My Writing and Reading Life: Suzanne Williams

The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 7, 2013

Suzanne Williams: Virtual Visit

Suzanne Williams is the author of over 40 books for children, from picture books and easy readers to chapter books and middle grade fiction series. A former elementary school librarian, she lives near Seattle in Washington State. Her picture book, Library Lil (illustrated by Steven Kellogg) won the New Mexico children’s choice award in 2000 and was on several other state award lists. Her newest series include the Goddess Girls series (ages 8-12) and the Heroes in Training series (ages 7-10) both co-written with Joan Holub.

Latest published books … 

Goddess Girls #11: Persephone the Daring

(ages 8-12, co-authored with Joan Holub)

Heroes in Training #4: Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire

(ages 6 – 10, co-authored with Joan Holub)

Both books pubbed August 6.

You wrote them because …

Joan and I love writing about Greek mythology. We had lots of fun reimagining the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in Persephone the Daring, and leading a ten-year-old Zeus and his Olympian companions on a quest to find a magical Olympic Torch in Hyperion and the Great Balls of Fire.

Favorite place to write …

At my desk in my office where all is quiet and peaceful.

Suzanne Williams Office

Necessary writing/creativity tool …

My computer, books about mythology, a cup of tea, and my writing partner (though Joan lives across the country from me in North Carolina, she’s readily available for brainstorming by phone and email).

Favorite bookshop …

Mockingbird Books in Seattle.

Currently reading …

Adult nonfiction: The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies? By Jared Diamond.

All-time favorite children’s book you didn’t write…

BFG by Roald Dahl. (Partly because I read BFG —Big Friendly Giant—with my son several times when he was young. He loved repeating phrases like: “We is gallumping off to guzzle some human beans.” Like most writers, I love word play.

An author you idol …

Roald Dahl, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Barbara Park, Louis Sachar, Arnold Lobel, and many, many more, including my incredibly talented co-author, Joan Holub.

A favorite illustrator … 

Tedd Arnold (who illustrated a picture book of mine called My Dog Never Says Please), Lane Smith, Peggy Rathmann, and Joan’s and my Goddess Girls illustrator, Glen Hanson, and our Heroes in Training illustrator, Craig Phillips.

A literary character to vacation with …

Pippi Longstocking, who I loved when I was young and who has survived the test of time. I just think she’d be so much fun to hang around and do stuff with.

More Suzanne Williams …

Website: http://www.suzanne-williams.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goddessgirlsbooks
Blog: https://suzanne-williams.blogspot.com
Virtual visits: https://onlineauthorvisits.wordpress.com