Award-Winning Author Elizabeth Partridge
EP: What I love is the freedom to do both. The older bios. Are incredibly time consuming and take lots of focus, so the shorter books are a great treat to drop into once in awhile.
4.SR: What has been the very best writing advice you have ever received?
EP: From Bruce Coville: run your main character up a tree and throw rocks at her. It's painful to be mean to a main character, but necessary.
5.SR: What advice would you give to a frustrated beginning writer?
EP: Hm... I think I have to put in another favorite piece of advice from a dear friend of mine, writer Susan Clymer, who told me early on to reward every victory, no matter how small. I took this very literally when I started: Worked well? Deserve chocolate. Got back a rejection notice that had "nice, but not for us" scrawled on it: ice cream. Then on course, I have to add, keep at it. This profession is about hard work more than talent. And meet people - go to scbwi (scbwi.org) weekend meetings. Keep the inspiration flowing.
6.SR: You have an interesting background in acupuncture. Was your experience with Eastern philosophy and culture the impetus for your two wonderful picture books, "Oranges on Golden Mountain" and "Koge's Mysterious Journey"? Is Eastern philosophy an important facet of your life, if so, how does this effect your writing routines?
EP: Yes, after more than twenty years as an acupuncturist, Chinese philosophy is woven into my being. This is a tough question to answer, because the words are not English... and some of what I feel is below the verbal level. Two important parts for me are 1)we are all connected.
2)EP: This is a big, energetic world full of miraculous things.
7.SR:Your longer biographies, such as your award-winning, "This Land... Woody Guthrie's biography are about tragic figures. Why do you think your drawn to these people?
EP:I like that bitter-sweet edge. Anything one dimensional tends to be boring.
8.SR: Your new project a bio of John Lennon, is the book I would have loved to written.. but I am sure you will do a superb job. I do envy you this project. What inspired you to write about this musician, who also is a tragic figure? Do you think, or have you interviewed Yoko Ono? Any other group members? (I literally idolized these guys for more years than I
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