From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 07:53:26 -0400

Hi Monica. Sure, I'm happy to discuss the Mary James books. I used a pseudonym because I was very happy at HarperCollins (then Harper&Row) and thought the Kerr name was theirs. I also felt it would signal a middle grade audience, not my usual YA. (My new Harper book will be middle grade this time, too, and it will be a Kerr. It's called Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers). After Ann Reit, my editor, left Scholastic I stopped writing the James books. I think they cooled, too, for they never kept Shoebag Returns in print when I already had a curious audience where Shoebag was concerned. I love writing fantasy and middle grade fiction. I may write others, but probably as Kerr. I have always loved pseudonyms, It's the only way you can name yourself. When I give workshops for kids I get them to invent a pseudonym for themselves. I read the work aloud and they can say it's theirs or not, after they listen to class reactions. Mary James comes from my real first name: Marijane. Just as Kerr came from my last name Meaker. Thanks for bringing Mary James into the picture. I liked being her a lot, and sometimes feel except for Shoebag, she's forgotten. My favorite book as her is Frankenlouse. Cheers! mekerr
Received on Fri 21 Jun 2002 06:53:26 AM CDT