From: Karen L. Simonetti <klsimonetti>
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 16:22:09 -0500

Well, ME you said we could "ask away"...so here goes nothing...[Warning! I have been known to ramble.]

In thinking back over your novels, I can only help but smile. Each reading experience was rich. Each time shared with another reader, another gift. I came to children's/YA literature late in life (after an illustrious lusty career as a legal eagle aka attorney), and it was Roger Sutton who first put -Gentlehands- into my hands. (I could comment on Dean's students and their reaction to the antagonist, but will hold off for another post.) Just recently, I read -Slap Your Sides- and during the years in between have managed to read about everything else you've written.

One thing that I find most compelling (I won't bother imitating a book review) about all your works are the characters. How do you find them? Do any of them have other stories to tell? Do you know the characters whose stories you've yet to tell? By that I mean, do the characters grow over a period of time? Or are they thrust into a story that must be told?

And seriously ME, thanks in advance for your generous participation in this month's discussion. Once again, your giving + reaching out to this community of educators, librarians and scholars is duly noted.

Karen Sue
...who highly recommends reading ME's Children's Book Week Luncheon Speech of this past year... Children's Book Week Luncheon Speech which discusses the evolution of -Slap Your Sides- can be found at: http://www.childrensbookguild.org/CBL_kerrspeach.html

Bonus Question: Favorite Cover Art? (I've always liked -Hello I Lied-)

We have art so that we may not die of reality.
-NietzscheKaren L. Simonetti phone: 312.337.7114 email: klsimonetti at earthlink.net


We have art so that we may not die of reality.
-NietzscheKaren L. Simonetti phone: 312.337.7114 email: klsimonetti at earthlink.net
Received on Thu 13 Jun 2002 04:22:09 PM CDT