I'm thrilled to have author Kathy Sattem Rygg here today for an interview and giveaway of her MG book Animal Andy...
WS: What three words best describe your book ANIMAL ANDY?
KR- Whimsical, Imaginative, Compassionate
WS: In just one sentence convince readers why they MUST read your book.
KR- Through magic and adventure, this book will whisk you into a whole new world and bring you out the other side feeling like a hero.
WS: Where did the idea or inspiration for this book come from?
KR- My kids loved the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborn, and I wanted to create a story that took kids to another world—the world of animals! It was during a visit to our local zoo that I got the idea to use a carousel as the “device” to transport kids to that world.
WS: Who was your favorite ANIMAL ANDY character to write? Who was the most challenging to write?
KR- My favorite character to write was Philippe the peacock. The peacocks at our zoo roam. They beg for food one minute and then open their feathers the next to show-off. It was fun to create that pompous character.
The most challenging to write was Andy. His relationship with his dad was tricky. He struggled because he wanted to still be close with his dad like he used to be, yet he wanted to exert his independence. It’s common at his age, but it can be difficult to finesse.
WS: What do you hope young readers will learn or take away with from ANIMAL ANDY?
KR- I hope that kids will realize how important it is to always listen to their instincts—that little voice that tells you when it’s important to act.
KR- Whimsical, Imaginative, Compassionate
WS: In just one sentence convince readers why they MUST read your book.
KR- Through magic and adventure, this book will whisk you into a whole new world and bring you out the other side feeling like a hero.
WS: Where did the idea or inspiration for this book come from?
KR- My kids loved the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborn, and I wanted to create a story that took kids to another world—the world of animals! It was during a visit to our local zoo that I got the idea to use a carousel as the “device” to transport kids to that world.
WS: Who was your favorite ANIMAL ANDY character to write? Who was the most challenging to write?
KR- My favorite character to write was Philippe the peacock. The peacocks at our zoo roam. They beg for food one minute and then open their feathers the next to show-off. It was fun to create that pompous character.
The most challenging to write was Andy. His relationship with his dad was tricky. He struggled because he wanted to still be close with his dad like he used to be, yet he wanted to exert his independence. It’s common at his age, but it can be difficult to finesse.
WS: What do you hope young readers will learn or take away with from ANIMAL ANDY?
KR- I hope that kids will realize how important it is to always listen to their instincts—that little voice that tells you when it’s important to act.
WS: Grab a copy of ANIMAL ANDY and answer the following:
Favorite chapter? Chapter 18—Andy and his friends are camping at the zoo and a lot happens!
Favorite page? Page 103—at the end of Chapter 18 Andy’s friend sees him as an animal, and his reaction is priceless.
Flip to a random page and choose any one random sentence from that page and give us a little teaser:
Andy wanted to argue, to make Mr. George understand that he was helping this whole time. But he couldn’t say that he had turned into a giraffe…
WS: Since your character Andy is working at a zoo I have to ask: what's the one animal you get most excited about seeing when you visit a zoo?
KR- I love the large cats. I’ve been lucky enough to see them do some amazing things—they can be incredibly playful, and they’re so majestic. Half the time they act like domestic house cats (although I wouldn’t want one trying to sit on my lap!)
WS: ANIMAL ANDY features a special animal carousel...was this carousel based on a real one or did you imagine up the whole design yourself? Which animal "seat" do you always call dibs on when you ride animal carousels?
KR- The “Magical Menagerie” was modeled after the menagerie carousel at our city’s zoo. My kids and I ride it every time we visit. My 8-year-old always runs to either the tiger or cheetah, and my 5-year-old likes the gorilla. I actually prefer the white horse—the colors are so vibrant against the glossy, white paint!
WS: Fill in the blanks:
I'm really awesome at: playing foosball.
I'm really embarrassed to admit that: I get nervous when calling people I don’t know.
In 100 years I hope people remember me as: woman who took a few risks in life and reaped a lot of rewards!
WS: If you were to create/bake an ANIMAL ANDY cupcake, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?
KR- It’d be a rich, dark chocolate cupcake with white and red-striped buttercream frosting (to look like the carousel’s canopy), topped with a fondant-sculpted animal (a zebra, giraffe, etc.) and it would be called “Andy’s Wild Ride.”
Thank you so much Kathy for answering my questions!!!
Kathy Sattem Rygg is an author, freelance writer, and editor. She earned a degree in magazine journalism from Iowa State University and has worked in corporate marketing for several Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, she worked at the McGraw-Hill Companies’ Business Publications Division in New York City and was the Editor in Chief of Women’s Edition magazine in Denver, CO. She is currently the Editor in Chief of the children’s online magazine knowonder! and lives in Omaha, NE., with her husband and two children.
Kathy has a children’s chapter book that is also available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon called TALL TALES WITH MR. K and it’s about a magical teacher who takes his students on fun adventures in the one place they least expect—the teacher’s lounge.
Animal Andy
Ten-year-old Andy Ohman is spending his summer working at the Aksarben City Zoo where his dad is curator. There are rumors the city might close the zoo due to budget cuts. An anonymous donor has given the zoo an antique animal carousel, and Andy’s dad is hopeful it will help boost attendance. Andy’s doubtful that an old kiddie ride will make a difference. He doesn’t see what’s so special about it. But when he takes it for a spin, he unlocks the magic that will help save the zoo.
ANIMAL ANDY is published by Muse It Up Publishing. The ebook is available online at the Muse Bookstore. The print version is available on Amazon.
Win an Animal Andy prize pack or ebook copy from Kathy!!!
Kathy has generously offered up two Animal Andy prizes:
US Prize
one print copy of ANIMAL ANDY, a bookmark, and a package of sunflower seeds with shells on and salted--just the way Phillipe the peacock in the story likes them!
INT Prize
one ebook copy of ANIMAL ANDY in any format
DETAILS
-Will run from 9/23 - 10/5
-There will be two (2) winner: one US, one INT
-Must be 13+ to enter
-One main entry per person
-Winners will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours
-Word Spelunking is NOT responsible for lost, damaged or stolen prizes
Fill out Rafflecopter form to enter
The cover is amazing and the book sounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteHI Kathy, Great interview! Thanks for doing the giveaway. :D Animal Andy looks interesting and I admit I'd really like to try that cupcake!! :p
ReplyDeleteMy niece and nephew have been on an animal book kick for about a year now, and I can't imagine how I missed out on this particular one because I think I've bought every other one under the sun! Thanks so much for bringing this little gem to our attention...it looks adorable :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a fun and creative book. : ) Thanks for being an author Kathy and sharing you're imagination with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you to Aeicha for hosting the interview and giveaway--I had so much fun answering the questions and am excited to share ANIMAL ANDY!--Kathy Rygg
ReplyDeleteI can't wait!!! It sounds like an awesome book to read to my son!!! He's almost 6 and likes to read :-) well me to read to him lol
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this opportunity to obtain a copy of Animal Andy! The cover is SO cute it looks like a must have for every childs shelf!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun interview! This looks like a great book for me and my daughter.
ReplyDelete