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.
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).
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.
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.
