Kid Lit Character Interview with Sweet T - Sea Turtles, Storms & Secrets

Kid Lit Character Interview with Sweet T - sea turtles, storms & secrets

6/24/2017

Get up close and personal with a busy kid lit character: meet nine-year-old Tara, or Sweet T as her family sometimes calls her.

T reveals what it's like to be in children's books. Hey, it's not easy! When she faces kid-sized dilemmas, the pressure is on to solve them in a way for young readers to admire and emulate. But yeah, there's fun along the way with sea turtles, skim boarding, and Aunt Mae's triple-fudge peanut butter pie.

Read on for T's exclusive interview about her newest role in Sweet T and the Turtle Team. She reveals insider secrets about summer adventures on Gull Island and gives us a sneak peek at her book's shimmery watercolors by Irene A. Jahns.

Character Interview with Sweet T – catmichaelswriter.com

Photo: pixabay.com

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Cat:    “Hey, Sweet T!” as they say in Carolina. Welcome to my blog!
T:        "Hey!" back, Cat. Super-excited to step out of my book to meet our readers on Cat's Corner.

Cat:    What brings you to Gull Island from your home in Kelly Lake?  
T:        Lucky me! I'm staying with Great-aunt Mae Gray and little sister Jenna at Gray Cottage while Mama works at Gull Island Aquarium for the summer. It's fun at the beach, but I miss Daddy and Kristen. They're home in Kelly Lake because Kristen is at computer camp, and daddy is teaching summer school.

Cat:    Can you let us know (no spoilers) if Fuzzy gets lost again?
T: Poor little sis, Jenna. She always loses her blue stuffy rabbit! Well, Fuzzy gets tangled up with some beach critters, and he goes missing AGAIN. We do our best to find him. I can’t say anything more, but you will never believe how he gets so tangled up!

Cat: Please share with our readers how you came to be Cat's inspiration for Sweet T Tales.
T: Sure! Cat advises young authors to write about what they know and love. Well, she grew up on the New England shore, and she loved her family’s beach trips to the North Carolina coast. It was tons of fun having aunts, uncles, grandparents, and dozens of young nieces and nephews staying in one huge house and romping on the beach.

Cat got the idea for the coastal setting and Gray Cottage from those trips.

She also wrote stories for my sisters and me as birthday gifts. She featured us in her stories. And boy, did we ever love them!

Well, Cat put all these ideas together and came up with the Sweet T Tales.

Cat: <laughing here> That’s exactly right, Sweet T!
Next question: how are you coming along with making new friends on Gull island? 
T: Argh! Why do you do this to me, Cat?!? I’m trying my best to make new friends, but it's hard.

Island kids are nice but they aren’t used to my city ways. Aunt Mae’s neighbor, Billy, is kind to me one minute and grumpy the next. I can't figure him out. When I invited him to join my turtle team, he said “No!” and stomped off. I asked Aunt Mae if she knew why, but she said it's Billy’s secret to tell. I still want to be his friend and find what's troubling him.

Cat: Sorry to give you a hard time, T, but children enjoy reading about your kid-sized problems. Plus, it helps them develop critical thinking skills when they THINK about and DISCUSS what your choices. How about we switch to a happy place: Tell us about your favorite moment in Sweet T and the Turtle Team.
T: OOOooo. I know EXACTLY …When baby sea turtles hatch!

They are so cute! Gazillions pop out of their nest and swish across the sand to the ocean.   Turtle teams like mine watch over them to make sure hatchlings don’t become dinner for sand crabs and seagulls.

Our artist, Irene A. Jahns, painted us THE most beautiful watercolor picture of us watching of a hatch.   It’s so-so-so pretty! You will want to frame it and put it on your wall.

The Hatch, by Irene A. Jahns, from "Sweet T and the Turtle Team"

Cat: How did you know I already framed Irene’s drawing?!? T, are you peeking out of our books when I’m not around?!?

Next question touches on what might be a sensitive issue for some grown ups: you and middle-sister Kristen exchange nightly text messages to stay in touch because Kristen's far away in Kelly Lake with your father.

Are your parents ok with the two of you texting?
T: Oh, yes! Mama and Daddy let us borrow their tablets for 30 minutes each night.

Mama says it helps Kristen practice what she learns during computer camp. It’s fun for me to try texting, too, and I love your texting glossary in our book.

