1. You have cleverly woven a number of themes into Thank You, Sarah. Tell us about those themes and what inspired this book?

Oh, dear. I am more comfortable writing books than I am writing about writing books…here goes.
The inspiration was the amazing work undertaken by Sarah Hale. She is one of the shadow women of American history; someone whose life made a tremendous difference on our culture, but about whom not much was known.
I was most inspired by her persistence, and her belief that a day of thanks was such a profoundly important concept that she devoted a significant portion of her life to see it honored as a national holiday.

2. The story is told in a lighthearted vein.  Did you always envision it that way?

In early drafts of the book, I experimented with the balance between the biographical details of Sarah’s life and the historical development of Thanksgiving. My “A-ha!” moment came when I doodled a Superman shield in the margins of my notebook and put a capital S in the middle for Sarah Hale. That’s when I saw her as a real-life superhero for the first time. The mood of the book lightened and the story was energized.

3. Do you think humor is a helpful component in the presentation of certain historical facts to children?

Some topics would never lend themselves to a humorous approach. But for those that do, injecting a little (appropriate) humor can bring history to life for a child.

4. Thank You, Sarah makes the convincing case that the pen is indeed "mightier than the sword." When you were a child was there a particular book that exemplified this maxim for you?

The autobiography of Marion Anderson made an enormous impression on me when I was in elementary school. It made me aware of the pain of prejudice and the national sin of racism for the first time.  It opened my eyes.

5. The idea of empowerment and the need to speak out are the central themes of Thank You, Sarah and Speak. Did these concepts motivate you to become a writer?

I became a writer because I have always had stories going on in my head – from earliest memory.  I often feel compelled to write, to get the voices and descriptions on paper. But one can only write the truth in one’s heart. I seem to be devoted to the concepts of speaking up and speaking out.

6. You write for a broad age range of children. What is it about writing for children and young adults that appeals to you?

The challenge. To keep a child or teenager engaged, the writer has to stay on top of her game with every page. They are a demanding audience. They are also an incredibly kind audience. What greater gift could there be than the knowledge that you have written a story that touched the heart of a child?

7. If you had to choose one theme from Thank You, Sarah that you hope would resonate with children what would it be?

That persistence and good writing can make the world a better place.

8. What aspect of Thanksgiving means the most to you?

Sharing my blessings with the people I love. In second place – stuffing and gravy.

9. Although Thanksgiving is an inherently American celebration, do you think the concept could be transplanted to other countries to create A World Thanksgiving Day, and, as a descendent of Sarah Hale, would you be prepared to wage the campaign to make it happen?

Most cultures embrace some type of day of thanksgiving. Perhaps the first step in such a campaign would be to learn more about these celebrations. I’d love to do that.