Meghan McCarthy's 'Daredevil' Spotlights Woman Aviator

Pioneering aviator Betty June Skelton broke air, land, and sea records, and even trained to become the first woman in space. She broke so many barriers that she was nicknamed the "First Lady of Firsts." Award-winning author-illustrator Meghan McCarthy brings Betty's remarkable story to life in the brightly illustrated, information-packed  Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2013).

While some picture book biographies tend to play the illustrations straight and serious, Meghan's nonfiction books are recognizable immediately by her signature, wide-eyed style. In a starred review, Kirkus says the "acrylic cartoon illustrations play up Betty’s spunk and derring-do with McCarthy’s trademark googly eyed expressions." Her delightfully lively style makes her other titles easy to spot: Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2010), Seabiscuit the Wonder Horse (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2008), The Incredible Life of Balto (Knopf, 2011), and Strong Man: The Story of Charles Atlas (Knopf, 2007), to name a few.

Question: You've written about bubble gum, a legendary racehorse, a life-saving dog, among many other topics. What inspired you to choose the life of little-known aviation pioneer Betty Skelton?

Meghan McCarthy: I actually struggled with this topic at first because Betty seemed to have an awe-inspiring life. When I write a biography, I like to include a little struggle—something to give the story a nice arch. But Betty was such a positive person that I couldn’t find any struggle! She put a positive spin on everything! I know it seems odd that I, a writer for children, would be looking for some sad drama, but I kind of was. I couldn’t find any. Even when Betty wasn’t chosen to go to space, she was okay with it. She seemed to enjoy the experience and said she loved working with the astronauts. She’d followed the career of John Glenn her whole life and wrote him letters but said he never wrote back. She just laughed about it. She was such a good-natured lady.

Why is Betty Skelton the person to write about? Because she didn’t care if girls weren’t supposed to fly planes or race cars or jump boats or be advertising executives. She just did what she wanted to do. As a kid I was like that. I played on an all boys baseball team. I distinctly remember running home and telling my dad that I needed a glove and socks and a “cup.” My dad sheepishly explained why I didn’t need one of those! Betty did things bigger and better than I ever could and that’s what I think is so awesome.

Q: Writing picture book biographies for young readers is challenging, because you have to distill a life down to 32 pages. Was it difficult to choose what to include in Daredevil?

MM: I’m so glad you asked this question because I don’t think a lot of people know that authors are limited to certain page counts. Picture books are either 32, 40, or in certain cases 48 pages. I was fortunate enough to get 48 pages for Daredevil. I always have a vision for the overall look of the book, but a lot of times I have to alter it because of the page-count limit.

An example of a spread that I wanted in Daredevil and was able to keep because I had 48 pages to play with was the wordless spread of the young Betty flying solo. Flying solo was a turning point in her life, and it was a powerful one. I didn’t want words or other images to clutter the page. I wish I had more opportunities to spread out my stories and sentence structures. Doing so also makes it easier for kids to digest nonfiction text.


Even with 48 pages, I still had to limit what I could talk about. Betty did SO many things. I had to pick and choose. As with all picture book biographies, they’re snippets of someone’s life. I pulled out small pieces—things I thought kids would relate to and find interesting. The goal with my books is to get kids excited about the subjects they’re reading. I want them to run to the computer after reading one of my books and read more. Lots more. I want them to become the researcher.

Q: What I loved about the book is the positive tone. Betty experienced so many disappointments – especially training with the Mercury 7 astronauts only to be passed over for the ultimate flight. But there is no whiff of bitterness here; you just show a strong woman who moves on to other fascinating adventures. Was she really such a positive force?

MM: Betty was really that positive. I didn’t exaggerate or skirt over anything because I was writing for kids. If you watch the oral video biography with Betty done in the late 1990s you’ll see what I mean. Betty really wasn’t upset about not going to space, which I found a little perplexing. Some of the astronauts, such as John Glenn, were against women going into space and said some pretty sexist things. It seems hard to believe that she couldn’t have been a little upset about the way things were. She may have been somewhat angry, but she didn’t exhibit this anger publicly. From all accounts that I’ve read, everyone said she was really a sweet lady.

