Armchair BEA 2011 - Interview With A Book Blogger

I had the pleasure of interviewing Meg from A Bookish Affair for Armchair BEA. I had a good time perusing her blog and formulating questions and I hope you enjoy reading them!!

Callista: I see you are a new book blogger. In your first post, you ask for advice for new bloggers. As you approach the end of your second month of blogging, do you feel like you've learned anything about starting a book blog? Do you have any advice for those who haven't started one yet?

Meg: I feel like I've picked up a few things along the way. While I'm new to book blogging, I'm not new to blogging. My book blog is a lot more "out in the open" (I started blogging on Xanga, which has more of a community component to it than Blogger or Wordpress) so there has still been a learning curve present. I've learned that I shouldn't be afraid to start conversations with other bloggers, publishers and authors.

Callista:  In your About me page you state that as a child you pulled books off the shelves and surrounded yourself with them. I know a baby like that. Do you think that if young children love to chew on and flip through books more than average, it means they will like books when they are older? Or are there other things to consider?

Meg: In my case, I used to pull all of my books off of my shelves and pretend like I was reading them. I would say if a little kid is not so much interested in chewing books or destroying them but is more interested in pretending to read that they will be more excited about reading in general once they develop that skill.

Callista:  You like to read Historical Fiction. What time periods are your favourite to read about? Why?

Meg: I really enjoy reading fictions about World War I and World War II. I also like reading about royalty (but that isn't really limited to a particular time period). At least with WWI and WWII, I developed an interest through classes I took in school. That time period is so interesting to me since so many of the outcomes from those two wars still affect the international environment today (yes, I was a Poli Sci nerd in college).

Callista: Of the books you've reviewed on your blog so far, which do you recommend the most?

Meg: Probably my favorite book so far that I've blogged about is Juliet by Anne Fortier. That book had everything: gorgeous setting, mystery, intrigue, history and romance.

Callista: Which do you like to use more? Twitter or Facebook and why?

Meg: As far as book blogging purposes go, I really like Twitter. It's a great way to start a conversation. I've gotten to tweet with other book bloggers that I now read, publishers and even some authors, which I'm a little geeked out about to tell the truth.

Callista: You have been using GoodReads longer than you've had a blog. What do you find different between the two when it comes to posting reviews?

Meg: I do much more thorough reviews on my blog than I ever did on GoodReads. I also feel like it's easier to connect with other readers through my blog. I use GoodReads to mostly keep track of what I've read and what I want to read.

Callista: What do you do when you are not reading?

Meg: I live in a city (Washington DC) that I love that always has a lot going on. We have tons of museums and parks to visit. I've lived in this area for most of my life and there is still so many things that I haven't seen. My husband and I have been making a concerted effort to try to get to some of the places that we've never been before. It's been a blast. Exploring is always fun for me!


Thanks for letting me interview you Meg!!

Sand to Stone and Back Again by Nancy Bo Flood - Day Three

I interviewed the photographer, Tony Kuyper.
This is his first ever interview for this book and I'm honoured to be the one to host it.

C - Callista
TK - Tony Kuyper
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About the Book

C: How did you come to be a part of Sand to Stone and Back Again? Who approached you?

TK: The book came about because Nancy and I were neighbors. I was familiar with her writing and we would often discuss our creative efforts.  It was clear in looking at and reading Nancy's books that she had a lot of talent for creating stories from where she happened to be living.  Eventually I suggested that we might be able to do a book together.  She quickly agreed. There were lots of drafts, always drawing from the images I had available at that time.  The book just kept getting better with each draft. Looking back I'm really amazed at the story she put together from these pictures.

C: Who chose which of your photographs would be used?

TK: Nancy and I sat down together to select images that we felt would go with the words.  We suggested these to the publisher (Fulcrum).  The publisher then chose which ones they wanted.  I sent them large versions of each image they requested.  The designer, Ann Douden, then did the design/layout.  Nancy and I were both surprised and pleased by what she did. As a photographer I was expecting a pictures style book, but Ann took it in an entirely different direction.  I never imagined the images being used in this manner, but I certainly like the way it turned out.

C: Is this the only book your photos have been in? Would you like to work with another book in the future if you found a good match?

