The Edge of the Forest and Our Interview
with the Courteous Mr. Alan Gratz
January 15th, 2007 by jules
Check out the January ’07 issue of The Edge of the Forest, edited by Kelly Herold of the ever-informative Big A little a. In addition to this month’s features and book reviews (including features by Allie at Bildungsroman/Slayground, MotherReader, and Franki from A Year of Reading), Eisha and I contributed to this month’s issue by interviewing Alan Gratz, the YA author who penned Samurai Shortstop (reviewed here by Eisha way back in August) and who is working on a new title, which you can read all about at the interview.
Because Eisha and I both knew Alan when we all lived in Knoxville and both worked with him in theatruh endeavors, I am including a picture of him here as a very solemn-looking Badger (with a walking stick at that) in a children’s stage adaptation of Wind in the Willows from ten years ago! Hee hee. Gotta love it. I think Alan has a healthy sense of humor and will laugh, though for all I know he’s now plotting my demise, at the very least attaching a picture of me to the center of a dart board at this very moment. To be fair, that’s me, standing in the center of all the actors — the one with the bizarre mime-like make-up, hand-flapping my way across the outdoor stage as a shadow interpreter in the show. I’m signing “DANGER!” and with a very alarmed look. I don’t remember what exactly Mole was up to at that particular moment, but it couldn’t have been good.
For the record, Alan was a great Badger. Alan, if you’re highly embarrassed and need retaliation, Eisha says she’ll step up and post embarrassing photos of her and me in a stage adapation of “The Elephant’s Child” (hey, have I mentioned to anyone that I have memorized that. entire. story?). It’s only fair.
And, yes, in our interview with Alan we threw the Pivot Questionnaire at him. But, lest you think we’re obsessed with it, we interviewed him before we decided to interview bloggers. We thought the questionnaire was so fun and weirdly insightful that we decided to include it in our upcoming blogger interviews. I mean, who would have thought that asking someone what sound or noise they love could tell you so much about them? (We probably both have also dreamed of being Academy Award-winning actresses who get asked those questions by James Lipton and get quizzed by adoring acting students afterwards, but I digress. Eisha has been holding on to — for years now — her favorite funky, second-hand, thrift store dresses for the day she wins the Oscar or Tony. She won’t let the dream die. Good for her). Where was I? So, no, we don’t ask strangers on the street what their least favorite word is. Asking Alan those questions inspired us to include them in our upcoming blogger interviews.
Enjoy the interview (and, as always, the rest of the informative write-ups and reviews at The Edge of the Forest). Alan made the interview easy and fun to do.
Jules…are you signing “DANGER!” or “dang-er…what’s dang-er?”
Jeez, I hope you get that joke, it goes back a while. I’ve finally started reading your blog, and I love it, although I feel rather behind on my reading. Keep up the great work!
Funny! The other day I saw the word “renewed” from an awkward angle and thought “what’s ren-ewed”? And then it reminded me of “dang-er” and I was laughing about it for the rest of the day.
Thanks Jules!
Hi, Tracy! DAN-GURRR! Oh my, where’s Michael Hatcher when you need him? Look at you and Chris, drudging up embarrassing moments in my past. How funny. Glad you visited the site, Tracy. Eisha and I haven’t heard yet from Mr. Gratz, so he might be attaching aforesaid picture to aforesaid dartboard. I think it’s more likely that he hasn’t picked up his email yet; I hope so. But, if I go missing and all, remember this conversation.
Guess we’ll have to get the “Elephant’s Child” photos ready and prepare to embarrass ourselves. It’s only fair.
Eisha, you hang on to that Oscar/Tony dream. I’ve got one, too. We’ll chat some time at a barbeque.
Well, Robin, it’s looking really really unlikely since I’ve retired from acting. But maybe someday I’ll accompany my husband as he wins a Tony for set design. Or maybe I’ll write a play. Or a screenplay. Or a book that gets made into a movie. Whatever.
I’m totally up for barbecue, if by barbecue you mean beer and something vegetarian that’s been slathered in bbq sauce and thrown on a grill.