interview by Ricki ThompsonRICKI: Kekla, thanks so much for joining me and your other fans (old and new) on Bookology! Your novels have been described as “well-paced,” “deeply-layered,” and “elegantly crafted.” I especially admire the uncomfortable issues you confront and the risks you take in your stories. You’ve authored a number of engaging books, but today let’s talk about your companion YA historical novels, The Rock and the River and Fire in the Streets, and the research involved in writing them.… more
When Avi published his 1950s’ era novel, Catch You Later, Traitor, he dedicated the book to Gary D. Schmidt, fellow author, fellow reader, fellow connoisseur of noir detective novels and history. The Bookologist is privileged to listen in on this conversation between two authors who are so greatly admired for the depth and texture within their books.… more
The Shadow Hero written by Gene Luen Yang illustrated by Sonny Liew First Second, 2014
Growing up in Malaysia and Singapore, what were the popular comic books?
Well in terms of what you’d see at the newsstands , there was Old Master Q or Lao Fu Zhi from Hong Kong. In schools, there’d always be someone reading Tin Tin, Asterix or Archie.… more
The Shadow Hero written by Gene Luen Yang illustrated by Sonny Liew First Second, 2014
What qualifies a comics character as a superhero?
You’ve asked a question that lies at the very heart of geekdom. I don’t know if there’s a solid answer. Most superheroes have superhuman abilities, but not all. Most superheroes wear colorful costumes, but not all. … more
How did you learn about paleoartists?
While I was working on my book Lucy Long Ago, part of that research revealed the work of a paleoartist who reconstructed living creatures from paleo times based on fossil evidence, including the hominid, Lucy.
How did you decide which paleoartists to contact?
I researched the world’s top paleoartists — as defined by the paleontologists and paleoartists themselves.… more
Bookologist’s note: Last month we featured Catherine, Called Birdy and an interview with the author, Karen Cushman. In that interview, nonfiction writer Claire Rudolf Murphy asked Cushman about her research and incorporation of historical fact into her fiction. Continuing that exploration, this month Bookology visits with novelist Ellen Oh. King, the final volume of her Prophecy trilogy, was released in March (volumes 1 and 2 are Prophecy, Harper Teen 2013 and Warrior, Harper Teen 2014). A… more
Lowriders in Space written by Cathy Camper illustrated by Raul the Third Chronicle Books, 2014
When did you first become aware of (or involved in) lowrider culture?
Probably in the early 1980’s, when I visited a friend of mine who lived in the Mission District of San Francisco. There were a lot of lowriders in the neighborhood, and since we were young women at the time, we’d get flirtatious attention from guys showing off their cars when we walked down the street.… more
Lowriders in Space
written by Cathy Camper illustrated by Raul the Third Chronicle Books, 2014
When did you first become aware of (or involved in) lowrider culture?
I feel like I’ve been aware of lowrider culture for my entire life. When I was in high school I would draw the type of imagery you might see used as décor on a lowrider.… more
interview by Claire Rudolf Murphy
Congratulations, Karen. Your first novel and Newbery Honor book Catherine Called Birdy is 20 years old and still going strong. The story still resonates with teen readers, especially girls, and is remembered fondly and reread by many readers who are grown up now. One such fan is actress Lena Dunham, who announced last fall that she is adapting the novel into a movie with plans to direct it.… more
Leroy Ninker first appeared in Mercy Watson Fights Crime as the criminal. Did you consciously change his appearance for Leroy Ninker Saddles Up to make him a more sympathetic character?
I’m not sure that I consciously changed his appearance. I tried to make him look like the same character. In the original series he was wearing a robber’s mask which gave him a slightly sinister look.… more
I have always been attracted by collage. In the past, I have enjoyed cutting up patterned paper and arranging the pieces in unexpected ways. The computer has made it possible to re-imagine the technique of collage. Now I am able to combine marks that would have been impossible to mix if I was working conventionally.
When you conceived of Cowboy Up! was the poetry format a part of your plan? If not, when did that occur?
I was standing next to the fence watching a young girl riding her horse barrel-racing, speeding around the arena, kicking up dirt and smiling from ear to ear. I thought, I want to do that. I want to be a rodeo-rider…and the first poem came to me, right from that yearning.… more
