Meet Authors of Children Books

Chatroom - Animal Diaries Chat #8
 
18 May 2001

hopkinda = Deborah Hopkinson, author of many (child)books 
Goble + Cannelton2 = Mrs. Goble of Cannelton Elementary (Indiana-USA) with 21 students
Rene = Mr. Rene of primary school De Wadden

The topic is: (No topic set)
rene> hello
rene> here is Holland ;-)
rene> nice to meet you all
[hopkinda] Hello! We are talking about my books. Does anyone know what we call a book like Sweet Clara? Is it adventure? Nonfiction?
[Cannelton2] so, they are folk legenda that may come from the real thing
[Cannelton2] we think it would be cool to see one of those quilts!
[Cannelton2] Hello Mr. Rene!
[Cannelton2] There is supposed to be one more person joining us
[Cannelton2] she is a teacher from northern Indiana
rene> so, what did you discussed so far?
[Cannelton2] What book are you writing now?
[Goble] We asked about why did she write The Freedom Quilt
[hopkinda] Right now I am writing a book called CABIN IN THE SNOW. It is set in Kansas!
[Goble] and it is like folklore
[Cannelton2] We wish to know what the new book is basically about
[hopkinda] This book is part of a series of three ready-for chapter books called PRAIRIE SKIES, about a family that goes to Kansas in 1855.
rene> Mrs. Goble, are you referring to Mrs. Amy who wanted to be here too? (shall I email her to let her know it started?)
[Goble] yes
[Goble] please do that
[Cannelton2] sounds nice
rene> oki doki
[Cannelton2] we like the Dear America books
[Cannelton2] we also like the Little House on the Prairie books
[Cannelton2] so we think we will like this too
[hopkinda] I am writing a Dear America, too. It is called HEAR MY SORROW. But it won't be published until 2004!
[Cannelton2] Nakaa wants to know...How old were you when you started writing books?
[hopkinda] Oh, that sounds like a trick question! I was grown up and had a baby girl already, but when I was about your age I wanted to write, too.
[Cannelton2] some of us want to be writers
[Cannelton2] Wow! We cannot wait until your Dear America book comes out
[Cannelton2] what is it about?
[hopkinda] I think the most important thing about being a writer is to read a lot. Next, practice writing, and also, never be afraid to change things. My DEAR AMERICA is about a girl who works in a factory, or sweatshop, in New York City.
[Cannelton2] Amy wants to know if you have won any awards with your writings?
[hopkinda] Well, yes I have won some awards. Sweet Clara won the International Reading Association Award and A BAND OF ANGELS won the Golden Kite Award.
[Cannelton2] GREAT!
rene> well deserved!
[Cannelton2] We agree that Sweet Clara is a winner!
[Cannelton2] and we will also look for Band of Angels
[hopkinda] I have another book coming out next year you might like. It is called BILLY and the REBEL and it's about the CIVIL WAR.
[Cannelton2] They all want to know...do you have any girls?
[Cannelton2] so is Billy from the north or from the south?
[Cannelton2] we are reading about the war in a book called Turn Homeward Hannallee
[hopkinda] I have one daughter named Rebekah who is 17 and a son named Dimitri who is almost 15. Dimitri was adopted from Russia when he was 6. Now he collects antiques and raises and sells birds.
[Cannelton2] wow!
[Cannelton2] Shy Leah wants to know what kind of birds
[hopkinda] We have about 90 pets. When I go visit schools sometimes Dimitri comes with me and more people want his autograph than mine! We have ducks, chickens, pigeons, finches, parakeets, doves, etc.
[Goble] Whitney wants to know, have you ever written any other Dear America books?
[hopkinda] No, this will be my first DEAR AMERICA.
rene> wow, that many pets??? ... do you live on a farm?
[Goble] Does he have help taking care of them?
[hopkinda] We have a half acre. But Dimitri has an incubator and a little building he can use. He does it all by himself.
[Cannelton2] Shy also wants to know, do you like your job?
[hopkinda] I have a job at Whitman College writing grants and working on the  computer. I like writing books better, though!
[Cannelton2] Amy wants to know...how many books have you written?
[hopkinda] I have written 6 picture books and have 12 more coming out.
rene> We want to know... in which languages are your books translated... do you know if they are also available in Dutch?
[hopkinda] I don't think any of my books have been translated.
[Goble] Jessica wants to know, have you ever met any other children's book authors?
[Goble] and who is your favorite author?
rene> wow, cannelton students really have good questions!
[hopkinda] Yes! I know Jane Kurtz and Debbie Wiles. Debbie has a new book called LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER that you might like. It has chickens in it!
[hopkinda] One of my favorite authors is Jack Gantos. Don't you love JOEY PIGZA?
[Cannelton2] Nolan wants to know, what is your favorite of the books you have written?
