lusty, lusty, lusty and not thinking with his brain at all. He doesn't know her at all, yet, in his imagination they are as good as married. It's like Eleanor who????? Then there's this stupid ring-toss business. A man who can hold a grudge for a YEAR and come back raging and angsty, is NOT a man you'd ever want to marry. He's faithless AND prone to anger AND sulking. Eleanor, not knowing about Emily, is smiling at their reunion. But I just cannot. Wayne is DUMB. Margy is marginally better. She's just empty-headed. I guess the scene that irritates me with Margy is HOW she stands up on a roller-coaster ride because she is scared. This is a roller coaster without any bars *holding* you down. So you're being trusted to keep yourself alive. And she just can't be bothered. Her new love interest, Pat, (who is an improvement on a man who couldn't read a room if his life depended on it) saves her from herself. And he'll probably spend the rest of his life saving her from herself because she just doesn't have much going on. I didn't mention it but this one is a musical.
  

1950s

• 1954 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a musical with Howard Keel. I love this one. Is it in my top ten of musicals? Probably not. Maybe? It's not in my top five. I have SO MANY ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE musicals. I do love this one. There are scenes--like the barn raising--that I absolutely love and adore. It was always fun to "pick" the "cutest" brother. My opinion has changed WIDELY through the years.
• 1955 Oklahoma. I have so many conflicted feelings on this musical. I love, love, love some of the songs. I love some of the characters. I hate some of the characters. I really think OKLAHOMA as a wedding song is a horrible idea. But there I am overthinking things. I do love Charlotte Greenwood. She starred in Parlor, Bedroom and Bath with BUSTER KEATON. And I can't get those scenes out of my head.
  
• 1956 You Can't Run Away From It is one of my absolute all-time favorite, favorite movies. I discovered it first in 2023--watching it a dozen times at least. I watched it at least that many times in 2024. I've only seen it once this far. Before I was obsessed with all things Buster Keaton, Jack Lemmon was the one. I do plan on rewatching a LOT of Jack Lemmon this year too. And I'm always happy to watch new-to-me Lemmon as well. This is a MUSICAL. Jack Lemmon. June Allyson. It is a remake of the [non-musical] It Happened One Night. A rich heiress marries a sleazeball, her father wants to have it annulled. She runs away. On the bus trip, she makes the acquaintance of a newspaper journalist....they end up traveling together and getting cozy--with boundaries in place.
  

1960s

• 1964 A Hard Day's Night is a BEATLES film/musical. A lot of scenes of them just performing their songs. The ending was the most dull for me--just a straight up concert with four or five songs? Some of the songs had been previously featured in the movie in earlier scenes. There were some quite funny scenes. And the police chase, of course, had me thinking again of Buster Keaton. Plenty of running as well--them running from fans. Not as off-the-wall silly as Help. But still fun.
  

1980s

• 1987 Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow is a British documentary that is a little over two and a half hours long. I believe it was broadcast as three episodes. I am trying to both view it as it stands--it is fabulous--but also view it as it would have been at the time. Being a Buster Keaton fan [fan-girl] is EASY, easy, easy these days. His work is in the public domain and readily available just about anywhere. But in 1987, I imagine that was far from the case. This documentary might have served as an introduction to Buster Keaton for some. And been a pleasant revisit for others. It features clips from his shorts and films. It features Keaton voice-overs talking about his movies--taken from interviews. It features interviews with those who worked with him in front of and behind the cameras. It features extensive interviews with Eleanor Keaton, his beloved wife. It gives a good chronological approach to his life. Which seems obvious I know. But often people get so distracted focusing on just one bit of his life that they rush through everything else or dismiss it. But what I really truly appreciated were all the I-didn't-know-that facts BEHIND filming certain movies, certain scenes. Facts that made me see the film a little differently the next time around. For example, behind the scenes details about The General.
  

1990s

• 1991 What About Bob? I discovered What About Bob? late in life. But I love, love, love, love, love this movie so much. I get Bob. I really truly get Bob. And it's a wonderful little film. I absolutely love everything about it. Essentially, Bob a mental-patient inserts himself a little too freely into his doctor's family. On paper it sounds like Bob is the villain. It does. I get that. But you'll just have to watch it yourself to have Bob win you over.
  
• 1998 The Wedding Singer is a romantic comedy that I definitely at one time absolutely loved. I still love a few things about it. The LANGUAGE is something that I had blocked apparently from my memory. But there are wonderful scenes, funny scenes. I love the ending when he writes her a love song and performs it for her on the plane.
  

