8. SR: What is the hardest part of writing for you?
TB: To be honest, the greatest challenge for me is to make the time to write. There are many marketing demands in a published writer's life, and I enjoy all of the speaking that I do, so I must make time for writing. I am lucky enough to have scheduled writing retreats with friends several times a year and I use this time to great effect. Beyond these luxuries of time, I constantly look for time to write new work and revise works in progress as well.
9. SR: Working a full-time job and speaking engagements does not leave a lot of free time to write. How do you find time and energy to pursue writing?
TB: This is my greatest struggle! Although I haven't worked full time for eight years, I still find it difficult to balance all of the demands of working as a library media specialist and speaking in schools and libraries-and at conferences and trainings-across the country, much less find time to write. I am passionate about speaking to the readers of my books and would not consider giving that up. In fact, Jane Kurtz and I co-authored a book on the topic entitled Terrific Connections with Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers (Libraries Unlimited, 1999).
10. SR: In one sentence, please sum up your new book that is due out in spring by Dial Books for Young Readers, Little Loon and Papa? What was the inspiration for this book?
In Little Loon and Papa, Papa Loon tries to teach timid Little Loon to dive, but Little Loon rushes away and encounters a shoreline full of strangers with their splashes, crashes, and growls, making Little Loon long for his Papa's lessons. The book will be illustrated by Margaret Spengler (who also illustrated Dawdle Duckling) and published in May 2004. I owe this one to my beloved editor, Lauri Hornik, who wrote me an innocent e-mail one day last summer mentioning that booksellers were always seeking books for Father's Day and wondering if I had any ideas. Out of this question was born, after much brain tangling and untangling, the idea for Little Loon and Papa.
11. SR: Can you discuss any current or future projects you are working on?
