BIO

Stephanie Watson lives and works in St. Paul, Minnesota. ELVIS & OLIVE is her first book for young readers. She says, “I really wanted to write a children’s book, and I wasn’t sure I could do it, so for a long time I kept the writing of this story a secret. And before I knew it, the story was about secrets.” You can learn more about Stephanie Watson at her website, www.stephanie-watson.com.

Back to top.   

INTERVIEW

April 2008

Stephanie Watson's debut work of fiction, ELVIS & OLIVE, follows two unlikely friends who form a spying club in order to uncover secrets in their neighborhood. In this interview with Kidsreads.com's Alexis Burling, Watson explains how and why she kept the writing of this novel a secret, and describes some of her own childhood friends and memories that inspired elements of the story. She also elaborates on the book's lesson concerning forgiveness, shares a few of her non-writing hobbies and reveals the unusual things she does when she thinks no one is looking.

Kidsreads.com: ELVIS & OLIVE is your first book for children. What inspired you to start writing novels? What led to the creation of this particular storyline?

Stephanie Watson: Reading wonderful children’s books made me want to write my own. But I really wasn’t sure if I could do it, so when I started writing ELVIS & OLIVE I kept the process a secret. I didn’t tell anyone, not even my husband, for over a year. And in the funny way that creativity works, the plot soon became about secrets.

KRC: When Natalie first meets Annie, Annie says something interesting: "Don't be fooled by people who seem boring. Even the most dull-looking people do all kinds of weird, interesting things when they think no one's watching." Do you agree with this statement? What are some of the weird, interesting things you do when you think no one's looking?

SW: I DEFINITELY agree with that statement. We are all strange in our own ways, and that’s what makes us interesting and authentic. When I am alone and writing, I mutter to myself and make faces. Sometimes I put on a pair of bunny ears that I got from the Dollar Spot at Target. When I am alone and not writing, I sing to myself and pretend that I sound really good. I make up dances. I perform funny voices for my dog.

KRC: The first time Natalie meets Annie, Annie isn't wearing a shirt. That's such a quirky detail! What made you think of that?

SW: When I was growing up, there was a girl who rode her bike around the neighborhood with no shirt on. That image was so strong that it hung with me, and when I started writing ELVIS & OLIVE it was one of the first things that came to my mind. It felt like the perfect detail to set Annie apart from everyone, right off the bat.

KRC: Part of the reason Natalie likes Annie is because Annie is so refreshingly quirky and decisive, unlike her polite private school friends. She wouldn't even think of saying, "I don't know, what do you want to do?" When I was a kid, I can remember friends often doing the indecisive dance and, like Natalie, I would become infuriated! Where do you think that indecisiveness comes from? Is it really an urge to please and be polite, or is it something more?

SW: Oh yes, I think it comes from wanting to be polite, and not wanting to seem selfish. But I love it when my friends are bold. I know someone is truly my friend when she can come into my house, open the fridge and demand, “What is there to eat around here?”

KRC: Natalie's mom clearly doesn't like Annie and thinks she's too dirty/weird for her daughter. What made you add that element to the story? Do you think that's an accurate reflection on how some mothers judge their children's friends?

SW: I don’t think all parents do this. But people are naturally protective of their kids, and it’s easy to judge someone who is very different from you as a potential threat. I suppose I added the dynamic with Natalie’s mom to challenge Natalie to form her own opinion about Annie --- even if it’s in opposition to what her parents think.

KRC: From the beginning of the book, it's clear that Annie is lying about so many things, mostly having to do with her mother. At first, Natalie is impressed by all of Annie's outlandish stories, but she soon ferrets out the truth and feels betrayed instead --- especially after Annie embarrasses her in front of Steven. How did you go about structuring the plot so that readers would be able to understand why Annie lied, while also grasping why Natalie feels betrayed?

SW: My process of structuring the plot was one of trial and error. I had to write it several ways before I felt I had struck the right emotional balance.

