It was really fun! I worked alone on my book for the most part, but it was neat to work with other people’s ideas and to create these characters together. Once the books came out, I got to do some events together with the other authors, and it is always fun to have friends when… Read more »
Is there really an awesome children’s museum in Indianapolis?
Yes! The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is an amazing place. And yes, there is really a dinosaur climbing the outside of the building!
Is Sutton, Indiana, a real place?
No, I made it up! But it is similar to a lot of towns in rural Indiana, near where I grew up.
What is really wrong with Z?
It’s hard for me to answer this question fully without some spoilers, but I’ll try. Z lives in a fantasy world, which Ella accepts about him, but much of his behavior in the book is quite strange. Readers speculate that Z might be affected by Asperger’s Syndrome, or autism, or one of any number of… Read more »
What is the name of Ella’s skin condition?
I chose not to name Ella’s skin condition in the novel because I want my readers to be able to picture Ella any way they want. Some readers assume Ella has vitiligo, a dermatological condition that causes skin pigment to fade in patches over time. Others believe that Ella has birthmarks, or clustered freckles, or… Read more »
The girl on the cover looks like you. Is this a true story?
No. Camo Girl is not a true story. Ella is a made-up character, and so are all the other people in her life. The things that happen to her in the story did not happen to me. That is the simple answer. If you’re looking for a more complicated answer, here it is: Since I’m… Read more »
Will you write more Robyn Hoodlum Adventures?
Probably not. I originally designed the series to be three books, and the story is complete. I’m sure Robyn goes on to have many more troublemaking and world-saving adventures…but I don’t think I’ll write about them.
Why did you want to write a Robin Hood story?
I’ve always loved Robin Hood, ever since I was a child. It was fun to imagine what a Robin Hood character would look like in a different place and time, and if she was a biracial teenage girl!
How did you choose this topic for your novel? Why did you want to write about something that happened so long ago?
I answer this question a lot. If you read some of my interviews and/or watch my videos, you will see that I have found lots of ways to talk about my inspiration for The Rock and the River, and why it was a meaningful book for me to write. Here are the highlights: I like… Read more »
Is Sam’s father, Roland Childs, a real historical figure? Is Sam’s story real?
The Rock and the River is a fictional (made-up) story, but it is based on some real historical events. None of the main characters in the book are named for real people. The book does refer to some real people, though, like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Hampton, who was the… Read more »