T. Katz, a resident of Southern California has been involved in the children’s entertainment industry since the early eighties working on hundreds of episodes of animated television and as a music instructor to hundreds of very animated children. She is also the honorary conductor of a four-part harmony household, consisting of her two children (three if you count the spouse on a bad day) and Alice the cat. The people that surround her help her to continue seeing the world with all its magic, beauty, and potential. She lives by the motto “A good book, a cup of tea and somehow all is right with the world.” Her adventures in life are adding welcome lines of character to her face and scattered optimistic silver linings all over her head.
Ms. Katz will be on virtual book tour in July ’09 to promote her latest children’s book, Miss L’eau. We interviewed her to find out more about her wonderful new book.
Q: Thank you for this interview, Ms. Katz. Can we begin by having you tell us why you chose to write children’s books?
A: Growing up I never felt that the adults around me fully recognized the powerful thoughts and feelings that children experience, and as a kid who had a lot to say in a speak-when-spoken-to world I suppose I’m making up for lost time by giving my characters voices to express themselves.
Q: Did you outline before you wrote your book or did you just go with the flow?
A: Having worked in children’s animation for years, where every half-hour plot was outlined and then storyboarded, I find that process is still very effective for me. Then, I fill a binder with pages of history and/or research on my characters and places. I wade around in that information for awhile to absorb as much as I can and then let the writing go from there, using my notes along the way to keep me on course.
Q: Who was your favorite character in Miss L’eau and why?
A: My heart is very full of love for James because of his fierce dedication to protecting the oceans, despite his tender age. Also, the fact that beyond the mystique of what he thought he saw in Miss L’eau’s eyes, he was touched even deeper by her ability to really see what was in his.