Q: Why have you chosen to write and research historical figures over writing fiction?

MM: I started out my career writing fiction. At the time when I decided to write my first nonfiction book—Aliens Are Coming – there weren’t a lot of fun choices for kids in the nonfiction genre. The fiction market, on the other hand, was flooded. I didn’t feel that if I continued writing fiction, I’d be contributing anything substantial to it. I thought that if I applied the same sense of humor and fun found in my fiction books to nonfiction works, I could contribute something new to nonfiction. As I delved into my topics I realized that I wasn’t just educating children, I was educating myself. I was really enjoying the process.

I have discovered that I have the ability to take adult subject matter and make it kid-friendly. If you approached the me as a grade-schooler and told me that I would be writing nonfiction books, I’d never believe it. That me was the space-cadet in the back of class doodling in a note pad. I’m writing books for the kids like I was.

Q: Who or what has been your favorite topic to write about so far?


MM: That’s a popular question kids usually ask when I do school visits.  My answer is that I don’t have a favorite book or topic. I learn something new from each book that I do. I do tell kids that Aliens Are Coming is important to me because it was my first nonfiction book. It is pretty cool that I got to paint so many slimy aliens for a nonfiction title.

My mom doubts that I don’t have a favorite subject. My favorite is always the current book that I’m working on. Right now I’m working on a graphic novel that is somewhat about Thomas Edison. I’m learning so many things about him. Some of the details are really surprising!

Q: What do you hope young readers take away from your books? What do you hope to accomplish as a writer?

MM: I want kids to get excited about history, science, and the world around them. There are so many interesting things to learn. It’s all in how it’s taught.

Q: What will we see next from you?

MM: My next book is called Earmuffs for Everyone! And it’s about the invention of earmuffs. There will be a lot of goofy paintings of people wearing silly contraptions that were considered early versions of earmuffs.

Billie Holiday Inspires Amy Novesky's 'Mister and Lady Day'

While much has been written for adults about the remarkable jazz singer Billie Holiday and her tragic life, telling her story to children is a bit trickier. With a childhood scarred by neglect and violence, and later a career marked by drug abuse and prison time, the singing legend's life is not easily boiled down into a simple storyline. But author Amy Novesky has found a way in.

Mister and Lady Day: Billie Holiday and the Dog Who Loved Her (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2013), vividly illustrated in mixed media by Vanessa Brantley Newton, tells the story of Billie Holiday's love of dogs, especially her loyal hound Mister, a boxer. Opening with images of a white poodle in her coat pocket and bottle-fed Chihuahuas, this story is sure to connect and appeal to young children. And as with Amy's other biographical picture books – about photographer Imogen Cunningham with Imogen: The Mother of Modernism and Three Boys (Cameron + Company, 2012),
artist Frida Kahlo with Me, Frida (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2010), and Georgia O’Keeffe with Georgia in Hawaii: When Georgia O'Keeffe Painted What She Pleased (Harcourt Children's Books, 2012) – it's clear this author has a gift for telling the story of talented 20th century women.

Question: Billie Holiday is legendary and her music speaks to many generations. What made you want to write about "Lady Day"?

Amy Novesky: I've always loved Billie Holiday, and I couldn't believe that there weren't any picture books about her. Like Frida, Georgia, and Imogen, subjects of my other picture books, I'm inspired not just by Billie as an artist, but as a person. When I think of Billie Holiday, I think of her elegance, her signature gardenia flowers framing her lovely face, the unforgettable tone of her voice. She was an extraordinary person, in addition to being an extraordinary singer.

Q: Writing biographies for children is challenging, especially when the material about the subject's childhood is slim. But by framing your story around Billie's love of dogs, you've created an engaging tale that connects immediately with young readers. How did you land on this as your story? Can you talk about your creative process?

