Interview With Author
Fred Bortz
1. What type of books do you write? I write science and technology for young readers. I focus on
middle grades and the physical sciences. My style is always direct and clear,
without neglecting the human component, usually by taking a true-story
approach.
2. How and when did you know that
your destiny was as a writer? I
never felt that writing was my destiny, but it was something I always enjoyed
doing. My first hint, which I recognized only in retrospect, was when a
professor who hired me as a postdoc told me that my PhD thesis was the best
written one he had ever seen. The science content was clearly good enough to
get the job, but it was my presentation that won his praise. A few years later,
I decided to try writing for children on the side and had modest success. It
gradually led me away from research to outreach and eventually to a non-tenure
track research position in a school of education of a major university. That
job evaporated after two years when my dean was forced to step down. At age 52,
rather than seek another academic job, I decided to see what I could do as a
full-time writer.
3. What is your latest or upcoming
book about? My latest book is Meltdown!
The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future(Twenty-First Century
Books, 2012). It describes the Great Tohuku Earthquake and Tsunami that struck
Japan on March 11, 2011 and the triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear power plant that followed. As the subtitle notes, the central theme is
the impact on the way the world views nuclear power and what that means for
electric power generation going forward.
4. What inspired you to write it? I have always been particularly proud of how I approached
the nuclear power chapter in the book that first gained me substantial
recognition, Catastrophe! Great Engineering Failure--and Success (W.
H. Freeman, Scientific American Books for Young Readers), published in 1995. At
that time, the nuclear power industry was at a low point, in part because of
the meltdowns at Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986), but mainly
because the demand for electric power was not increasing as rapidly as had been
anticipated. Still, I recognized that the industry was likely to recover
because of global warming and the geopolitics of oil. I closed the chapter with
a statement that my readers would be called as adults on to make political
decisions that would be both important and difficult regarding the future of
nuclear power. That chapter was particularly prescient, but it did not
anticipate Fukushima. Within days after the meltdowns there, it was clear to me
that the arguments on both sides of the nuclear power debate had become much
louder but were largely unchanged. The failures should have been anticipated,
and either timely retrofitting or installing newer technology could have
avoided the disaster. So although it was clearly a technological failure, the
underlying causes included political and regulatory failure. Yet although
today's arguments are largely the same as during the aftermath of TMI and
Chernobyl, the present scientific, political, and social issues are quite
different. The threat of global warming makes the need to limit carbon dioxide
emissions urgent, and nuclear power is the only large-scale alternative right
now. On the other hand, renewables like solar and wind power, and other green
technologies like carbon capture and sequestration ("clean coal"),
are becoming more feasible. So once again my readers will be faced with
complex, difficult, and important choices regarding electric power. They will
need to be armed with questions in order to make wise choices when the time
comes. It didn't take me long to recognize that I should be the one to guide
them toward those questions. Fortunately my publisher agreed and fast-tracked
the book to appear in time for the first anniversary of the Fukushima
meltdowns.
5. How does it feel to be a
published author? Any advice for struggling writers? Since I never felt that writing was my destiny, and since I
wrote my share of scientific papers and reports, being a published author was
nothing new. The important thing for me--and I guess this qualifies as advice
for struggling authors--was discovering my connection to a particular audience
and keeping that audience in focus when I write. Writing for my scientific
colleagues was important, but writing for question-filled middle-graders and
teens who will challenge me at every turn goes beyond mere importance. For me,
it is inspirational. My readers represent our future, and I owe them my very
best work.
6. Where do you see book publishing
heading? Books will continue to have an
important place in society. Some people will prefer the tactile experience and
relative permanence of printed matter. Printed books will continue to be
accessible and readable even if electronic formats and e-reading devices and
software change. The portability, accessibility, and new functionalities of
electronic documents will lead to many more ebooks and many fewer paper books.
But they will still be books and, I hope, people will learn
the importance of setting aside their online connections long enough to engage
with them in depth.
