Author Amy Timberlake had a wonderful virtual visit with second and third-grade classes on September 28!
On September 28, Wescott School second and third-graders had the wonderful opportunity to Zoom with author Amy Timberlake, who wrote the “Skunk and Badger." She is currently celebrating the arrival of her new book "Egg Marks the Spot," the second of her “Skunk and Badger” series.
The Book Stall with Library Media Specialist Margaret Janavicius coordinated this visit, which included an order form link for an autographed copy of one of her books: https://bit.ly/39RCbEN
Ms. Timberlake began her presentation by letting everyone know that she and her husband are neighbors and live in Chicago. She grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin, enjoys hiking, and is passionate about rocks, which is one reason the subject is featured in her book “Skunk and Badger!”
Badger is a quiet, solitary geologist intent on his important rock work; while Skunk is an outgoing, friendly, unwelcome new roommate. They have nothing in common. However, Badger and Skunk show how opposites attract and that making friends can mean opening oneself up to possibilities.
A reader of the A. A. Milne "Winnie the Pooh" series when she was very young, the author was inspired by how “beautifully crafted” the books were, and they always had a beginning, conflict, then resolution. She was an avid reader and when she was about 10 years old, she showed her father her first piece of writing. He told her she had talent, which gave her the confidence to continue what would become a passion and her life’s work!
"It took me two years (at least) to write the draft of ‘Skunk and Badger’ that I sent off to my agent.
When I wrote 'Skunk and Badger,' I kept a schedule. I tried to write as many days in a row as I could, so I wouldn’t lose the threads of my story. Each day, I tried to write a certain number of hours. I took one day off every week. I journaled in a notebook and I wrote on the computer. I wrote a lot of drafts — and when I say a lot I mean I wouldn’t be surprised if there were over twenty beginning-to-ending drafts, and many drafts of each chapter inside those twenty drafts,” she said.
Ms. Timberlake has received a Newbery Honor for the book “One Came Home," an Edgar, and a Golden Kite Award. One book was chosen to be a Book Sense Pick, another was reviewed in "The New York Times Book Review." Chicago's Lifeline Theatre has adapted both "One Came Home” and her very first book "The Dirty Cowboy” for the stage.
For more information on Amy Timberlake, click here.
