Meet-And-Greet Monday
Meet Illinois Native: Emily Ecton
Emily's Books
Boots and Pieces, Emily's first book, was published last August 2008 by Aladdin Books.
Here's a description:
"Her big sister bosses her around; her mom makes her dog-sit Mr. Boots, the family's well-dressed Chihuahua; and she's convinced a strange and squishy swamp creature that lives down at the lake is eating high school kids.When no one believes her, Arlie and her best friend, Ty (yes, he's a boy, and no, he's not her boyfriend), set out with Mr. Boots to stop the creature themselves -- because if they don't, half the school is going to end up as lakeside hors d'oeuvres!"
Closely following was The Curse of Cuddles McGee, published September 2008.
"While poking around their neighborhood, mystery-solving, swamp monster-fighting middle-graders Arlie and Ty fi nd a buried coffee can fi lled with the bones of a hamster and the handwritten curse (on glittery unicorn notepaper) from his home-schooled owner, Mandy:
"Here lies Cuddles McGee. A curse upon those who disturb his grave."
The fact that the i in "lies" is topped with a heart doesn't make them any less scared, especially when the obese, angry, and undead Cuddles comes back to life and starts trashing the town. Once again, it's up to Arlie, Ty, and Mr. Boots -- the fashionably dressed Chihuahua, to save the town from destruction, reanimated dead hamster-style."
The last book in the trilogy is Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments coming out in March 2009!
"Arlie Jacobs, her best-friend Ty, and Mr. Boots the Chihuahua are trying to save her town from another weird paranormal occurrence--lawn ornaments come to life!"
Questions for Emily
Emily lives here in Chicago and, while we struggled to keep warm, Emily graciously answered some of my questions.
1) Your characters are so unique and fun. Do you have a secret brainstorming/creative energy secret?
I wish I did! Ideas seem to hit me at the most inconvenient times - like at work, or at the airport, or in the shower, which inevitably leads to me standing in front of my computer, typing furiously and dripping all over the keyboard.
2) Do you have one favorite character from your books?
I've definitely got a soft spot for Mr. Boots the chihuahua -- he puts up with so much. There aren't many dogs who can keep their dignity while wearing a jaunty plaid cap and matching skirt.
3) Did you grow up in the midwest?
I'm from Hyde Park in Chicago originally, but my family moved to Virginia when I was ten. I've been bouncing back and forth between Chicago and Virginia ever since.
4) What do you do in your super duper cool day job?
I work for Wait Wait..Don't Tell Me, the NPR comedy news quiz, so I spend most of the week searching for funny news stories and planning the logistics of the week's show. Then on Thursdays, we write up the script, all of the panelists come out to Chicago, and we cross our fingers and hope for the best. There are definitely worse ways to spend the week!
***While driving home from breakfast, I mentioned to the family what I had to write this post. Husband turned on NRP and we caught the last 10 minutes of the show... and THEY SAID YOUR NAME. Family is letting me finish this, in peace.
5) Anything else you would like me to ask? Anything else you would like people to know about you?
Just that I love to hear from readers and the third book in the series is coming out in March.
6) What are you working on now?
I'm revising these days -- it's a time travel story that's not part of the Arlie / Ty / Mr. Boots series.
***Ewwww, that sounds like fun!
7) Are you keeping warm?
I'm doing my best! My electric blanket is my new best friend.
Emily's Super Cool Website is here.
Other fantastic Emily interviews:
Cynthea Lui - Authors on the Verge here
Little Willow on her blog, Bildungsroman here
I forgot to ask Emily who illustrated the cool book covers. I did a little research and the illustrator is Scott M. Fischer. His website's here.
Keep warm everyone!
Emily's Books
Boots and Pieces, Emily's first book, was published last August 2008 by Aladdin Books.
Here's a description:
"Her big sister bosses her around; her mom makes her dog-sit Mr. Boots, the family's well-dressed Chihuahua; and she's convinced a strange and squishy swamp creature that lives down at the lake is eating high school kids.When no one believes her, Arlie and her best friend, Ty (yes, he's a boy, and no, he's not her boyfriend), set out with Mr. Boots to stop the creature themselves -- because if they don't, half the school is going to end up as lakeside hors d'oeuvres!"
Closely following was The Curse of Cuddles McGee, published September 2008.
"While poking around their neighborhood, mystery-solving, swamp monster-fighting middle-graders Arlie and Ty fi nd a buried coffee can fi lled with the bones of a hamster and the handwritten curse (on glittery unicorn notepaper) from his home-schooled owner, Mandy:
"Here lies Cuddles McGee. A curse upon those who disturb his grave."
The fact that the i in "lies" is topped with a heart doesn't make them any less scared, especially when the obese, angry, and undead Cuddles comes back to life and starts trashing the town. Once again, it's up to Arlie, Ty, and Mr. Boots -- the fashionably dressed Chihuahua, to save the town from destruction, reanimated dead hamster-style."
The last book in the trilogy is Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments coming out in March 2009!
"Arlie Jacobs, her best-friend Ty, and Mr. Boots the Chihuahua are trying to save her town from another weird paranormal occurrence--lawn ornaments come to life!"
Questions for Emily
Emily lives here in Chicago and, while we struggled to keep warm, Emily graciously answered some of my questions.
1) Your characters are so unique and fun. Do you have a secret brainstorming/creative energy secret?
I wish I did! Ideas seem to hit me at the most inconvenient times - like at work, or at the airport, or in the shower, which inevitably leads to me standing in front of my computer, typing furiously and dripping all over the keyboard.
2) Do you have one favorite character from your books?
I've definitely got a soft spot for Mr. Boots the chihuahua -- he puts up with so much. There aren't many dogs who can keep their dignity while wearing a jaunty plaid cap and matching skirt.
3) Did you grow up in the midwest?
I'm from Hyde Park in Chicago originally, but my family moved to Virginia when I was ten. I've been bouncing back and forth between Chicago and Virginia ever since.
4) What do you do in your super duper cool day job?
I work for Wait Wait..Don't Tell Me, the NPR comedy news quiz, so I spend most of the week searching for funny news stories and planning the logistics of the week's show. Then on Thursdays, we write up the script, all of the panelists come out to Chicago, and we cross our fingers and hope for the best. There are definitely worse ways to spend the week!
***While driving home from breakfast, I mentioned to the family what I had to write this post. Husband turned on NRP and we caught the last 10 minutes of the show... and THEY SAID YOUR NAME. Family is letting me finish this, in peace.
5) Anything else you would like me to ask? Anything else you would like people to know about you?
Just that I love to hear from readers and the third book in the series is coming out in March.
6) What are you working on now?
I'm revising these days -- it's a time travel story that's not part of the Arlie / Ty / Mr. Boots series.
***Ewwww, that sounds like fun!
7) Are you keeping warm?
I'm doing my best! My electric blanket is my new best friend.
Emily's Super Cool Website is here.
Other fantastic Emily interviews:
Cynthea Lui - Authors on the Verge here
Little Willow on her blog, Bildungsroman here
I forgot to ask Emily who illustrated the cool book covers. I did a little research and the illustrator is Scott M. Fischer. His website's here.
Keep warm everyone!