Welcome to California Readers Online: California Author/Artist Interviews -Ipcizade, Catherine

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MEET CATHERINE IPCIZADE
by Bonnie O'Brian

Honestly—I mostly loved to read. I’m not sure exactly where this love came from. My parents weren’t big readers. But I loved everything about books—the smell of the pages, the feel of the pages and the cover—all of it. I loved to read in bed. I can still remember one time, when I didn’t have anything read, I curled up under my covers with a flashlight and the hardware catalogue from the Sunday newspaper. The other thing I especially loved to do as a child was to play with my twin sister. Inside or outside, it didn’t matter. Inside, we’d play make believe. I was always named Robin and I was always 19-years-old. (Later, I’d meet my best friend…named Robin!) Outside, we’d run in the grass and climb the mulberry tree in our back yard. Having a twin was the best thing that could have happened to me as a child (and an adult).Who wouldn’t want a built-in playmate!

When I was in elementary school, I loved the school library. To this day, I can tell you where certain books were located. Interestingly enough, these books span my time at the school. For instance, in the main doors, straight ahead there was a book called SERENDIPITY. It was a 5x7-sized book with a purple dinosaur. The pages were silky and smooth. I can only imagine how many times I picked up that book. Just around the corner from there were the Beatrix Potter books. I loved them—their delicate size and lovely illustrations on silken pages. I also devoured a book about leprechauns. Though I can’t recall the title, this book sparked my imagination and my own desire to write. I wanted to create magic. Other books during my elementary school years that I can remember vividly as devouring included ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS, A WRINKLE IN TIME, LITTLE WOMEN, and a biography of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. These books all gave me something unique. I learned about survival and loss in ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS, I learned about friendship, faith, and believing in the unseen with A WRINKLE IN TIME. With LITTLE WOMEN, reading it on my mom’s bed, I was comforted. I found joy in the simplicity of the story and the complexity of the characters. With the biography of Harriet Tubman, I found myself fascinated, sad, proud, and inspired. The books I read each gave me something—they each helped make me who I am today.

Did you write stories when you were growing up? at school? Or at home as a hobby? As a young child, or as a teenager, or both?

I don’t remember when I didn’t write, but I do know that I started by writing poems in early elementary school. I got praised for my writing early on, which encouraged me to continue. I wrote poems, which eventually evolved into stories. I knew I wanted to write a book when I was in the sixth grade. I was going to make it about my sister and I growing up as twins. I think I still have the one and only page I wrote of that novel. As a teenager, I wrote mostly poems. I wrote short stories for English class and was chosen to go to Young Author’s Day several years in a row. In my late teenage years, I dove into (badly written) picture books.

When you were a child did you ever have moments when you decided that you were going to be a writer when you grew up?

When I was in the third or fourth grade, I wrote a poem for school called A FLUFFY WHITE FEATHER. It was a very simply written poem. My grandmother saw the poem, and Immediately called the newspapers. I remember standing in her living room as she basically exclaimed that a star was born. I remember her animation as she clearly could not comprehend why they would not publish my poem. J Was grandma right? Not exactly. But that belief inspired me to believe in ME and in my dreams to be a writer. I didn’t lose that momentum until I went to college and decided to teach in order to have a sensible career. Luckily, I re-found my writing roots a few years later.

What audience did you have in mind for your career as a writer - adult or children?

I always thought I’d write for adults. My poems as a teenager were all about love and angst. But by my late teenage years, I’d started writing for kids. I knew I’d found my niche, but sometimes, I fought against it, wanting to write for adults. I quickly learned that writing comes a lot easier when you write what your heart wants to write.

When you went to college, were you already pursuing a writing career? (or a career in illustrating? or just art in general?)

No, I pursued a career in Elementary Education. I knew I’d always write, but I didn’t know how to go about a career writing. There were majors for everything…but creative writing? I was the first person in my family to go to college. I knew what it was like to struggle growing up. My head took over and I decided on a career that would provide steady income. It’s interesting that you ask this Iwhile obtaining my BA degree. I didn’t formally make writing my career until I was pregnant with my first child (I have two—ages 8 and 4).

Surprisingly, many of my books are about animals. I didn’t intend it that way—I don’t even have a dog! But sometimes, you fall into things and realize an interest you never knew you had. Kids love animals. Especially in K-2, they love to learn about them. I’ve now written quite a bit about African Animals, which I particularly love. How could anyone NOT love them—did YOU know giraffes have 18 to 20-inch tongues? Did you also know their tongues are bluish-purple and that one reason for this is to protect them from sunburn?? J I didn’t. It’s one of my favorite facts to share.

Do you focus on fiction or nonfiction? Which do you prefer? Do you find one easier than the other?

This is an interesting question. I consider myself a fiction writer, but eight out of my nine books are non-fiction. Fiction, to me, is harder, because it’s all up to me. With non-fiction, I can research and get guidelines from my publisher. It’s more streamlined and doesn’t make me feel as vulnerable as fiction can. I love writing both. They both challenge my creativity and require different thought processes.

