Children's Books, and Other Cool Stuff

Welcome all to my first Author Spotlight feature where you will get a chance to meet a well known author and learn about the writing process.   Interview     1) What were your favorite children books, when you were growing up?   I read practically every Nancy Drew there was, plus Harriet the Spy, The Little White Horse, and I gobbled up all of Phyllis Whitney’s mysteries , A Wrinkle in Time, etc . I could go on, but I won’t. Basically, I read a book a day all during elementary school.Maybe that’s why I love writing for the middle-grade audience.   2) What was the inspiration behind writing your book?   Several things! The magical, mysterious world of butterflies . . . spooky Louisiana swamps, old plantation houses, islands in the South Pacific . . . and a girl who is connected to all those things through her Grammy Claire. I love mysteries; too, as you can tell from my childhood favorite books, and I wanted to try my hand at writing an actual mystery t

 Middle Grade Books 1) “Children of the Lamp (The Akhanaten Adventure) - by P.B Kerr, published by “Orchard books, and imprint of scholastic Inc.   New York 2004.   What if you find out that you are descendants from a long line of Dijon, human-like  beings created from fire.   They are able to grant wishes, and take on different animal forms.   This is exactly what happens to two twelve-year-old twins, John and Phillippa, after they get their wisdom teeth pulled.   The children are sent to London to their Uncle Nimrod's home where their amazing adventure begins. This venture takes the reader on a magic carpet ride through a fantasy Middle Eastern World.   This journey teaches the twins that granting wishes is not only dangerous for themselves, but for people who desire wishes as well. 2) “Peter and Star Catchers”- Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, illustrated by Greg Call.   Published by Disney Hyperion paperbacks for children New York 2004.   How was nev