Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
Tracie Vaughn Zimmer considers herself a teacher first after working with students of nearly every age and ability. She attended Ohio State University where she majored in special education, and received her master's degree in reading from Miami University of Ohio. In addition to writing poetry and novels for children, Tracie creates teacher guides, book club guides and curricula which are sought after by both award-winning authors and publishers. All of the guides are available for free on her popular website: www.tracievaughnzimmer.com.
Tracie’s most recent release, Reaching for Sun, was published this year by Bloomsbury and has recently been named to the Booksense Summer Picks list for 2007.
I’ve had the personal privilege of sharing a cuppa joe with this wonderful author. As a consolation for those of you who don’t have the chance to meet her in person, I’d highly encourage you to spend a few hours with her Reaching for Sun. You’ll find it to be time well invested! |
* Reaching for Sun is one of my favorite reads this year. I love that you’ve given us an honest portrayal of a girl with disabilities in a book that does NOT revolve around her disabilities. By the end, although Josie’s own voice and confidence is stronger, there is still heartache in her life. And yet, the book ends with great hope. Did you deliberately inject the story with this hope or is your process more organic?
I wanted it to be honest and all kids walk around with some kind of heartache, this I believe. Hope is necessary in children’s books. I don’t always find it in the first drafts though.
*Tell us about some of the response to Reaching for Sun. Which responses have been the most special?
The most amazing thing has been hearing from families of children with disabilities. It was something I took very seriously (and worried about immensely, holding Josie up as some kind of symbol) and I am so grateful that so many families have found Josie not just believable but worth knowing.
*Tell us about your next project.
I just finished my first prose novel titled THE RIVER PALACE (and I feel like I’m cheating on poetry, to tell you the truth). It is an historical fiction novel set in the summer of 1853. An adventure story told through the eyes of a BOY on a circus boat! Quite a departure for me. I have two other books coming out next year besides The River Palace- 42 MILES is a poetry/narrative collection about a girl learning to define herself and STEADY HANDS: POEMS ABOUT WORK are portraits of people doing their jobs. 2008 is going to be thrilling and busy!
*How do you approach each book? Does it start with an idea, a phrase, an image? Do ideas come easy or do you really have to search for them?
I have lots of ideas but most of them tank. I always have a notebook handy though in case I get a good one. An idea that keeps coming back (like all that laundry that never seems to disappear) is usually a good sign that it has staying power but I often don’t know until I’m drafting. If I lose faith or don’t want to work on it is a reason to let it go.
*Whose work do you admire? Poetry? Picture books? Novels?
Poetry- I’ve interviewed many of my favorite poets here. http://www.tracievaughnzimmer.com/poetry_house_interviews.htm
And here’s a list of some of my favorite poetry books EVER:
http://www.tracievaughnzimmer.com/guides/printerfriendlypoetrybooks.htm
I’m always buying and reading poetry though and I need to update that list!
Picture books-
Julia Durango (and not just because she’s my writing partner but the woman is a genius, thatsallIgottasay!!)
Lisa Wheeler cracks me up!
Carol Boston Weatherford (MOSES is a fave from last year)
Mo Willems (kids AND adults love his books. Wish I could do that!)
Novels-
A Single Shard and Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park
Winn Dixie and Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Patterson (The. Best. Children’s. Book. Ever)
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair by Schlitz WOW. HF at its best
RULES by Cynthia Lord
Bird by Angie Johnson
YA
Looking for Alaska by John Green (brain crush on Mr. Green)
The First Part Last by Angie Johnson
Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Pullman
Attolia series by Turner
All of Joan Bauer’s books
Sarah Dessen’s books (ALL!)
Etc.
Etc.
Sorry. I’ll stop. You know I can get carried away with booklists…
* A List of your Favorites:
Food: Chocolate
Music: Lori McKenna
Film: Out of Africa
Place: woods
Holiday/Event: Christmas
Cartoon character: Snoopy
Sport: Olympic Haiku (okay, okay, it’s not a sport, but it should be…)