2000s

• 2000 Miss Congeniality is a FUN comedy. I would say there's more comedy than romance. But there's a tiny bit of romance. Sandra Bullock is just enjoyable to watch. The cast of characters is great. Just very quotable and memorable.
  
• 2009 Castle, Season 1. A mystery writer teams up with a police detective--his "muse" for a new series. Together they solve murder cases.
  

2010s

• 2010 When In Rome. If this one didn't star Josh Duhamel would I love it so much? Difficult to answer honestly. The main character, Beth, is a museum curator who travels to Rome for her sister's wedding. She's a bit of a pessimist when it comes to "true love." She meets a groomsmen, Nick, who is unforgettable. Sorry. Just he is. She's not smitten at all. He is. She has a drunken spell in a magic fountain picking up as souvenirs several coins from the fountain not knowing that in doing so there's a "curse" that all the people who threw those coins will now be in love with HER. Returning home, she's now being PURSUED by a group of unlikely suitors. (A muscle builder, an artist, a magician, a sausage-maker, etc.) Nick, of course, is still pursing her. She thinks he's just one of the many following her about because of the curse....but as she tries to break it....she may just find true love where she least expects it. This is a very physical--physical comedy--romantic comedy. There's a scene with a clown car that is just hilarious. This one is equal parts charming and delightful and JUST cringe.
  

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Interview with Natasha & Sylvie

Today is a very special day. A very very special day. I am happy to be presenting TWO interviews. As a few of you may remember, GO TO BED, MONSTER by Natasha Wing with illustrations by Sylvie Kantorovitz, is one of my favorite picture books of the year. It is just an oh-so-magical book for me. Even the end papers are fun. So I was very pleased when both agreed to be interviewed.


From the press release:

Go to Bed, Monster!, released in October 2007 by Harcourt, Inc., is a story about Lucy who has an active imagination and trouble going to sleep. She draws a crayon monster which jumps off the paper ready for action! The two play together, yet when it's time for Monster to go to bed, he refuses. Lucy's many attempts fail until she comes up with just the right way to get Monster to settle down.

Oil paint and oil pastel illustrations by Sylvie Kantorovitz bring to life the crayon world of Lucy's imagination with kid-like humor.

Natasha Wing's Interview

What inspired you to write Go To Bed, Monster!?

"Go to Bed, Monster!" has gone through many incarnations before it became this story! It started off in 1996 as "Lucy's Crayons," a story of a girl who draws a picture and ends up drawing herself into the picture. Then it morphed into "One Yellow Sun," a concept book of colors and shapes. Somewhere along the line the shapes turned into a hungry monster which ate all of Lucy's drawings - and Lucy! My original editor at Harcourt loved Monster and wanted to develop more fun between the monster and Lucy, so it turned into a bedtime story with Monster taking on the role of Lucy, and Lucy taking on the role of a mother trying to get her unruly child to bed.

How long did it take to write-to go from inspiration to finished product?

Well, I started in 1996 and it was published in 2007, with lots of starts and stops inbetween. Much longer than a typical picture book of mine. [Go To Bed, Monster is Natasha's sixteenth picture book.]

What was your first impression of Sylvie Kantorovitz's illustrations? Did her vision of Lucy and the Monster match your own?

When I saw her illustrations I got the tingles and remembered thinking, "She got it!" meaning she understood the Monster and the idea of reality versus imagination.

Do you have a favorite scene? A favorite illustration?

My favorite is when the Monster snaps, "Not sleepy." I think it's so defiant. Kids, of course, love the potty scene.

One of the things I love most about Go To Bed, Monster! is that it appeals to both kids and adults. It is just as much fun the tenth time around as the first. Was that your goal, to write a book that parents wouldn't get tired of reading aloud to their children? What are your goals? What inspires you?

I never think of parents when I write, I think of the flow of the story and what could be interesting and fun for kids to read. My goal is to find a way to express my thoughts and visions, and to write a story that publishers are excited to release to the world. My ultimate pleasure is to then hear back from readers that they like my stories. The things that inspire me are happy families, funny situations, silliness, with an undercurrent of education.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer? What is your least favorite thing? Can you describe a typical day?

My favorite thing is being able to express myself without being filtered through a committee - at least during the initial stage of writing. I also enjoy the sensation of when my mind locks onto an idea and starts churning it over. If it sticks, then I know I'm on to something. My least favorite thing is when I pour myself into a story that just isn't working and I don't know how to fix it.