TK: Yes, this is my first book, but it certainly has me interested in doing another one, and with Nancy if possible.  I have lots of new pictures since Sand to Stone was published, and they're quite different in many ways from the ones in that book.  I've spoken with Nancy about maybe trying something in electronic format in the future.  That seems to be the way things are heading.

About the Photographer

C: How long have you been a photographer? Do you only photograph the Colorado Plateau?

TK: My photography started soon after I moved to Arizona in 1983.  Coming from Iowa I was in absolute awe of all there was to see out here.  Photography was a way of expressing my love for this new and wonderful place.  While my photography has changed over the years, it has always largely been concentrated in the high desert regions of the Colorado Plateau.  Sandstone truly is my passion with the camera.  It's endlessly beautiful to me and, even though I've been here for over 25 years now, I still see new places every year and find new and wonderful things to photograph.  I've tried photographing mountains, and coastlines, and trees, and such, but I always come back to the desert.

C: Do most of your sales come from those in the Colorado area who want prints of their home or do you get most of your sales from people who don't get to experience the beauty themselves?

TK: I work full-time as a pharmacist, so there isn't a lot of time to market my images other than on my website.  Sales come mainly from there, and I've not noticed any trends with regard to location of the buyers.  Mostly buyers have visited this region and have an affinity for the desert  that they can maybe see in the images.

C: Your website has tutorials on it. Could you please explain who might take interest in them and what they are for?

TK: One important aspect of photography for me is the ability to develop a personal style not only through the compositions I photograph, but also in how I develop the image after it is captured.  Photography is undergoing a big revolution right now with the improvement in digital capture technology and the accessibility of digital imaging software, like Photoshop.  The tutorials are my way of sharing my image processing techniques with a wider audience, mostly photographers looking for new techniques to develop their own style.

C: Are you a reader? What sorts of books do you read in your spare time?

TK: I used to read a lot more before the Internet came along and got me hooked on reading lots of short articles and human interest stories.  Most recently I finished reading the Harry Potter series . . . and loved it.  Stories of people finding who they are and than being able to share their special talents with others are probably my favorite type of story.  That's what life is about, and there are an infinite number of ways to tell that story.

C: Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?

TK: Probably the most important thing is to take pictures of things that you personally like.  Doing so makes it very easy to be out taking pictures, and simply being there somehow allows the light to find you.  Most of my images are unplanned, but the light just happens to be there when I make the effort to show up.  It feels almost magical how images seem to appear out of nowhere.  That's a really special feeling.
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Other Blogs Participating in this Tour:
SMS Book Reviews, Never Jam Today, SmallWorld Reads, Our Big Earth Media Co., Whispers of Dawn, Cafe of Dreams, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, Dolce Bellezza, KidzBookBuzz.com

Buy Sand to Stone and Back Again from Amazon.com and support KidsBookBuzz!

Sand to Stone and Back Again by Nancy Bo Flood - Day Two

*This is post 995, check back in 5 more posts for some 1000th post giveaways!

Today I share with you an interview I did with the author Nancy Bo Flood. (Pictured at right)


NBF - Nancy Bo Flood
C - Callista
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About the Book

C: What made you want to create this book? Were you filling a need or writing about what you like or something else perhaps?

NBF: I wrote the book because I find the desert incredibly beautiful and wondrous in its stark, rugged landscape. I hoped to bring the beauty and wonder of the geology of the desert to young readers.

C: Did you consult with other people or even experts while you wrote this book? If so, Who?

NBF: All the information in Sand to Stone is accurate. I consulted with geologists and anthropologists. Besides talking with them and also asking them to review the text, I read many books about desert geology, sandstone, the animals, plants and people that live and thrive in the high desert climate. I even read books about volcanoes because we have many "sleeping" volcanoes in this area of the desert.

C: What's your favourite part of the book?

NBF: My favorite part - "You began as one tiny cell, as small as a grain of sand. From one cell, you became two, then four. Now you are made of million of connected cells. From one tiny cell, you became a person. From one grain of sand, I became a mountain." I do love that comparison!

C: What one thing do you hope readers will take away from Sand to Stone and Back Again?

