Michael Spradlin Michael Spradlin
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Author: Michael

FIVE ON FRIDAY with Jane Kurtz

This week it’s my pleasure to welcome award winning author Jayne Kurtz to Five on Friday. Jane has written numerous YA, Middle Grade novels and picture books and not only that, she has great stories about growing up in Africa. Jane’s newest book is Lanie: An American Girl, her newest entry into the mega-popular American Girl series. Please welcome Jane with a comment (and just for the heck of it, post a comment and you’ll get entered into my contest) and visit her on the web at www.janekurtz.com. Thanks for visiting Jane!

When did you know that you first wanted to be a writer/illustrator?

It’s complicated because I grew up besotted with books–and watching my mom write letters home from our remote village in Ethiopia to her mom and my dad’s parents in the U.S. So I thought of myself as a writer waaay back. But I didn’t catch a dream of publishing a book until my kids were lap-sitters and I was going to the library and checking out armloads of books that I read out loud to them.  That’s when I truly got to know children’s books.

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What book or writer/artist do you feel influenced you the most?

I had different book mentors at different stages, but one of the most powerful was Sarah Plain and Tall. I wanted to figure out how she managed to make me feel so much with so few words.

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What book or books are you currently reading or have recently read that you’d recommend to others?

I teach in the Vermont College MFA program for children and YA literature, and I once had Jandy Nelson in a workshop at one of the residencies. Her work dazzled me then and her first YA novel, The Sky Is Everywhere is dazzling me now. Wow.

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If you could offer one piece of advice to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Read, read, read, and when you feel something–while you’re reading–try to figure out how the author did it.

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Can you share with us your next project or any information about the next book you’re working on?

Hey! My two books for the American Girl Doll of the Year, nature girl Lanie, just came out mere weeks ago. Right now, I’m blogging about how I wrote them, not thinking about the next book.

Inning #6: The Pony Express is at bat!

It’s out! No, no, it’s didn’t strike out, it’s out out! The book, Off Like the Wind: The First Ride of The Pony Express arrived in bookstores yesterday, February 16. Why the baseball reference? Are you visiting my site for the first time? (Hey, if so, welcome!)

Well, I will tell you: Baseball From A to Z, my next picture book, arrives on March 23. And one of the things I love about baseball is how much of the whole baseball culture has wiggled into our daily conversation. My aforementioned “strike out” reference. I want to know what part of baseball has infiltrated the way you talk. What do you say that has a distinct baseball flavor to it?

For inning #6 here at Team Spradlin Baseball giveaway extravaganza, running today February 17 through March 2, I want to give away a signed copy of The Youngest Templar to someone who shares with me some phrase or reference that you use a lot that originated with Baseball. Become a fan on Facebook and you can be doubly entered (make sure to pop back and tell me you became a fan).

Bottom of the Fifth!

We’re halfway through the fifth inning. I want to know what you track in baseball time. What do you associate with baseball season? What happens in Spring, Summer or Fall to make you think “Oh right, that means baseball”? Share with me (or become a Fan on Facebook) before the release date of my next picture book about the Pony Express, and you might time your 2010 baseball experience with a Templar.

Inning #5: Baseball and The Pony Express: a doubleheader!

I have two books coming out back to back — kind of like a doubleheader in the publishing world. Off Like the Wind: The First Ride of The Pony Express arrives in bookstores on February 16, mere days before spring training starts, and Baseball From A to Z arrives on March 23, just two weeks before baseball season officially starts. For inning #5, running today February 3 through February 16 (the release date for Pony Express, oh, did I say that already. Heh.), I want to give away a signed copy of The Youngest Templar to someone who shares with me some timing, some regular annual event that they associate with the coming of Baseball. Simply drop your calendar association into a comment below. Become a fan on Facebook and you can be doubly entered (make sure to pop back and tell me you became a fan).

Russell and Me…

Okay, so according to IMDB.com the Ridley Scott directed, Russell Crowe starring movie version of Robin Hood is coming to theaters on May 14. So you know where I’m going to be that day. The trailer so far looks awesome.

