Happy Monday, Folks!
Before I forget, let me quickly mention that I’m visiting my friend Debby Lytton’s MG writer blog today and I would love it if anyone wanted to go visit. She is a very talented author and her book JANE IN BLOOM is not to be missed! SO good! The link is HERE.
Now then. To stave off the Olympic withdrawal that I know you’re all feeling, I have such a treat for you today! First we get to talk with accomplished author Marie Harris, and afterwards one lucky person will have a chance to win a signed copy of her newest picture book, THE GIRL WHO HEARD COLORS!
Let’s dive right in, shall we?
First, allow me to introduce Marie:
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| Marie Harris, author and poet |
Marie Harris was NH Poet Laureate from 1999-2004 when she wrote her first children’s book:
G is for GRANITE: A New Hampshire Alphabet (Sleeping Bear Press). She lives in the woods with her photographer husband, Charter Weeks, and together they run a marketing business. She loves birding, sailing, and swimming in the Isinglass River.
Marie is also the author of PRIMARY NUMBERS: A New Hampshire Numbers Book (Sleeping Bear Press) as well as several books of poetry for older readers: RAW HONEY (Alice James Books), INTERSTATE (Slow Loris Press), and WEASEL IN THE TURKEY PEN (Hanging Loose Press). Her website is www.marieharris.com
SH: Welcome, Marie! Thank you so very much for joining us today. I recently had the pleasure of reading THE GIRL WHO HEARD COLORS (Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Books, 2013). The book addresses an unusual subject: synesthesia. I wondered what inspired you to write a picture book about it?
MH: When I went in search of a new story to write, I “consulted” my own picture book—G is for GRANITE: A NH Alphabet Book—for ideas. I was looking for a New Hampshire woman who had not gotten the attention she deserved…at least not lately. I looked at the list on the “H” page (featuring Sarah Josepha Hale, the first editor of a women’s magazine in America) and discovered I’d mentioned in passing Amy Beach, America’s first female composer. So I set about learning everything I could about her. This turned out to be surprisingly easy, since the Beach archives are housed at the University of New Hampshire, a few miles from my home, and there are many recent recordings of her wonderful music. I fell in love! And I set about writing a novel for young readers with Amy as a character.
SH: Can you tell us a little bit about synesthesia?
MH: Synesthesia is quite a special gift to possess. Nonetheless, it does qualify as something that makes a person “different,” and that’s sometimes uncomfortable. My little girl, Jillian (named after the first synesthete I met when she was in 4th grade), discovers that telling people that she “hears colors” causes her playmates to make fun of her and grownups to worry. However, she also discovers that talking about her special extra sense can result in a happy outcome.
SH: Do you do school visits? What do they involve?
MH: Because I work with students from K-12, I tailor my presentations accordingly.
SH: What do you hope to accomplish with this wonderful book?
MH: Jillian has one of a range of types of synesthesia. I hope that her story prompts parents and teachers to learn more about the phenomenon and to celebrate this and all the fascinating differences among their children.
SH: Thank you so much for coming to chat with us today, Marie. It’s been such a pleasure!
Marie was kind enough to offer a signed copy of THE GIRL WHO HEEARD COLORS as a giveaway. All you have to do to qualify is leave a comment below. We would love to hear about any experience you’ve had with synesthesia, either because you have it yourself, know someone who does, or have met someone with this unusual perception along your life travels. If you have no experience with synesthesia, you can tell us about any other unusual perception traits you’ve encountered, or just tell us who you’d like the book for (and yourself is a perfectly good answer :)) Please leave your comment by Thursday February 27 at 5 PM EST. A winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after Perfect Picture Books on Friday (where I will be sharing THE GIRL WHO HEARD COLORS :))
I have no experience with synesthesia, but I do have experience with unusual vision. I have bilateral “wandering” eyes (which means both eyes can stop focusing and “wander”, though 9 times out of 10 it’s the left one that does because it’s significantly weaker) in addition to rotary nystagmus (rapid, uncontrollable spinning of the eye) with the result that I am rarely able to focus both eyes at the same time and have very poor depth perception. Ask anyone in my family – they will tell you how often I overflow cups thinking there’s more room before the top, and fall up or down stairs because I misjudge the distance. But don’t worry – I might look a little funny, but I’ve learned to compensate pretty well most of the time and am able to drive a car and jump horses 🙂 What’s a little spilled coffee between friends? 🙂
So, please share your stories and/or who you’d like to win the book for! And if you have any questions for Marie, ask away. She will be traveling this week, but I’m sure we can prevail upon her to answer any burning questions when she returns 🙂
As an added bonus, Marie is also visiting Tina Cho and Laura Sassi today, with advice for writers at Tina’s and her “unlikely” story of how she became a children’s writer at Laura’s, so please hop over and see what she has to say on their blogs! Tina also has a giveaway of the book!
