Please explain a little about the wonderful children ’ s books you ’ ve written and what prompted you to write them
The series was born because I was tired of my daughter thinking that reality TV stars and people who were famous for being famous were heroes . I tell my kids all the time : That ’ s fame . Fame is different than being a hero . I wanted my kids to see real heroes … and real people no different than themselves . We started with I AM AMELIA EARHART and I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN . But each book tells the story of the hero when THEY were a kid . We see them as children . So it ’ s not just Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln being famous — it ’ s them being just like us . We ’ ve since done everyone from Rosa Parks , Albert Einstein , Jackie Robinson , Lucille Ball , Helen Keller , Martin Luther King , Jr ., Gandhi , George Washington , Jane Goodall , Sacagawea , Harriet Tubman … and next is I am Neil Armstrong , out in September . We all need heroes today .
It ’ s been about twenty years since the publications of your first book . Is there anything you know today that you sincerely wish you had known back then ?
I ’ d tell me to just stay honest with myself . Don ’ t be afraid to be flawed . My first few years as a writer , in every interview I gave , I said everything was okay . All great . Just thankful to be here . And I was thankful . But I was terrified to show anything wrong –– as if , if I complained , it ’ d all go away . Now , I realize we ’ re all flawed . We ’ re all terrified and bold and scared and amazing . All of us . All in the same day . Let it all exist .
As you likely know , TopShelf Magazine reaches a pretty broad spectrum of readers . However , our primary target has always been booksellers and librarians . We enjoy picking the minds of authors who ’ ve been successful for a while , acquiring tidbits along the way that could prove
INTERVIEWS
beneficial to independent booksellers . Is there a marketing strategy that you ’ ve seen used by booksellers that has impressed you or that you know has been successful , and why ?
The only reason I ’ m here today is because of librarians . Years ago , we didn ’ t have money for books . I had a library card . The librarian told me : This is your section . I
thought she literally meant : These books are yours . But that woman changed my life . A few years back , I tried to track her down and say thank you . I couldn ’ t find her . As for strategies , the only other reason I ’ m here is because of booksellers . When my first book came out , it was booksellers who read it . They were the ones who built it and found it and told people . I will never stop saying thank you . It ’ s funny , I STILL get people who come to events and tell me : I was a bookseller when your first book came out , interviews
and you came into my store and were so nice , and I ’ ve supported you ever since . I owe you all forever .
In our experience , we ’ ve found that readers love to get to know authors . In fact , sometimes understanding more about an author can develop a lasting bond between the author and reader that is very difficult to break . Is there anything you could share with us about yourself that isn ’ t well known , something that may entice readers who haven ’ t picked up a Brad Meltzer book yet to give you a try ?
I know my core belief . I believe ordinary people change the world . I don ’ t care how much money you make or what your job title is . That ’ s nonsense to me . Why ? Because my family grew up with so little and gave me so much . I became the first in my family to go to a four-year college because my dad took out 20 different credit cards and sunk himself into debt . So he could help me . He and my Mom were as ordinary people as can be – and proof that there ’ s no such thing as an ordinary person .
Some might say you ' re a pretty public and outgoing person . You have spoken with many people throughout your career –– have done many interviews . But if you ’ re anything at all like me , there ’ s always that one question that you wish would get asked , but never does . Well , we ’ d love to hear about it ! The floor is yours :
How does it feel to invent jetpacks for the entire world and bring the future to all ? What ’ s next ? Flying cars ! Naturally . Also , increasing teacher , librarian and bookseller pay . C ’ mon , how hard is that ?
Read this and other interviews at : www . TopShelfMagazine . net
www . TopShelfMagazine . net TOPShelf magazine APRIL2018 21
TOPShelf magazine APRIL2018