This author of over 20 books is also a wife, mother, grandmother, Newbery Medal winner, international traveler, and sports fan. Fortunately for us, she settled in the Rochester area so we can call her our own. Welcome, Linda Sue Park!
Linda Sue Parks
Q. Thank you for being here. First off, you have two books coming out this year. Can you tell us how you came up with the idea for the picture book Yaks Yak: Animal Word Pairs (Clarion, 2016)?
I got the idea from author M.T. Anderson. Years ago, he told me that “Buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo” is a perfectly grammatical sentence in English! Eventually, that made me wonder what other animals are also verbs, and I put together a list that became the text for the book. But it was illustrator Jennifer Black Reinhardt who took it to another level. Her illustrations are amazing, both funny AND beautiful!
Q. What excites you about writing Wing & Claw: Forest of Wonders (HarperCollins, 2016), your new middle grade fantasy series that kicks off in March?
I love reading fantasy novels, and my favorite sub-genre is books that are set in the “real world,” with fantastical elements. There is only one kind of magic in the world of Wing & Claw. The great author Philip Pullman said recently, “If you abandon realism, it (the story) is less frightening.” To paraphrase: “If you abandon realism, it’s less magical!”
Also, Wing & Claw has several animal characters—a bat, a bear, twin baby raccoons. I had so much fun writing those characters! Here’s a link to the official book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rtfHU_3QkI
Q. This past year you spoke on a We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) panel at Book Expo America. Can you tell us more about WNDB?
WNDB is an organization that seeks to diversify children’s books at every level. It supports diverse creators, books starring diverse characters, and more diversity in the publishing industry. We’ve known for decades what the problem is: Not enough diversity in children’s books. What I love about WNDB is that they’ve gone beyond discussing the problem and are making a concerted effort to find solutions. Please check out their website: www.diversebooks.org
Q. At the time of this interview, your middle grade novel A Long Walk to Water has been on the paperback New York Times bestseller list for twenty-seven weeks. (Congratulations!) Why do you think this book has resonated with so many readers?
I think it’s definitely Salva’s story that has touched readers. The hardships he suffered; how he persevered; how he’s helping others now—he’s such an incredible inspiration! You can keep up to date with what Salva’s doing here: www.waterforsouthsudan.org
Q. You often travel the globe for book and reading events. What international locations are next on your agenda?
I just got back from Thailand, where I visited the International School of Bangkok. I also spent a couple of days at an elephant-rehabilitation facility. I got to hug an elephant!
Visit Linda Sue online (www.lindasuepark.com), and on Twitter (@LindaSuePark), and check out her events page to find her in person.
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Deena Viviani is a Rochester-based Young Adult Services Librarian. Read her book reviews at www.deenaml.livejournal.com or send her a note at De**********@*****il.com – she loves to hear from readers!
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