The Explorers: The Door in the Alley by Adrienne Kress
Happy Friday! I'm thrilled Adrienne Kress dropped by to chat with me about Sebastian, Evie, Chicago, theatre, and school libraries. I wrote the words in purple, and she wrote the words in black. Thank you, Adrienne!
The Explorers: The Door in
the Alley tells the story of two
kids, Sebastian and Evie, who meet for the first time at the whimsical and
intriguing Explorers Society and are tasked with putting back together the formerly
famous exploring team the Filipendulous Five (which disbanded under mysterious
circumstances many years ago). Their ultimate goal: to rescue Evie's
grandfather. Hilarity and adventure ensue. Also there’s a pig in a teeny hat.
Here
are three things you should know about Sebastian:
1. He’s logical.
2. He likes to do the most appropriate thing and follow the
rules to the letter.
3. He has a secret side to himself that is an adventurer . .
. but he’s only just realizing that himself.
And here are three things about Evie, because she’d demand to
be included too:
1. She’s quick-witted and funny.
2. She’s determined.
3. She can jump the gun too fast and gets impatient with others.
On
April 25, 2017, THE EXPLORERS launches! And I’ll be in Chicago on the first leg
of my book tour celebrating it at Anderson's Bookshop La Grange! I’ve never been to Chicago before, and everyone has told
me I’ll love it because I am a rather big architecture fan and Chicago has some
great architecture. So I’m really looking forward to being an explorer myself
and discovering the city as well launching the book.
I
hope The Explorers: The Door in the Alley finds
its way into the hearts of readers (obviously metaphorically – I’ve removed all
the sharp objects from around it just in case, though). I also really hope it
appeals to reluctant readers. This is a particularly personal desire of mine,
having grown up a reluctant reader myself, and in a way still being one. I try
to write books that I as a reluctant reader would enjoy: funny, fast, full of
action and lots of dialogue. Though, of course, still with complex emotions,
themes and situations. Reluctant readers don’t want to be condescended to. We
enjoy a good complicated story, but we want to be entertained first and
foremost. And I do hope The Explorers
succeeds in that.
I
studied theatre for forever. Almost my whole life. I was a drama major from the
age of 11 right up until post-graduate studies (London Academy of Music and
Dramatic Arts in the UK). I continue to pursue an acting career to this day. (In
fact you’ll be seeing me in a small role in the pilot episode of American Gods which premieres really
soon.) And I am also glad I trained as I did for reasons other than “I need to
be able to be good at my acting job.” One of the big reasons is feeling
comfortable speaking in front of crowds. I can’t say it’s effortless. I mean 13
years of training doesn’t equal effortless all the time. But it often feels so
now. Speaking to an audience is really enjoyable for me, and having those
skills means that when I get to spend time with kids, doing presentations and
workshops, I can really have a great time getting to know them and working with
them without nerves getting in the way.
School
libraries are so important. It seems obvious to say that, and yet time and
time again we see that funding gets cut precisely from this area that is so
fundamental in helping instruct our children and turn them into life-long
readers. I firmly believe there is a book out there for everyone to love, for
both the avid and reluctant reader, and it’s librarians who never give up on
the kids. They’re the ones who get to know the individual and find out their
interests and, with that information, test the waters with different kinds of
books until something clicks. Librarians, in other words, are the sage wizards
of the quest leading the journey, inspiring hope, and teaching the tools that
kids can take and use to journey on by themselves. Librarians are Dumbledore.
Or Gandalf. And the reason people know who I’m talking about when I offer those
comparisons is due in great part to them.
Mr.
Schu, you should have asked me about my tour dates! I’m mostly doing school
visits, which I’ve already explained earlier are one of my favourite things,
but I am also doing three public events at bookstores across the country, and
I’m looking forward to meeting new people, especially fellow book lovers.
April 25th - Anderson's
Bookstore La Grange, Chicago, 7:00pm
April 27th - Half Price Books, Dallas (Fort Worth), 6:00pm
May 2nd - Copperfield's Books, San Francisco (Petaluma), 4:00pm
You also neglected to ask me the very fundamental questions of favourite colour and animal. To which I will reply, red and foxes.
April 27th - Half Price Books, Dallas (Fort Worth), 6:00pm
May 2nd - Copperfield's Books, San Francisco (Petaluma), 4:00pm
You also neglected to ask me the very fundamental questions of favourite colour and animal. To which I will reply, red and foxes.
Look for The Explorers: The Door in the Alley on April 25, 2017.
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