Each day leading up to the 32nd annual Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony, we’ll be featuring an exclusive interview with one of our 36 finalists. Learn more about these incredible local writers and gear up to see the winners announced live in person April 28.
Interview with Eliza Wheeler, author of Home in the Woods, part of the Children’s Literature category, sponsored by Books for Africa
How does it feel to be a Minnesota Book Award finalist?
It’s an incredible honor! I’m just so thrilled and thankful.
Tell us something about your finalist book that you want readers to know?
It took seven years to bring this story into being—six of those were spent on the writing (and involved a lot of starts and stops). The story is based on my grandma’s true childhood experience and contains themes that could go too dark for a picture book (death, poverty, homelessness), so capturing the right voice was a delicate balancing act. What gave the text the lightness it needed was telling the story in the present tense and from the point of view of 6-year old Marvel. Instead of feeling heavy or getting too sentimental, this gave the storytelling an honest, observational, and experience-driven approach that very young children will find approachable. At the same time, the underlying meanings of moments will reach deep for the adult who’s doing the reading. It was very gratifying to create a story that works on different levels for both the parent and child audiences. And, the great thing about the writing taking six years to accomplish was that by the time the text was resolved the illustrations were alive and fully formed in my head, so the process of making the art was a rich and joyful experience that came out of a place of flow.
Share something about your writing process and preferences. For instance, where is your favorite place to write?
I used to think that being a professional artist meant having to don a professional attitude while working…getting down to business at 7 a.m., working efficiently and productively. But I’ve learned, after a decade of doing this work professionally, that creative thought and process works best in an atmosphere of relaxation and enjoyment. I begin my mornings immersing myself in picture books that I love—still in my pajamas, in the bed or on the couch, sipping coffee, being as cozy as possible—looking at words and pictures that get my heart thumping. Without fail, this process creates an energy that gets me up and practically running to the drawing table, ready to dive in to my work (my studio space is in my home, and is my favorite place to work). I don’t turn my phone on, check email, or go online until the creative momentum peters out late in the afternoon, when I’ll finally pick up some of the business side of work. My day often involves a walk around Lake of the Isles, or time working in one of the fabulous coffee shops near me. In the summer I hammock (verb). But, when on a heavy book deadline my bubble gets burst and it’s just drawing from 10am to 10pm for months on end…(I’m trying to do much less of that these days).
Minnesota has a reputation as a state that values literature and reading. In your experience, what is it about our state that makes it such a welcoming place for writers and book creators?
This isn’t meant as a joke—I truly believe that winter plays a huge role in this. It’s this extended window of time where hunkering inside—with books, candles, and a hot beverage—is the norm. Our connection to nature is valued and nurtured with such amazing lakes, rivers, trails, and parks. These things are the GEMS of the Twin Cities (after spending 10 years living in Los Angeles, I can attest to this). I think also, being a state that’s insulated from the large coastal cities requires us to use reading to stay connected with what’s going on elsewhere, and also to allow us to travel in our imaginations to other distant, diverse places, real and imagined.
What is something you are good at that few people know about
I do jigsaw puzzles like nobody’s business (1000-pieces Charles Wysocki puzzles are my specialty).
What do you love about libraries?
I love the accessibility of endless resources to everyone, which is bolstered by the knowledgeable and passionate librarians and staff that make libraries work. Giving people tools to learn and grow is the most empowering thing we can do, and everyone is deserving of that. I also love that libraries support the livelihoods of authors and artists!
Eliza Wheeler is the bestselling illustrator-author of Miss Maple’s Seeds and was a recipient of the prestigious Sendak Fellowship. She has illustrated numerous books for children.
See the winners announced live at the Minnesota Book Awards Ceremony! Presented by Education Minnesota; media sponsor: Star Tribune.