AN: When I set out to write a picture book about Billie, I quickly realized why there were no picture books about her: she had a tough life. A father who abandoned her, a mother in survival mode, prostitution, drug addiction and conviction, early death. Tough themes for a kid's book. But I like a good challenge. Just because she had a tough life, doesn't mean kids shouldn't know about her. Her challenges make her human, and that's something everyone can relate to. And she had this incredible gift! That said, I wanted to find an accessible way into her story. While I was researching Billie's life, I learned that she loved dogs and that she had several in her life, including a beloved boxer named Mister. That's when I knew I had a story (and the title for a book). Billie's dogs were my way into her story.

Some of my other stories have not been as immediately clear. I begin with an idea for a story and then I research. I learn everything I can about the subject, seek out primary sources when I can. I usually don't know what story I will tell, but when I do, I focus in. The challenge with the lesser known stories is that there is less known, less documented, less written. That was certainly the case with my book about Frida Kahlo. I chose to tell the story of her first trip to San Francisco, a footnote in her biography. It took some time for this story to become a story, many drafts and directions (factual and fictional; I invented an earthquake), a handful of rejections from publishers, even a few years in a desk drawer, until I happened upon the one detail (an art show, perhaps her first) that shifted this story from static to dynamic, and the story was acquired, and two years later, became a book. A few of my "too-slight" stories are still in the proverbial desk drawer to emerge, if ever, on their own time.

Q: While Billie Holiday's life is fascinating, some of her experiences are hard to explain for a young audience. But you handled her arrest and drug conviction deftly. How challenging was that to navigate?

AN: Very. I'm the mother of an eight year old boy. I certainly don't want to expose him, or any young reader, to anything that he is not ready for. And so, me and my editor, Samantha McFerrin, gave a lot of thought to just how much to say about Billie's drug conviction and prison term, the reason for her having to leave Mister behind for a year and a day. What we decided to focus on was this idea of Billie getting into trouble, something young readers can relate to. What that trouble was doesn't really matter. That said, because kids want to know the truth, the author's note explains why Billie got into trouble and where she went. (Author's notes are a great place to put everything that doesn't quite fit into the narrative.) I'm not sure if this works, but it's what we chose to do.

Q: You're the author of a variety of titles for young readers, including many that spotlight remarkable women. How do you decide on your subjects? And what do you want to accomplish with your writing?

AN: I write about what inspires me – people (Ganesh, Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe, Imogen Cunningham, Billie Holiday) and places (India, San Francisco, Hawaii). I'm always looking for stories. When I come upon an idea, I spend time researching it, and if I find the thread of a story, if I feel like I want to spend several years of my life with it and believe in it as a book, if I can envision promoting it, then I will start writing. Every story has a life of its own. My new picture book biography manuscript was inspired nearly eight years ago by a New York Times article. But when I started researching this particular artist, I did not connect with her life and her work, and so I put the idea aside, until a year and a half ago when I happened upon a new monograph of the artist's late work, which I very much connected with, and I immediately found the thread, an entire tapestry, of the story and wrote it in a week. It flowed.

I love writing picture book biographies, and as long as I am inspired, I will write them. That said, the more I write them, the more humbled I am by the responsibility of writing about a real person, of getting it right. I'm humbled by the responsibility of making a book public and promoting it. This is leading me to only write what I feel passionate about, what I believe in wholeheartedly. And so, I'm at a crossroads with my writing and my identity as a writer.

Q: What else will we see from you? What's next?

AN: What will I write next? I'm not sure. I have a handful of manuscripts out with editors right now, including the picture book biography mentioned above, and a baseball book, inspired by a story my son wrote. (His stories are much better than mine). Beyond that, something wonderful and true, I hope.

Her Father's Civil Rights Struggle Inspires Pamela Tuck

As we mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and major milestones in the Civil Rights movement, Pamela Tuck's As Fast as Words Could Fly (Lee & Low Books, 2013) makes a timely and inspiring read. Based on her father’s real-life experiences dealing with 1960s school segregation in the South, As Fast as Words Could Fly tells the story of fictional Mason Steele, who helps his father by writing letters for him – first by hand and then using a manual typewriter.

Young Mason's typing skills are so good, he enters a typing competition and the chance to represent his new school – a "whites only" high school he's been allowed to attend through a court desegregation battle. Despite the injustice he faces from students and faculty, Mason uses his talents to triumph over racial prejudice.

