A child named Ava from an elementary school in rural Kansas recently sent me a nice piece of fan mail. I don't get fan mail all that often, so you can imagine I make the most of it when I do. Ava didn't tell me much about herself, other than that she loves my book Ruthie's Gift, which was written before Ava was born unless she's the world's oldest elementary school student, which I doubt.
Anyhow, Ava sent a pretty amazing list of questions. I thought, hey, two birds, one blog post. Excellent! So here we go:
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have one dog, three cats, and 6 horses, though two of the horses are technically ponies and none of the cats think they are mine.
Q. Do you have a favorite color?
A. Yes. Blue.
Q: What is your next book called?
A. Ava, that's a toughie, because my publishers are always changing the titles of my books. Apparently I'm not very good at titles. But right now my next book is called The War I Finally Won. It's a sequel to The War That Saved My Life.
Q. Do you have any kids?
A. Yes, two, a boy and a girl. But almost a man and a woman, they're getting so old. They are both much taller than me.
Q. What is your favorite book that you wrote?
A. I think I will always love Ruthie's Gift, because it was about my grandma and my childhood memories of the stories she told me. But my best book is definitely The War That Saved My Life. (You should read it!)
Q. Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor?
A. Yes, and it's probably one you've never tried. This tiny custard shop in Rochester, Indiana, used to sell red cinnamon flavored (like cinnamon candy, not cinnamon powder) ice cream that my husband and I loved when we were teenagers. My husband learned to make exactly the same flavor; we call it Firecracker, and he makes it every year for the Fourth of July (and sometimes at other times, too).
Q. What is your favorite season?
A. Summer. I don't really like winter very much.
Q. What do you like to do in your free time?
A. Ride a horse, read, knit, cook.
Q. What was your favorite subject when you were in school?
A. Chemistry. I actually majored in chemistry in college. I liked writing classes, and I liked my college history class, but I didn't like English classes or history in high school.
Q. Do you like teddy bears?
A. Yes.
Q. What is your favorite animal?
A. Horses. Especially my big horse Sarah, who acts like a large teddy bear.
Q. What state do you live in?
A. Tennessee.
Q. Do you like chevron print?
A. Yes, but not as well as my daughter does.
Q. Do you have any family members?
A. Yes. Besides my children and husband, I have two parents, and a brother and a sister. Both my siblings are married, and both have two little boys, which makes four nephews total. I am Godmother to two of them. I also have aunts and uncles and cousins, all sorts.
Q. Do you like cats or dogs better?
A. Dogs. But then I'm allergic to cats.
You can see Ava is pretty comprehensive with her questions. So now you know me better. What about you, gentle readers? Dogs or cats? And teddy bears--pro? Con?
Anyhow, Ava sent a pretty amazing list of questions. I thought, hey, two birds, one blog post. Excellent! So here we go:
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have one dog, three cats, and 6 horses, though two of the horses are technically ponies and none of the cats think they are mine.
Q. Do you have a favorite color?
A. Yes. Blue.
Q: What is your next book called?
A. Ava, that's a toughie, because my publishers are always changing the titles of my books. Apparently I'm not very good at titles. But right now my next book is called The War I Finally Won. It's a sequel to The War That Saved My Life.
Q. Do you have any kids?
A. Yes, two, a boy and a girl. But almost a man and a woman, they're getting so old. They are both much taller than me.
Q. What is your favorite book that you wrote?
A. I think I will always love Ruthie's Gift, because it was about my grandma and my childhood memories of the stories she told me. But my best book is definitely The War That Saved My Life. (You should read it!)
Q. Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor?
A. Yes, and it's probably one you've never tried. This tiny custard shop in Rochester, Indiana, used to sell red cinnamon flavored (like cinnamon candy, not cinnamon powder) ice cream that my husband and I loved when we were teenagers. My husband learned to make exactly the same flavor; we call it Firecracker, and he makes it every year for the Fourth of July (and sometimes at other times, too).
Q. What is your favorite season?
A. Summer. I don't really like winter very much.
Q. What do you like to do in your free time?
A. Ride a horse, read, knit, cook.
Q. What was your favorite subject when you were in school?
A. Chemistry. I actually majored in chemistry in college. I liked writing classes, and I liked my college history class, but I didn't like English classes or history in high school.
Q. Do you like teddy bears?
A. Yes.
Q. What is your favorite animal?
A. Horses. Especially my big horse Sarah, who acts like a large teddy bear.
Q. What state do you live in?
A. Tennessee.
Q. Do you like chevron print?
A. Yes, but not as well as my daughter does.
Q. Do you have any family members?
A. Yes. Besides my children and husband, I have two parents, and a brother and a sister. Both my siblings are married, and both have two little boys, which makes four nephews total. I am Godmother to two of them. I also have aunts and uncles and cousins, all sorts.
Q. Do you like cats or dogs better?
A. Dogs. But then I'm allergic to cats.
You can see Ava is pretty comprehensive with her questions. So now you know me better. What about you, gentle readers? Dogs or cats? And teddy bears--pro? Con?
Agnostic on dogs and cats, but pro Chevron. Great questions, Ava!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great kid this Ava is! I enjoyed reading your answers, Kimberly, and will respond to your challenge.
ReplyDeleteNone now, but I grew up with a rambunctious airedale and a haughty poodle.
Gray, actually.
I am BEYOND THRILLED that there will be a sequel to The War That Saved My Life. I am SO looking forward to spending more time with Ada, Jamie, and Susan!
I have a son and a daughter, 20 and 18, respectively.
Haven't written any books, but I read constantly. And work in a bookstore.
Mint Chocolate Chip
Spring -- I live on the shore of Lake Ontario, where winters are long and brutal.
Read, read, read, watch movies, cook, and read.
English
Hugely. I still have my original Teddy, who's now 62 years old.
Polar bears
New York
Yes
In addition to my kids, a husband; a sister and brother; a bunch of nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a whole slew of in-laws.
Dogs, by a long shot; I, too, am allergic to cats. Really, really allergic. In fact, my nose just started itching.