Here’s another in my series of interviews with children’s book bloggers. Today I report on my interview with Barbara Bietz (abbreviated “BB” below), who blogs at Jewish Books for Children. As you will see from the interview, Barbara is a children’s author and has a special place in her heart for Jewish Children’s Books.  The point of these interviews, of course, is to help connect readers of Children’s Books and Reviews to some of the many other excellent children’s literature blogs out there. So, after reading the interview, I encourage you to check out Barbara’s blog, Jewish Books for Children; its focus on Jewish children’s books makes it a unique and important member of the kidlitosphere.  Click here for the previous interview in this series, with Monica Edinger of educating alice.

Q: I understand that you write children’s books.  How and when did you decide to become a children’s author?

BB: I have always enjoyed writing and did quite a bit of academic and technical writing. From the time I was young I would write poems and stories but was afraid to share them with others.  Finally, I took a class on children’s literature with Alexis O’Neill. In the safe environment of a critique group I gradually became brave enough to share my work. Over the years I have met some wonderful writers in classes and workshops. Writing is a passion but it is also a skill that needs to be developed and nurtured.

Q: Tell me about your book Like a Maccabee.

BB: Like a Maccabee is about Ben, a typical 10 year old boy. His soccer team made the league championships but the rival team’s best defender is the school bully who torments Ben on and off the field. No one at home seems to understand and, making matters even worse, he has to share his bedroom—and his family’s attention—with his grandfather, who has recently come to live with them. Facing humiliation at school and being misunderstood by those who love him most, Ben finds an unexpected friend in his grandfather.

I was inspired to write a story that c