The picture above is a picture of the students (and poster-winners) of the first-ever Ask Don interview question contest. Here are three of the winning interview questions that students at Harmony School of Science submitted to me, along with my answers.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing a book?
In addition to writing, I’m also still working a full time job, which keeps me very busy. Between the job and writing, it doesn’t leave much time for anything else, but on those rare occasions when I do have some free time, I enjoy nature and spending time in the great outdoors. I love science of all kinds. I like to build models—airplanes and sailing ships. I enjoy watching a good movie, and sometime I like just reclining in my easy chair while I give my cat an extra-good massage.
Your kid’s books are great, but we will soon outgrow them. Would you consider writing a book for teens or pre-teens?
It just so happens that today’s Harmony School presentation features the first book in a series specifically for pre-teens—Sir Kaye, the Boy Knight. I am planning on writing 5 more books in the Sir Kaye series. I also hope to publish other stories in the future for older readers. For instance, I’m toying with the idea of some books for teens loosely based on the lives of some great inventors and innovators. However, this is where I need your support. In order for Cardboard Box Adventures to continue growing and publishing books, I need for all of you to spread the word. If you like my books, tell others about it, encourage your friends to read them, submit a review online. Your enthusiasm and support for CBA will ensure that it will be around for a long time.
What was your passion when you were little, and what or who inspired you to write books?
This is good question, and I had to spend some time thinking about it. While I was doing that, I actually made a discovery about myself. As a child, science and art were definitely my favorite subjects, but I do remember times when I thought it would be fun to be an author and to write stories. My dad loved to read, so I always felt that books were truly important. However, because I struggled with dyslexia as a kid, reading and writing were very difficult for me. I mistakenly thought that I could never write stories, let alone to be good at it. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized that if I really want to do something, even something difficult, that I could learn to do it and even to be good at it.
Side note: Chipper and the Unicycle is all about perseverance and how all of us can learn to do whatever we put our mind to, no matter how difficult it may seem at first.
Check back next week for Ask Don: Part Two.
Below are a few pictures of the kids during the presentation on Medieval Life.
