Kathleen Krull is here!
We’re jumping feet first into the summer with a visit from one of the best story-tellers on our planet!
It’s fun to be nosy about Kathy Krull’s latest activities…especially when she responds to Blog Hop questions. Read on. Add a comment. You just might receive a surprise . And do check out the splendid creators Kathy has blog-tagged at the end. —J.C.]
1. What is the title of your work-in-progress?
KK: It’s not in-progress, but piping hot off the press: What Was the Boston Tea Party
2. Where did the idea come from?
KK: Without being an expert on the Boston Tea Party, I still had a sense that the current Tea Party movement, which began in 2009, a month after President Barack Obama took office, was not always accurate in its depiction of American history. So I wanted to know the real story of the event and present it to young readers.
3. What genre does your book come under?
KK: Nonfiction chapter book, illustrated with line drawings and 16 pages of photos.
4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie?
KK: 150 of Hollywood’s buffest and cutest and youngest–more than a third of the participants that night were under 21.
5. One sentence synopsis for your book?
KK: What happened on the night of December 16, 1773, placed within a context of what led up to it and what resulted–how it led to the birth of a whole new country.
6. Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?
KK: Published by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin.
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
KK: At the same time I was thinking Tea Party thoughts, my editor at Penguin, Jane O’Connor, was starting up this new series — WHAT WAS, a spin-off of WHO WAS. The deadline was tight, a matter of months, during which I was drinking tea from morning till night.
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
KK: Is it conceited to say I hope I’m trying in my way to follow in the footsteps of Jean Fritz?
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
KK: American history is endlessly fascinating, and I love getting the chance to portray it as accurately and meaningfully as possible, fighting the good fight against cluelessness.
10.What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
KK: It’s controversial! Anyone who enters the fray will get sent a free copy of the book.
And now, I am tagging two upstanding children’s book folks: Helen Foster James , co-author of Paper Son: Lee’s Journey to America and several other popular books, and Carlyn Beccia, illustrator for one of my newest, Louisa May’s Battle and other beautiful books.
Sounds like a great ‘cup-o-tea’ for all ages.
Gee! The Amazon reviews have more fireworks than the Fourth of July. Sounds like a great book for kids.
I agree, Jane!
Hi Andrea! Yes, isn’t it incredible? It seems that today’s Tea Party folk are having problems with the real Tea Party story. And they appear suspicious of the Common Core efforts besides.
I don’t blog (is that bad?), so thanks again, Joy, for allowing me to guest blog here. Yes, on Amazon, no sooner does someone come to the book’s defense (like the eloquent Rick Clark), than some anonymous poster starts ranting. I’m serious about sending a free book to anyone here who wants to join in the Amazon debate, though I realize that’s backward–you kind of need the book first….
Keep up the good work Kathleen & bloggers! We need lots of shaking up!!
I think there is more mileage to be gotten from using Facebook, versus blogging, due to its ease-of-use and pyramid networking structure. Then blogging becomes that extra touch of cream cheese icing.
Thank you, Kathy, for guest blogging here! You are a mover and shaker via your writing, and you make it fun besides.
Thank you, Cathy, & Joy–much as I love cream cheese frosting, I can barely think of what to say on Facebook, much less a whole blog–so I am in awe of Those Who Blog.
Can’t wait to read this one to my kids! They love all your books. Beautiful illustrations too….definitely has a Jean Fritz feel.
Wow, thanks, Carlyn. Looking forward to seeing your creative response to getting tagged.