Pamela's story was awarded Lee & Low’s New Voices award in 2007, which led to the publishing of this picture book, richly illustrated by Eric Velasquez.

Question: Where did the inspiration for As Fast As Words Could Fly come from?

Pamela Tuck: The inspiration to write As Fast As Words Could Fly was sparked by my husband, Joel. He found out about Lee & Low Books offering a New Voices Award, and after reading some of their titles, we agreed that my dad’s story would be perfect to submit to them.

Q: You were the recipient of the New Voices Award for this story. What did winning that award mean to you? And what did it mean for your story?

PT: Winning the award empowered me as a writer. Prior to submitting my dad’s story to Lee & Low Books, I had attended my first SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators) conference in June 2007. I was delighted with all the helpful information from authors, editors, and agents, yet I left discouraged because I didn’t feel that I had the time to devote to my writing that was outlined by some of the speakers. I hit a writing slump and didn’t write for a while. Once my husband persuaded me to write my dad’s story, my hope began to grow. I submitted my manuscript to Lee & Low Books in September 2007, and in December 2007, I received a call from one of the editors announcing me as the winner of their New Voices Award!

I view the New Voices Award as an honorable recognition of my dad’s unrewarded triumph as a youth participating in the Civil Rights Movement. My dad’s ordinary acts of bravery can now be shared with the world and hopefully inspire others. I’m thankful to have his story included where it belongs: in African American history.

Q: What made you decide to write for a young audience? And how did you decide that picture books were your niche?

PT: I am a mother of 11 children, so I had a young audience long before I decided to write for them. I became interested in writing for children after a family night of storytelling. We sat around telling silly stories “off the top of our heads.” When my turn came around and I began speaking, my story unfolded and left my family captivated. I think that was when I decided to write picture books. Again, Joel served as the spark to my children’s book writing journey. We researched the children’s book market, joined SCBWI to learn more about the industry, shared the joy of my first publication contract, and he remains one of my biggest fans as I continue to hone my craft.

Q: What do you hope young readers take away from your story?

PT: I hope readers take away the spirit of hope and aspiration after reading about Mason. Although this story deals with the cold realities of the Civil Rights Movement, I want the rewards of hard work, determination, and perseverance to resonate. My desire is that every child who reads my book realizes that their accomplishments cannot be limited by the opinions of others.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? And what will we see from you next?

PT: As a writer for children, my goal is to enlighten and inspire my readers to believe in themselves, embrace diversity, and have the courage to make a positive difference. I have two historical fiction projects in the works: a picture book and a middle-grade novel. I hope both of these projects will be added to my list of published works.

Top 10 Essential Picture Books for Kids and Grownups

As part of August's Picture Book 10 for 10 event launched by the folks at Enjoy and Embrace Learning, I'm offering up my Top 10 list. I thought about doing a rundown of the best books featuring smart dogs or adorable penguins or clever kids wearing tiaras. But what I think might be the most helpful is thus:

Top 10 Essential Picture Books

Based on hours of reading with a certain trio in my house, the selection process is highly scientific: it is measured on the hilarity factor, the visual umph, and how many times little voices chirped, "Again!"

What follows are the Top 10 picture books that are simply a joy to share. Whether reading in a classroom to a group or in a rocking chair to a special someone, these are titles that adults – and of course the wee ones – will enjoy again and again. There were many nights when Hubby and I raced to the kids' rooms to call dibs on the stories we wanted to hear, these stories. My only regret is that my kids are getting a little older, so we don't get to read them as often.

Keep these titles in mind when searching for the perfect gift – for the young or young at heart.

