Kate Facebook Fan questions – November 2015:

Erin Grady Kachline:
What are some of your favorite newer books for ages 9-12? (Naturally, we’ve already read and reread all of yours
)

Let’s see, I loved Kevin Henkes’ The Year of Billy Miller and Katherine Applegate’s The One and Only Ivan and R.J. Palacio’s Wonder (all from a few years ago), and also The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin (it just came out this year). And on the older end of that: The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz. And also, Pam Munoz Ryan’s lyrical Echo.

Beth-Ann Bloom:
What is the best costume you ever wore or imagined for Halloween?

I had a Bugs Bunny mask that I loved. Being Bugs Bunny made me feel a little more daring, a little less afraid.

Karen Hiebert:
What was your favorite halloween costume growing up? Would you ever dress up as any of your characters? If so, which one?

I would probably dress up as Ulysses. I think I would make a very fine squirrel.

Amy McCoy:
How do you pronounce the Mercy Watson characters’ names (Poulet, Tomilello, Leapaleoni). Long-standing family disagreement needs to be settled. Thank you. We love you. smile emoticon

I love you back! Let’s see. Poulet=Poo-lay; Tomilello=Tom-E-Lell-O; Leapaleoni=Leap-a-Lee-Own-E.
That, at least, is how I say them.

Joane Luesse:
What question have you never been asked, but always wanted to answer?

Question: In Edward Tulane, why is Bull’s dog named Lucy?
Answer: because I had a dog named Lucy and I wanted to put her in a book and let her live again.

Mija Sipuedo:
As a literacy volunteer, I teach functionally illiterate adults how to read — while I have my favorites, which of your books would YOU choose to introduce an adult to your works? (Btw… I just love you!!! In my next lifetime, I want to be YOU )

Thank you for being a literacy volunteer! And let’s see, I guess I would pick either Because of Winn-Dixie or Edward Tulane. I’m curious, though, about which one YOU would pick.

Leslie Stewart:
Out of all of the characters you’ve introduced to us, your readers, which one do you love most? (Yes, you have to pick one

Oh boy. This is hard. But I would have to say Winn-Dixie. Because everything that has happened to me as a writer has happened because of that dog, because of Winn-Dixie.

Gem Crowell:
What inspired you to write?-Lauren, age 8

Hi Lauren. I’ve always been a huge reader. And when I was in college, I got it in my head that maybe I could write a story. And I went around for a long time thinking about being a writer and not writing. And finally, right before I turned 30, I thought: I am going to sit down and try to write a story. And I’ve been trying ever since.

Hope Lindsay:
Kate, the tidbits of your life that you post are lovely. Any chance of an autobiography or a lyrical chapbook?

An autobiography—oh my goodness. I don’t think so. But I have to say that I love taking the scribbles from my notebook—the wonderings and musings and insights—and posting them here.

Pam Schmidt:
What is the most important message that you would give to a class of fourth graders?

Be kind. To others. And to yourself.

Margaret Peltier:
Will there be another Flora & Ulysses book? – Griffin age 7

Hi Griffin, I don’t think that there will be another Flora and Ulysses book, but somebody asked me for a book of squirrel poetry and I thought that would be a good deal of fun to write.

Lisa Gray:
Does it ever feel stressful to be admired or revered for your work?

Revered? Eek. I try not to think about it. I think instead: how can I tell this story? How can I tell it with the whole of my heart?

Lisa Maag:
Your stories seem to contain your whole heart. What – if any – processes do you go through to allow your heart such freedom?

What a beautiful question. I wish I had a good answer. The only thing I know is that committing to writing has changed me. Telling stories opens my heart, doing the work makes me braver.

Kellie DuBay Gillis:
Was there ever a character that you cut from one book and found that character made his/her way into a subsequent book? If so, which character and which books?

Interesting. No. But I did have a character who was in a short story called The Kentucky Star (never published), and that character found his way into a book of his own—Rob in The Tiger Rising.

Jane Hesslein:
What do you tell kids who want to write but can’t get started?

Sit down. Make a mess. Have fun. Don’t expect it to come out right the first time. It won’t. Let yourself play.

Audra Woods Lucas:
What are two of your favorite movies?????

Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Ordinary People

Crystal Mckeating:
Will you do another porcine wonder book?

I will! I will do another porcine wonder book! Stay tuned.

