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MEET BRENDA WOODS
by Bonnie O'Brian

What are the topics of your books?

Brenda Woods

THE RED ROSE BOX is about two sisters who are growing up in rural Louisiana and have the opportunity to travel outside of the segregated South. My second book, EMAKO BLUE , is about a teenage girl who lives in Los Angeles and is killed in a drive by shooting. My third book, MY NAME IS SALLY LITTLE SONG , is about a family who escapes slavery by going to live with the Seminoles in the Southern swamps. I also have a short story released in an anthology called OWNING IT about teens with disabilities called WAY TOO COOL. It’s about a young man with asthma.

When you do school visits, what questions do children ask you most?

They always want to know how old I am and if I am rich.

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

 Yes. A girl, living in Madrid, Spain, wrote to me after reading EMAKO BLUE and told me that the story had inspired her to be a better person. That made me feel great.

Do you focus on fiction or nonfiction?

I like taking a nonfiction topic and turning it into fiction.

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

I like to research, whether it’s about the old South or current inner city happenings. Once I know enough about a topic I let my imagination take over.

Do you like to include humor in your stories? Or adventure? Or mystery?

I love humor and adventure and look forward to writing a mystery in the near future.

Where do you get your ideas?

I get my ideas from history and current events.

What did you most like to do when you were a child?

I loved to play volleyball, and softball. I also loved swimming. Reading was probably my favorite thing. I also liked looking at maps and globes wondering when I would be able to travel to distant places. I loved to take pictures. I have always enjoyed music and dancing.