[Cannelton2] We have chatted with Jane Kurtz twice now
rene> we want to know... since our first language is Dutch and students learn english in grade 5 and 6... which book of yours do you recommend for my students of grade 6 (they need to read in english,,, so an easy book for a start)
[hopkinda] I think I like FANNIE IN THE KITCHEN. But I just saw the art for UNDER THE QUILT OF NIGHT which is coming out in January and it is AMAZING!
[Cannelton2] We think that none of us have ever read Joey Pigza
[Cannelton2] we will look for that one too!
[hopkinda] You MUST read JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY. About Dutch, well you could try MARIA's COMET. BILLY AND THE REBEL, which comes out next year, is a ready to read book and that should be easy to read.
rene> great,,,, we will buy it for our class library then
[hopkinda] I like to research and write about amazing people in the past who did fascinating things, like Ella Sheppard or Maria Mitchell.
rene> we want to know.... who were Ella and Maria ?
[hopkinda] Maria is the heroine of Maria's Comet and America's first woman astronomer. Ella is in A BAND OF ANGELS. She helped save her school which became a university.
rene> and is Maria' Comet a book based on Maria Mitchell?
[hopkinda] Yes, MARIA's COMET is about MARIA MITCHELL. Her name is pronounced like "Mariah."
rene> sounds interesting books to us... did cannelton read mariah' s comet?
[Cannelton2] no, we have not
[Cannelton2] we are going to look for more of Ms. Hopkinson's books!
rene> discovered your Maria a comet in the book?
rene> and was it a treatening vcomet for earth?
[Cannelton2] Jaci wants to know what inspired you to become an author
rene> (we have some kids here who are interested in comets and space and such)
[Cannelton2] and what inspires you to write the books you write
[hopkinda] Maria discovered a comet in 1847, it was not threatening, she won a gold medal for it.
[hopkinda] When I was a girl there were not many books about girls in history, so that is how I got started.
[Cannelton2] Shane wants to know, have your own kids read your books, and do they have any favorites?
[hopkinda] Well, let's see. Rebekah likes A BAND OF ANGELS. I think Dimitri likes my new book that is coming out next spring called PIONEER SUMMER. It is an easy chapter book that goes with the one I am writing now, CABIN IN THE SNOW.
[Cannelton2] Calah wants to know if Dimitri names his pets? What names does he use?
rene> do you make the pictures/drawings yourself for your books or do you co operate with a favorite illustrator of yours?
[hopkinda] Dimitri doesn't name all of them but he has a cockatiel named Trouble!
[hopkinda] No, I don't make any of the pictures!
[Cannelton2] Calah wants to know why the cockatiel is called Trouble
[hopkinda] The publisher chooses the artist. The cockatiel is A LOT of trouble!
rene> if you should give students advice,... which three main advices would you give to them to become famous writers too???
[Cannelton2] ;-)
[Cannelton2] is Trouble loud?
[Cannelton2] yes, we think we want to know more about how to be a good writer
[hopkinda] Trouble is loud. Well, I don't think being famous is very important. But it is important to think about your life and what you want to do with it, and to write from your heart.
[Cannelton2] yes, thanks!
rene> a question from a student..... what would be better.... to write with a pencil or to type your story with a computer?
[Cannelton2] We wish to thank you for your chat!
[hopkinda] Each writer has his or her own way. That is the amazing thing. So you should write the way that suits you best. Thank you all for your great questions!
rene> thank you for your kindness to be here online with us
[Cannelton2] We have enjoyed it very much!
rene> we appreciate this very much
[Cannelton2] We will publish this chat, right Mr. Rene?
[hopkinda] Let's do it again sometime next year!
[Cannelton2] On our Animal Diaries site
rene> one last question from here... have you been in The Netherlands?
[Cannelton2] Yes, and we will have more of your books and we will know more about them.
rene> yes Cannelton we will ;-)
[hopkinda] Yes! I went to The Netherlands many years ago. And I love tulips. My husband is an artist and paints tulips.
rene> GREAT !
rene> well, thanks again and bye... hopefully till a next time
[Goble] Good bye Ms. Hopkinson!
[Goble] Thank you so much!
rene> Mrs. Goble... did you saved the first lines for me (before we entered the chatroom?)
rene> bye
[Goble] yes
[hopkinda] Well, I need to go back to work, too. Thank you all very much. Keep reading! Bye!
[Goble] I hope you saved the rest, because I lost a few lines
[Goble] Thank you! (twenty-one 3rd graders say)
rene> Good luck with your new books!
rene> bye
[Goble] I will send you a photo!
[Goble] of our class
[Goble] on email tonight
[Goble] ;-)
>> hopkinda has left  !

END OF ANIMAL DIARIES CHAT #8