A typical day for me is writing from 8:00ish to about noon. I check my emails regularly since that's my form of office chat. And I typically skip around and work on a few stories in various stages. In the afternoons, I either continue writing if something is working well, or else I do some marketing, blog reading, or book reading. But most often my writing is part-time work. All this is interspersed with letting my cat, Jemima, in or out of the house. And a break at noon to watch What Not to Wear.

What projects are next? Do you have a new book coming out soon? What is your current work-in-progress?

Lots of books in the works! I have another story with Lucy and Monster called "Go to School, Monster!" in the final art stage. A biography, "An Eye for Color," about an old neighbor of mine when I lived in Connecticut, Josef Albers, who was an artist known for his Homage to the Square paintings. The 13th book in the Night Before series, "The Night Before St. Patrick's Day." And a chapter book for first graders with Scholastic about a girl, Pearl Ruby, who wants to keep her first lost tooth, but the Tooth Fairy wants it...bad. Then if I can shake this writer's insecurity, I will rewrite a novel for teens that I've been working on for years. I have also produced a DVD geared to kindergartners called "A Visit with Natasha Wing" about what it's like being a writer. It includes a reading of "The Night Before Kindergarten." Should be ready in January. So I'm a busy girl.

Who has been your biggest supporter through the years on your road to publication?

First of all, my husband, Dan. He's the one who gave me "permission" to take a break from my public relations job and give writing a chance. Then I have a few writer friends, Mary Nethery and Barbara Kerley, who I used to be in a writers group with who have helped me improve my skills and provided emotional support. But most of all, my agent, Linda Pratt, who unconditionally believes in me and my skills, so it's very comforting to work from that base of support.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? Did you have a favorite book, a favorite author, someone whose work you admired that made you say "I want to do that!!!"?

No, I didn't figure out that I wanted to be a writer until I was 32. So before then I wanted to be a tennis player, or dig dinosaur fossils, or maybe work in a big time ad agency. I was struck by one of those "angel singing" moments when I was at a Christmas fair and picked up "Polar Express" by Chris van Allsburg and declared, "I want to make magic like this for kids!"

Have you always loved to read? What are some of your favorites? (past or present)

I have always read, but I can remember liking the idea of owning books more than reading them. Having books on the shelves, knowing that I could step into a new world just by opening a book, was thrilling to me. So it was more about the anticipation of things to come rather than the actual act of reading. (I think that's why I like Christmas Eve better than Christmas.) As a girl I had this wonderful Cinderella book with a pop-up crepe paper pumpkin carriage in the back. I thought that was magical.

If you had twenty-four hours, a time machine, and a limitless supply of money, what would you want to do?

First I'd have Stacy and Clinton of What Not to Wear make me over. Then I would love to have a sit down over some fine champagne with Philip Pullman, the author of "The Golden Compass." I admire his brain and bravado and would be honored to be in his presence, even if only for an hour. Then I'd travel to Italy and kiss the handsome tall man behind the counter at the meat deli, and then time-travel back to czarist Russia and ride in Czar Nicholas's carriage, and open up every Faberge egg. Of course it'd all have to end with a fabulous meal, perhaps in southern France.

Sylvie Kantorovitz's interview:

What was your first impression of Natasha Wing’s story, the text of Go To Bed, Monster? What excited you? What inspired you?

My agent sent me Natasha’s story as she thought it was made for me. I loved it right away. It was called ONE YELLOW SUN then. It was more of a counting, shapes and colors book. The element that really excited me was Lucy drawing a monster that came to life.

How long did it take to draw the illustrations—to go from inspiration to finished product?

It is very hard to tell as projects like that go through many stages, through many proposals and rejections, through many revisions and in this case, a complete story upheaval. But all that doesn’t happen in a linear way. From the day my agent sent me the story to the day the final drawings were done, years had passed. But all kinds of other projects alternated with MONSTER.

My favorite scene is when the Monster gets excited when Lucy pulls out a book…Do you have a favorite scene?

I have a soft spot for the page where Lucy falls asleep thinking Monster is finally asleep but we see him awake and looking anxiously at her. Illustrators enjoy adding their own story twists through their pictures.


Your website mentions that one of your goals is to inspire kids to become eager to write and draw their own stories…do you have any advice for parents or teachers on how to inspire or encourage children’s imaginative and artistic sides?

Artists, no matter their age, need material, dreaming time, and approval. Material can be as simple as paper and pencils. Dreaming time may require less organized activities, and approval comes naturally to proud parents.

