Q. How did you become a writer?
I became a writer because I was a reader. I was reading lots of picture books to my daughter when she was little, and I was amazed how much picture books had changed since when I was a kid. The art had changed dramatically, as had subject matter. One picture book I liked was Baseball Saved Us, a Lee and Low book about life in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. That was not a subject that would have been in a picture book when I was child. I was intrigued with the changes and decided to try to write a book myself. The first book I wrote was Night Driving.
2. This is your second basketball book with Lee & Low. Obviously, you are basketball fan and player. Have you always played basketball? What is it about basketball that you love?
I remember clearly the first time I played basketball. I was in the gym at Manz School in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Somebody passed me the ball and I turned and jumped and shot. The ball banged off the board for a miss, but what I remember so clearly is the feeling of being in the air, the feeling of flying. That feeling of leaving the ground was what I wanted to experience.
I love the movement and fluidity of basketball. I love the pushing and shoving underneath and the dance for position. I love listening to the talk on the court and the wide mix of ages and backgrounds that players come from. When you play, what matters is winning to keep the court and everybody is chasing that flow when the game unfolds like in a dream.
3. Around the World takes place in many different countries. How did you choose these locales? What kind of research did you conduct for this project?
I love to travel, so to combine two passions—basketball and travel—was wonderful. I picked countries to highlight the geographical reach of basketball and also tried to represent some of the countries that have sent many international players to the NBA.
Talking to people from various countries to get the locations and language right was a fun part of the research. Playing basketball on different courts in different parts of the world was a thrill. Even when I didn’t know the language where I was playing, the language of basketball would be clear.
4. ATW is told in a comic book style, do you think kids will connect with this story even more because of the art?
A lot of kids I have talked to are excited about the art. I am interested to hear their reactions.
5. Have you had a chance to share the book with children yet? If so, what was their reaction?
I have shown folded and gathered pages and kids have been very excited. I am eager to hear what they have to say.
6. What do you hope that readers will take away from this book?
My job is to write the best book I can. Then I listen to what readers have to say. Readers will decide what they want to take away. I have learned not to predict what this will be, but to be ready to listen and hear what readers have to say. |