NBF: Everything in our world continues to change. Change is often a cycle of building, crumbling and rebuilding. This is true for rocks as well as people.

C: How long was it between when you first started writing this book and when you were first published?

NBF: I began writing this book five years ago after several years of hiking and camping in the desert. I love being in a steep-sided canyon with only ravens and sage brush. Such silence! Perhaps a mountain lion is watching me and following my tracks. That has happened.

About the Author


C: What kinds of books do you read in your spare time?

NBF: I read all sorts of books. I especially like poetry for children that describes nature or is funny. I like historical fiction as well as nonfiction.

C: Have you thought about your next book yet?

NBF: My new projects include an alphabet books about rocks, a silly but true book about fungi (without mushrooms our world would not survive!), and a novel about a Navajo girl whose sisters joins the army and goes to fight in Iraq. My newest and first novel just came out - Warriors in the Crossfire - a story about boys surviving the invasion of their island, Saipan, in the western Pacific during World War II.
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Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions Nancy. I can't wait to see your rock alphabet book. I love rocks!

You can also find some teacher/student activities that go with the book at Simple Saturday (scroll down) but they will also be available at Nancy Bo Flood's website by the end of the week.

Visit Nancy Bo Flood.

Visit the other bloggers in this book tour:
SMS Book Reviews, Never Jam Today, SmallWorld Reads, Our Big Earth Media Co., Whispers of Dawn, Cafe of Dreams, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, Dolce Bellezza, KidzBookBuzz.com

Buy Sand to Stone and Back Again from Amazon.com and support KidsBookBuzz!

Crocodaddy by Kim Norman (Day Two of Three)

Today I'm going to share an interview I (C) did with the author, Kim Norman (KN). After that is some basic author info for you and some links. Kim is pictured at left.

C: Did you ever write books as a child?

KN: I remember I did once. I don't remember how old I was. Couldn't have been more than 1st or 2nd grade. I made this little book out of folded sheets of paper and wrote a story. Told my brother I'd written a book. He was older, maybe 10 or so, and he told me that a book had to be MUCH longer than that. I realized he was right, and never tried it again during my childhood. Too bad I let myself be so easily discouraged. I might have become a prodigy!

I did do other forms of writing, though, and it's clear if you read my report cards that my teachers were always impressed with my writing. So I'm not sure how I ended up a graphic artist, because they never really commented on my brilliant artistic ability. Oh well, if I'd gone into a writing profession, say journalism, I might well have burned out early and might never have discovered my love of children's books, which I rediscovered when I became a mother.

C: When did you come up with the idea for Crocodaddy? Did it just come to you or did it require lots of brainstorming?

KN: The name was used for a pretend game in our backyard pool. I'm not even sure who coined the name, me, my husband or one of my kids. Probably me, but I'm just not sure. It definitely took a while, thinking about the name during my morning walks, for any sort of story to evolve. And it took even longer for the refrain ("Crocodaddy, Crocodaddy...") to emerge. I always try to keep my picture book revisions in a single notebook until I'm ready to type them up. I don't always manage that because I lose notebooks around the house and end up writing in more than one book. But somehow I managed to keep all the drafts of Crocodaddy in one notebook, which I'm glad about, because it allowed me to look back and see the evolution of the story. I had always thought I remembered finding the refrain first. But when I looked through the notebook, I realized I'd written a couple of earlier versions, sans refrain. One version was strong in terms of rhyme and language, but my critique group thought it might be too scary for toddlers. It was after THAT, during a walk, that the bouncy refrain came to me. Somehow the refrain lightened the mood of the piece, and then, of course, David Walker's delightful illustrations turned it to pure delight.

C: Why did you choose a crocodile instead of another animal to represent the daddy?

KN: Oh that was definitely because of the sound of the word. I love wordplay. The "D" sound in crocodile just merged so nicely with the opening consonant of "daddy." Put them together, and you've got the perfect, kid-friendly water creature!

C: Did you/do you have a good relationship with your dad?

