Interview with Exquisite Corpse Authors and Illustrators!

An Interview with NCBLA Exquisite Corpse Adventure Contributor, Author Steven Kellogg!

Steven wrote and illustrated Episode 11,  in which our brave hero Joe faces off with a squidly beast in the depths of the sea, and brought Angel, the pirate, back into the story in Episode 20. Check them out!

Steven Kellogg has loved children's books since he was a child and was always drawn to stories about animals. When he grew up, his own animals inspired him to write Pinkerton, Behave! and A Rose for Pinkerton.

The NCBLA asked Steven the following questions:

Q-What did you find to be the most challenging aspect of writing an episode for The Exquisite Corpse Adventure?

A-"The most challenging aspect of creating episodes for the ECA was choosing which characters and plot directions to concentrate on during the time that I was advancing the story, and then deciding how to conclude my segment with an intriguing detail that would propel both the readers and the waiting author into the next phase."

Q-What were some of your favorite books when you were in elementary school?

A-"When I was in school, I loved books about animals. Among my favorites were King of the Wind, by Marguerite Henry, Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight, and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell."

Q-What are you working on now? Do you have a new book coming out this year?

A-"I am working on Rip Van Winkle, which will be the next book in my series inspired by American tall tales. This year Scholastic is publishing a book by Ruth Krauss that I illustrated called: And I Love You."

Look for Steven's books at your favorite library and bookstore.

Visit Steven's website for more information on his books.

The FINAL Episode of The Exquisite Corpse Adventure Will be Revealed at the National Book Festival on September 25th!

Join emcee Mary Brigid Barrett and Team Corpse authors and illustrators M. T. Anderson, Timothy Basil Ering, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, and James Ransome for an hour of fun and surprises as they bring you the conclusion to this rollicking, episodic story The Exquisite Corpse Adventure.

Katherine Paterson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, will lead her colleagues in a dramatic reader's theatre presentation of Episode 27, the FINAL episode to conclude this yearlong adventure that began at last year's National Book Festival with Jon Scieszka's opening episode. Be sure to join us in the Children's Pavilion on the National Mall in Washington, D. C. at 10:00 AM sharp to be among the first to learn the fate of Nancy, Joe, and their friends!

The National Book Festival is an all-day event---free and open to the public---that celebrates the joy of books by enabling book lovers to meet their favorite authors and illustrators in six different pavilions. Each Team Corpse author and illustrator will also be giving an individual presentation in the Children's Pavilion or Teen's Pavilion at different times throughout the day.

Linda Sue Park in the Children's Pavilion at 11:00 AM
Timothy Basil Ering in the Children's Pavilion at 1:15 PM

M. T. Anderson in the Teen's Pavilion at 1:45 PM

James Ransome in the Children's Pavilion at 2:40 PM

Katherine Paterson in the Teen's Pavilion at 4:05 PM

Other beloved authors and illustrators for children and teens who will be discussing their work at this year's Book Festival include: Michael Buckley,  Suzanne Collins, Margarita Engle, Jules Feiffer, Mem Fox, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Jane Smiley, Jeff Smith, Rebecca Stead, Judith Viorst, and Rosemary Wells!

Read more about this year's book festival on the LOC's 2010 Book Festival Website.

SEE YOU THERE!