Maw Books

Maw Books – book reviews, book recommendations, book lists, author interviews and more!

Please welcome Kirby Larson for a very special author interview! Kirby Larson is the 2007 Newbery Honor author of Hattie Big Sky.  Her most recent book is a picture book titled Two Bobbies:  A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival coauthored with Mary Nethery.  Her other books include The Magic Kerchief, Second-Grade Pig Pals, and Cody and Quinn Sitting in a Tree.

Cick over to read each book review and then come back for some great Q & A.

Maw Books:  Welcome Kirby!  I’m excited to be hosting you today.  Can you tell us a bit about what inspired you to write Two Bobbies, your most recent publication?

Kirby Larson:  Two things: my own experience in the Gulf Coast, helping with Hurricane Katrina clean-up/rebuilding and the desire to write a book with my good friend, Mary Nethery. When she called to tell me about the Bobbies, we both knew this was the story of inspiration and hope we wanted to tell.

Maw Books:  That’s so awesome that you were able to go down and help.  Do you know how the two Bobbies are doing now?

Kirby Larson:  The Bobbies were adopted by Melinda Golis, who lives in Medford, Oregon. She is one of those exceptional folks who gives and gives and gives. She operates a therapeutic riding program at her ranch for kids and adults with special needs. In fact, I was on an airplane recently with a woman who has MS who rides at Melinda’s Jackelope Ranch! Melinda also opens her heart and home to all animals in need, which is why she has cows, sheep and even a camel. Bobbie Ann (Melinda’s name for Bobbie the dog) rides along with Melinda on trail rides and uses her herding instincts to keep ranch livestock – and Melinda’s Boston Terriers! – in line. Sadly, after two incredible years with Melinda, Bob Cat recently passed away. But he lived a very good life after being rescued and was one of the happiest and most social cats I’ve ever met.

Maw Books:  First off, Melinda is super cool in my book simply for the fact that she owns Boston Bull Terriers, which in my humble opinion is the best breed of dog ever.  Second, it’s sad to here of Bob Cat’s passing. 

What was it like to co-write Two Bobbies with your good friend Mary Nethery?  How does that work?  Do you work in synch or have your differences every once in a while?

Kirby Larson:  It was wonderful to work with Mary! She is so organized and brilliant. As you know, I live near Seattle and Mary lives in Eureka, California. Thank goodness for the internet! Each week, we emailed drafts of the story back and forth. On Friday, at 4, we’d have what we came to call our “wine chats,” where we’d iron out the wrinkles of each draft, as we sipped our beverages of choice. Our goal was to tell this story as truthfully as possible and in as unified a voice as possible. By the time we were finished I don’t think either of us could tell who had written which section. While we did have differences during the process, we were able to find ways to meet in the middle each time.

Maw Books:  Without a doubt, Hattie Big Sky was amazing.  I loved it!  I know you were inspired to write the book after finding out that your great-grandmother homesteaded.  Tell us a bit about the research that goes into writing a historical fiction novel.

Kirby Larson:  I can only tell you about the research I did; I don’t know what the typical process is. Since I knew very little about World War I, the Spanish Influenza epidemic and life in 1918 America, I had a lot to learn. I felt I needed a solid base of information before I could start writing the story. I spent nearly 3 years researching –including reading journals and diaries from the period, newspapers of the time, scholarly journals and other texts, as well as interviews and on-site research – before writing that book.

Maw Books:  What were you doing when you found out that Hattie Big Sky was a Newbery Honor and how did you celebrate?

Kirby Larson:  Since the phone call came at 6:30 in the morning, I was in bed, asleep when I found out about the honor! When the chair of the committee, Jeri Kladder, told me the news, I could not breathe. My poor husband thought he was going to have to dial 911. I still have no idea what I said to Jeri, but I know I burst into tears the minute I hung up. I couldn’t celebrate right away because you’re given strict orders not to tell anyone until after the books are announced at the press conference. One of my favorite parts of the celebration was the Newbery/Caldecott banquet. My mom, dad, husband, son, daughter and son-in-law were all there for that magic event. I get shivery just thinking about it.

Maw Books:  What has been the best thing about doing what you love?  And vice-versa what’s the hardest thing about doing what you love?

Kirby Larson:  The best thing about doing what I love is being able to do what I love! That sounds circular, I know, but it’s true. I remember hearing Karen Cushman speak years ago, talking about finding your passion. I feel so lucky, so fortunate, to be able to spend my days pursuing my passion. The hardest thing was hanging in there all those years when I never made any money, never had any sales. In fact, I wrote Hattie Big Sky at a particularly low point in my writing life, a time when I was certain the universe was telling me to give it up and go to work at Wal-Mart.

Maw Books:  If you could meet any author dead or alive who would it be and what would you ask them?  And what authors have you been “star-struck” to meet in person?

