Gail Carson Levine

Hi, my name is Zoe Slisher and I am the guest blogger for today. I am 11 years old and in the 6th grade at Portland Middle School.

Gail Carson Levine and her dog, Baxter

 

Last Wednesday Newberry Honor author Gail Carson Levine  made it to our library. Some of her more popular books are Ella Enchanted, Fairest, and Dave at Night; but she has written many more and they are all amazing! I LOVE to read, especially fantasy, so it was REALLY cool to meet her! Not only that, but I was able to interview her!!!

I interviewed Gail after Kristie (the Portland Youth Librarian) and I picked her up from the airport. During the interview I asked her six questions.

Question 1: Do you like the movie Ella Enchanted?

Gail Carson Levine with Ella and Char

Answer: It was very different from the book but she did like it. Gail thought Anne Hathaway was a great Ella.  

Question 2: What is your favorite book that you wrote?

Answer: Gail's favorite is Dave at Night, because of the connection to her father. Gail's father was raised in an orphanage in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance and Dave at Night is a fictional version of his childhood. 

Question 3: What kind of books do you like to read?

Answer: Gail likes the author Terry Pratchet and poetry.

Question 4: If you couldn't be an author, what would you want to be?

Answer: Gail would like to be the strong woman at the circus.

Question 5: What are your hobbies?

Answer: Gail likes to walk her dog (Baxter, photo above), read, and lift weights.

Question 6: How long does it take for you to write a book?

Answer: It takes a few months to a couple of years for Gail to write a book.

 We also talked about the Disney Fairy books. Gail wrote them for Disney and had only two rules: she had to include Tinker Bell and no Peter Pan. What was even more interesting, though, was that Gail created several of the fairies used in the animated Tinkerbell movies.

 

Overall it was a great experience to meet an accomplished author. Gail was super nice. If you want to learn more about her she has an amazing website with her biography, books, news,email, and a blog that gives advice to young writers. Click here to check it out: Gail Carson Levine.

Gail and I at the Portland District Library