Creative Spaces: Special Birthday Edition!

When I launched the Creative Spaces interview series back in the spring, I got this crazy idea to feature interviews during my birthday week with authors who were personal childhood favorites and also played crucial roles in inspiring me to write children’s books myself. I say the idea was crazy because these authors are among the legends of the children’s literature world and frankly, I didn’t think I would get replies to my interview requests. So you can imagine my surprise and utter elation when their names popped up in my inbox agreeing to be interviewed. And guess what? It’s my birthday week!

It is my honor and pleasure to share Creative Spaces interviews with you this week featuring two writers who have been personal inspirations to me (and I suspect will have been for many of you too). Their words took root in my heart as a child when I first read their stories and befriended their characters, and they have both continued to inspire me throughout my adulthood as well. Between them they have won two Newbery Awards and three Newbery Honors and have published over 80 titles. (Any guesses who they might be? No spoilers to those of you out there who already know.)

I’ll be posting the interviews tomorrow and Wednesday, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. And because my birthday is on Saturday and I’m feeling festive, I’m also giving away the latest book published by each of the authors. (I’ll announce the books with the interviews, to keep you in suspense of who they are!) To enter yourself to win, comment on the interview of the author whose book you’d like to win. (Feel free to enter to win both books by commenting on both interviews.)

So now I’m curious, who were your favorite authors growing up? Are there any writers who you loved to read as a child who continue to inspire you as an adult?
  

4 Responses to “Creative Spaces: Special Birthday Edition!”

  1. Linda Lodding

    It's YOUR birthday week? But the gifts are for us!! What a wonderful and special way to celebrate your birthday and how generous of your "idols" to positively respond to your query. Then again, children's writers are a generous lot. I can't wait to see who you have lined up this week. (And will you be giving away cake as well?). Happy, happy day (week), Jenn.

  2. Jenn (From the Mixed-Up Files)

    Thank you so much, Linda! This has been a lot of fun for me to do. And I wish I could have cake for everyone! I can give away the virtual version, but I'm afraid that lacks in the taste department. 🙂

  4. Alex Brown

    Is it too late to get in on this? Without a doubt, the most influential writer of my childhood was Madeleine L'Engle, whose "A Wrinkle In Time" altered everything for me: my perception of the world, families, fiction, and most of all, made me dare to dream that maybe, just maybe, I too could try to be a "real" writer (I was all of 8 years old). Every once in a while, I'll announce, "Speaking of way, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract," and though my kids roll their eyes, it sends a thrill through me as new as the first time I read it.