We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kathryn Erskine a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kathryn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

In middle school, I wrote an essay that was published in the school magazine and thought, “People actually want to read what I write?” It was a great feeling to have my voice heard. Until then I’d only written diaries (which were mostly fiction to make my life seem much more exciting) or stories in class that people enjoyed but they weren’t in a publication. I decided then that I’d dedicate my first novel to the head of my school because she (we were sure) had fought in the resistance in World War Two. However, I figured I had to support myself so I’d be a lawyer and wait for retirement to indulge my writing but … you can be somewhat creative in briefs and memos, but it’s not as satisfying as writing your own stories. When my mom passed away just at retirement age, I realized I needed to follow my passion immediately. So, I took a local class in children’s writing, joined a critique group, went to conferences, submitted short stories and novels with no luck. After a couple of years, I was ready to give up but then heard a talk by an esteemed children’s book editor who said to stick with it because you will get better, you will learn more about the industry, and you will get published. I felt like she was talking to me. I had renewed resolve! Just a few years later, she published my first book and became my editor!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up in Europe, Africa, Canada, and the United States, attending eight schools and four universities and was a lawyer before becoming an author. That upbringing helped me to see the world from different perspectives which has inspired my writing. My books include fiction for children and teens, picture books, nonfiction, and an adult novel under a pseudonym (COMPOUNDING SOLUTIONS, Lindisfarne). I’m fortunate that my books have done well, including the National Book Award winner, MOCKINGBIRD. My goal is to write books that give readers, young and old, a chance to think, laugh, and realize that they have the power to achieve their dreams.

I teach writing through several organizations including Whale Rock Workshops, the Highlights Foundation, and WriterHouse. The combination of my analytical abilities as a lawyer and my creativity as an author enable me to help others with their manuscripts. I’ve spoken at libraries, universities, conventions, museums, etc. and have been lucky to visit many schools (which I love to do!) both in the U.S., including Guam, as well as abroad: Canada, Scotland, Italy, Brazil, Panama, and Singapore.

I always have several books in progress and am engaged in teaching or editing–and am an avid supporter of free speech and free press. Anything else inevitably leads to a totalitarian society which is intolerable, especially for creatives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love connecting with readers, both by reaching out through my work so they (especially kids) feel seen and understood, and also in person to encourage people to use their own voices to share their stories with the rest of us. My greatest joy is when someone is helped or feels understood by what I’ve written. For example, a teacher asking me to sign her copy of MOCKINGBIRD because now she finally understood her student with autism, or boys and men writing to me about THE ABSOLUTE VALUE OF MIKE to say, “This is me. I’m Mike,” and thanking me for seeing them, validating their feelings, and making them feel better.

With all the letters and emails I receive, I know that there are many more readers out there who haven’t contacted me but who’ve gained something from what I’ve written, be it validation and hope for themselves or understanding and empathy for others. I’ll never know those people but I’m so happy to think that I’ve made someone’s day.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I write tough topics for kids because I believe kids, in particular, are going through rough times and that they can handle the truth. It’s worse to sugarcoat it or refuse to tell them because imagination is often worse than reality. That’s why I believe so strongly in access to all books. If a book is too much for a child they’ll tend to put it down or not take in the full meaning–as when I read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD as an 8 or 9 year old. I knew Tom was on trial for something bad (and that he didn’t do it) but I didn’t know what the “bad” thing was and it didn’t matter. I didn’t need to know that yet. But I needed to be able to read the book because I wanted to. Because I’d lived in apartheid South Africa and was working through how that happened there, and in the U.S., because as my mother pointed out when I said at least the U.S. didn’t have apartheid, “Oh, yes we do, we just don’t call it that.” Both the book and her statement were eye openers for me. And why not? Why shouldn’t a child think about such topics? Of course she should.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kathrynerskine.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathy.erskine
• Other: Blue Sky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/kathyerskine.bsky.social

Image Credits

Headshot by Lisa B. Sells