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Archives - October 2004

Interview: Chris Van Allsburg, author of The Polar Express

Oct 15, 2004

October 15, 2004

According to author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, his Caldecott Medal-winning picture book THE POLAR EXPRESS originated with the image of a train standing alone in the woods. He then asked himself, What if a boy gets on the train? What does he do, and where does he go? From there, ideas of Christmas, Santa Claus and faith began to take shape. Kidsreads.com Founder Carol Fitzgerald talks to Allsburg about this cherished holiday classic and his thoughts on the film adaptation, which will be released on November 10th.

Interview: S. J. Rozan, author of Absent Friends

Oct 15, 2004

October 15, 2004

Bookreporter.com's Carol Fitzgerald, Joe Hartlaub and Wiley Saichek interviewed Edgar Award winner S.J. Rozan, whose latest thriller ABSENT FRIENDS is set in New York following the horrific events of September 11, 2001. Rozan talks about the impact that 9/11 had on her career as a fiction writer, some of the characters who populate the novel, and what readers can expect from her in the future.

Interview: Stephen R. Donaldson, author of The Runes of the Earth: The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, Book 1

Oct 15, 2004

October 15, 2004

Bookreporter.com's contributing writer Cindy Lynn Speer interviewed Stephen R. Donaldson, author of six previous books in "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" series and THE RUNES OF THE EARTH, the first of four new "Covenant" novels. Donaldson talks about his decision to return to the world of Thomas Covenant following a 21-year hiatus, the current state of the fantasy genre, and the strong influence that his childhood in India had on his writing abilities.

Interview: S.E. Hinton, author of Hawkes Harbor

Oct 8, 2004

October 8, 2004

Cindy Lynn Speer and Wiley Saichek of Bookreporter.com interview bestselling young adult author S.E. Hinton, who has written a novel for an adult audience titled HAWKES HARBOR. Hinton talks about the fictional town in which the book is set, why she chose to write a tale that features a vampire and her decision in the 1980s to take a break from fiction writing.

Interview: Charlene Ann Baumbich, author of Dearest Dorothy, Help! I've Lost Myself : Welcome to Partonville, Book 3

Oct 1, 2004

October 2004

"When the story calls, I listen," says Charlene Baumbich, and for her many loyal readers, Baumbich's fictional evocations of the antics of the residents of Partonville make them seem like old friends, and provide endless pages of enjoyment. She has penned the first three books of her projected five-book series --- DEAREST DOROTHY, ARE WE THERE YET?, DEAREST DOROTHY, SLOW DOWN, YOU'RE WEARING US OUT! and DEAREST DOROTHY, HELP! I'VE LOST MYSELF --- and is hard at work on the next. Bookreporter.com interviewer Cindy Crosby recently chatted with the irrepressible Baumbich about the delightful characters who populate the Dearest Dorothy series, her love of a well-told story, the importance of intergenerational relationships, and her confessed addiction to White Castle hamburgers.

Interview: Greg Rucka, author of A Gentleman's Game

Oct 1, 2004

October 1, 2004

Joe Hartlaub, Wiley Saichek and Sean Doorly interview Greg Rucka, whose latest book A GENTLEMAN'S GAME is based on his graphic novel series QUEEN & COUNTRY. Rucka talks about his inspiration for the creation of female assassin Tara Chace and his decision to use the British intelligence service as a basis for the story. He also shares his thoughts on writing graphic novels vs. conventional novels and how it feels to be associated with such iconic characters as Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman.

Author Talk: Jeff Shaara, author of To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War

Oct 1, 2004

October 2004

In this interview Jeff Shaara, author of TO THE LAST MAN, explains why he decided to write a novel about World War One after exploring earlier periods in American history in previous books. He also discusses the appeal of two of his main characters, the research he conducted for this latest project, and the lessons that can be learned from such a gripping story.