KN: Oh yes, I adored my father. He was definitely a Crocodaddy at heart, although we hadn't invented the word when I was a child. There was nothing more fun to my siblings and me than roughhousing with my dad with him in a pool or -- better yet -- in Kezar Lake in Maine, where we often spent our vacations. He was a big man, about 6 foot 4, so the most precarious fun of all was sitting on his shoulders as he pretended to stagger around in the water.

C: I've always heard you should write what you know. Why did you choose to make the child a boy in the story instead of a girl?

KN: Yes, that was definitely a case of writing what I know. I have two sons, no daughters, so the yellow Labrador retriever and I are the only girls in the household!

C: What are your plans for the future?

KN: Simply more and more and more books! I have resolved that I WILL finish writing that novel I've dabbled at for too long. Picture books are easier for me, because they're so compact. When I'm writing a novel, it feels a bit like wandering around in a strange land without a map. Also, I have an "evil inner editor" who tends to natter more loudly when I'm writing longer works. But I am resolved to squelch her and finish that novel!

C: I just want to add a big thanks to Kim Norman for letting me ask her some questions.

Bio:
Author Kim Norman’s first picture book, JACK OF ALL TAILS, was released by Dutton, a Penguin imprint, in 2007. CROCODADDY, (Sterling, a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble), makes its grand debut in May. She is looking forward to the release of two titles in 2010: I KNOW A WEE PIGGY WHO WALLOWED IN BROWN, illustrated by Henry Cole, (Dutton); and TEN ON THE SLED, (Sterling.)

Kim is active in community theater and her church’s music program. (She loves pretending she’s a pop star singing into a mic for the praise & worship service.) She lives in Virginia with her husband, (the REAL Crocodaddy), two sons, a dog and a cat.

You can Buy the Book or visit Kim Norman's homepage. Come back tomorrow for a giveaway!

A Christian Worldview of Fiction, A Mom Speaks, A Patchwork of Books, All About Children’s Books, Becky’s Book Reviews, Booking Mama,Cafe of Dreams, Dolce Bellezza, Elizabeth O. Dulemba, Fireside Musings, KidzBookBuzz.com, Looking Glass Reviews, Maw Books Blog, Never Jam Today, Olive Tree, Our Big Earth, Reading is My Superpower, SMS Book Reviews, The 160 Acrewoods, Through a Child’s Eyes

DAY 2: Interview with Mary Jo Rapini & Janine Sherman

Day Two - Interview

I interviewed the authors of Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever. Check out the answers below and then come back tomorrow for a Guest Post!

First a little bit about our authors:

Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC is an intimacy and sex counselor and a certified anger management therapist. She's been featured on TLC's new series, Big Medicine and is a contributing expert for Seventeen magazine (referenced twice in their 9/08 issue) She was quoted in an article about body image in First magazine (7/21/08) and is a frequent expert for relationship articles in the Houston Chronicle. A mom with two daughters, her passion is helping all girls become strong women. She is also host of The Mary Jo Show on a local cable access channel and is also the author of Is God Pink? Dying to Heal.

Janine Sherman, MSN WHNP-BC is an OB/GYN nurse practitioner. Both her patients and her two daughters come to her for answers to their biggest questions about health and sexuality. She is a popular presenter on mother-daughter isssues. Sherman is quoted in Girls' Life magazine (Aug/Sep 2008) in "Taking Chances", a GL Special Report.




SMS (SMS Book Reviews): It says Start Talking is part of the Talk at the Table series? What is that about?

MJR (Mary Jo Rapini) :The talk at the table concept came from the fact that Janine and I are both Italian. When we discussed having girls and mom's get together and talk we thought of our Italian heritage. Most conversations are done at the kitchen table over a biscotti and hot milk or espresso. It was a way to bond and get things out in the open. After we ate, laughed and shared our thoughts we felt more connected and supported. That is the feeling of the book.

JS (Janine Sherman): This refers to sitting down and talking comfortably. It is a metaphor and your table can be anywhere a ride in the car, shopping together etc.

SMS: What spurred you to create a book about girls and moms communicating about serious issues?

MJR:I had a TV show on Cable that dealt with high risk girls. The shows intention was to have girls discuss issues like sex, bullying, rape, pregnancy, school pressure, etc...As the show progressed I begin to hear from the mom's asking for guidance in addressing these issues. I met Janine at a party and she was seeing some of the same issues in her practice. From there we became good friends and the book concept was born.

