Synopses & Reviews
Q: "Painting The Wind" is your first collaboration together. What made you decide to try writing as a team?
Patricia: Actually, I was trying to write a picture book about an island, but nothing was working. I showed it to Emily who immediately began telling me what she thought. She is one terrific editor. I turned to her and said well, why don t we work on this together? So we did. It is a true mixture of the two of us.
Emily: We never planned to write this book together. It just happened.
Q: What's it like to work with your mother/daughter on a book?
Patricia: I love working with my daughter. Actually, she s an amazing person who continues to surprise me. Neither one of us is boss, really, even though I ve been writing longer. Not long ago Emily turned to me when we were writing a book together and asked: Are you really committed to that sentence? I loved that.
Emily: I feel very lucky to be able to work with my mother and have the opportunity to learn from her. Most of the time we have fun when writing.
Q: "Painting the Wind" is so much about the work of individual artists. Are there particular artists that have inspired you both? Have either of you had aspirations to paint?
Patricia and Emily: We admire many artists, many too many to list. And we are inspired by all of them.
Patricia: There are many of us who are writers and really wish we could paint. Most of us can t, and we have to paint with words.
Emily: The process of any art is self expression. When I work with little children I get to be an artist every day.
Q: A secondary theme to this book seems to be the story of thepainters' dogs. Can you shed any light on this?
Patricia: My family has always lived with dogs. For me it is important to have something other than myself to care for. Right now I have two border terriers who appear in "Painting the Wind."
Emily: Animals have always been most important to me. I have two adopted dogs who every day would like to eat dinner at 3:00 in the afternoon. One of them whines when I work at my computer. They are great sources for stories.
Q: What were your favorite picture books growing up?
Patricia: I have always loved books, and read some of my favorites over and over again. I remember reading "Ferdinand" over and over. And my Father and I acted out "Peter Rabbit" time after time, sometimes changing the story.
Emily: Some of my favorite picture books growing up were: "Mr. Rabbit and The Lovely Present, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Higglety Pigglety Pop, Bread and Jam For Francis," and all Beatrix Potter books.
Q: Will you be writing more books together?
Patricia and Emily: Yes, we are writing several books besides "Painting the Wind." We have written "Bittle" about a dog and a cat who are much smarter than the humans in the house. We ve also written "Before You Came" about a mother and a baby, and "Fiona Loves the Night" about a young girl who loves the night!
Synopsis
What I have waited for all year long happens. Summer is here.
On an island, surrounded by water and light, a young boy waits for the sun to shine, and for his friends, the painters, to return: The landscape painter and the painter of flowers. The painter of still lifes and the painter of faces. They all come to the island to paint when the days are long and their dogs can run free. The young boy watches and learns. This summer he will try to do what he has never done before. He will try to paint the wind.
Newbery Medal-winning and bestselling author Patricia MacLachlan teams up with her daughter Emily for their first collaboration. Their delicate yet evocative prose is brought to life by the exquisite paintings of artist Katy Schneider. Painting the Windis a beautiful story about holding on to those perfect moments that only summer in a place that you love can offer.
About the Author
Patricia MacLachlan has written several award winning picture books and novels, including
All The Places to Love, and the Newbery Medal winner,
Sarah, Plain and Tall.Emily MacLachlan lives near Boston with her husband, two cats, and two dogs. Painting the Windis her first book.