1. The Gifted Girls series were your first fiction series. What made you tackle such a series?
I wanted to write a series of books for preteen girls from ages 7 to 12. The series that were out there were so safe and outdated. American Girls, for instance, even though I love the idea of American Girls, were written 10 years ago and dealt with history lessons. I wanted a series that speaks to girls I know now, girls I knew when I was that age. Today's preteen girls are a lot more sophisticated than preteen girls 10 years ago. They're exposed to pop music, security alerts, drugs, mean cliques, and violence at a much younger age. I wanted to address some of these issues, to educate, rather than hide and pretend these issues do not exist, through the Gifted Girls books. I also wanted the books to be entertaining and enjoyable. The first book, Lucy and the Liberty Quilt deals with the issue of September 11.
The second book, Lucy and the Beauty Queen deals with the issue of peer pressure and beauty. Emily Cobbs and the Naked Painting deals with acceptance of being different.
2. The first book, Lucy and the Liberty Quilt deals with September 11. Why September 11? Is this controversial?
It is meant to capture a moment in history, and September 11 is part of world history, like it or not. Since Lucy and the Liberty Quilt was written and published a month after September 11, it presents September 11 as it was at the time. At the time, everyone in America felt the same way - kindness and support toward one another. There was no political divide as to September 11 that is now experienced in America today. Remember, this book is a perspective of the historical event actually taken close to the time of the event and reflects a lot of the sentiment that was felt at that time. Everyone has their own beliefs and right to their beliefs, and this series is open to it. That is why there are discussion and activities sheets provided for each book in the series.
3. The second book, Lucy and the Beauty Queen deals with the issue of body image and self-confidence for pre-teens. How does Cleopatra fit into this?
I decided to focus on Cleopatra as a girl when she was developing into her own woman. At this stage of her life, she was still innocent, yet faced with an enormous task - to become the leader and ruler of her beloved country. History paints her in several different lights - some flattering, some not so flattering. What I wanted to capture here is the long-lasting influence she had on women leadership and self-confidence on women and girls in different cultures. She changed the way people looked at women in leadership positions and women and beauty.
4. Emily Cobbs is set in the Victorian era in England. What is different about this Gifted Girls character series?
This series take you back to the origin of the Gifted Girls. It explains the how Gifted Girls came to be, and where the golden heart pendant that each Gifted Girls girl wears to identify themselves originated. You will be surprised because this series contains more mystery and adventure than the Lucy Series. So every book in each character series ties in with each other in some way or another.
5. In the Gifted Girls Series, there's also a hidden, but subtle layer of struggle.
Yes. There's a struggle in all of us and on a global level. When you have a gift, do you use it for good or bad? Just like power. If you have power, would you use that for good or evil? It's a realistic theme we as adults face, but for a 7 to 12 year old girl, she doesn't realize that life may throw circumstances her way where she may have to make choices between right and wrong (for instance - going out with a bad boy who may get her pregnant, drinking alcohol with friends, or picking on a shy girl just to fit in with the popular crowd.) Hopefully, she will have the strength and foundation to make the right choices in life.
6. Because of the tie-in to biblical history with the Gifted Girls, this series has Christian elements along with adventure and mystery. Can these be combined?
I believe so. Beloved writer and seminary professor C.S. Lewis did it with the Chronicle of Narnia books starting with the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Madeline L' Engle did it with her acclaimed books, A Wrinkle in Time and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. A new book called Shadowmancer is written by a Vicar in England, but combines Christian beliefs in with fantasy. Even Harry Potter, a book that is all about wizardry and fantasy, has been embraced by theologians. When I started the Gifted Girls series, I had set out to create a new genre which combines this in a girl series.
7. You also provide Discussion Sheets for each book, right?
Yes! These books are not your typical girl books. They're meant to create discussion and provoke thinking. That's why there are discussion sheets you can print off from the Giftedgirls.net website for the Lucy Series, and within the books themselves in the Emily Cobbs Series, Jackie Green Series, Daniella Series, and Rose Series.
8. What has been the response to these books?
I think it's been great! I get emails from girls all the time about the Gifted Girls, and some classes read the books as a whole (especially Lucy and the Liberty Quilt) every semester. It's great because these books promote discussion and hopefully learning that comes with discussion. It means a lot to me when a parent comes up to me at a reading or book signing with genuine appreciation in her eyes or when I see a girl carry one of the Gifted Girls books around. These may not be a bestseller like the Harry Potter books, but to some people, the books has touched them somewhere, and that is extremely satisfying.
