Another Tortoise and a Different Hare
Author Interview with Judith Cole
Q: How did you become inspired to write children's books?
A: Well, I always liked to write and I always had written as a small
child on and off. I never really thought I could sell anything, so I
never polished anything I wrote. When I became a teacher, though, I
became very interested in children's books and began writing again.
A friend of mine had gotten a childrenıs agent. She showed her some
of my work and she liked them. It was then that I thought "I can
sell books" and from there on, I began writing more books.
Q: How did you ever come up with the idea for your book Another
Tortoise and A Different Hare?
A: I had been talking about fables with my class, and I realized that
I had just never liked that fable very much. I decided to take that
story and put a happy ending on it.
Q: Are you currently working on anything ?
A: Yes, I am. I have a something that I am working on now. I am trying
to get it polished up to be sent out.
Q: Would you care to reveal what it is?
A: It is called The Great Hippopotamus Raid. It is about hippos
that escape from the zoo.
Q: Do you have any advice for those who are thinking of publishing?
A: Just do it. Be calm and don't let criticism hurt you. If you have
confidence in what you've written, don't let anyone tell you not to
do it.
Q: Any final words on writing childrenıs books?
A: Someone once told me that I was a talented amateur and that this
was no business for talented amateurs. Years later after I finally published,
I thought "you are only a talented amateur until you sell something,
and then youıre a professional."