11 Comments
User's avatar
Stan Yan's avatar

Oh! Thanks so much for highlighting my upcoming book, Vicki!

Expand full comment
Vicky Fang's avatar

I'm so looking forward to it!

Expand full comment
Laura Roettiger's avatar

This is such a fun set of questions! I won't answer them all because it's late and I should go to bed, but I wish I had written Casey Robinson's "Small Things Mended" illustrated by Nancy Whitesides because it's lovely and feels like a warm hug. I have read it several times and it doesn't get old. There are so many others I love and feel this way about, but that one was on my mind today.

I am moving in a few weeks so I'm going to have to find a new writing space and routine, but in this house it's been really nice writing in my office with Charlie under my desk and having the blinds up on the only window so I get some daylight but not a lot to look at so very few distractions. If I am writing in the morning, I'm drinking coffee and not snacking but later in the day there can be snacks of all kinds - homemade trail mix has been a favorite.

Best question at a school visit was when I was asked if I had done the experiment in Aliana Reaches for the Moon to make sure it worked (she uses the light of the full moon to create the surprise at the end of the book) and I told the students, No. I hadn't tried it. Science is about trying things to see if they work and the important thing is scientists keep trying different things even when they fail. The following day I received an email from the superintendent thanking me for explaining what real scientists do and why it's important to try things even when we might not succeed.

Expand full comment
Vicky Fang's avatar

I am also moving soon! Here's to finding our new writing routines. And how sweet of the superintendent to reach out to you! Well done on making an impact. ❤️

Expand full comment
Laura Roettiger's avatar

Thanks, Vicky. It's funny because when I was querying Aliana I had agent feedback that they liked the story but didn't understand how the science would work. My own experience with a daughter who was forever doing science experiments that I didn't understand or think would work when she said she wanted to try something and she would always figure out a way to make it work. Spoiler alert, she's a mechanical engineer now.

Good luck with your move and finding a great writing routine.

Expand full comment
Vicky Fang's avatar

Aw, love it!

Expand full comment
Christine Evans's avatar

Small Things Mended is such a lovely book! And I love how you answered that question. Happy writing to you and Charlie! ❤️🐾

Expand full comment
Laura Roettiger's avatar

Also, FYI I shared your Substack with my friend Stan Yan when I saw Vicky’s shoutout for his upcoming GN! He’s a great guy.

Expand full comment
Vicky Fang's avatar

Oh yay, thank you, Laura!

Expand full comment
Sarah Allen's avatar

These are such great recs!!! I loved Wrong Way Home, and am so excited for Eugenia Wang too!!

Expand full comment
Christine Evans's avatar

Thank you! It was fun to ask each other questions this week.

Expand full comment