HaHaHa - Daddy says we still have to know how to spell perfectly -:> 

Texts from Kristen: art by Irene A. Jahns

Cat: Were you scared in the part about the tropical storm?
T: Well tbh (that’s texting language for to be honest), we were all nervous when you first told us we’d be in a nasty tropical storm. But you explained how you lived through hurricanes as a girl in New England and then as a big person in North Carolina.

You didn’t write us in a scary scene. You added just enough bad weather to excite readers and let them experience what it’s like. (Hint: lots of wind, thunder, and high surf.)

Cat: Counting this newest books, how many other books are you in now?
T: Lucky me! My whole family and I are in the first two Sweet T Tales: Sweet T and the North Wind and Finding Fuzzy. (Oh, and you don’t have to read our books in order. We tell a complete story in each one.)

That e-book you created for i-Books and Kindle, The Magical Aquarium? It's a fun chapter book, too, even though I’m not in it. You even have secrets and ocean creatures in it! UK artist Corrina Holyoake drew us an awesome illustration that shows … OOPS! … Can’t say what it shows because I’ll give away the aquarium’s secret. But kids love Corrina’s drawing!

I hope you write another Sweet T Tale and keep me in it. What about a return to Gull Island, Cat!?!

Cat: Hmmmm. I’ll have a proper think on your suggestion. Thanks for joining us on the blog today, T. All the best to you and your new book, Sweet T and the Turtle Team.
T: Awww, I’m glad you invited me to be on Cat’s Corner.

I hope your readers visit us on Gull Island soon. Sweet tea and Aunt Mae’s triple-fudge, peanut-butter pie will be waiting for you at Gray Cottage. Happy tales!

Cat: Your turn, lovely readers -:D
Who was your favorite Kid Lit character growing up?
What traits did s/he possess?
Do you think kids are attracted to those same traits today?
T and I would love to hear your thoughts about great Kid Lit characters. Please share in the comment section. Thanks!

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10 Comments

James Milson link

6/26/2017 10:29:41 am

I want to visit Aunt Mae too, and get some of that delicious triple-fudge, peanut-butter pie. Wonderfully done, Cat!

Rosie Russell link

6/26/2017 11:18:50 am

Hi Cat and Sweet T!
I loved your interview today!

My favorite Kid Lit character was Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. I enjoyed how she would help so many children get through their array of issues and problems. She always came up with the right cure. :)
Yes, I do believe children would still relate to her stories. I'm sure her advice would be different in 2017 on what she would see and come up with for these days.

Such a fun post!
This question tickled me! So cute!! :)
"How did you know I already framed Irene’s drawing?!? T, are you peeking out of our books when I’m not around?!?"

Thanks for sharing!
Wishing you the best on this new sweet story!
Rosie

Tracy Bryan link

6/26/2017 05:45:25 pm

Triple-fudge peanut butter pie?!!! Love this idea Cat! It was so nice to connect with your character. Also what a super way to give the reader a quick run down of your plot and just a few peeks into what will happening your book. Love this! Sweet T seems so ver sweet. Plus, love that she has a nickname the same as me...T! Can't wait to read the entire book and good luck with your launch!

Julie Gorges link

6/26/2017 07:07:39 pm

As a fellow writer, I love the idea of interviewing a book character for your blog. Very cleverly written too!

Carol Baldwin

6/28/2017 06:32:39 pm

Cute way to show your character and talk about your book. The watercolor illustration is beautiful!

Cat Michaels

6/29/2017 08:27:49 am

I appreciate your feedback, Julie. Relieved to know you find a character interview is effective.

6/29/2017 08:34:49 am

Wow, another T! T says she thinks you are a "sweet" T, too -:D. And she sends her thanks for reading her interview. LOL, I believe she'll be asking to step off the page more and more.

6/29/2017 08:47:13 am

Rosie, T just leaned over to whisper to me that you are her rosiest reader-:D. We are beyond excited you stop by Cat's Corner.

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is a wise character. I must introduce her to T soon!

6/29/2017 08:50:24 am

James, come by Gray Cottage any time, and bring Red and Little Bear! We love company, and Aunt Mae is an awesome baker who loves to entertain. (Alas, my baking skills are sad.)

6/30/2017 07:13:12 am

Irene Jahns is an amazing artist, Carol. I think characters interviews are a great way to talk about books, too. Thanks for stopping by.

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