...whimsy... - Interview with Catherine Ipcizade!

Interview with Catherine Ipcizade!

Feb. 15th, 2008 at 2:37 PM

I am so excited to have you at Whimsy Books today. It's always encouraging to the rest of us hopeful writers to see someone make it in this crazy business!

Hi, Emily! It's so nice to be here, "cyber-visiting!"

1. Tell us a little about your new book, 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day, and what inspired it.

'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day is a humorous picture book that describes the happenings at the zoo the day before the kids come for Zoo Day. The problem is, things aren't going quite right. Llamas are spitting, zebras are griping about their stripes (they want spots instead), the monkeys won't quit hanging from their toes, and the elephants keep splashing everyone with their trunks! And to make matters worse, a poor alligator mistakes a bee for a fly and winds up being stung in the eye! Whether or not Zoo Day will go off without a hitch is something people will have to read to find out!

I was inspired to write the book after volunteering in my son's first grade classroom. It's no mystery that kids love to learn--especially at this age.They're little sponges, soaking up information on every topic under the sun. Kids this age love animals. They enjoy learning about their habitats, what they eat, how they sleep, etc. The problem is, these kids are still young readers, and young readers want to be entertained, too. The books I watched them read were either strictly non-fiction, delivering factual information but no entertainment, or fiction only, which is fun, but may or may not inform. So I decided to write a story that did both, and voila!--a book baby was born.

2. I noticed you have a few other books coming out this year about zoo animals. Are animals a passion of yours? Were these books biproducts of your research for 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day?

Have you ever fallen into something quite by accident? That's what happened here. I loved the books Sylvan Dell was publishing. I knew I wanted to write for them, so I tailored 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day to meet their editorial needs. Through research for the book (all the animal facts were checked for complete accuracy) I found myself more and more entranced by animals, particularly African/Zoo animals. I was lucky enough to receive an e-mail from Capstone Press shortly thereafter asking if I'd like to write a few books for their upcoming African Animals series. It's been a joy.

3. How much research did you have to do for 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day? How did you organize your research?

More than you might think! Because every animal fact in the book had to be correct, I spent much time researching animal habitat and behavior, in print and online. I organized my research by making a list of animals I thought were interesting and listing all the facts I could find under each name. After that, I wrote the story. It's written in rhyme, so I basically wrote a stanza or two for each animal, then, after the initial manuscript was complete, I omitted the ones that just didn't "feel" right with the story.

4. Do you have scheduled writing time every day or do you write whenever you find time?

Ooh, I'd love to have a scheduled writing time, but with a four-year-old, a seven-year-old, a Master's Degree-in-progress, and a freelancing career, finding time to write books isn't always easy.Still, I do write nearly every day, even if it's only for short snippets at a time. My favorite time to write is in the early morning. And oddly enough, my best ideas come to me in the shower--how unfair is that!? It's not easy trying to remember them long enough to get out, get dressed, and get to the computer! :)

5. What was the hardest part of writing 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day?

There wasn't really a hard part, per se. Trying to make the animal facts fit with the fun nature of the rhyme was a bit challenging, but overall it was a joy to write. I did make a few initial mistakes, though. For example, did you know giraffes burp? I didn't! When I wrote the book, I mentioned that giraffes do "not" burp. I had to modify the text to say that they merely "try not to" burp.

6. What was the most exciting?

The most exciting part was when the stanzas came together and I could actually envision the illustrations to go with them. It was thrilling.

7. I know that you have worked very hard to get to this point. Do you have any pointers for other aspiring writers?

I know it sounds cliche, but don't give up. When I decided to become a writer, I literally tried everything--blogging, article writing, food writing, parenting writing, web content, greeting cards, etc. You name it, I did it, both for experience and exposure, to give my resume some credebility. My love is writing for children. That is my passion. I do it whether I get rejected or accepted. I do it because not doing isn't an option. I'm not afraid to learn or to try new things--in fact, I'm trying my hand at writing an MG and YA novel, both in verse. Whether or not I'll succeed to sink is yet to be determined. A writer has to write. She also has to be a businesswoman. If you want to sell what you write, you've got to learn the market, and be willing to throw yourself into the trenches. Give it your all and someday, when the time is right, your efforts will be rewarded.

8. Finally, name a few of your favorite picture books, other than your own.

I love One Odd Day, by Doris Fisher. I also love Goodnight Moon, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, and Inside a House That is Haunted--and so many more!

Thanks so much for visiting!Thanks so much for having me! Next time I'll bring the cyber-chocolate cake and cocoa!