JS: In my private practice, I see a large number of young girls having very little knowledge about their body and making poor sexual choices due to this lack of knowledge.

SMS: This book seems to be created for both moms and daughters, what are some ways they can go about sharing the book?

MJR: One of the ways I think it works the best is if mom's and daughter's schedule time to talk and discuss the book. Both parties read chapter one and then schedule in time to discuss it. What did they feel about it? Do they know friends or celebrities that are dealing with these issues? How do they personally feel about these issues. This helps take the embarrassment out because it is almost like having a "mini book club". Yet...if there is something one of you are worried about it is an opportunity to bring it up.

JS: When daughters bodies are beginning to change it is a good time to get the book and start explaining the changes that are As she get a bit older, it is great to read it together to help spur conversations about difficult topics.

SMS:Why do you think moms and daughters have such a hard time having serious conversations with each other?

MJR: I think daughters many times sense that mom is embarrassed. In a manner to help relieve mom's embarrassment the daughter tells her "I know all of that stuff". Many times mom's aren't involved in the day to day events of their daughters so to begin with sex seems to intense. Much better for mom's to bring up news events first and build a relationship and then the talk can grow into more intimate discussions. Mom's feel out of touch a lot of times with sexuality and what their kids are doing. This should never be an excuse for not teaching your daughters about sex. This book could be read by mom's first so they are educated and then discussed with their daughters.

JS: For generations mothers and daughters have found it extremely difficult to talk about sex an it can set up a pattern of discomfort. As a mom if you become more comfortable with the topic, your daughter will sense that and be more open

SMS: Can you give us a few examples of some beliefs some girls have had that weren't true, about their body, sex or other health matters?

MJR: Many girls think such things as you cannot get pregnant when you have your period...not true, or they believe if you give oral sex you cannot get a STD...not true. They also believe if a boy is possessive and wants you with them all the time it's because they love you so much....PLEASE...NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

JS: One of the most common myths that I hear is that you can't get pregnant the first time you have sex and they have limited knowledge about ovulation and what actually happens during the menstrual cycle. Another common myth is that sex is defined by an act that can actually make you pregnant, every other intimate activity is not sex. Young women can have casual sexual relationships and not feel some sort of attachment to their partner. Their brain is to immature in an adolescent to really understand the psychological ramifications of a sexual relationship

SMS: How much should I tell my daughter about my own sexual life? What's important? What's off limits?

MJR: You should only relay what happened to you with your daughter if you think it is going to help her. If you are telling her to get it off your chest, much wiser to get a friend of your own. Your daughter is not your friend. She is your child to raise and your job in raising her is to guide her so she can be the best possible person she is destined to be. This is done by engaging with her and making her very aware that you will always be there to love and support her because no one will ever love her as much as you do!!!

JS: Remember you are mentoring your daughter so you should try to set a good example. This means that you can say that we all will make the wrong choice at some point but you do not need to give details. Especially if you were very promiscuous do not share details.

SMS: What is the most important thing you can tell girls and their moms?

MJR: Daughter's don't want mom's to be there best friends. They want their mom's to be mom's. They want their mom's to believe in them and to guide them with their concerns and issues. Daughters don't want to live Mom's life and they don't want their mom's to live their life's. They need a mom who will mentor by being a strong, capable woman who is passionate about her own life and wants her daughter to explore her own interests and passions. Daughter's need to know their is nothing they cannot tell their mom.

JS: Having an open relationship about sex and their body will NOT make them more likely to become sexually active at an earlier age, in fact it is just the opposite. Let this time in your daughters life be time that brings your relationship to a new and better level.

SMS: Care to share any details about the upcoming books in the Talk at the Table Series?

MJR: Our next book is going to be about menopause and how to make it the most exciting and best understood time of a woman's life.

JS: Our next book is about the peri-menopause-menopause period in a women's life. The goal of this book is to help women understand the changes that their bodies are going through and embrace this new phase life.

Links
http://www.maryjorapini.com/
http://maryjo.mymethodistblog.com/
http://bayoupublishing.com/
http://www.startalkingbook.com/