And what’s more, take a look at the movie poster for the film. Does it in anyway remind you of a certain Youngest Templar book? Coincidence? Deliberate? Either way, it’s nice to be able to make that kind of a connection to a bajillion dollar budget, sure to be a blockbuster movie.

Look familiar?For those of you who may not have read The Youngest Templar yet (and if you haven’t WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! Ahem.) one of the characters is a young archer named Robard Hode, born in Sherwood Forest near the shire of Nottingham. I did a lot of research on Robin Hood legends in writing the book, and found that a real Robard Hode existed around the time my novel is set. He was one of the first nobles to stand against Prince John. The modern legend of Robin Hood as we know it, is quite likely an amalgamation of several deeds and exploits by numerous individuals. When I discovered the real Robard Hode I worked him into my story.

I get lots of letters and emails from readers who tell me Robard is their favorite character in the books. He has been a joy to write. He is heroic, steadfast, quick-tempered and passionate but has a devotion to justice that drives him above all else. When I originally scripted the trilogy, my plan was for Robard and Tristan to have a brief encounter in Keeper of the Grail, and then for him to return again in book three. Yet the first minute he walked onto the page he demanded to remain in the story the whole way. I argued with him a lot, but in the end he convinced me. (Not to mention he does have a bow and arrow!). I’m thrilled that there is going to be a major motion picture retelling the Robin Hood legend again. And I can assure readers Robard plays a big role in book three Orphan of Destiny (on sale October 28, 2010 and available for pre-order at your favorite bookseller. I’m just sayin’)
I’ll see you at the movies!

Your authorness

Inning #4: What does Daniel Boone have to do with Baseball?

Not much on first glance, it’s true. Baseball hadn’t even turn professional when Daniel Boone made that famous run. But then you might think: Well, Michael, there is a lot of running in both Baseball and in Daniel Boone’s story. And then you might follow that up with, Hey, Michael, don’t you have beautifully-illustrated books on each subject?

And you’d be right on both counts. There is indeed a lot of running in both the sport of baseball and also in Daniel Boone’s dramatic 160 mile run (in only four days!) in 1778.

And yes, Daniel Boone’s Great Escape and Baseball From A to Z both have fabulous illustrations. I have been extraordinarily lucky in getting matched up with incredibly talented illustrators for all my picture books. For inning #4, running today January 20 through February 2, to celebrate that good fortune, I want to give away a great read (if I do say so myself) – The Youngest Templar – for calling out great illustrations. Click through any of my picture book pages: either Daniel Boone, Baseball From A to Z, my soon-to-be-released book about The Pony Express, or any of my backlist: The Legend of Blue Jacket, Texas Rangers: Legendary Lawmen, and my “grown-up” picture book: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Zombies! (which admittedly might be too much for the wee ones), and in a comment below, tell me which illustration you like the best, or even just a lot. If you have the book in hand and you want to call out an illustration on a page not on the site, even better! Become a fan on Facebook and you can be doubly entered (make sure to pop back and tell me you became a fan).

Inning #3: Baseball on the Brain

I don’t think any sport conjures up more pleasant memories than baseball. Whether you played it as a kid, watch it as an adult or take your kids to t-ball games, baseball is an indelible part of our culture. I can remember as a young boy falling asleep to the dulcet tones of Hall-Of-Fame Announcer Ernie Harwell, as he would broadcast Detroit Tigers games from all over the country. In fact, one year my father bought a clock radio with a timer on it that shut the radio off after I had long fallen asleep. He was tired of paying for batteries for my transistor radio.

I have just today posted a couple of the awesome illustrations from my upcoming picture book Baseball From A to Z. One of my favorite parts of these illustrations is the kid in the lower left corner of the B (for Ballpark) page. That kid was me (maybe still is).

What is one of your favorite memories of baseball as a kid (or grown-up kid)? Give me a quick telling in a comment and enter yourself to win a copy of The Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail to a randomly selected commenter. Or share this post on Facebook or Myspace and you can be doubly entered (make sure to pop back and tell me you posted to Fbk or MSp).

Happy New Year!