The Public Libraries of Birmingham/Jefferson County 

the READER

Vol. 12, No. 2 Teal Button MAY, JUNE, JULY Teal Button 2002

 

              
     

 

     
  

  

 

 


An Interview With
Tony Crunk
Alabama Author
Interview conducted by Leslie West, Bessemer Public Library

Tell us a little about your background.
I grew up in western Kentucky, studied creative writing at the University of Virginia, taught at the University of Montana for six years and then joined the English Department faculty at UAB last year. As a writer, I started out writing poetry and only recently moved on to children’s books.

Where do you get your ideas for children’s books?
From both experience and imagination. Big Mama is about a real person in the neighborhood I grew up in, my best friend’s grandmother. Grandpa’s Overalls, though, is just a whimsical story I made up to make myself (and, I hope, other people) laugh.

How did you connect with your illustrators? Why did you use different ones for each of your books?
I don’t get to choose the illustrators - the publisher does that. But, I’ve been pleased with the art in both my books, even though they’re different from each other.

What are you currently working on?
I have two new books looking for a publisher - one is about Big Mama’s neighbor, Mr. Chester, who ran a junkyard. The other is a tall tale about an amazing train ride. I hope you’ll be seeing them in the library soon!

     "If You Like... Goosebumps and Fear Street ...
You’ll Also Like"

Blackwater Swamp
by Bill Wallace

Creepy Classics
by Mary Hill

Danger at the Fair
by Peg Kehret

Drum the Doll and Zombie
by John Bellairs

Ghost Comes Calling
by Betty Wright

Goblins in the Castle
by Bruce Coville

Haunted Year
by Ann Phillips

McMummy
by Betsy Byars

My Sister, the Vampire
by Nancy Garden

Raw Head, Bloody Bones
by Mary Lyons

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
by Alvin Schwartz

Scary Story Reader
by Richard Young

Seven Spiders Spinning
by Gregory Maguire

Something Upstairs
by Avi

Spell It M-U-R-D-E-R
by Ivy Ruckman

Wait Till Helen Comes
by Mary Downing Hahn

What Happened in Hamelin?
by Gloria Skurzynski

Who’s There?
by Stephanie Tolan

     

 

     
     

 

    Compiled by Leslie West
Bessemer Public Library

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Summer Library Program 2002