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MEET JOANNE ROCKLIN
By Ann Stalcup

You were a founding member of California Readers. How do you feel that its vision serves teachers, students and authors ?

Joanne Rocklin

I am proud to have been a founding member of California Readers. Its members are passionately involved with children's literature and connecting readers with books, especially the authors and illustrators of those books. What better educational vision for kids can there be?

Do you miss your elementary school teaching ?

I taught grades 1 and 2 in a multiethnic school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. I was happy being in my classroom, and I loved those kids. Most of them were from Hong Kong and Greece. They made me laugh and inspired my writing, still to this day, especially when I write my beginning readers. I remember their eagerness and courage, many entering that room not knowing a single word of English, which they learned, however, very speedily. I particularly remember the enthralling power of the stories I read to them, which leaped over language barriers, particularly the fairy tales.

You are also a psychologist. Are you still doing some work in the field ?

I no longer work as a psychologist. I'm not sure whether my training, or the interest which drew me to that career in the first place, inspired me to write introspective books focusing on a character development. In any case, I enjoy writing about foibles, growth, and the strength of the human spirit.

What was your role in the USC 1995 Writers-in ?

I participated in the program as an Author-in-Residence, Janet Wong was the other participating author. It was a summer program, and our role was the same as the other participants, all wonderful classroom teachers to learn how to effectively teach writing in the classroom. I am greatly interested in this, as I find the writing process fascinating and love visiting schools to impart this fascination to kids. I enjoy telling them that "we are all in this together" and that the process is pretty much the same for everyone, young or old, teacher or student, published or un- published. We all must begin with that blank page.

You have written books in many different formats such as picture books, math easy-reads, and diary format. Do you have a format that you prefer ? Do you find one format more difficult than another ?

My favorite formats are the middle grade novel and beginning readers. I don't really write "math" easy-reads, merely the stories to convey the concepts. I'm not great at math per se, and have always used my language skills to help me muddle through! I love being able to write for the learning-to-read group--they're so enthusiastic!

Do you write every day, and do you have set hours that you work ?

I don't write every day, but when I'm working on a story, I write in the mornings, sometimes not even stopping to get dressed...

Which of your book did you most enjoy writing ?

I loved writing STRUDEL STORIES because of the enormous amount of research and reading I did for it. I loved delving into the various time periods of my fictional family which I imagined over the course of seven generations.

As a child, what was your favorite book ?

My favorite book from childhood is ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, because I grew up in Canada, and because it was about the coming of age of a young, dreamy writer.

What question do children ask you most ?

"Where do you get your ideas?" That's what my whole school presentation is about...I try to relay the fact that ideas arise from our very own lives and that each storied life is a unique as our thumb print. I give them tips on writing, like "Don't think--just write". Especially in the first draft.

I enjoyed reading your humourous piece "Why Cats Write" on your website. Do your cats feature in any of your books ?

I have cats and dogs in almost all of my books! I think writers need pets around. Our work is so solitary and pets provide so much company. I get lots of ideas from my pets...

Is humor a feature of all or most of your books ?

Yes. I find the combination of humor, growth, and compassion an important part of being human.

What are some of the awards your books have won ?

My novels DEAR BABY and FOR YOUR EYES ONLY have been honored by CLCSC. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and STRUDEL STORIES were School Library Journal Best Books of the Year and STRUDEL STORIES is an ALA Notable Book. Over the years I have had four titles in the California Collections--DEAR BABY; FOR YOUR EYES ONLY; STRUDEL STORIES; THIS BOOK IS HAUNTED.