Resort Chat: Irene Latham

The Book Resort is over the moon to have the fantabulous Irene Latham over for a little dish.

Irene is one of the incredible tenners!

Ready? Let's go!

Me: What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

IL: Another midgrade historical fiction set in 1902 Martinique in which two girls - one American, one native - espape the eruption of Mt. Pelee.


Me: Spiderman or Superman:

IL: Superman

Me: Wonder Woman or Batgirl:

IL: Wonder Woman

Me: Chunky or Smooth:

IL: Chunky

Me: Favorite flavor ice cream:

IL: Mint chocolate chip

Me: Favorite ice cream topping:

IL: Chocolate syrup

Me: Subway or Taxi:

IL: Taxi

Me: Broadway Show or Movie Theater:

IL: Broadway

Me: TiVO or DVR:

IL: Neither

Me: Favorite vacation place:

IL: New York City

Me: Next vacation destination:

IL: Cape San Blas, Florida

Me: Favorite NYC hotspot:

IL: Carmine's

Me: Guilty Pleasure:

IL: Dove promises dark chocolate

Me: Good luck charm:

IL: A seed pod I pulled from a wisteria vine

Me: When you were a little girl, you thought you would grow up to be a….

IL: Mom

Me: Last thing bought at the mall:

IL: Cute handbag at a kiosk

Me: Item on your grocery list:

IL: Milk

Me: French fries or Onion Rings:

IL: Onion rings

Me: Pizza: New York or Chicago?

IL: New York

Me: Midnight snack:

IL: Chocolate milk

Me: Bookmark or dog ear?

IL: Bookmark

Me: Read with dustjacket or remove it?

IL: With

Me: Ocean, Lake, Desert, Mountain:

IL: Mountain

Me: Favorite book:

IL: Impossible to say!

Me: Item you can't live without:

IL: Tweezers

Me: Who is your favorite writer that most people have never heard of?

IL: My father

Me: What kid or teen books made a difference in your world growing up?

IL: Little House books

Me: Where do you like to write your books (bed ~ coffee shop ~ an office)?

IL: Corner of my dining room

Me: Describe your ideal place to write: lots of natural light, my "nature center" neaby

Me: What are you reading @ the moment?

IL: A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer

Me: Where do you usually read?

IL: In bed, in my van

Me: Do you usually have more than one book you are reading at a time?

IL: Always

Me: Do you read nonfiction in a different way or place than you read fiction?

IL: Not really



About Irene:

Irene is the middle child and first daughter of five kids.

Irene has lived all sorts of places and traveled worldwide. For the past 25 years she has called Birmingham, Alabama, home.

She thinks growing up with three brothers was great preparation for raising her three sons. She also thinks getting a sister was one of the best things that has ever happened to her.

Irene is proud to be the only leftie in her family of origin AND in her current family.

According to Irene's Dr. Seuss' MY BOOK ABOUT ME, she has wanted to be writer since she was eight years old.

She also wanted to train a horse that her sister would ride to victory in the Kentucky Derby. That hasn't happened. Yet.

Irene didn't take a single writing course in college.

In 2000 Irene pulled her poems and stories out of drawers and began to pursue publication of her work. Since then she has published over 120 poems.

Irene's favorite characters in book and real life are those who go their own way.

Currently she is working on another midgrade novel ESCAPE FROM FIRE MOUNTAIN set in 1902 Martinique in which two girls escape the eruption of Mt. Pelee and a book of poems TELL ME in which women from art and history tell truths, secrets and lies about their loves and lives.

Check out:

Irene's website

Irene's blog

Irene on Twitter

Irene on Facebook

Tenners


Leaving Gee's Bend arrives from G.P. Putnam's Sons on January 7, 2010

Now available for pre~order!

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