Guess what, readers? This month, Bookworm had the honor of interviewing the oh-so-awesome (A-W-E-S-O-M-E) author, Donna Gephart, who wrote As If Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother is Running for President! Enjoy!
Click here for a review of Donna's book.
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Bookworm: What inspired you to write As If Being 12 3/4 Isn't Bad Enough, My Mother is Running for President!
Donna: As If Being 12 3/4... started as a short story about a mother/daughter relationship and blossomed into a coming-of-age story about a gawky, klutzy spelling bee whiz whose mother just happened to be the governor of Florida and running for the President of the United States.
Bookworm: Are you like Vanessa in any way?
Donna: Do you mean other than my size 9 1/2 feet? Okay, size 10 feet...and being occasionally klutzy...and loving the color purple? Yes, growing up, I had a close relationship with my mother just like my main character, Vannessa, and often wished she weren't so busy working. But I've never been followed everywhere by a bodyguard or fielded serious death threats. Thank goodness!
Bookworm: Do you have any experience in politics?
Donna: I follow politics and worked on a political campaign shortly before writing this book.
Bookworm: What are your favorite YA (young adult) books today?
Donna: There are so many wonderful ones! Some of my favorite authors are: Jerry Spinelli, Christopher Paul Curtis and Louis Sachar. Two novels I recently read and enjoyed are: Skin Deep by E.M. Crane and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
Bookworm: Have you ever been in a spelling bee?
Donna: A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y. In third grade, I lost on the word "meant". I thought it was spelled "ment" and Cindy Brown went on to win that spelling bee. And my son was also in a spelling bee in third grade. Like Chester Fields in the opening chapter, my son couldn't spell "thoroughly". While doing research, I interviewed an amazing speller at my son's school who went to the National Bee in Washington, D.C. twice.
Many thanks to Donna for the great interview, and good luck with future books!
2 comments:
Dear Bookworm,
Thanks for interviewing me. It was fun. And thanks for all you do to promote good books.
Best regards,
Donna Gephart
www.donnagephart.blogspot.com
Dear Donna,
Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for the great interview! Your book is so excellent! My fingers are crossed for a sequel!
Your book-eating friend,
Bookworm
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