Good afternoon, everyone!
Welcome to another post from Bookmarked, Jan-Carol Publishing's book blog for readers and authors alike.
This week, I have a special Q&A to share involving a talented author whose lovely children's book, Maggie the Cat Who Came Home for Christmas, is getting a sequel this fall.
I am, of course, talking about Julia Russo. Her first book, Maggie the Cat Who Came Home for Christmas, features delightful illustrations that bring you inside Grandpa Charlie Green's mountainside farmhouse. Join Maggie the cat, Pip the goat, Grandpa Charlie Green, Daddy, and of course, little Wilhelmina Olive Blessing, for this sweet wintertime story.
How do they get little Maggie home? Join the fun by reading the story out loud, or read along with others! You will love this story of Maggie, the cat who comes home for Christmas. To purchase Julia's book, you can go to this link.
Later this year, you will be able to read Julia's much-anticipated sequel, called Maggie the Cat Loves Pip's Thanksgiving Surprise. But until then, please enjoy the following Q&A with Julia, and tune in to this Friday's podcast episode, because Draco got the opportunity to interview Julia in greater detail there.
BOOKMARKED: At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to write a book?
JULIA RUSSO: About 30 years ago, my friend, who also happened to be my next-door neighbor, had a beautiful little cat named Maggie. One day, Maggie ran off. They would go outside and call, “Mag-gie! Mag-gie! Mag-gie!” Then, surprisingly and suddenly, right before Christmas, Maggie came home. It was on that day that I decided... I didn’t know when, but one day, I would write a book, and that book would be called Maggie the Cat Who Came Home for Christmas.
Do you ever get writer's block? If so, how do you combat this?
Ha! It’s actually completely the opposite. My problem is, I get going and I get on overload, and I write way too much. In fact, that’s how Pip’s Thanksgiving Surprise came about. I kept writing for Maggie and realized that sometimes simplicity is the best. You can overdo, and so, yes, I get the opposite of writer’s block.
What do you hope people take away from reading Maggie the Cat Who Came Home for Christmas?
I want all of you to know that everything is going to be okay.
What can you preview about your sequel to Maggie the Cat, which is slated to come out later this year?
Everyone goes back up to Grandpa Charlie Green’s mountain farmhouse for a Thanksgiving homecoming. Pip, the goat, will soon have a Thanksgiving surprise. But what will it be? Will it have to do with treats in the oven? Will it have to do with a new park for the children to play in, being built at the neighbor’s farm? Or finally, will it have to do with Pip’s best friend ever, Maggie? Let’s all find out together!
Was it fun to return to familiar characters with this sequel?
Absolutely! I love these characters. Wilhelmina loves her Grandpa Charlie Green, and he is crazy about her. Maggie is such a sweet little cat, and Pip is just loads of fun!
Is there anything else you'd like to add regarding Pip's Thanksgiving Surprise?
There was a park being built right down the street from where I lived. I used to walk my little dog Chloe, who was declining, and I would carry her part way, and we would sit on a bench and watch them build the park. And as they built this park, I started thinking about little goats that came nearby and cleared brush in a nearby area. All of a sudden, the ideas for a story kept coming together, and I proceeded to write it!
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Thanks again, Julia, for participating in the blog this week! And to everyone reading, please listen to our podcast this Friday to hear more about Julia's books and her inspiration behind the stories!
Have a great week!
Allison Chudina
Editorial Assistant
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
Bookmarked
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