Liz Yanoff: Ms. Kehret, thank you for writing your latest book Stolen Children, a nominee for NYSRA’s 2010 Charlotte Award. This page turner has been well received by our middle grade readers, and Mrs. Wilcox’s fifth graders had questions for you about your writing process and the development of this book.
Fifth Graders: Who inspired you to be an author?
Peg Kehret: I wasn’t inspired so much by a person as by reading many good books. I loved to write and I wondered if I might be able to write material that others would enjoy reading.
Fifth Graders: Was the story inspired by a true story about kids getting stolen and did any of the events happen to you?
Peg Kehret: The only event that happened to me, unless you count playing charades, was that I once hired a neighbor girl to take care of my dogs and cat while I was gone overnight, and she forgot to do it. The idea of a girl babysitting for a wealthy family and then having the baby kidnapped was actually the first idea I ever had for a novel. I wrote that book many years ago, but it never got published. I still thought it was a good idea so I made new characters and different circumstances and wrote a whole new book.
Fifth Graders: How did you decide on character names especially Tubby?
Peg Kehret: For most of my characters I consult three books that I have on what to name your baby. Tubby was not a suggestion in those books! I made that name up.
Fifth Graders: Why did you make the hiding spot a cabin in the woods?
In Washington State where I live, there are many such wooded areas that are secluded, where other people would not be likely to see you.
Fifth Graders: Was it hard to make up the clues Amy sent through the videos?
Peg Kehret: I liked doing that. It was the most fun part of writing this book.
Fifth Graders: Why did you have Tubby speak for Kendra?
Peg Kehret: I don’t know. When I began writing about Kendra and Tubby, it just came out that way and I liked it.
Fifth Graders: Why did you have Amy’s dad die?
Peg Kehret: I wanted Amy to have a personal problem and have strong motivation for overcoming it.
Fifth Graders: What made you think to throw the gun in the outhouse?
Peg Kehret: Oh, I loved it when I got that idea! I was trying to think how she could rid of that gun and when I thought about the outhouse, I knew it was the perfect solution.
Liz Yanoff: Thank you. You’ve written so many engaging books for our readers. What can we expect next?
Peg Kehret: You are welcome. These were good questions. Coming in October is Runaway Twin.
Peg