For more information, please see www.fredbortz.com.
Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person.
Interview
With Writer Melaina Phipps
1.
As a writer at Horse Racing Nation, what do
you enjoy most about your craft? I enjoy being able to write about a sport that I enjoy, of course. But
I really enjoy writing for an informed, engaged audience who share a common
passion.
2.
As the former managing editor at Potomac
Books, what was it like working with authors? Working with authors in the capacity of a managing editor is a delicate
balance of addressing both their needs and the needs of the publishing house.
At Potomac Books the authors brought new life to important topics and I found
the experience very intellectually stimulating.
3.
Where do you see the book publishing industry
heading? While it is clear
that ebooks will continue to grow in their market share, I think that printing
physical volumes will remain a publishing tradition. Having so many ways to
self-publish at this time, I believe, also broadens opportunities for
independent publishing professionals to embark on their own venture in the
service of authors and develop publishing niches tailored to the genre and
audience which take full advantage of social (multi-) media.
4.
As a freelance writer where do you believe
there are opportunities for writers to make money? Certainly writing content for
established media outlets is still a viable opportunity. However, I also feel
that it has become increasingly important to specialize and brand oneself and
create one's own opportunities.
5. In
talking to other writers or editors, what do you find is the mood regarding the
role of technology, social media, and e-books in how they go about practicing
the art of writing? Technology and
social media have made it easier to promote one's writing and build an
audience. Certainly the wide variety of ebook publishing options gives
unpublished authors a chance to get their work in the hands of readers, which
has on more than one occasion led to significant recognition and catching the
attention of traditional publishers. It's not unusual for blogs to become the
vehicle for or the basis of a future published volume. On the other hand,
though, a good deal of time and effort is required to build a notable online
persona and some might find this taking them away from the actual business of writing.
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1.
What
type of books do you illustrate? I
illustrate picture books for children aged 2 to 102.
2.
How
and when did you know that your destiny was as a book illustrator? It's
always felt natural to draw, paint and make up stories, I spent a lot of time
making up comic strips with my brother when we were children. Then, when I was
about 16, I found out you could be an illustrator as a job, and realized that's
what I would do!
3.
What
is your latest or upcoming book about? My
most recent book is called 'Scary Mary', published by Tiger Tales in March this
year. It's about a chicken with temper tantrums - she makes signs (saying 'keep
out!') and puts up gates (to keep the others out) and practises making scary
faces... until she scares all the other animals in the Barnyard away.. (don't
worry, it has a happy ending!)
4.
What
inspired you to illustrate it in the way that you did? My
work is very much drawing based, I just love pencil line and watercolour washes
seem to compliment it well. I think my personality comes through in my artwork
- I love animals and cute things, and I like things that make me laugh - so I
feel this feeds into my work! I admire and feel inspired by the books I grew up
with, illustrated by people such as Quentin blake, EH Shepherd, Shirley Hughes,
Helen Oxenbury. Their books have become enbedded in who I am I think and
possibly influence the way I draw.
5.
How
does it feel to be a published author? Any advice for struggling writers? It
feels great to be a published author! It's nice to share my stories and
pictures with other people and hope I can inspire them too. Advice for
struggling writers is to be patient and persistant, don't give up, network -
talk to lots of different people in the industry, ask questions, visit
libraries and bookshops - read up and keep up to date with what's out there!
6.
Where
do you see book publishing heading? Who
knows! The electronic readers are interesting, I've not used one yet, but they
seem handy and convenient for some people. However I don't think they will
truely replace children's picture books - I think there's something about the
physical turning of the page, the touch, feel and even the smell of the book
that is integral to a childs deveolpment. A cold, shiney digital screen is no
match for an actual book nestled in your lap, snuggled up with your child.
For more information, please see: www.paulabowles.blogspot.com and www.paulabowles.co.uk
For more information, please see: www.paulabowles.blogspot.com and www.paulabowles.co.uk
Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person.
