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Susan Heyboer O'Keefe: Award-winning Children's Author

© Sue Reichard

From hungry monsters who help young children learn to count to a teenage girl who attends the funerals of strangers, Susan Heyboer O'Keefe's cleverly created characters that keep readers of many ages laughing and learning. Susan's great character development allows her to create those who are both compelling and humorous at the same time. Her recently published middle grade novel, Death by Eggplant (Roaring Book Press 2004) has been cited as a Disney Adventures Kid's Choice Nominee for 2005, New York Public Library Best Books for Teenagers 2005, and IRA/CBC Children's coices for 2005.

In "Eggplant" protagonist Bertie just wants to be a famous Master Chef who also has his own TV show and cookbook. But his ideas are thwarted when everyday school life in 8th grade takes a turn for the worse.

O'Keefe's teen mystery, My life and Death by Alexandra Canarsie (Peachtree Publishing) introduces older readers to a wise-cracking teen of the title. This novel is recommended on the TAYSHAS list for Texas high schools.

Susan's first picture book, One Hungry Monster (Joy Street Books, 1992) will soon be followed up by More Hungry Monsters. If you have not read these great books, please read them as great examples of great humor writing and clever character development. Please visit Susan's very nice website at:

http://www.susanheyboerokeefe.com

1.SR: Your recently published novel, Death by Eggplant (Roaring Brook Press) is very funny. Is the main character Bertram inspired by someone you know?

SHO: All of my characters are me in a way, including (or maybe especially) the rotten ones. Bertie's secret dream of being a professional chef is fictional, as I am completely inept in the kitchen. So I had to do lots of research and learn a wholly foreign vocabulary that included words like "oven" and "whisk." A friend said I must have channeled Julia Child for the book.

But I think all of us understand the experience of having secret dreams that we're afraid to reveal. It took me a long time to "come out of the closet" as a writer, or at least it felt that way-to be able to say the words to someone else and to myself, and to believe them. So the part of Bertie that yearns so much in secret is very much me. And I think his sense of humor is very much mine.

2.SR: You have also written a recently published Christmas picture book, Christmas Gifts (Boyds Mills Press). It is a beautiful book with a beautiful story. Did this story begin with a memory or a message or both?

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