A Conversation With the Author
Where did you grow up?
Atlanta, Georgia
What is your earliest memory of writing/drawing?
I can't remember NOT making up stories.
What inspired you to write/illustrate your first book?
I had a story to tell.
Do you use your childhood as inspiration?
Rarely.
What books from your childhood have most influenced your work? What about adult titles?
Childhood-anything by Noel Streatfield; also, Little Women, and the books of Maud Hart Lovelace. As an adult-Catcher in the Rye, Jane Eyre, The Great Gatsby, and about a million others.
What are your hobbies and interests besides reading and books?
Learning French, travel
Who are a couple of your favorite author/illustrators? What is it about their work that inspires and interests you?
I loved all the books by the late Robert Cormier-I liked his attitude toward realism.
What one or two words of advice would you give for young authors/illustrators?
Write every day; keep a diary.
