Carrie Pearson

Author website/social media:

Website: http://www.carriepearsonbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carrieapearson
New Instagram author account: https://www.instagram.com/carrieapearson.author/
Instagram personal account: https://www.instagram.com/carrieapear/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carrieapearson/

Carrie at a recent book signing

And school visit

1. When you were my age (10), did you like to read?

I LOVED to read at your age, and still do. When I was ten, I spent as much time reading as I possibly could. I read on my living room couch, at the table during meals (when my mom allowed it), up in a maple tree in the front yard, soaking in the tub, and in bed before lights out. Don’t tell my mom, but I also read after lights out.

2. What is a book that made an impact on you?

If I have to select one, it would be Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, original cover by Wesley Dennis shown here. My heart raced when the Spanish ship carrying beautiful horses is caught in a terrible storm and the horses have to swim for their lives. My heart dropped when Misty and her mother were sold to a different owner than Maureen and Paul. And my heart soared when Misty and the Beebe children built a trusting relationship. This book completely captured me and influenced the name I chose for my first horse which was Daughter of the Wind. Very dramatic, right? J

3. Is it hard to come up with book ideas? You write both fiction and non-fiction – is that hard?

I usually don’t have trouble with ideas. My family and friends often hear me say, “Hey, what if there was a book about X?” and we debate that idea. The hard part is finding the right way to tell the story that chooses me. I want all my books – fiction and nonfiction – to be memorable and leave a lasting impact on readers. That goal makes me work hard to tell a story in a way that grabs readers, changes them somehow, and makes them want to share the book with others.

4. What author or book have you read recently that impacted you?

A brand new book called GIRLS WITH GUTS! THE ROAD TO BREAKING BARRIERS AND BASHING RECORDS by DebbieGonzalez rocked my world. This nonfiction picture book introduces brave women throughout history who were instrumental in changing the world of athletics for women and girls. It’s compelling reading, the art is fun, and I learned a lot about the challenges women who came before me faced when all they wanted to do is play sports! Crazy.

5. Is there a new or lesser known author you think kids should be aware of?

Lindsey McDivitt is an author and editor whose latest book is a picture book biography called NATURE’S FRIEND: THE GWEN FROSTIC STORY. I know children will like Lindsey’s writing because it conjures images in our heads. For example, here is the opening line of NATURE’S FRIEND: “Gwen followed her brothers and sisters everywhere, like a small fawn follows its herd.” I’m particularly drawn to this biography of nature artist Gwen Frostic because like Gwen, I feel the natural world is so important and we should respect and care for it. I’ve recently been honored with the Michigan Reading Association’s Gwen Frostic Award which brings me great joy. But back to Lindsey! I hope you’ll check out her new book and here is her website to learn more: https://www.lindseymcdivitt.com/about/

6. What advice do you have for a kid who wants to be an author?

Read, write, explore, and repeat. It’s really that simple. Read things you know you’ll like. Read things you don’t think you’ll like. Write easy things. Write harder things. Explore places you love. Explore places you think you won’t love. Do these things over and over. Keep trying and reaching and sharing what you learn and write with others. If you do these things, you’ll realize you are an author already.

7. As an author, do you hear from your readers? What do you like about that?

Because my readers are younger, I mostly hear from them during my school visits or after the visit when they send thank you notes. I love hearing what they learned from my talks and my books. I love knowing that their world has shifted a bit with new information. And I love just hearing their perspectives. One of my favorites is this one from a very young student. J Spoiler alert: the answer is yes.

8. If you could portal into any book (yours or another person’s), what book would it be?

WOW. This is a HARD question! Any story told well makes me want to enter that world. But, okay, today I’ll portal from my home in upper Michigan into the world of my most recent nonfiction picture book, STRETCH TO THE SUN: FROM A TINY SPROUT TO THE TALLEST TREE ON EARTH. The ecosystem in Redwood National Park in northern California, where my main character lives, is so special. It’s cool, and quiet, and yet completely full of life. It smells green and piney. The coast redwoods found there are astoundingly tall and so grand, they are hard to comprehend. Here is a picture of me taken on my research trip for the book. This isn’t a particularly big tree by coast redwood standards but it had a river of water running from the top to the bottom of the tree which I’d never seen before.