So, I wanted to start doing some author features and interviews on my blog with the talented, amazing authors and illustrators I am lucky enough to work with :) The first in my blog author series is Linda Marshall.
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| Photograph credit: Deborah Feingold |
Linda (Elovitz) Marshall comes to writing for children after
several other careers including teaching early childhood education, parenting
education, working on her Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology, owning and operating
her own bookstore, freelance writing, producing “as-told-to” autobiographies,
and raising four children and a small flock of sheep. Regarding writing for
children, Linda’s a late-bloomer, having her first picture book accepted for
publication when she was already a grandmother. Since then, ten more of her
picture books have been published or accepted for publication. Linda also
writes chapter books and Middle Grade novels as well as occasional essays for
newspapers and magazines. She enjoys writing about just about everything –
except for things with hormones!
Twitter:
@L_E_Marshall
Hi Christa,
First, I’d like to thank you for inviting me to participate in
your blog interview. It’s been so great working with you…and I love the
feedback you give me that helps me make my stories better and better. Thank
you!
1. What
is must-know about your upcoming project, MOMMY,
BABY AND ME (Peter Pauper Press, 2017)?
Prior to
writing for children, I taught early childhood education and parenting
education. I raised my four children and a small flock of sheep, studied
cultural anthropology, and owned a bookstore. In various ways, almost all of my
projects relate to experiences I’ve had or things I’ve learned along the way.
Many of them relate to things I’ve learned as a parent, student of early
childhood development, or as a cultural anthropologist.
MOMMY, BABY,
AND ME addresses an important transition - becoming a
parent. That transition - from non-parent to parent – is forever. In my
opinion, American culture needs to give that transition more attention. As
humorist Erma Bombeck said long ago, “the thing about having a baby is that,
once you have it, you have it.”
By seeing
the new baby from the point of view of a much-beloved (and now somewhat
displaced) family dog, MOMMY, BABY, AND ME highlights how an older sibling
might feel. Or to how a family dog might feel! Or, perhaps, how a close friend
might feel. With every birth (or death), a family undergoes a re-arrangement.
It takes time to adjust.
Personally, I
remember coming home with my first-born. My much-beloved dog skulked around,
unhappy. After awhile, he got used to the new baby….Who knows? If I'd had a
book to read to my dog, maybe the transition might have been easier?
2. What
draws you to write picture books?
Spending years
in early childhood education, I developed a great love for picture books. I
love the language, the pictures, the concise - often poetic - way a story is
told. I love that a good picture book contains some “universal” element, gently
touching something we all feel.
3.
Where
do you primarily look for inspiration for your picture books?
I find
inspiration all around.
Recently, I was
trying to help a close friend who is from Guatemala and who established a
not-for-profit weavers’ co-operative that enables Guatemalan Mayan women to
sell their artisanal products in the U.S. through Fair Trade markets. I wanted
to write something to help that co-operative. But, what? My friend and I
brainstormed some ideas. I wrote a rough draft. Then I went to Guatemala,
researched, and read the draft to Mayan women in the co-operatives. They helped
me hone the story. The result: RAINBOW WEAVER, forthcoming with Lee & Low
(2016).
RAINBOW WEAVER
tells the story of a young Mayan girl (Ixchel) who wants to learn to weave to
help her family pay for her books and school fees. Unfortunately, there’s not
enough thread - and thread is too costly for her to learn on. Instead, Ixchel
constructs her own loom and tries weaving with grasses, then with bits of wool.
Ultimately, she uses strips from the ubiquitous - and destructive - plastic
bags. Ixchel finally learns to weave - like the generations of women before her
- and, in the process, helps clean her village.
Indeed, Mayan
weavers in Guatemala are cleaning their environment by weaving with
plastic bags. They’re also supporting their families.
Part of
the proceeds from RAINBOW WEAVER will directly help weavers in the Mayan
Hands and MayaWorks co-operatives.
I feel very
proud to make this contribution.
4.
Is
there are a project of yours that you are most proud of or excited about?
I’m so proud of
all my projects, it’s hard to single one out.
A forthcoming
book, KINDERGARTEN IS COOL! (Scholastic, 2016) is about going to school - and
all the joys and angst it entails. It’s a joyous, warm book. I hope it helps
new kindergartners be prepared for - and love - this transition in their lives.
If my book makes going to school easier for just one child…Wow! I’d feel great!
5. How
do you approach writing for different age groups?
I always try to
write with great respect for my readers - especially when writing for the very
young. I try to
keep everything I write - whether for adults or young children - clear and
accessible. I dislike obfuscation or jargon. Shorter is
better. Good writing is
good writing.
6. To
what extent do your own life and interests reflect themselves in your work?
I have many
different life experiences and many different interests. Part of me is in everything
I write. It has to be. If part of me isn't there, the story doesn't ring
true.
7. Who
are some of your favorite picture book authors?
Leo Lionni -
especially Swimmy and Frederick
Candace Fleming
Ezra Jack Keats
Beatrice Schenk
de Regniers - especially May I Bring A Friend?
8. What’s
the revision process like for you?
I find revision
both never-ending and a great joy. I adore revision. I love to work
on the words until I get them - and the story - just right. With picture
books and essays, I am compulsive about revision. I’m also trying to learn more
about revision in longer works. It’s all a learning process.
9. What
do you know now about publishing that you wish you could tell yourself before
you started?
Speaking of a
learning process, I wish I’d been encouraged earlier to write. As a young
person, I knew I was good at writing - but I assumed that everyone, with enough
education, could write clearly. I also thought that - with my relatively
normal, happy childhood - I didn’t have enough angst in my life to be a good
writer. And as a child who was not good at dancing, drawing, playing an
instrument, singing on-key, or even telling right from left, I assumed I had
absolutely no talent, whatsoever. It wasn’t until about ten
years ago, that I first attempted to write for children. I’m so happy now that
I’m writing for kids. I only wish that early on - in high school or in college
- someone would have guided me toward doing more writing. But, then, I wouldn’t
have had as many life experiences earlier. So, I guess it all works out
perfectly!
10. What do
you think the most important element of a good story is?
For me, it all
depends on the story. Sometimes it’s character development, sometimes
humor, sometimes plot. What’s a good story for me might not be a good one for
someone else…Also, some stories work best in some seasons, at some places, and
some times in a person’s life. It all depends...
Note: I previously interviewed Vincent X. Kirsch on the M&O blog.
