All About Middle Grade Interview: Pam Torres (Author of It's NOT Just a Dog) + Giveaway
About the Author:
Pam Torres was born in Logan, Utah and did most of her growing up in Prairie Village, Kansas. Besides playing Dorothy during tornado weather and digging Peter Pan-like underground forts she also played piano and ran cross-country. She started her family early, and had five energetic and creative children, and returned to school when the last one was four. She has fond memories of reading and playing with her children in between hefty amounts of volunteering at church and their schools. Several of her favorite memories are doing writers’ workshop, updating the art docent program, recruiting volunteers, working as the parent liaison for the curriculum team, publishing articles in the newsletter and directing a very popular after-school art club.
Writing was the one constant in her life through all the struggles of single parenthood, stepparent issues and bringing a large family together. She continued to write her brains out in hopes of writing full-time one day. After five years in sales, she quit her well-paying job to write. Her supportive husband is her biggest cheerleader and she frequently acknowledges that she couldn’t have done it without him.
The Project Madison Series is her debut middle-grade series. She organized Project Madison around its release and is donating 10% of her proceeds to the ASPCA®, animal shelters and other programs to benefit homeless or abused animals.
You can haunt Pam Torres at-
Goodreads | Twitter | website | Pinterest | FB |
In seven words, can you tell us about It's NOT Just a Dog?
Exciting adventure solving an injured dog’s mystery.
When it came to writing It's NOT Just a Dog! what was it about Madison that made you want to tell her story? If you describe her in one word what would it be?
I wanted to tell Madison’s story because of the courage she has to be herself and find answers to her questions. One word I would use to describe her would be, tenacious.
Pam, what was the hardest chapter to write?
The hardest chapter to write was the one that described the details of the dogfighting. I had no idea how brutal and unnatural it is for dogs to behave that way.
Can you share with us a two sentence teaser from your favorite chapter?
“We watched, waiting for the fire to build. When the blaze rose above the crackling wood, Uncle spoke” (152).
If you could have tea with one author, who would it be and what would you say to them?
Toni Morrison. I’d like to ask her about the magical reality she weaves throughout her stories so tightly it becomes indispensable to the plot.
Last book that hit you in the heart?
Wonder by R.J. Pelacio
Last book you read that you wish you could unread?
Can’t really think of one.
Three things: one thing you're good at; one thing you wish you could do; and one thing you're bad at?
I’m really good at playing with my grandkids.
I wish I could focus my binoculars and see the birds I’m hearing.
I’m very, very bad at bowling.
It's your lucky day, you get to spend one day in the fictional world of your choice....where are you off to?
I’d love to visit Phillip Reeve’s world where Fever Crumb’s adventures are set.
The world has fallen to a robot invasion and only one heroine/hero can possibly save the day, who do you choose?
That’s easy, Katniss, from Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games.
Care to tell us about your writing cave (include picture if you want)
I recently moved to a new office in my house. Unfortunately, it’s still in quite a mess so I don’t want to send a picture. I have several things that are always part of my office. A large desk so I can have space for reference books, drawing space, many containers of pens and pencils and my computer. Bookshelves where I keep my favorite books by writers I admire, photos and artwork by my grandchildren. I usually have a large board that has a story outline in the making with colored cards, post it notes and even pictures I’ve drawn or cut from magazines. And my sunlamp, for those dark rainy days in Seattle.
Any upcoming projects that you can sure with us?
I tend to be quite tightlipped about my projects until they come into the revisions stage. I will say that I am working on the last book in the Project Madison trilogy and this time I'm looking to my readers for where they'd like to see Madison go in this one. So I'm encouraging them to send me their ideas.
I've also begun a new adventure fantasy with some great characters who explore new worlds. But, that's about all I'm prepared to say. LOL
School's out for the summer and straight-talking Madison and her friend Cooper have big plans for the summer: working at the kennel, training service dogs and creating a dog-walking business—besides writing her dog-blog. Her stepdad has agreed to make Lilly, Madison's foster puppy, a permanent member of the Morgan family, and Madison wants to make the adoption special.
When an injured dog is abandoned, Madison's determined to discover the truth about the orphaned dog. To crack this crime she'll have to sneak around some shady characters. It'll be tricky since her dad isn't happy about her animal detective activities. Her promise not to get into trouble won't be easy. Madison convinces Cooper to strike out on their own, but Lilly is dognapped and Madison finds herself locked in a shed with no way out. She regrets her crime-fighting obsession and realizes her snooping has endangered everyone she cares about. Cooper rallies an unlikely group of rescuers to bust her out.
In the end Madison learns she can depend on her friends and her stepfather. And when it comes to people and dogs, relationships are never simple, and a dog is never—JUST a dog!
You can purchase a copy of It's NOT Just a Dog at-Amazon | Barnes And Noble | IndieBound
Giveaway:
Grand Prize- Set of illustrations signed by the illustrators, set of bookmarks, official Netta recipe card with biscuit mold, full set of magnets, set of stickers, signed hard copies of both books in the series, and a dream catcher.
First Prize- 3 illustrations signed by the illustrators, bookmarks, official Netta recipe card with biscuit mold, full set of magnets, set of stickers, hard copies of both books in the series.
Second Prize- 2 illustrations signed by the illustrators, bookmarks, official Netta recipe card with biscuit mold, full set of magnets, set of stickers, signed hard copies of both books in the series.
Third Prize- 2 illustrations signed by the illustrators, official Netta recipe card with biscuit mold, bookmarks, magnets, stickers, signed hard copies of both books in the series.
Swag Packages- One 5x7 signed illustration, bookmarks, magnets, stickers, an ebook in the format of your choice.
Thanks for having me, Orchid, I really had fun with the original questions. I love your brightly colored blog.
ReplyDelete