Comments on: Author, Author: Deborah Freedman

By: bloglily

bloglily — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:34:34 +0000

Kate, Obviously, I am going to have to read “Dear Genius” — and thank you for the heads up about the meme — I love reading descriptions of food and I’d enjoy writing about it too.

Hello Debbie — hahaha indeed — I’m all over feeling like my life has been utterly wasted! And thank you so much for answering those nosy questions and letting me steal pictures from your blog. xoxo

U-Dad — The funny thing is that picture books contain stories that are quite interesting and appropriate for children dudelet’s age! So don’t give up on them for him just yet, okay?

Dear Jill, Hello and welcome. It’s very nice of you to stop by. And yes, I completely agree with you about the breaking of boundaries in an entertaining way. This is no small achievement!

By: Kate S.

Kate S. — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:21:56 +0000

Thanks for this interview. It’s my first encounter with Deborah Freeman’s work and I’m looking forward to checking out “Scribble.” And I second her recommendation of “Dear Genius”–it’s a wonderful book.

In an off topic note, I created a “Food and Fiction” meme on my blog yesterday, partially inspired by your comment last week about your family salivating its way through the Little House series. If you fancy having a go, I’d love to read your answers!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:19:15 +0000

Thanks so much, EVERYONE, for your kind words and for visiting! And of course, thanks to BL, who has certainly found her voice (and it is a generous one).

Also, Lily, hahahahaha.

By: (un)relaxeddad

(un)relaxeddad — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:41:21 +0000

Great interview – will have to dig around for her books on our next trip out to the library with dudelet (though he’s starting to suggest more and more frequently that anything with too many pictures in is the preserve of dudelette)

By: Jill Corcoran

Jill Corcoran — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:15:24 +0000

Wonderful interview.
Deborah is an amazing talent. Her book, SCRIBBLE, breaks boundries while completely entertaining children and their parents.
I love that bonus art of Geese…Gum…Giraffes:)

By: bloglily

bloglily — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:26:11 +0000

Litlove, I come to your comment after considering my latest writing rejection. Most things worth having and doing take a long time to come to fruition. I forget that often. What I would like to remember when I’m stewing over the time I spend on stories that seem to fall on deaf ears, is that my writing isn’t standing still during these waiting periods — – if you’re really dedicated to your work, you’ll be improving it and as Debbie says, finding your proper voice.

By: Litlove

Litlove — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:26:06 +0000

What a wonderful, delightful interview! It’s a lovely portrait of your friendship as well as a fascinating insight into the writerly life. I really like what Deborah says about rejection and the fact that it ought to take a while to find the right voice and get tuned in to your audience. I like that a lot.

By: bloglily

bloglily — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:02:21 +0000

Hi Lisa, It’s a beautiful book; funny too. The perfect gift for nieces, nephews, and other beloved children in your life.

Dear Lokesh — You’re welcome. One of the things I love about her work is how it expands your idea of what a book is, not in a self-conscious way, but in an incredibly entertaining and eye-opening way.

Dear Paul, It’s rare and important to have friends who can look at your work and tell you what they really think. It’s also rare and important to have friends who buck you up when you’re thinking really insane things like, “I will die and never produce anything of any literary merit. Ever.” That’s when you need to hear “hahahahaha” over the phone.

Jacqui — I agree! I should have added a caption to the picture — it’s a Goose, stepping on Gum, left by Goslings, playing under the Giraffes. Now there’s a G page, if I’ve ever seen one (and believe me, I have read my share of alphabet books over the years.)

By: lalber

lalber — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:19:18 +0000

Thanks for this interview! Her art is beautiful. I’ll have to check out her books in the flest (so to speak).

By: Lokesh

Lokesh — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:08:02 +0000

Another really interesting interview. I particularly liked the idea of using “every inch of the book”, a wonderful, eye-opening way of putting it, and also, the idea of how pages contribute to the rhythm of the story.

I visited Deborah’s site and I completely agree, her pictures are amazing.

Thank you to you both.

By: strugglingwriter

strugglingwriter — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:05:00 +0000

Great interview with your friend. This rings true for me:

“I also need at least one other friend who loves my writing, and loves me enough to say when my work is, um, wanting”

Paul

By: Jacqui

Jacqui — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:56:53 +0000

Fabulous interview with a fabulous illustrator. I love the duck stuck in gum.