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MEET the author team of JUDITH ROSS ENDERLE and STEPHANIE GORDON
By Ann Stalcup

How long have you been writing as a team ?

Stephanie Gordon and Judith Ross Enderle

We met in 1979 in a class taught by Eve Bunting at UCLA. Shortly after that we began writing together. Most authors toil with only themselves or maybe a cat for company. If they write something sad, they cry alone. If they write something funny, they laugh alone. We are blessed to have each other. We laugh together, we cry together, we write together. We happen to live next door to each other, too, but that's another story. On to our interviewer's questions.

How many books have you had published together ?

Since 1983, we've had 35 books published together. In the fall of this year, Scholastic Book Club will publish our short chapter book, SCHOOL STINKS! Then in the fall of 2003, McElderry Books will bring out HIDE AND SEEK TURKEYS. That makes 37!

Have you each published separately ?

Yes, about twenty books between us.

Your titles seem to suggest that your stories are humorous. Do you deliberately set out to give your stories a humorous twist or are some of them touching or sad ?

Usually we write funny stories, but not always. DEAR TIMOTHY TIBBITS is about a child who wants to get his own mail and it includes directions for how to write a friendly letter. SOMETHING'S HAPPENING ON CALABASH STREET celebrates diversity in a story about a street fair.

How do you get your ideas? For example, what gave you the ideas for TWO BADD BABIES and SIX CREEPY SHEEP ?

TWO BADD BABIES was born in Boston, where we were brainstorming story ideas and wondered what would happen if two babies got loose in Boston. We decided that limiting the babies to a specific large city would make the story too narrow and also present hazards for the babies, so we changed the locale to any small town USA. Chris L. Demarest, our illustrator, took the babies back to the 50's though his lively illustrations. This is one of our most popular books and it has just been re-issued in paperback by Boyds Mills Press. It's featured regularly on PBS's "Storytime."

SIX CREEPY SHEEP was the second of the sheep books series (Sleepy, Creepy, Snowy and Sandy). It's predecessor, SIX SLEEPY SHEEP, was so popular that we were asked to write more sheep stories. There is something about sheep and other farm animals dressing up for Halloween that makes everyone giggle. John O'Brien captures their personalities I his delightful, bright, illustrations.

How do you develop an idea ?

We develop ideas together, starting with brainstorming and note-taking. Then for a picture book one of us writes the first draft and we pass that draft back and forth for rewrites until we are both satisfied with the way the story flows and how it sounds when read aloud. For a novel, we usually divide up the chapters after creating a lengthy outline.

How do you know if you can write with a partner ?

You have to have the same goals and no ego to write as partners. If you need to have only your words count, then it's best to write alone.

Could you give us a brief idea of your daily writing routine ?

We share an office in Judy's house. Most days start about 9:30 or 10:00 and we work until :00 or 6:00. Our days are divided between writing, researching, brainstorming, and working on manuscripts that other children's book writers send for critique though our business, Writers Ink. Add speech writing for conference presentations and travel days when speaking at schools and libraries. Life is busy.

Of the books you have written, what are your two or three favorites and why ?

That's like asking a mother which child she loves best. But we have to confess that the book we love most is: TWO BADD BABIES because kids and parents respond so well to the story. And we love to share the "secret" of the TWO BADD BABIES. Next NELL NUGGET AND THE COW CAPER, which we perform for our audiences. Nell is a plucky heroine, a good role model. And WHAT'S THE MATTER, KELLY BEANS? a short chapter book. Kelly is a writer! In our new book SCHOOL STINKS!, Flora is a poet and playwright. If they could meet, they could become a writing team!

What are you working on now ?

We have two middle grade novels in progress and have just finished two picture book manuscripts. We are brainstorming another short chapter book. Whew! Makes us tired just reading this. Now, we'd better get back to work.