Nydia Danny Munoz:
Was Edward Tulane ever a human? Maybe a French man (hence, his style of clothing) who was turned into a doll to teach him a lesson, to change? I’m just thinking a little deeper. Pellegrina has something to do with it. “You disappoint me.” Why would she tell him that? How does she know that he doesn’t love? She commissioned his existence. What more does she know???

Wow. That’s a question I’ve never gotten before. And it has certainly never occurred to me. It seems like there could be a whole novel written to answer that question . . . could you write it?

Jennifer Nelson:
I have been reading Because Of Winn Dixie to my students. We are wondering if you read Henry Huggins books by Beverly Cleary as a child, and if so, were you inspired by Ribsy when creating the way Opal found Winn Dixie? Also, I love reading your books aloud to my students and they love them so much! I teach a multiage 3rd and 4th grade class. Recently a former student, now in high school, shared that my reading aloud of Edward Tulane really resonated with her. Your book has inspired her to become a writer!

I read everything Beverly Cleary as a kid. And my mother read Ribsy aloud to my brother and me. And I’m sure that the book influenced Winn-Dixie without me ever consciously thinking of it. Please tell your 3rd and 4th graders hello from me. And that high schooler who loved Edward Tulane, tell her that I hope she becomes a writer.

Molly Rubin:
My students and I loved watching the stream you did from Pittsburgh the other week. We all love Bink and Gollie too and are wondering; about how old are they and why don’t we see their parents (the kids ask, “Do they live on their own?)? Thanks. Love your work.

Oh, I’m so glad that you enjoyed the webcast. And Bink and Gollie are certainly children. But they also seem to be ageless. And that tree (with Bink’s house in the roots and Gollie’s house in the tall branches) seems to be its own enchanted, parent-less land.

Sarah Britt:
Will there ever be a book about Bryce from The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane?

I think that there could be a novel about Bryce. That idea appeals to me a great deal.

Jasmine Stevens:
Can you please write a sequel to The tale of Desperaux? It it s my all time favorite book.

Thank you for loving Desperaux. I don’t think that there will be a sequel. But I have learned that anything is possible. So . . . never say never.

Katie Mapes:
What I really want to ask is, “Will you visit my classroom, please?!”
…and bring Mr. Schu will you.

“Do you REALLY understand the impact your stories have on people…how children connect to your stories…how they beg for more when being read your stories aloud?” You are truly a blessing…

Isn’t Mr. Schu the best? He inspires me every day.
And thank you. For telling me that kids connect to my stories. It means the world to me.

Julianna McDowell:
When are you coming back to Seattle? Do you ever do author skype visits?

I don’t know when I am visiting Seattle again. But boy, I love it there. Hello, Seattle. And I have done some skype visits. And there might be more in the future.

Marjie Podzielinski:
I am reading Winn Dixie to two classes one third and one fourth I wonder if you regret using the word retarded and if you were to re write the passage today would you choose another word instead.

Yes. I regret it. And yes, I definitely would pick a different word. And thank you for reading out loud. It matters. And it changes lives.

Sarah Britt:
Will there be a movie of Edward Tulane? And if so when will it come out?

Yes! It’s in development! But I don’t know a release date.

Coral Kelp:
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Read, read, read, read.
Write, write, write.
But read more than you write.
And don’t give up.
The story never comes out right the first time.

Stephanie Williams:
I would love it if you have a list of books for 9-12 year old recommendations too. We love all your books! We feel so blessed that you share your ability with our family!

I talked about some newer books for 9-12 year olds at the beginning of these questions, but I would like to toss in a few classics, too: Abel’s Island, by William Steig, Wringer by Jerry Spinelli, The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis, The Borrowers by Mary Norton. Anything by Beverly Cleary.

Mayra Negron:
My question is: How long do we wait for your next book? Do I have time to re-read all your books? I presented Tumblebooks to our second grade students last week. I wish you could have heard their joy when they found the stories of Merci Watson.

The next book (Raymie Nightingale) will be published in April of 2016.
Tell those second graders hello from me.

Jennifer Goldstein Preuss:
Kate, I heard your book tour will not be coming out west (Los Angeles) this coming spring! Our students (and parents and teachers) are dying to meet you! Please come to LA! I promise it will the most memorable event!

I hear that I’m not making it out that way on this tour. But I will make it there at some point. I promise.

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