Eileen Spinelli
Eileen Spinelli is an award-winning author and poet whose work includes the 1991 Christopher Award winner, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch; Lizzie Logan Wears Purple Sunglasses; When Mama Comes Home Tonight; Sophie’s Masterpiece; The Best Time of Day; and Polar Bear, Arctic Hare.
She learned to handle rejection at an early age, after being told that her 2nd grade composition, a story about a princess and a prince, was the worst in the class. (It might have something to do with the fact that the teacher had assigned a composition on food groups.) Ah, but even back then one could see an important key to Eileen’s future success. Follow your heart and you’ll find an audience for your stories.
For more information, see Eileen’s website, www.eileenspinelli.com. |
*Thank you so much for agreeing to “chat” with me. I’ve enjoyed so many of your books through the years and consider it a privilege to be able to have this “peek” into your writing process. You’ve had such a successful career in children’s books. Do you follow your heart or do you write to try to fit the market?
Definitely--my heart.
*You seem to have a gift for rhythm and fun language. Do you consider yourself, first and foremost, a poet or more of a storyteller instead? In other words, do you pay more attention to phrases and individual words or to story arc?
I find "language" to be my strength. I tend to agonize over plot.
*Tell us a little about your process to initial publication. Have you always been a writer?
Yes. Since I was six years old. I seem to have been born with a love for words in my bones.
I wrote for our school newspaper--so that would be my first publication.
But my first published work outside of school was a poem for which I was paid ten dollars. I was 18 years old. And the "call" was a thin envelope in my mailbox.
*How do you approach each book? Does it start with an idea, a phrase, an image? Do you keep an idea file?
There is no one way. Sometimes it's an idea. Sometimes a phrase. Sometimes an image. I keep an idea notebook--just a steno pad really.
*What are you trying to accomplish with each book? Do you have one overarching goal for your books?
Not really. I don't usually think in terms of a goal. More in terms of process and is this a fun, meaningful or interesting way to spend my time.
Goal comes in later--when I'm putting things together and looking towards finding a publisher.
*Tell us a little about your most recent book release (or the next one).
I have two novels in verse coming out.
WHERE I LIVE, Dial
SUMMERHOUSE TIME, Knopf
What I like about doing a longer project is that I get to visit with the characters longer...get to explore more feelings ...get to follow more "avenues".
*Whose work do you admire? Poetry? Picture books? Novels?
If I start naming names I'm sure to miss someone...so I'll just say that there is a wondrous feast of books, stories, poems out there which delight and inspire me.
Having said that--I will name one name: Jerry Spinelli.
*What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I hang out with my family. We have 16 grandkids!
I go to the movies. Watch DVDS.
I go to the theater.
I try to teach myself Italian.
I travel.
I "treasure hunt" at yard sales, flea markets and thrift shops.
I spend time with friends.
I cook. Clean. Do laundry.
I listen to music.
I host tea-parties.
I read!
*What do you do to market your books?
I do conferences. And my grandkids' schools/classrooms. And some writing workshops.
*Are you agented and do you feel it’s important for a children’s author to be agented?
Yes. Though I sold my first two books on my own.
I think it's great to have an agent.
It may be hard to get an agent before you sell a book--so for beginning writers I'd say not to be discouraged. Just keep sending your work out on your own.
*You publish with many different houses. (You had 8 books come out in 2004 alone!) How do you manage to be so prolific?
Funny--I'm not feeling so prolific. Life gets very busy. I may go weeks and not write.
Then I start wondering about all the stories/poems that are not coming to fruition because I'm not sitting in my chair!
*A list of your favorite things:
Food: Pasta, pizza, chocolate
Music: Broadway tunes...music from the 40's
Film: Out of Africa...I Am David...Love Actually...Sense and Sensibilty...The Queen...
(you can see I'm a film buff!)
Place: Home. Venice. London and the English countryside. Halifax, Nova Scotia
Holiday/Event: Christmas Eve
Cartoon character: Cathy
Sport: Basketball (to watch--I don't play!)