Do you do other types of writing - for example, educational, nonfiction, magazine work?

I worked as a freelance writer for five years. I wrote everything from newspaper and magazine articles to web content, greeting cards, and professional blogs. My non-fiction books have been for the educational market. I also wrote grade-leveled activity books for kids through an educational publisher. This is where my degree has come in handy. I’m able to take both of my loves—writing for kids and teaching kids—and put them to use!

I spend a lot of time with my own kids and with kids at schools. I watch their faces light up when they learn something new, especially in a fun or humorous way. Inspiration is everywhere. All a children’s writer has to do is pay attention.

I LOVED writing ‘TWAS THE DAY BEFORE ZOO DAY. My family and I were at the San Diego Zoo. We took the tram ride and I became particularly enamored with the animal behavior. At one point, we stopped to watch a mama monkey with her baby. They rolled in the grass and played and the thought came to me—I wonder what all these animals are thinking? Soon, I came home and drafted the book. I knew I wanted to write it in rhyme. Without thinking, I wrote, “’Twas the Day Before Zoo Day, and all ‘round the park.” It immediately dawned on me that this sounded like the tune of ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. I ran with the idea. Luckily, it was well received by Sylvan Dell Publishing.

How did your life change when you got married? and had children? Did it make it easier or harder to find time to write?

When I got married, we struggled as many married couples do. I focused on my job and put writing on the back burner a bit. But when I had my first child, I knew I wanted to be home with him. It sparked a fierce desire to get back to my writing roots. I focused on my children’s writing and also began freelance writing, to make supplementary income. I wrote when I could, in pockets of time. I’ll always have a soft spot for new moms trying to write. I recently taught a course for the UCLA Writer’s Extension Program (Writing for Children: A Beginning Workshop). I had a student who gave birth three months ago. She couldn’t find time to write, but oh how she tried. I told her to keep going, to not give up. I told her that the struggles now would hopefully pay off in the future. It happened for me. We can’t always forge careers as quickly as we’d like. Our journeys are unique and our own. Having children makes time even more precious. The important thing is not that you write for a certain time per day…it’s that you write.

I’m currently trying my hand at writing middle grade and young adult novels in verse. One of my novels is about twins. Though the characters are different than my sister and I, and although their relationship is much more volatile than I experienced with my sister, I did pull from some of our real-life experiences. Another novel I’ve been working on is loosely based on my grandmother’s life growing up.

Do you enjoy researching or do you prefer working totally from your imagination?

I can’t give a definitive answer on this, because I love writing both fiction and non-fiction. What I’m finding is that I am drawn to writing fiction with factual information interwoven. For example, I have a fictional outline for a book about a girl during the holocaust. The book will be fictional but I’ll have to do much research to make parts of it factually correct.

(Sometimes)unfortunately, yes. My mind most often works faster than my fingers can type, so I focus on one book but add snippets or outlines of other books at the same time.

I most enjoyed writing ‘TWAS THE DAY BEFORE ZOO DAY. I had a blast finding facts for the book and sharing those fun facts with kids. I love hearing them laugh when they read the story.

What are you working on now? When do you expect to start submitting it to publishers?

Right now I’m working on a novel written in free verse. I’m also playing with some new picture books that need serious revisions. I’m hoping to start submitting again after the New Year. I don’t want to rush it. I learned the lesson long ago that patience is a virtue in this industry. So many people send their work off without

I’m currently completing my M.Ed. degree. I also began teaching for the UCLA Writer’s Extension Program. That, coupled with the demands of parenthood for a second grader and a four-year-old, keep me on my toes. I write whenever and however I can. If I could have set hours, I’d make them the first thing in the morning, when my cup of coffee and my couch call to me and ideas seem to flow like a delicious chocolate fountain.

I have five books coming out from Capstone Press (non—fiction for readers in grades K-2) in April, 2009.

Oh, yes! Especially in picture books. I love humor! Humor makes children pay attention. It makes them relate to what you’ve written. It makes them want to know more. I love humor. My novels, however, tend to take on serious topics. Go figure.

Kids are great, aren’t they? They want to know how I became a writer. They want to know where I write and how I got my ideas. My favorite thing to do when doing a school visit is to tell them how I got the idea for ‘TWAS THE DAY BEFORE ZOO DAY. Before that, though, I sit down in front of them and make eye contact. I tell them, “I am so happy to be here today because I was told there are amazing writers in this class.” You should see their faces. At the end of the visit, I tell them, “Now that I’ve met you all, I know there are some future authors in this room.” They love it—but not as much as I love watching their faces while I say it.

I want them to be inspired to use their own imaginations and to craft their own stories. We live in a world where technology has taken over! I want children to remember that they have ideas—they should write them down! They should keep them like an adult might keep fine china. I want kids to be inspired to write beyond the daily required assignments, and to read beyond the expected books.

MEET CATHERINE IPCIZADE by Bonnie O'Brian

MEET CATHERINE IPCIZADE
by Bonnie O'Brian