Kirby Larson:  Oh, I am a very greedy person – I’d want to throw a big dinner party (with someone else to cook and clean-up) and invite all the authors I admire! We’d need to rent an enormous banquet hall. I am a fan of so many writers, some of whom haven’t been published yet. Actually, I am a special fan of those who haven’t been published yet, because that’s such a fragile time in one’s writing life. While I’ve yet to pull off this dream dinner party, one thing I have done is write letters to authors whose work has touched me, which has led to some wonderful correspondences and friendships. I think I was most star-struck when I met Jerry Spinelli, who is the loveliest man. I actually curtsied!

Maw Books:  I know that you were an avid reader as a child but didn’t start writing until after you had kids.  What inspired you to start writing seriously?

Kirby Larson:  When my kids were small, I wrote personal essays, short stories and feature articles for the adult market (my first check was for $12!). At the same time, I was reading constantly to them. I’ve told this story many times but I remember the very day I decided to write for children. We had checked Arnold Lobel’s Ming Lo Moves the Mountain out of the library and when I finished reading it to my babies, it was like a light switch went off inside me. I wanted to write books that would touch other people the way that book touched me.

Maw Books:  Yep, I’ve heard that story.  I wanted to ask that question just so I could get that answer. I think it’s great.    Why write for children and young adults?  Is this a market that you intend to always write for?

Kirby Larson:  I love that you asked me this question because it’s one I get asked a lot and I’m finally figuring out a good answer! When reading interviews with authors, I’ve noticed this is a question generally asked of those who write for children and young adults but not of other writers. I’ve never seen anyone ask Anne Tyler why she writes for adults. Or Leif Enger or Lisa See. . . I worry that this question says something about our cultural attitudes towards literature for children and young adults, as if it’s something to graduate from, as a writer.  And, as you and I  (and your blog readers) know, this is a world of literature that is rich, engaging and life-changing!

I write the stories that grab my heart and my imagination. And my main characters happen to be children or young adults. To me, the designation, “children’s and young adult literature” speaks to the age of the characters in the story, not the ages of the intended readers. C.S. Lewis once said something like, “A children’s book that is only enjoyed by children is not a very good children’s book.”

Maw Books:  Excellent!  What books are on your nightstand right now and what’s your all time favorite book?

Kirby Larson:  I just finished Jeanne Birdsall’s new book, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, and though I could see the ending coming from the first few pages, I didn’t care. I love this family and the old-fashioned story-telling and Jeanne’s ability to tap into the genuine worries and joys of her characters. In the same old-fashioned vein, I also read Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Mysterious Benedict Society, which was charming, smart and fun. Because I am going to the Middle East in the spring, I am right now reading a collection of essays written by a young American-Muslim woman who tries to find herself by traveling in Egypt, Syria, Turkey and Jordan.

I hate having to pick just one book – that’s a cruel thing to ask of a bookworm like me! But I will say that, when my kids were growing up, we read and reread Russell Hoban’s How Tom Beat Captain Najork and his Hired Sportsmen, quirkily illustrated by Quentin Blake. That book can brighten the darkest day.

Maw Books:  One of my favorite features on my blog is to ask authors for a favorite recipe, particularly if it shows up in a book they authored.  Off of the top of my head nothing stands out from Hattie Big Sky (I’ll have to go back and look) but I’m sure there was mention of certain foods.  Do you have a recipe that you’d like to share from Hattie Big Sky?  If not, how about one of your family’s favorite recipes?

Kirby Larson:  There are two recipes at the end of the book. One is Hattie’s Lighter-than-Lead biscuits (remember, Hattie wasn’t a very good baker). The other is Perilee’s Wartime Spice Cake, which is delicious. I’ve made it dozens of times. Hattie would never have served this, but a favorite Larson family recipe is Lemon Linguine, which is easy and good hot or cold. Cook 1 lb. linguine, toss with ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, the juice of 2 lemons, the zest of 1 lemon, a bunch of fresh chopped parsley, and a large handful of chopped green onions. Serve with tons of grated parmesan cheese (and salt and pepper to taste). As one of the men I met when I went to Houma, Louisiana, to help rebuild houses after Hurricane Katrina said: “That’s good eatin’!”

Maw Books:  Eeek!  How could I have forgotten about those recipes in the back of Hattie Big Sky?!  I totally remember them now and thought what a nice touch that was to the book.  That linguine sounds like a wonderful, light summer salad.  Yum! 

Can you tell us a bit about what you are currently working on and what we can expect from you in the future?

Kirby Larson:  I’m working on another historical novel, this one with an 11-year-old main character. It was due to my editor at the first of August but I’m finally getting it finished. And, since Mary and I had so much fun writing the Bobbies, we are collaborating on another narrative nonfiction picture book that will be out Fall 2009.

Maw Books:  Awesome, I look forward to both.  Thanks so much for joining us today Kirby!   My best wishes for you!

Kirby Larson:  Thank you. I appreciate your support and kind words about my books. Thanks, too, for your efforts to share your passion for reading through your blog.

Visit Kirby Larson’s website,  The Two Bobbies website, and the Hattie Big Sky website.  Thanks again to Kirby Larson for appearing, courtesy of Provato Marketing, for other stops on the tour please check www.provatoevents.com.

Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!