
To begin our year of SkinÂny DipÂpin’ for 2020, and in the coldÂest month of the year (brrrrr), we interÂviewed CarÂoÂline B. Cooney, the author of so many beloved books includÂing The Face on the Milk CarÂton, Code Orange, No Such PerÂson, and her most recent picÂture book, I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug! Look for her new book for adult readÂers in May 2020, Before She Was Helen. These books will warm you up! CarÂoÂline lives and writes in South Carolina.
What keeps me up at night: EveryÂthing. I have insomÂnia. WhoÂevÂer wants to send me soluÂtions, I’m lisÂtenÂing. On the othÂer hand, I have a lot more readÂing time than sleepÂing peoÂple do.
I nevÂer thought I would: live in a retireÂment comÂmuÂniÂty, but it is so easy to make friends and find new chalÂlenges and things to do — it’s a cruise ship withÂout the water.
My mom was right about: pretÂty much everyÂthing. She died at 98 and my chilÂdren still talk of the examÂples she set and the pleaÂsure they had in her company.
If I could say one thing to my fifty-years-younger self, it would be: STAY IN SCHOOL! HowÂevÂer, maybe I didn’t finÂish colÂlege, but I did finÂish dozens of books.
I’m curÂrentÂly readÂing: reprints of two wonÂderÂful EngÂlish authors, D.E.Stevenson and GeorÂgette HeyÂer — delightÂful genÂtle mysÂterÂies writÂten decades ago. They’ve all stood the test of time. Start with Stevenson’s Miss Buncle’s Book.
No one knows that I have: perÂfect pitch. It’s an asset no one can see and no one knows you’re using it.
I tell myself every day: to be thankÂful. I usuÂalÂly repeat a few lines from E. E. Cummings:
i thank You God for most this amazÂing day; for the leapÂing greenÂly spirÂits of trees and a blue true dream of sky.
What’s on my nightÂstand: Tom Holland’s Dynasty, the folÂlow up to his outÂstandÂing hisÂtoÂry of Julius CaeÂsar, RubiÂcon.
My heroes are: my parÂents, who because of the DepresÂsion, could not folÂlow dreams, but who could work hard, raise a good famÂiÂly, and live well.
The bravest thing I’ve ever done: The year I packed up my chilÂdren and went to live in LonÂdon because it soundÂed like someÂthing an author would do. We lived on a street where Mary PopÂpins might have dropped in.
GuiltiÂest pleaÂsure: I don’t feel guilty about takÂing joy in life. Some of my pleaÂsures right now are potÂtery, mah jong, and, of course, friends.
The scariÂest book I’ve ever read: I can write scary books, but I don’t genÂerÂalÂly read them. I am hapÂpy to spook othÂers, but I don’t myself want to be on the ceilÂing with anxiety.