It’s Friday and time for a little bit of fun. In our house that means it probably has something to do with American Girl. From the moment we moved into our new home the girls immediately set up different parts of their rooms with their dolls. Each set-up, like the dolls, is different and was a way to show how much they love spending time creating worlds and adventures with their special American Girl dolls.
The Comedian with Grace Thomas
We were so excited when the Girl of the Year, Grace entered our house. The Comedian may have received her but it was TD that devoured the book as soon as it arrived. She couldn’t wait to interview Mary Casanova, the author of the Grace series with me. We had fun putting the questions together too.
- What is your favorite part of the book writing process when you create a book for American Girl?
My most exciting moment is when the phone rings and my editor asks if I’d be interested in writing a new set of stories for American Girl. I smile from ear to ear, immediately say ‘yes’ and beam the rest of the day. It’s the next day when the magnitude of the project dawns on me. From then on, I know I’ll need to roll up my sleeves, jump into research, and start writing.
- As an avid baker, do you have a signature baked good that you make?
It’s not my original recipe, but it came from two “grandma” figures in my own children’s lives. It’s called Crazy Chocolate Cake, with peanut-butter & chocolate frosting. It’s always a hit, and you can find it AUTHORS IN THE KITCHEN by Sharron McElmeel.
3. When you visited Paris to research Grace you took a baking class from a Paris chef. What was the best tip or technique you learned when taking a Paris baking class?
Be very, very careful when grating a lemon for lemon zest! A good grater is very sharp, so be careful not to lose any skin. Take your time. And also, only zest the yellow skin and don’t get any white into your zest as it’s quite bitter.
- (From TD) Why did you include a puppet theatre in the book? Did you see one when you visited Paris?
Yes, there’s a famous puppet theater at Luxembourg Garden. It has a long history of entertaining children and I checked it out as part of my research. it was absolutely enchanting in an old-fashioned way and I knew when I heard the children’s enthusiastic cheering for the puppet characters that I would use it in Grace’s story. Also, like Grace, I thought I could easily follow a puppet act meant for pre-school audiences. Like Grace, I realized my comprehension of French needed much improvement!’
- Why did you choose for part of the book to take place in Paris? Could you have just kept the book local for Grace?
From the start, American Girl wanted GOTY 2015 to travel. With Grace’s interest in baking, Paris seemed the natural fit—as well as a very popular destination for girls who dream of traveling someday.
- (From TD) Why did Grace name her dog Bon Bon? Where there other names in the running like macaroon?
I definitely wanted the inspiration for the dog’s name to come out of Grace’s interest in baking, especially while at the patisserie in Paris. I needed something black and white, which could have been an eclair, as well, but Bonbon, being easy and fun to say, seemed the instant choice.
- How long do you research a book before you begin writing it?
I launch immediately into research, while at the same time outlining the books ahead. For GOTY books, the research, drafting, and revising must be completed in less than a year. It’s an incredibly challenging schedule, and believe me, I devote myself completely to the task. I take the job seriously so that the stories entertain, educate, and enlighten—and get finished on time!
- (From TD) How long does it take to write an American Girl book?
Most novels I write take between 1-2 years, but with American Girl, I must finish the books (in this case, three) in less than a year. Maybe that’s why right now I’m on vacation in Hawaii! There wasn’t time last year to take a break. But it’s an opportunity and a challenge I wouldn’t miss!
- (From TD) Why did her Aunt Sophie name her baby Lily? Is there a special reason behind the name?
I often read through baby book names, and for Lily (or Lilou) I read through lists of popular baby names in Paris. I loved the French name and that it could be abbreviated to a more familiar version with Lily.
- Is there something you always do when you start a new writing project?
Behind the excitement of a new writing project lurks terror. The more common name for it is ‘writer’s block’ and it can get writers into trouble. When I sense the faintest tremor of fear (fear that I won’t somehow do a good job; fear that I’ll fall flat on my face and fail), I remind myself “All I can do is try.” Writing always takes a lot of courage, and though I’ve authored many books already for American Girl, I start each project with a deep breath, choose to trust, and begin.
Have a wonderful weekend with your loved ones! See you back on Monday for the best of the link up!
