Books
About Me
Emma's Story
Author Visits
Classroom Connections
How Do You Illustrate?
Emma Interviews
Contact Me
Links
Homepage
 
Authors in the Classroom
   
What Do Authors Do?
 

Publisher - Clarion Books

“Librarians and teachers introducing the writing process will find this title very useful. Young readers will appreciate the determination, patience and hard work it takes to produce the books they enjoy, and will welcome the journey from the idea to the finished book.”
School Library Journal, starred review

An ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Other non-fiction...
 

The Story:

Where do authors get their ideas?

Do author-illustrators start with the picture or the story?

What do authors do when they get stuck?

How long does it take to write a book?

A sprightly text and colorful illustrations follow two authors-and a talkative dog and cat-through the writing process step by step, from the inspiration of a story to the satisfaction of sharing the book with readers. Eileen Christelow based this instructive picture book on questions children ask during her classroom talks around the country.
 

Where did you get the idea?:

I was asked to help put together a small exhibit of books by local authors in the reading room of our local museum. We soon realized we needed to do more than just show the books. So, in a few days, I put together some panels of cartoon drawings that showed the process authors go through from thinking of the idea for a book, to writing it, to getting it published. The panels were a big hit. Several teachers wanted to use the panels in their classrooms. "This is great book idea!" someone suggested. I had been thinking the same thing.
 

Tidbits:

My cat Otis: My cat, Otis, gave me the idea for having a dog and cat in the book. Otis liked to hang around my studio, batting my pen with his paw as I drew, sleeping on finished drawings and nibbling on scraps of paper. He also liked to chase our dog.

My writer's group: Look in the book for the picture of the writer's group. I am part of a writers group too. Four of us have been meeting at least once a month for almost twelve years. I drew the members of my writer's group in this illustration and added a few others.
(click here to see a photo of my writer's group)

The illustrations:

  1. The drawings are pen and ink.
  2. The color is watercolor.
     
Other Non-Fiction