Alice Hoffman's Nightbird Q&A

Tell us a bit about what led you to decide to write a novel for middle-grade readers. The books I read when I was ten and eleven and twelve were the ones that influenced me most. I wanted to write for that age group because I still love middle readers myself. These are the books that stay with us in a very deep, emotional way. You’ve stated that as a child, you felt that children’s literature speaks down to children, and that fairy tales tell the truth, though often in a disturbing way. What are some of the tales your grandmother told you that have stuck with you the most? My grandmother told me about her life as a child in Russia. As the oldest girl in the family, it was her job to go to the river early in the morning for water. She had to chop ice and carry it home, even though she heard the howling of wolves, and light a fire to melt the ice before anyone else in the family was awake. If that isn't the start of a fairy tale, I don't know what is! Twig, the main character in Nightbird, lives in a town that is rumored to hide a monster. Did your hometown hide any monsters when you were a young girl, whether real or imagined? Oh yes. All hometowns have monsters, and all children are wise enough to look under the bed. I think children can see more clearly than adults. Several of your books have been made into feature films. Do you see this in the future for Nightbird as well? Nightbird is so alive to me, and the characters, especially Twig, are so alive in my imagination, that I would love to see them brought to life in a film, either live or animated. I could "see" the book while I was writing it, and I think it would be great to watch it as a film. Are there any middle-grade or young adult authors who influenced you when writing for a younger crowd? Edward Eager's magic series are still my favorites. I love Lois Lowry's books. And I have been hugely influenced by Ray Bradbury—an author for adults, but best read during the summer you turn twelve. Everyone seems to have a “To Read” stack of books somewhere at home. Can you tell us what’s in your stack? I have so many books in my reading stack! I want to read Lev Grossman's The Magicians series and I want to reread the books I loved as a child, starting with the Mary Poppins series. What’s next for you—and your readers? I have a historical novel coming out in August called The Marriage of Opposites, about the mother of the great painter Camille Pissarro. Rachel grew up in St. Thomas—her family had been forced out of Spain and Portugal and France during the Inquisition—and she was a difficult, interesting woman who I grew to love. Then I hope to write another middle reader! buy books online shopping, fantasy fiction books, online book stores, science fiction books Privacy Policy • Contact Us • www.ingramcontent.com • ipage.ingramcontent.com ©Copyright 2015 Ingram Content Group. All Rights Reserved.