Have a marvelous Monday everyone!!! And please visit Debby’s blog if you have a minute – she would love to meet you all!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
I love that Marie is everywhere today! It's synesthesia overload. I had never heard of it till I read A Mango-Shaped Space, and now here it is again and agin!
I've heard of A Mango-Shaped Space but didn't know it was about synesthesia, Genevieve!
THAT is very cool! I feel like I should revise the blog post so people will be sure to see this, but so many people have already been by to read… Thank you so much for visiting with us today, Marie! It's been interesting and fun!
I think so many libraries could benefit from this book, so that kids would have the chance to learn about synesthesia. And Sleeping Bear has a lot of great books!
So glad you enjoyed it, Beverly! And I'm still marveling over the “fortunately her husband allowed her to continue composing…” sentence – I'm glad we live in a place and time when we don't need anyone's permission to write!
I don't know anyone with synesthesia but live with a man who is color deficient and admit that sometimes his difficulty leads to some interesting clothing choices!
Can't wait to read The Girl Who Heard Colors.
It was nice getting to know you, Marie. It is also wonderful that you are bringing awareness to synesthesia. I've never heard of it until now. Thank you.
Oh, that's true, Keila! I hadn't thought of that. But color blindness is definitely a difference in perception, and I know a few people with it – it runs in my mom's side of the family 🙂
It's a great idea for a book, isn't it, Romelle? Think of all the kids who have it who will benefit from knowing they're not alone… and all the other kids who will read it and think, wow that's cool – I wish I could do that! 🙂
Wow, Susanna – so many offerings; so much to learn. Thanks for the wonderful interview with Marie; I always enjoy hearing how writers get their inspiration. And finding book ideas right outside the front door helps reminds us all to just open our eyes and pay attention. Hearing colors, tasting words… what an interesting world.
Great post! I already have this book on my to be reviewed pile, so please count me out for the contest. 🙂 Great interview! I learned a lot. 🙂
Glad you liked the interview, Erik! 🙂
So true! And a lesson for writers in using all the senses! 🙂
Would be interesting if there is someone out there who cannot ''see'' colors but can ''hear'' them. Or is the latter a prerequisite to the former? When considering senses, I'm not sure! Maybe Marie knows?
Hmm… interesting idea… Marie???
Hi Marie and Susanna, what a unique story. It sounds like a blessing in disguise. 🙂
I know, it does, doesn't it? I think it would be pretty cool to experience the world that way!
Just think how “colorful” our writing would be. 🙂
It is always fascinating to hear how an author's story developed. Thanks for sharing. I've never had an experience with synesthesia but welcomed learning about it.
So glad you enjoyed it, Bev! 🙂
Hehe 🙂
Very interesting to see how the story developed. And, will need to read the book!
I loved her story on…hmmm…. I think it was Laura's blog but it might have been Tina's because now I can't remember which one was which…about how someone asked if she wrote for children while discussing the poet laureate post and she said yes because she had written something she thought was for kids even though it had never been published. It reminded me of Mike Allegra's story of saying he had a thanksgiving story when he didn't and writing one but quick which ended up getting published 🙂 Lots of great stories out there of how people came to writing!
So you know, Cheryl, they are painless and nothing to worry about. And, yes, not too frequent either 🙂
So true. It's not as frightening when you understand what's causing them. 🙂