KRC: I love Natalie and Annie's code names, Olive and Elvis. What made you choose them? If you could have a code name, what would it be?

SW: Like Natalie and Annie, I think a good code name should throw people off base. That’s why I chose “Elvis” and “Olive” for the girls. Annie bears no resemblance to her namesake --- a long-dead, rhinestone-jumpsuit-wearing rock star. And Natalie looks nothing like any type of olive --- neither the green kind nor the purple kind. If I had a code name, it would be…Grandpa Rockefeller. Because I am neither a grandfather nor a member of the Rockefeller family.

KRC: Reading about Natalie and Annie reminds me of my childhood friend, Samantha. We had a few secret clubs, too! And we got in our share of fights, but of course, we made up. Did you have a best friend growing up? What was she like?

SW: When I was little I had two best friends, but they both moved away. My kindergarten best friend was named Anne. She had long brown hair and could play the piano beautifully. Then she moved, and I became best friends with Elizabeth, who was very kind and had the most stylish clothes --- jeans with zippered ankles and all that. Then she moved away, too. I decided that from then on, I would try to have lots of friends instead of just one “best,” because it is so sad when a friend moves away.

KRC: Did you belong to any secret clubs when you were little like Annie and Natalie's?

SW: No, but I wanted to! Actually, I still want to. Know of any openings?

KRC: If your readers could take away one lesson about what transpires in Annie and Natalie's friendship as a result of their secret club, what would you want it to be?

SW: I have to admit that I didn’t set out to teach any lessons --- just to tell a good story. But if there is a lesson in ELVIS & OLIVE, I think it’s about forgiveness, and learning to accept people for who they really are. Everyone has faults and everyone makes mistakes. During the summer, Natalie and Annie come to see each other’s faults and are both victims of the other’s mistakes. But they find a way to forgive each other, and accept the imperfectness of who they are, and come out of the conflict with a much stronger friendship.

KRC: In ELVIS & OLIVE, Annie and Natalie learn a great deal about the importance of privacy --- and knowing when to tell the truth versus when to keep things to yourself. Were you a private person growing up? Did you always tell the truth? How has your attitude changed now that you're an adult?

SW: I grew up in a family of four kids, so being a private person wasn’t really an option. I told my fair share of little lies (“Mom, Steph stuck her tongue out at me!” “No, I didn’t”). But other than that, I have always tried to be a truthful person.

KRC: How did you find the publishing process? Was it anything like you thought it would be?

SW: My literary agent and Scholastic editor made sure that my first publishing experience was really positive and fun. I was so excited to be turning my manuscript into a book, and it was a nice surprise that other people were excited, too. My editor, the illustrator and designer, the sales and marketing folks --- everyone was so supportive and enthusiastic.

KRC: Would you ever consider writing a book for teens? Adults?

SW: Sure. When I sit down to start a new story, I don’t always know what age group I am writing for. I learn who the audience is as I get the story down. So one day, if a story for a teen or adult audience starts taking shape, I will follow where it leads.

KRC: Do you prefer to read a specific genre of books? What are some of your favorite books that you'd recommend to your readers?

SW: For a long time, I was on a strict children’s book diet, but now I like to read stories from all different genres. Some of my favorite kids’ books are ones that have been around for a while: The Mary Poppins series by P. L. Travers, the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace, the Ramona Quimby books, HARRIET THE SPY, CHARLOTTE'S WEB. I also love anything by Kate DiCamillo.

KRC: What do you do when you're not writing? Do you have other hobbies or interests?

SW: I love to make crafts. I sew purses and book bags. I make collages and beaded jewelry, bake Shrinky Dinks, draw and paint. I also take comedy improvisation classes and dance classes. And I just got a guitar for my birthday!

KRC: What are you working on now, and when might readers expect to see it?

SW: A sequel to ELVIS & OLIVE is in the works, and I’m exploring some other stories, too. But I can’t tell you exactly what --- it’s a secret.

Back to top.