TUESDAY 2: Two Amazing Moments

Ann Hobgood's amazing bottle tree!

I had more than a few amazing moments last week while traveling about Alamance County. But I'll just share two of them here.

1. On Thursday evening, I enjoyed a lovely dinner with several of the Friends of the Library and Alamance Reads committee. The host, Stig Egede-Nissen invited the group around the table to join hands and he offered a beautiful prayer of thankfulness. I felt very much like I was with family.

Stig is Norwegian so he didn't stop with the grace. He went on to pronounce a Norwegian blessing on me. I have no idea what he said. Looking back on it, I think I should have been curious enough to ask. But at the time, I simply soaked in the moment. Hearing it in Norwegian was so beautiful - it was all I needed.

2. On Friday morning, at Turrentine Middle School a 6th grade teacher came to the media center with a student who'd written a research paper on polio. I'm not sure if the 6th graders read my book as a group but they were not in the assembly that came to hear me speak. The teacher wanted me to know that Dylan chose this topic because Blue had piqued his interest. I couldn't take the time to read and really appreciate it then so Dylan made a copy for me and now I have my very own.

Dylan - I read it! Your research is great! The paper is really good. I hope you keep on researching and writing! And if I can help, let me know.

TUESDAY 2: Two Questions By Turrentine Middle Schoolers

1. What was your motive for killing one of the main characters?

Whoa there! Does this look like the face of a murderer?

No indeed! That is the face of a history lover – someone who finds a story and tells is like it is. (This picture has nothing to do with Blue. It's from a museum I visited while researching my next book.)

I read about polio and death in these books (and my local newspaper and a lot of other books). I also interviewed people who experienced polio firsthand. Unfortunately polio did kill some people and I thought it was important to tell the whole story. But, believe me, when that character died, I cried as hard as anyone. I keep a tissue box on my desk for moments like that.

2. What idea was more important while writing? Ann Faye being the man of the house, or her struggle to stay a kid?

What a great question! I don't believe I've thought this through before now. I think the two ideas go hand-in-hand. But ultimately? I think that, more than wanting to be a kid, Ann Fay wanted to please her father. That meant responsibility and being the man of the house. Yes, I think that idea is stronger. It's what keeps her going and helps her to survive hard times.