We all need to celebrate our creative sides:
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow



Play it smart, especially when something wants to eat you up:
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler


When things don't go as planned, roll with the punches:
An Undone Fairy Tale by Ian Lendler, illustrated by Whitney Martin

You can be cool and not even know it:
Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea

It's nice to have folks around:

Memoirs Of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian, illustrated by Tim Bowers

Sometimes we're cranky:
Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel

Princesses can be very sly:
Falling For Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox, illustrated by Lydia Monks



Even pirates need to be tucked in at night:
How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long, illustrated by David Shannon



Wait for it. . .
The Monster at the End of this Book by Sesame Street



There are surprises even in our routines:
10 Minutes till Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann

Bridget Zinn's Exciting Fantasy 'Poison' Fulfills a Dream

While Bridget Zinn's fast-paced fantasy Poison (Hyperion/Disney, 2013) should technically be shelved as a young adult book, it makes a fine read for the mature middle-grade set. It tells the story of Kyra, a Master Potioner who has seen a vision that the kingdom is about to be destroyed. The only way to prevent it is to kill the ruler who will ascend to the throne. But there's a hitch in Kyra's plans, since the soon-to-reign princess is Kyra's best friend – or rather, her former best friend.

Armed with her bag of potions and an adorable little pig with tracking skills for a sidekick, Kyra ventures across the kingdom in search of the princess. Amid some fun plot twists and a good dose of humor, she meets a handsome traveler along the way. But the adventure tale of brave and resourceful Kyra takes precedence over the love story. It's a delightful read.

Bridget was working as a librarian in 2007 when she began writing Poison. According to her website, she loved books that featured "strong young women with aspirations." And she set out to tell a story "with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads."

Bridget passed away in 2011, while Poison was still in production.

With its recent publication, Bridget accomplished what she set out to do – creating the joyful yet thrilling book that she wanted to read. It has met with good reviews: even the tough-to-please Kirkus pronounced it "a refreshing antidote to a genre overflowing with grit and gloom."

Publisher's Weekly, in a review by her literary agent Michael Stearns, called it ". . . a romping, fairy-tale quest with more than one twist up its sleeve. The story is vivid, headlong, and occasionally tongue in cheek, and the narrative’s dark moments never get too scary because everything else is so much fun."

Pick up a copy of Bridget's book and see for yourself.

Titles for Summer Readers From Librarians Across the U.S.

The Summer Reading List Committee at the Parkway School District in Chesterfield, Missouri, deserves a pat on the back. They've compiled an amazing roster of good summer books for students entering kindergarten through sixth grade, broken down by year. It's vast, it's detailed, and it's immensely helpful. Here is the rundown of books for young readers entering third grade in the fall.

Read Alouds
Bridges: Ruby’s Wish 2002 historical fiction, ethnic diversity
During the 1800s in China, when few girls learn to read and write, Ruby fervently desires to attend university with all the males in her family.
Curtis: The Bat Boy and His Violin 1998 sports, music, ethnic diversity
Reginald loves to play his violin, but Papa wants him to be outdoors more and enlists him as the bat boy for the baseball team Papa manages. Reginald plays his violin in the dugout, and the team improves.

Independent Reading  
Adler: Bones series mystery
Everyone needs bones — Detective Jeffrey Bones that is. With his bag of detective tools in hand, read how Jeffrey can solve any mystery.

