Mary Pope Osborne
Describe your latest project.
My latest project involves writing Magic Tree House #36: Blizzard of the Blue Moon. Jack and Annie land in Central Park in 1938 during a blizzard and journey through the city to free a unicorn from a spell. I had a great time researching that period in New York City.
If you could choose any story to live in, which story would it be? Why?
I would love to live in The Lord of the Rings. J. R. R. Tolkien's world is so vivid and rich and sensual. I love the country setting and the routine of the hobbits. Of course, I would like to be a hobbit who goes on small adventures — not huge horrifying ones, like Frodo's quest.
Offer a favorite sentence or passage from another writer.
"As his foot touched shore, the sun sank into the river the color of blood, and at once a wind sprang up and covered the sky with black, yellow, and green clouds the size of whales, which moved across the face of the moon."
— from The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty
What is your favorite literary first line?
One of my favorites is "Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo..." from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce.
What was your favorite story as a child?
Big Farmer Big — it was a picture book we had when my family lived in Austria. I've never seen or heard of it since. All I remember is that it was about a big farmer who ate a lot. The book listed his enormous quantities of food. I found it fascinating.
What do you do for relaxation?
Play with my dogs — two Norfolk terriers named Joey and Mr. Bezo.
What is your idea of bliss?
Playing with Joey and Mr. Bezo and my husband, Will, on the shore of the lake near our house on a sunny spring afternoon — preferably on a Friday, as I've always loved Fridays.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a cowboy in cowboy movies.
Why do you write books for kids?
My imagination is closer to a child's imagination than to a grown-up's.
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