How important do you think it is for children to have art as part of their education?

I think art is vital for children. It allows for fantastic ways of expression. It can mean everything to some shy or physically challenged children.

What is your favorite thing about being an illustrator? What is your least favorite thing? Can you describe a typical day?

My favorite thing: I work at home. I make my own schedule. I draw and paint and make a living at it. What could be better?

My least favorite thing: Some of my artist friends do a lot of self-promotion. It is a very difficult aspect of the work for me.

A typical day: Days vary so much from one to the next for me. On some stages of a project, I can only spend 2 or 3 hours at a time while at others, I could be at my table for hours on end. So sometimes work alternates with some reading or some of my personal painting or some “office work”. There is a lot more “office work” than one would think. I often enjoy working late in the day. The quiet hours after an early dinner are my most productive ones. If I want to go to the gym or the library or see a friend or do some errands, I prefer to do that during most people’s working hours to be able to have my evenings free.


What projects are next? Do you have a new book coming out soon? Are you busy working on a book?

The editor liked what happened with GO TO BED, MONSTER! so much, she asked Natasha to come up with another story for Lucy and Monster. So I am now working on GO TO SCHOOL, MONSTER. A book coming out soon is SMARTY SARA, a step into reading book by Anna Jane Hays. And I am also working on a story of mine called SOPHIE AND THE MAGIC PIG.

Who has been your biggest supporter through the years?

When I was young, my parents were very proud of my drawings and did agree, somewhat reluctantly, to send me to art school. I am very thankful for that. Later on, my then husband, now good friend, Thor Wickstrom, was very supportive in my first efforts. My daughter Sam, 15, has now taken over.

But the biggest encouragement is to see children enjoying my books and my illustrations during school visits.


Do you think your experience as a teacher has helped you when it comes to illustrating? I mean, does all those years of knowing kids, of observing kids, help you when it comes to knowing how to make a scene just right? Of knowing what makes a book kid-friendly?

I taught only one year and I do have great memories from 3 months during which I substituted in Kindergarten. But that is a long time ago. Although it is not especially conscious, I think I draw inspiration from having observed my daughter and her friends when they were little and from the children I meet during my school visits. And I do believe all of us are still little kids somewhere inside us. I definitely am. Maybe I am illustrating for myself?


Growing up, who was your favorite illustrator? Was there someone whose work you admired? Someone who made you say, “I want to do that when I grow up!”?

Although I read constantly, I do not remember any particular author or illustrator. I do remember a couple of beautiful tale books. One in particular had a Nordic feel to it. But I had no clue that one could become an artist.

There is one clear memory that emerges: I saw an illustrated magazine story where the drawings –of crazy monkeys running after spilled oranges! - were done in colored pencils and in a bit of a childish way. I remember thinking in awe: somebody drew this!

The conscious thought: “I want to do this” came in art school while looking at art books in book stores and being drawn to nearby shelves of children’s books.

Your website mentions that you loved reading—that you still love reading—what are some of your favorite books? (Past or present) Who are some of your favorite authors?

This is a question that makes my mind spin. And go blank! There are so many! But I will try:

Early on: LE GRAND MEAULES by Alain Fournier, HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY by Richard Llewellyn, Jules Verne, Jack London, Mark Twain…

Later on: John Steinbeck (EAST OF EDEN), John Dos Passos (MANHATTAN TRANSFER), Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Erskine Caldwell, Dostoyevsky, Balzac, Maupassant, Camus, Eric Maria Remarque,

AND THEN: KURT VONNEGUT!!!

But also: Shakespeare, Harper Lee, Somerset Maugham, Henry James, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Ursula Le Guin, Chaim Potok, Elie Wiesel, Russell Banks…


What do you love about children’s books? What has kept you hooked?

I love the variety, the unbelievable cleverness of the writers, the humor, the possibility of expressing a whole range of emotions. Not to mention that while I draw Monster and his antics, I have a big smile plastered on my face.

If you had twenty-four hours, a time machine, and a limitless supply of money, what would you want to do?

24 hours to fix the world. Talk about stress! I would probably spend the whole time making a list of things that needed to be done: environment, education, justice for all, health care for all, world peace… And I would panic: where to start? How?

I probably couldn’t figure out how to use the time machine anyway… oh well. Maybe that’s why I am an artist. I’d rather be drawing…

Sorry I wasted a perfectly good time machine and lots of money…



Read my review of Go To Bed, Monster.
Kelly Herold's review for Book Buds.
Cheryl Rainfield's review