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MEET JOAN BRANSFIELD GRAHAM
by Bonnie O'Brian

Were you always interested in writing?

Joan Bransfield Graham

Yes. Growing up on an island along the southern coast of New Jersey, I always loved books and reading, the sound of the waves and the music of words. Poems are waves of words that wash over you, aren't they? They lift your feet off the ground and let you float off into your imagination. Each poem I write surprises me, helps me learn more about myself and the world around me, lets me wonder aloud. Poetry was always my way of sorting out what I experienced . . . and a bridge. With my poems I made cards for family and friends and gave word gifts (I still do.).

How did you become a writer?

In elementary school I won essay contests and felt encouraged; in high school I was an editor on the school paper. I was always in the company of words. I took Creative Writing in college, published poems and short stories in the campus literary magazine, and earned my degree in Education. After teaching for several years, I married an FBI agent, and we started moving around the country--a friend calls us "Rhymes & Crimes." Everywhere we lived I joined a Writer's Club. Eventually I began publishing poems in magazines such as Ranger Rick's Nature Magazine, Highlights, and Cricket. I read books, went to and participated in poetry readings, joined SCBWI, attended conferences, asked questions, took classes--including studying with Myra Cohn Livingston at UCLA in her Master Class--and wrote, wrote, wrote. By the way, I discovered you will never find the time to write, you have to make it.

What are the topics of your books?

SPLISH SPLASH celebrates the many forms that water can take, from ice cubes and icicles to waves and waterfalls, by using shape itself—concrete poetry. It gives children a chance to have fun with words, shapes, and ideas—to discover that poetry is all around them. FLICKER FLASH explores the wondrous ways that light illuminates our world, from the flicker of birthday candles to a flash of lightning. In these books science and poetry do a tango.

What are some of your favorite parts of being an author?

The fact that I can hold in my hands a book that was once just an idea in my head never ceases to amaze me. The act of creating is so powerful. I love to spend a day in the life of a school and encourage students to use their own imaginations; they come up with some fabulous ideas—it is exhilarating to be in the company of all that creativity! Meeting other authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians, book-lovers, and parents is such a pleasure, and I’ve learned so much.

Where have your books taken you?

I’ve had the opportunity to travel and do presentations in an astonishing array of places: Brevard Co., FL (I stayed in Cocoa Beach.) and while having dinner could see the Kennedy Space Center in the distance, New Orleans to be part of an IRA Poetry Institute “For the Love of Poetry and All That Jazz,” the L.A. Times Festival of Books (A man told me, “I know your book. I translated it into Braille.), the lovely Louisville Free Public Library with Nikki Grimes and Paul Janeczko (and seeing Kentucky Derby fireworks from a rooftop along the Ohio River—I wrote a poem, of course), the Casablanca American School in Morocco with a weekend trip to Marrakech and so many more—all incredible experiences! Look how poetry expands your horizons.

What else do you enjoy besides writing?

I’ve studied photography for many years and used to develop my own black and white photos; now I’m having fun experimenting with my digital camera and learning Photoshop. One day when I was working in my office I realized I was writing poems about my photographs and taking pictures of my poems! Poetry and photography have a lot in common; both deal with essence, impact, and emotion. I like to strive for simplicity in images and words . . . take “haiku” photos and create vivid pictures with my words. And I love to travel! I’ve been to Bora Bora, England, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, New Zealand, Alaska, Greece, Turkey, the Netherlands, Tahiti, Kauai, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Majorca . . . .

Have your books received any special recognition/awards?

SPLISH SPLASH and FLICKER FLASH are in 10 th and 11 th printings. Both books were School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, National Council of Teachers of English Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts, and New York Public Library “Titles for Reading and Sharing.” Instructor Magazine selected SPLISH SPLASH for its list “71 Top Books of the Century, Nonfiction,”; FLICKER FLASH was chosen as a National Science Teachers Association-Children’s Book Council Outstanding Science Book and was nominated for Children’s Book Awards in five states. Both books were in the California Collection for many years. There is more information, including Teacher Idea Sheets, and masters for “Popsicle” bookmarks on my Web sites: www.joangraham.com and www.childrensauthorsnetwork.com/author/JBG.htm (Check out the 10 Fun Facts.).

Has anyone ever written you a fan letter that you’d like to share?

 When I receive letters or poems from children saying things like "We had fun speaking the poetry language. I can feel it in my skin that poetry is for me." I am thrilled. A third grade student from Glendale, CA wrote this in a letter: "Dear Mrs. Graham, I can't wait to hear a new poem of yours. I can learn from your poems. They give me exciting thoughts. I think of new ideas. I can't believe these ideas come from your head. How can so many ideas fit in one head? . . . A book is a gift."