(Author Interview) Kerry Sparks & Brian Taberski


Today I am so excited and honored to have one of my favorite authors stop by to do a Q&A with me. I first got to meet Kerry Sparks when she approached me to review her books Jen and the Frosted Friends and Frost Bites. Which are great middle grade books. You can click here to read my first interview with Kerry.

Thank so much Kerry for taking the time out of your busy schedule to sit down and do this interview with me.

I should mention that Kerry is promoting her newest book:

The Baby Inside Mrs. Maze

About the book:

Nina thinks her fifth grade teacher Mrs. Maze is absolutely fabulous! Cousin Freddie disagrees. Freddie’s suspicions are confirmed when Nina spots a baby’s bird wing moving around in pregnant Mrs. Maze’s belly. What’s inside Mrs. Maze? The kids don’t know, but they’re determined to find out. With the help of their gym teacher, Mr. Quick, the puzzle pieces start coming together. But as one mystery unravels, another folds. Can Nina and Freddie trust Mr. Quick? And what will happen to the community of Agua Azul when Mrs. Maze gives birth to this “thing”? Find out in this magical fantasy for middle grade readers.

You can check back later today to see my review of The Baby Inside Mrs. Maze.


Cindy: How did you come up with the idea for The Baby Inside Mrs.Maze?

Kerry: I wanted to try something different so I decided the kids would go to school on an island. I wanted the kids to have magical experiences at school like when Nina’s paper butterfly turns into a real butterfly. But there had to be some conflict so I decided Mrs. Maze would have a dark side. The kids don’t know what’s inside Mrs. Maze so it creates a mystery that doesn’t get solved until the very end of the story.

Cindy: I loved how you made the suspense last until the very end. This is so different from the Get Frosted series; do you see yourself writing more like that?

Kerry: The tweens that have read this book tell me that they like the fantasy style better. I like writing the fantasy style as well because you can be more creative with the scenes. I definitely think another fantasy style book is in store. I had too much fun writing this one.

Cindy: You can tell that you had alot of fun writing it. Could you describe The Baby inside Mrs. Maze in three words?

Kerry: Mysterious, whimsical, humorous

Cindy: Those are great words used to describe the book and they come to mind when I thought of the question. What are you currently reading right now?

Kerry: I am reading “Onward” by Howard Schultz. I love coffee…especially Starbucks. If I could be any flavored latte, I would be a pumpkin spice latte. J

Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul

Cindy: I love Starbucks too and all of a sudden I have an instant craving for a nice Vanilla Bean Frapichino. Are you currently working on anything now? Can you share if you are?

Kerry: I am working on two pieces…another “Get Frosted” adventure and a follow-up to “The Baby Inside Mrs. Maze”. Both manuscripts are at approximately 50 pages each right now. I am having a lot of fun with the “Get Frosted” book. I have the most fun with girly style books. I think I’m truly a girly girl.

Cindy: I am so excited to hear that you are working on another Get Frosted book. I just love that series and I have to say that I am super curious about the follow up to The Baby Inside Mrs Maze, curious to see where that will go.

Thanks so much Kerry for taking the time out of your busy writing schedule to do this Q&A with me.

On top of being able to inteview Kerry I was able to ask Brian Taberski the man responsible for the cover design of The Baby Inside Mrs. Maze a few questions as well.

I truly appreciate that Brian was able to take a few minutes out of his super busy schedule to do this for me.

Cindy: Brian I have to ask where did you come up with the idea for the cover design?

Brian: I didn’t have a model in front of me. But based upon the ideas and pictures Kerry had given me I looked around for bits and pieces of what I could throw together in my head to make it look some what presentable.

This is one of the inspirations for the cover. Mrs. Maze had to have red hair because of the fire that she carries inside. Image retrieved from www.artsunlight.com

Cindy: What a great image to use as inspiration. What is your favorite thing to draw?

Brian: Cartoons. Who couldn’t love sitting in front of the television on a Saturday morning watching cartoons? I wanted to be Tex Avery and Fred Quimby growing up.

Cindy: I missed those days of sitting in front of the tv on a Saturday morning. Cartoons just aren’t the same. Who is your favorite artist(s) that inspire you?

Brian: Norman Rockwell was an amazing artist, and who could forget BorisVallejo?

Brian thanks so much for allowing me to ask you a few questions.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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