Bourke: Christian the Lion: Based on the True Story of Anthony (Ace) Bourke, John Rendall and Christian the Lion 2009 nonfiction
Details the experiences of Anthony Bourke and John Rendall, who bought a lion cub from a department store, raised him as a pet, reintroduced him to the wild in Kenya and years later received a warm welcome from the grown lion.
Bunting: One Green Apple 2006 historical fiction, ethnic diversity
Farah is new to the U.S. and her class. She feels alone until she goes on a field trip and realizes things are alike everywhere.
Cleary: Math is CATegorical series stores in rhyme, mathematics
Mathematical functions are explained in rhyming text and simple, silly cartoons.
Cronin: Diary of a Fly 2007 animal fiction
A young fly discovers, day by day, that there is a lot to learn about being an insect, including the dangers of flyswatters and that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
Dadey: Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series schools, fiction
There are some pretty weird grown-ups living in Bailey City.
DeFelice: One Potato, Two Potato 2006 fairy tale
A very poor, humble couple live so simple a life they share everything, until the husband discovers a pot with magical powers buried under the very last potato in the garden.
DiCamillo: Mercy Watson series animal, fantasy, humor
Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson, the beloved "pig wonder" of the Watson household.
Foxworthy: Dirt On My Shirt 2008 poetry
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy presents more than 30 illustrated poems for children on such topics as friends, bugs, family members and pretending.
Holm: Babymouse series 2005 graphic fiction, friendship, imagination
An imaginative mouse learns life lessons while living her life.
Hopkinson: Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend) 2008 historical fiction
In Knob Creek, Kentucky, in 1816, seven-year-old Abe Lincoln falls into a creek and is rescued by his best friend.
Johnson: Just Like Josh Gibson 2007 sports fiction, historical fiction
A grandmother recounts the story of the day she was allowed to play in a baseball game, even though she was a girl.
Kerrin: Martin Bridge: Ready for Takeoff! 2005 fiction
Martin means well, but his ideas don’t always turn out as expected. In three stand-alone chapters, Martin deals with issues at home and school.
Pinkney: The Ugly Duckling 1999 fairy tale
This adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic portrays an unhappy year for an ugly duckling who eventually grows up and transforms into a beautiful swan.
Sachar: Marvin Redpost series fiction
Marvin Redpost encounters hilarious problems with school, family and friends.
Stilton: The Geronimo Stilton series mice, fantasy, mystery
Geronimo Stilton is a mouse newspaper editor and journalist who travels the world to chase important interviews but winds up in the middle of adventures that involve solving intriguing mysteries.
Tunnell: Mailing May 1997 historical fiction
Five-year-old May wishes to visit her grandmother, but the train is too expensive. May's father and cousin concoct a clever means of sending the child after all.
Warner: Only Emma 2005 fiction
Emma’s mother loses her job, so Emma becomes the new kid in the school and neighborhood. An only child, Emma’s life changes when a four year old comes for a visit.

The librarians at View Ridge Elementary in Seattle, Washington, offer this quick list of funny reads for those hankering for some humor:

Bake Sale by Sara Varon
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Gooney Bird Green by Lois Lowry
Magic Pickle by Scott Morse
The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin
Punished! by David Lubar
Scaredy Squirrel series by Melanie Watt
Spot the Plot by Patrick Lewis
Sweet Tooth by Margie Palatini
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? by Marla Frazee et al.

Brave, Spirited Kat Guides Stephanie Burgis' Magical Series

 I have yet to master the art of the golden opening sentence. So when I come across a memorable one, I take note. Stephanie Burgis, with her three magical Kat stories, has got it down to a science:

"I was twelve years of age when I chopped off my hair, dressed as a boy and set off to save my family from impending ruin."

So opens Kat, Incorrigible (Atheneum 2011), the first in her series of middle-grade novels that are a lively mix of Jane Austen and Harry Potter. Recognized for its fiesty heroine and sharp writing, Kat, Incorrigible was a 2012 ALA/ALSC Notable Children’s Book in Fiction and made many lists, such as a Best of 2012 from Bank Street College.

Next up from Stephanie, Renegade Magic (Atheneum 2012) shared the further adventures of Kat. Kirkus Reviews recommended, "For readers who like their fantasy seasoned with feisty characters and nonstop action," and named it one of their New and Notable Books for 2012. And finally, this year's Stolen Magic (Atheneum 2013), which Stephanie opens with another golden line:

"Despite what either of my sisters may say, I actually possess a great deal of common sense. That was why I waited until nearly midnight on the last night of our journey into Devon before I climbed out of my bedroom window."

Part history, part fantasy, Stephanie's Kat books are set in 19th-century England. Kat is 12 years old and the fearless youngest sister of saintly (Kat would prefer "prissy") Elissa, brooding Angeline, and feckless Charles. Her mother was a witch, and Kat learns that not only does she have magical powers, but even more, she's a magical Guardian. However, she can only step up to the task if the secret order that ousted her mother comes to accept her. Sly Kat relies on her own wiles to boldly buck the system and help her siblings find love.


Question: Can you talk about your creative process and where the idea for your series came from? Did you have the three books visualized in your mind when you began? Or did one grow into two into three?

