Author David Zeltser

Happy Friday! I am celebrating the Day of the Ninja one day early with author David Zeltser. He dropped by to chat with me about Ninja Baby, Diane Goode, Al Gore, and Pennsylvania. I wrote the words in orange, and he wrote the words in black. Thank you, David!  

Ninja Baby’s book trailer makes me laugh. The great team at Chronicle hired the talented animator Benjamin Arthur for the job. He is also a friend and was very generous with his time.

Ninja Baby tells the story of a girl who wants to do everything by herself—but when her parents bring home a Kung Fu Master (a little brother), she has to face the one thing she cannot do alone: be part of a family. It’s my debut picture book and was shepherded by my Kung Fu Master at Chronicle, Melissa Manlove.

Illustration Credit: Diane Goode

I think Diane Goode’s illustrations are both exceedingly elegant and laugh-out-loud funny. Diane is a genius, and has become a friend. Her work took the story to a whole other level and I hope we can collaborate again soon.

Illustration Credit: Diane Goode

Picture books are a ridiculously exciting medium for me. There is still so much that hasn’t been done. The format is relatively new and wide open.

Al Gore, Crystal Allen, and Peter Lerangis are wildly glamorous folks who have said wildly generous things about my middle grade novel, Lug: Dawn of the Ice Age, a funny satire about our world’s response to climate change. The sequel, Lug: Blast from the North, will be published in 2016.

Reading is a small city in Pennsylvania? What are you getting at, Mr. Schu? These are verrrry leading questions...

Explore David's website. 

Mr. Schu, you should have asked me What’s next? Two forthcoming picture books—Stinker and The Universe Ate My Homework, from Carolrhoda/Lerner (shepherded by the fabulous Alix Reid and Carol Hinz). Also, after stockpiling manuscripts for some time, I’m on the lookout for an agent who is as passionate about picture books as I am.

Thanks, Mr. Schu and the amazing Lara Starr at Chronicle Books! This was fun!

Borrow Ninja Baby from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.