Saturday, September 5, 2015

Proust Questionnaire, Kidlit Edition, round 5

Fifty kidlit authors and illustrators answer a Vanity Fair-style Proust Questionnaire (i.e. short to read, long on insight). Same 10 questions for all (plus, for some, a wild card 11th of their choosing.) The series intro explains more and lists the participants.

Here are the next five:

Michelle Knudsen
 

What is the trait you most admire in others?

Compassion.

What is your greatest strength?

Perseverance.

What would your friends say is your greatest strength?

I asked some of them; is that cheating? First responses were creativity and loyalty, which made me really happy. Then a sort of weird brainstorming thing happened, and the “strengths” became things like “smiley,” “lactose intolerant,” and “addicted to dark and stormies.”

How have you experienced bravery you didn’t know you had?

I’ve made some hard choices in my personal life which forced me to face certain fears I wasn’t sure I could. Also, one time there was a terrifying spider skittering horribly around my apartment and I caught it in a cup and put it outside without dying from the fear and revulsion. I’m very proud of that.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I spend money on theater tickets that I can’t really afford. Greatest single extravagance was probably my 40th birthday party. Totally worth it.

What is your most treasured possession?

My signed, limited edition print of one of Michael Whelan’s Gunslinger illustrations, which was the first thing I bought for myself with book advance money and currently hangs above my desk. Or my secondhand IKEA kitchen island, which is super awesome.

What was your big break?

When Candlewick acquired Library Lion and made it one of their lead books of the season.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My friends.

Setting aside the reality of whether or not you can sing, with whom would you like to perform a duet?

Danny Elfman (singing something from Oingo Boingo). Or Gordon Gano.

What is your motto?

“The only cure for grief is action.” (George Henry Lewes)

WILD CARD: Who is your favorite hero of fiction?

Miles Vorkosigan.

Kirby Larson

 
photo credit: Meryl Schenker
 
What is the trait you most admire in others?

Grace under pressure.

What is your greatest strength?

Persistence.

What would your friends say is your greatest strength?

Barbara O’Connor calls me a connector; I think I am good at bringing folks together who need to be together.

How have you experienced bravery you didn’t know you had?

Sitting with my beloved grandmother as she transitioned from this world to the next, letting her go and finding true peace in that beautiful passing.

What is your greatest extravagance?

After books, shoes.

What is your most treasured possession?

Not things: people. My family.

What was your big break?

It was two pronged. When I wrote Hattie Big Sky, Chauni Haslett (then owner of the now gone All for Kids Books and Music) was president of the Children’s Bookseller’s Association. She was asked at BEA about her favorite book, and she mentioned Hattie. Then Karen Cushman graciously gave a lovely blurb and I was off and running.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

In my personal life, raising two great children. In my professional life, hanging in there through a very dark seven year period when I didn’t sell a word.

Setting aside the reality of whether or not you can sing, with whom would you like to perform a duet?

Helen Mirren!

What is your motto?

“A writer is one who writes.” (Something I have to remind myself every day, especially when the junk drawer is in desperate need of organization.)

Tara Lazar

 

What is the trait you most admire in others?

Kindness.

What is your greatest strength?

My memory.

What would your friends say is your greatest strength?

My ability to overcome hardships.

How have you experienced bravery you didn’t know you had?

People say I’m brave because of my attitude toward MS, but I’m not brave, I’m just living my life. Bravery has nothing to do with it.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I may own one too many cute little dresses.

What is your most treasured possession?

My Raggedy Ann doll that I carried everywhere as a young child.

What was your big break?

Having friends believe in me.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My marriage and my two daughters.

Setting aside the reality of whether or not you can sing, with whom would you like to perform a duet?

Stevie Nicks. Or Tom Petty. Can it be a trio?

What is your motto?

“Laughter is the best medicine.”

WILD CARD: If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be?

Kermit the Frog.

Kelly Light



What is the trait you most admire in others?

Humor. I think comedians and cartoonists are cut from the same cloth. It’s usually a cloth that has been stepped on a lot.

What is your greatest strength?

Observation. Being shy has its one reward.

What would your friends say is your greatest strength?

They say I am “scrappy” and real.

How have you experienced bravery you didn’t know you had?

I never traveled alone before fall 2014’s 27-day book tour, never spoke in front of crowds. I faced that head on, terrified the whole time.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I just bought original illustrations from a 1920s Ex-Lax advertisement! They are beautiful and funny—a before and after—ahhh!

What is your most treasured possession?

A 1930s Zenith console radio. It works! Has a green tuning eye and a police and ham radio band!

What was your big break?

In 2012, I mailed a postcard. Thirteen book deals later, I have a career from one drawing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My daughter.

Setting aside the reality of whether or not you can sing, with whom would you like to perform a duet?

I love to sing! I’d have to say with Paul McCartney. On “Mother Nature’s Son” from the White Album.

What is your motto?

“Give me any chance, I’ll take it; read me any rule, I’ll break it…” You can sing the rest!

WILD CARD: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sitting in an old kitchen with an old radio playing music from the 1940s, sipping tea and drawing.

Loren Long

 

What is the trait you most admire in others?

Unselfishness.

What is your greatest strength?

I’m unselfish.

What would your friends say is your greatest strength?

My rugged masculinity.

How have you experienced bravery you didn’t know you had?

I once stood up to a man who was chewing out an old lady in my building and later found out it was the owner, but I don’t care. Nobody chews out an old lady if I can help it.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Dark chocolate-covered almonds.

What is your most treasured possession?

My late father’s stapler.

What was your big break?

My first picture book, I Dream of Trains.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My family.

Setting aside the reality of whether or not you can sing, with whom would you like to perform a duet?

Elton John (if he could keep up with my vocal range).

What is your motto?

“Get busy living or get busy dying.” (The Shawshank Redemption)

WILD CARD: When you die, who or what would you like to come back as?

A dog adopted by Tracy Long. It would be the best life ever. Seriously.

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