An Interview with NCBLA Exquisite Corpse Adventure Contributor, Author Megan McDonald!Megan contributed Episode 10 to the quirky and fun Exquisite Corpse Adventure. Check it out!
Q-What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?
A-"For nearly a year now, I've been working on the screenplay for the Judy Moody movie coming next year. I'm also finishing up a new Stink book: Stink and the Ultimate Thumb Wrestling Smackdown. Stink's parents encourage him to take up a sport, and he initially decides on thumb wrestling! Hardee-har-har. Judy Moody, Girl Detective is out in August 2010. Judy is in a Nancy Drew mood. There's mystery around every corner. Word of advice: Don't leave home without your S. O. S. lipstick!"
The FINAL Episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Will be Revealed at the National Book Festival on September 25th!
The National Book Festival is an all-day event--free and open to the public--that celebrates the joy of books by enabling book lovers to meet their favorite authors and illustrators in six different pavilions. Each Team Corpse author and illustrator will also be giving an individual presentation in the Children's Pavilion or Teen's Pavilion at different times throughout the day:
Linda Sue Park in the Children's Pavilion at 11:00 AM
Timothy Basil Ering in the Children's Pavilion at 1:15 PM
M. T. Anderson in the Teen's Pavilion at 1:45 PM
James Ransome in the Children's Pavilion at 2:40 PM
Katherine Paterson in the Teen's Pavilion at 4:05 PM
Think children's books and think Judy Moody. Award-winning author Megan McDonald says her character Judy is not unlike herself; both are moody, both have strong voices, and both stick up for themselves. In addition to the Judy Moody series, Megan writes picture books and other middle grade stories.
NCBLA asked Megan the following questions:
Q- What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing an episode for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?
A-"Phew! I would have to say keeping all the previous story threads together-beast and babies, bombs, bridges, birthday cards-Yikes! That's a lot of hot potatoes to keep in the air (to pick up on M. T. Anderson's image). Figuring out how to move the existing story forward, yet contributing something different and unique at the same time. (Yes, I'm one who split up the twins and made them go in two different directions...). But hey, I loved the Telephone Games as a kid..."
Q- What were some of your favorite books when you were in elementary school?
A-"My number one favorite book as a kid was Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh. Also Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Beverly Cleary's Ellen Tebbits, Stuart Little by E. B. White, Grimm's Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm, Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie, and the biography of Virginia Dare."
Q-What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?
Look for Megan's fun books at your library and bookstore.
Visit Megan's website for more information on her books.
The FINAL Episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Will be Revealed at the National Book Festival on September 25th!Join emcee Mary Brigid Barrett and Team Corpse authors and illustrators M. T. Anderson, Timothy Basil Ering, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, and James Ransome for an hour of fun and surprises as they bring you the conclusion to this rollicking, episodic story The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.
Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, will lead her colleagues in a dramatic reader's theatre presentation of Episode 27, the FINAL episode, to conclude this yearlong adventure that began at last year's National Book Festival with Jon Scieszka's opening episode. Be sure to join us in the Children's Pavilion on the National Mall in Washington, D. C. at 10:00 AM sharp to be among the first to learn the fate of Nancy, Joe, and their friends!
The National Book Festival is an all-day event--free and open to the public--that celebrates the joy of books by enabling book lovers to meet their favorite authors and illustrators in six different pavilions. Each Team Corpse author and illustrator will also be giving an individual presentation in the Children's Pavilion or Teen's Pavilion at different times throughout the day:Linda Sue Park in the Children's Pavilion at 11:00 AM
Timothy Basil Ering in the Children's Pavilion at 1:15 PM
M. T. Anderson in the Teen's Pavilion at 1:45 PM
James Ransome in the Children's Pavilion at 2:40 PM
Katherine Paterson in the Teen's Pavilion at 4:05 PM
Other beloved authors for children and teens who will be discussing their work at this year's Book Festival include: Michael Buckley, Suzanne Collins, Margarita Engle, Jules Feiffer, Mem Fox, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Jane Smiley, Jeff Smith, Rebecca Stead, Judith Viorst, and Rosemary Wells!
Read more about this year's book festival on the LOC's 2010 Book Festival website.
SEE YOU THERE!
