Author Interview – Traci Hunter Abramson

Today we are joined by author Traci Hunter Abramson for an exclusive interview. Traci, thank you for stopping by today – let’s get right to your questions. First of all, I’m curious to know – how long have you been writing? It feels like forever! I guess I started when I was a teenager writing journals, and it progressed from there. I tried writing novels when I was in college, but I never finished anything until the year I quit working to stay home with my kids. Since I had been employed by the Central Intelligence Agency, anything I wrote … Continue reading

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat – Lynne Jonell

Appearing today in stores everywhere, “Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat” is a must for your reading list for ages 9+. I read it in one sitting and came away entertained and enchanted. Emmy is a very good girl who does everything her nanny, Miss Barmy, tells her. She is a straight A student, she never gets in trouble, and she never talks back. You might think she’s this way because she’s impeccably well-mannered, and she is – but her underlying reason is this – she wants her parents to like her more. If she never gets in trouble, maybe … Continue reading

Author Interview — Anderson, Littke, and Morris

We have a special treat today on Families.com – three LDS authors who have written a wonderful series together. Nancy Anderson, Lael J. Littke, and Carroll H. Morris graciously consented to this exclusive interview and I thank them for their time. Ladies, how did the three of you meet? Lael: Carroll and Nancy are sisters. I first became aware of Carroll when my editor at Deseret, Eleanor Knowles, told me she’d just put out a really fine book by her, titled “The Broken Covenant.” She gave me a copy. I read it and was really impressed. A year or so … Continue reading

Drawing Lessons From a Bear – David McPhail

In this delightful children’s picture book, which I gather is slightly autobiographical, David McPhail talks to us in the persona of a bear who has learned how to draw. He didn’t always know how, though – that came slowly. It really all began when Bear was having his lessons in how to be a bear. His mother was very anxious for him to learn how to do all the things a bear should do. She taught him how to walk like a bear, how to sit like a bear, how to choose which berries were safe to eat, and how … Continue reading

Author Interview – Lynne Jonell (part five) In Conclusion

Thank you for joining us for our fifth and concluding segment in our conversation with nationally published children’s book author Lynne Jonell. If you missed parts one, two, three or four, click here. Lynne, how long have you been writing, and when did you know you wanted to be anauthor? I’ve been writing stories since third or fourth grade, off and on. I got serious about writing in my twenties; I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators when I was 30; I took a writing class at that time also, and that’s when I really began to … Continue reading

Author Interview – Lynne Jonell (part four) A New Release

Thank you for joining us for part four of our conversation with nationally published children’s book author, Lynne Jonell. If you missed parts one, two, or three, click here. Lynne, in addition to writing picture books, you write books for the middle-grade age range (9-12) as well. Can you tell us more? The book is titled “Emmy & the Incredible Shrinking Rat,” published by Henry Holt & Co., and it will be released in August of 2007. Booksellers are now taking pre-orders for it. I’m so pleased that I finally wrote a novel that someone thought was worth publishing! The … Continue reading

Author Interview – Lynne Jonell (part three) Reader Feedback and About Her Books

Thank you for joining us for part three of our talk with nationally published children’s book author Lynne Jonell. If you missed part one or two, click here. Lynne, when we left off you were telling us how children have strong emotions and often aren’t able to articulate them. You seek to give children a voice in your books, an empowering and comforting pursuit. Have you heard back from parents about how their children react to your books? Oh, yes. They’re funny books, for one thing, and parents and children love the chance to laugh together about some of these … Continue reading

Author Interview – Lynne Jonell (part two) The Publishing Process

We are joined today by national children’s book author, Lynne Jonell. If you missed part one, click here. Lynne, when we left off yesterday, you were telling us how you got the idea for your first picture book. When did you decide it was ready to send to a publisher? At the time, I was taking a class from children’s author Jane Resh Thomas. Instead of reading the next chapter in my middle grade novel, I read Mommy Go Away!. And Jane told me– “Lynne, you have a gift. You think like a toddler.” I wasn’t quite sure if this … Continue reading

Author Interview – Lynne Jonell (part one) When Inspiration Strikes

Nationally published children’s author Lynne Jonell is our special guest for today. Lynne, thank you so much for joining us. I reviewed some of your picture books for Families.com earlier this year and was intrigued by your angle. In a world where many picture books seem to be designed to teach the child, you take situations from the child’s perspective, essentially teaching the parent how the child feels. How did you arrive at this unique way of looking at things? Um—I might take issue with the idea that most picture books are designed to teach the child. Some are, but … Continue reading