I’ve written about such diverse subjects as Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park, in The Man Who Made Parks, illustrated by Song Nan Zhang (Tundra, 1999) because I’ve loved Central Park since I was a kid and it’s still one of my favorite places on earth. I’m always amazed at what intrigues me or what draws me in to learn more and then write about it. What I do know is that part of the joy of writing for me is finding the story or idea that I’m excited about and pursuing it. “If you’re all over the map and writing in different areas, it’s not good for your career,” she insisted. She said it’s important to “brand” yourself. A fellow writer once suggested I stick to one genre. I’ve meandered to different genres, followed my interests, taken a new fork in the road, and ventured into new themes. Would you describe your career as a hike up a mountain, a winding road, a path of hills and valleys or hop-scotching from rock to rock across the rapids? Why? To the young me I’d say: “Cherish words of encouragement, stay true to your voice, listen to wise suggestions for revision, only send in your best work, and never give up.” And the editor and I are still friends after all those years, too. That book, Oonga Boonga (Little Brown, 1990 Scholastic Canada, 1998 Dutton, 1999), is still in print after over 20 years. “We’d like to publish your book,” she said. We talked about writing, life, etc., and it was only at the end of lunch that I asked, “Could I send you a manuscript?”Īfter she rejected (graciously and supportively) seven manuscripts over the next two years, she finally called me about my eighth submission. She was (and is) kind, smart and encouraging. We happened to stand near each other while choosing food in the long line at the cafeteria. I met my first editor at lunch at an SCBWI New York conference many years ago when it was held at Bank Street. What memories of your debut author experience stand out? If you could offer advice to the new voice you once were, what would you say? She grew up in New York City, but now lives in Toronto, Canada. Canadian author Frieda Wishinsky has written many acclaimed books for children including Please Louise, illustrated by Marie Louise Gay (Groundwood Books, 2007), which won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, and Explorers Who Made It…Or Died Trying (Scholastic Canada, 2011), currently nominated for both the Hackmatack and Red Cedar children’s choice awards.
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