Member Interview

Where did you grow up, and how did that place (or those places) shape your work?

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, through fourth grade, and then we moved across the country to Flower Mound (Dallas), Texas, the summer before I started fifth grade. Probably more than anything else growing up, that move has shaped my writing. It was a big change! At a big time! A lot of my stories and characters deal with moving to new places, and/or struggling to fit in. Also, rural Dallas (both then and now) is a very football-centric community, and that also plays a large part in my work. In particular, the current middle-grade story that I am working on deals with a kid who fakes an injury to get out of playing football (very, very loosely based on what I did myself).

Did you always want to be an author, or did that come later?

I was a huge reader from elementary school onward, and wrote some poetry (mostly imitating Shel Silverstein), but I never wanted to be an author "when I grew up" (I wanted to be a comedic actor and pro baseball player). But I always had a creative side, and always loved children's literature, and both of those pushed to the forefront when I turned 30. Specifically, I had quit my law job and was on a soul-searching road trip across the country. One day I stopped in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Children's Cooperative Book Center. The woman at the desk asked which authors I liked, and I told her that Ellen Raskin was my favorite. It turned out that the woman had been a close friend of Raskin's. "We have several personal video interviews with her," she said, "and her collected papers. Would you like to see those?" "Um, yes please." I took that as a sign, and after several hours poring through those materials, decided to start my own writing path right then and there.

If someone were to follow you around for 24 hours, what would they see?

Me walking my dog, Margo! Lots of coffee and morning writing. Doing admin work for Typewriter Rodeo. Taking a nap. Possibly teaching my class at UT Law (first-year writing and research). Workout/exercise. Walking Margo again. Meeting up with a friend for dinner or possibly doing a Typewriter Rodeo gig. Reading in bed until I fall asleeeepppppp....

How does your everyday life feed your work?

I walk my dog around Town Lake and just take in all that nature–the different trees, movement of the water, etc.–this definitely feeds my writing and my poetry. I also interact with lots of different groups–writers, law students, regulars at my local restaurant–and I think all of those perspectives help me have a varied outlook for Typewriter Rodeo gigs.

Tell us about some accomplishments that make you proud.

Being a part of Typewriter Rodeo for 13 years! Including helping to found it, doing most of its admin/booking work, writing over 20,000 poems, and creating this wonderful group of nearly 20 poets. My books, especially PET POEMS, LISTEN TO THE TREES, and UNIVERSE AT THE TIPS OF YOUR TOES. Starting my own publishing company and using that to help others' books exist in the world. Being the keynote speaker last summer for the Hawaii School Library Conference, and then doing author visits for a week all over the island!

What surprises you about the creative life?

How one day I can LOVE what I write, and the next I can read the exact same words and think, "This is horrible!" And then it goes back to love a few days later. And so many of my creative friends have the same experience. It surprises me how much power that internal critic has, no matter how successful we are.

When a reader discovers your work, what do you hope they find?

Just one poem that speaks to them. That makes them want to read it again, and again, to come back to it for some comfort. Or just a good laugh. In my stories and books: characters that are real and flawed, and that the reader roots for during their struggles.

Quick-Fire Questions: 

Why Remington?

Oh, the clackity-clack of those Remington keys is perfect! It has just the right *spring* with each type-stroke, and I love how the keys of mine (a 1928 Remington Portable No. 2) pop up like peacock feathers when it is ready to type. Plus hey, how many things are built to last 100 years?

A poem, please? (One idea is below, or one of your choosing)

M________ Magic on four quick-fire legs

A________ Always ready for a walk!

R________ Resting your head on my lap

G________ Gently  

O________ Owner is not the right word

Similarities between children’s book writing and legal writing?

Ha, hopefully none! I mean I guess both need a certain structure to work, but one (for me at least) is basically fiction and the other is not. You choose which.

Would you rather swim in an ancient sea or fly through starry skies of the future?

Give me those unknown starry skies!