Stephanie Burgis: I don't outline my novels before I write, so I find out most plot developments as I go, traveling right along with my heroine. By partway through Kat, Incorrigible, though, I knew that one book would never be enough! Honestly, when I finished that first book, I felt that I could happily write another eight or nine standalone books in the series! Because I know Kat's adventures will never stop. However, my very smart agent suggested that I focus on just three books for the series, at least to begin with, so that was what I did – and I made sure to provide closure by the end of the third book for all the most important, overarching themes and storylines from all three books.

Q: It's hard enough writing one novel. How did you produce three titles that are strong enough to stand on their own and do it in just three years? Did you ever sleep? Was your office plastered with post-it notes?

SB: Ha! Well, luckily, although the books were published over the course of three years, I actually had four years to write them . . . but even so, the process involved a lot of scribbled notes in various notebooks (I have two different Moleskines that were JUST devoted to Kat and her family!), a whole bookcase full of Regency historical research, a ton of visits to various Regency museums around the UK . . . and a lot of love for the characters I was writing about.

Book Giveaway Alert!
Comment below on Stephanie's interview, and you will be entered to win a copy of Kat, Incorrigible!

Q: So often it's the boys who get to have all the fun, setting off on wild adventures and wielding powerful weapons. Kat is a special kind of heroine. She's bold and brave if not a bit outspoken but still very much a class act. What inspired the traits you gave her? What or whom did you tap for inspiration in the writing of Kat?

SB: Kat is, in many ways, the girl I would have loved to be! (And still would love to be, even now.) When I was 12, I was shy, quiet, and the oldest in my family. (Er, actually, I still am the oldest in my family. That part hasn't changed!) I've always been an anxious rule-follower, I still hate conflict, and as the oldest child, I grew up with the understanding that I was supposed to be "the responsible one."

Kat, on the other hand, is the youngest in her family, and she's NEVER afraid to speak her mind! She's not afraid of conflict, she throws herself into adventure, she never lets herself be stopped by the fear of social disapproval. She was sooo liberating to write! I can only hope that I absorbed a little bit of her courage and energy by writing in her voice for so long.

(And one quality that we absolutely share is a devotion to family. Like Kat, I grew up in a big, noisy, loving family, and the rule was always, definitely: family comes first!)

Q: You've clearly connected with young readers. My own daughter, for example, produced an elaborate book report on Kat, Incorrigible, complete with magic mirror (purchased from Walgreens' makeup department) and highwayman mask. What do you hope to accomplish with your writing?

SB: Oh, wow. I love hearing that! What I really see as my writing "mission" is to write fun, empowering, and exciting novels that feature girls who win their adventures through their courage and intelligence. There is SO MUCH pressure beamed at girls from all angles in our society, telling them that their overriding goal should be to look pretty/sexy, to appeal to boys, and to never offend anybody. I want my books to offer an opposing view!

Q: What do you hope readers take away from your books?

SB: Most of all, I want readers to have fun when they read my books. I want to transport them to a different world and, especially if their own world is not a happy place at the moment (as mine certainly wasn't when I first started writing the Kat books), I want to offer them a joyful escape. But, tied into that, I'd also love to leave them feeling charged up and empowered when they finish reading one of my novels.

Over and over again in the Kat books, Kat is told by powerful people that she ought to sit down and be quiet, that she's too unimportant to be taken seriously. But guess what? She ALWAYS wins in the end by speaking her truth, listening to her gut, caring for the people she loves, and following her own moral compass, even when it takes her to scary places. That, to me, is a really important message.

Q: What is your next project? How hard will it be to step away from Kat and her family and start something new? Or will you stay with Regency England?

SB: I would absolutely love to go back to Regency England again one day! I adore that period – and ohhhh, did it hurt to say goodbye to Kat and her family. Right now, though, I'm playing with two different projects – one novel set in 1930s America and one novel set in contemporary Wales. Of course, they both feature strong, adventurous girls, and they're both chock-full of magic. We'll just have to see which one strikes publishing gold first! Please wish me luck.