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LIVE CHAT TODAY – With Tracy Holczer

Live Blog Live Chat with Tracy Holczer, THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY
 Live Chat with Tracy Holczer, THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY(08/06/2014) 
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Tracy Holczar in about 15 minutes
Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of The Secret Hum of a Daisy, published
May 1 by Penguin/ Putnam …
Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:46 
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The Secret Hum of a Daisy received some pretty great prepub reviews --

School Library Journal Starred Review: "The undercurrent theme of loss is balanced well with humor and an authentic protagonist. More than simply a book about grief and the death of a parent, Grace’s story is about the search for identity. An essential purchase for middle-grade collections."

Booklist: "Readers who appreciate the quiet confidence and maturity of Cynthia Rylant's, Patricia MacLachlan's, and Katherine Paterson's protagonists will find a new author to enjoy."

Kirkus Reviews: "Grace's surprising discoveries about herself, her family, and her friends, and her struggles with sorrow and forgiveness, are engrossing."

Publishers Weekly Starred Review: "A lovely and captivating debut...nuanced characters engage from beginning to end."

Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I see chat participants gathering. Welcome!

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Tracy before the end of the chat.

Don’t worry about typos – we’ll make them too!

Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:55 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

As moderator today, sitting in for Lisa Von Drasek, is JoAnn Jonas.

JoAnn is the Youth Literature Specialist Librarian, book reviewer for Shelf Awareness and SLJ, former San Diego County Library Youth Materials Specialist, and Librarian at The New York Public Library - Central Children's Room


Say hi, JoAnn!

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Oh, no -- just got word from BOTH Tracy and JoAnn that their internet connections are giving them trouble.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
JoAnn Jonas: 
Hi Everyone
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 JoAnn Jonas
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Phew!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
JoAnn Jonas: 
So glad to be here today...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 JoAnn Jonas
5:02
JoAnn Jonas: 

We are going to have a wonderful chat...



Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:02 JoAnn Jonas
5:02
JoAnn Jonas: 

We are waiting for some technical issues to clear up...



Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:02 JoAnn Jonas
5:03
JoAnn Jonas: 
So please hang in there with us for a minute!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:03 JoAnn Jonas
5:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Tracy is with us now -- say hi to everyone!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:04 Nora - EarlyWord
5:04
Tracy Holczer: 
Hello everyone!! I'm so excited to be here!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:04 Tracy Holczer
5:05
JoAnn Jonas: 
Where are people out there from today? I am here in Las Cruces NM.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:05 JoAnn Jonas
5:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I accidentally cut off the librarian from St. Charles -- please say hi again!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:05 Nora - EarlyWord
5:06
Tracy Holczer: 
I am usually from Los Angeles - but I'm up in the Northern California mountains visiting my mom. I'm in Grass Valley, where the book is set!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:06 Tracy Holczer
5:06
JoAnn Jonas: 
How wonderful is that?!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:06 JoAnn Jonas
5:06
Tracy Holczer: 
Full circle.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:06 Tracy Holczer
5:07
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
I suspected that you knew the area well!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 School librarian
5:07
[Comment From ShanaeShanae: ] 
Hello
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Shanae
5:07
[Comment From MD LibrarianMD Librarian: ] 
Looking forward to the chat. Loved the book.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 MD Librarian
5:07
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Granger, IN
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Guest
5:07
[Comment From Sue D.Sue D.: ] 
I am in St. Charles, MO. Born in Albuquerque though
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Sue D.
5:07
[Comment From ShanaeShanae: ] 
Hi
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Shanae
5:07
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Grass Valley is real?? Did you live there?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Guest
5:08
Tracy Holczer: 
Thank you, MD!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:08 Tracy Holczer
5:08
Tracy Holczer: 
Guest - Grass Valley is indeed real! But I played a bit with the geography and town size. I'll see if I can dig up a picture.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:08 Tracy Holczer
5:08
JoAnn Jonas: 
Yes indeed...a perfect intro to the book Tracy--do you want to tell us about the inspiration for THE SECRET HUM?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:08 JoAnn Jonas
5:09
Tracy Holczer: 
So many inspirations! Loss as a kid...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:09 Tracy Holczer
5:09
Tracy Holczer: 
Art and books helped me through so much.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:09 Tracy Holczer
5:10
Tracy Holczer: 
At some later point, I explained the whole shebang here...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:10 Tracy Holczer
5:10
Tracy Holczer: 
http://nerdybookclub.wordpr...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:10 Tracy Holczer
5:11
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, thanks for the link...can you tell us how you came up withif the title
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:11 JoAnn Jonas
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
"The Secret Hum of a Daisy" is a line from a poem in the book. It just fit the story so well. But I went through about three titles before that.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
JoAnn Jonas: 
Can you share the others?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 JoAnn Jonas
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
Runaway Grace
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
Junkyard Birds
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
Some Kind of Normal
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
JoAnn Jonas: 
Good, but HUM OF DAISY"S is best
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 JoAnn Jonas
5:13
Tracy Holczer: 
:)
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:13 Tracy Holczer
5:13
JoAnn Jonas: 

SSO tell us some writer's who have influenced you Tracy!



Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:13 JoAnn Jonas
5:13
Tracy Holczer: 
So many. For adult, I love Harper Lee, Steinbeck and Stephen King. Barbara Kingsolver. For children it’s Sharon Creech, Katherine Paterson, Cynthia Rylant.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:13 Tracy Holczer
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
I know, Stephen King!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
I just love dystopian and fell in love with The Stand when I was a teen.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:14
JoAnn Jonas: 
who is one of your favorite characters in a kid's book
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 JoAnn Jonas
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
The Great Gilly Hopkins.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
Hands down.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:15
Tracy Holczer: 
Gilly was inspiration for HUM...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:15 Tracy Holczer
5:15
Tracy Holczer: 
I wondered what would have happened if Gilly came to Grandma before she found Trotter.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:15 Tracy Holczer
5:15
JoAnn Jonas: 
Ah yes, Katherine Paterson's writing is such an inspiration!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:15 JoAnn Jonas
5:16
JoAnn Jonas: 
So what inspired this story Tracy?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 JoAnn Jonas
5:16
Tracy Holczer: 
Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons as well.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 Tracy Holczer
5:16
Tracy Holczer: 
I had a statue when I was a kid...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 Tracy Holczer
5:16
Tracy Holczer: 
I thought it was magic...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 Tracy Holczer
5:17
Tracy Holczer: 
It absorbed all my loss and I thought it was watching over me...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:17 Tracy Holczer
5:17
Tracy Holczer: 
So I brought it to school for show and tell...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:17 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
wrapped in several layers of newspaper. There was a girl, Darlene, who thought it was really dumb. So I told her it was magic...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
She said, "Prove it."
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
I lifted it above my head - and...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
You see where this is going...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:19
Tracy Holczer: 
I threw it down and it shattered. And so did I.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 Tracy Holczer
5:19
JoAnn Jonas: 
Wow...what a story, so then what?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 JoAnn Jonas
5:19
Tracy Holczer: 
I wrote Grace's story as a salve. Mostly to my eight-year old self.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 Tracy Holczer
5:19
JoAnn Jonas: 
Beautiful. You use poetry throught the story. Can you talk about that?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 JoAnn Jonas
5:20
Tracy Holczer: 
I love Robert Frost...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 Tracy Holczer
5:20
Tracy Holczer: 
I was the kid in class who never really understood "theme"
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 Tracy Holczer
5:20
[Comment From MishyFishMishyFish: ] 
The kids were so real. How were you able to channel your childhood so well?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 MishyFish
5:20
Tracy Holczer: 
I always thought stories were about so many different things! I could never pick just one.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 Tracy Holczer
5:21
JoAnn Jonas: 
Did you always want to be a writer?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:21 JoAnn Jonas
5:21
Tracy Holczer: 
Frost was accessible. I understood him.

Mishyfish - I am really close to those memories and feelings of being a kid. I can tap into them.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:21 Tracy Holczer
5:22
Tracy Holczer: 
JoAnn - I didn't! I thought writing was too hard.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 Tracy Holczer
5:22
JoAnn Jonas: 
Amazing!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 JoAnn Jonas
5:22
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
Why do birds mean so much to you?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 Reads for a Living
5:22
[Comment From StacyStacy: ] 
I'm wondering if you've ever seen bird sculptures like the ones that Grace's mother made? Have you tried to make one yourself?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 Stacy
5:23
Tracy Holczer: 
Reads for a Living - birds are just so...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:23 Tracy Holczer
5:23
Tracy Holczer: 
I don't know...heavenly? I just love them.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:23 Tracy Holczer
5:23
Tracy Holczer: 
Stacy - I am very artistically challenged...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:23 Tracy Holczer
5:24
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, have you been surprised by the positive response to the Book? Starred reviews in PW and SLJ?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:24 JoAnn Jonas
5:24
Tracy Holczer: 
I saw one of the birds on a blog one day and just shrieked, "It's Mama's birds!!"
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:24 Tracy Holczer
5:24
JoAnn Jonas: 

and this Good Reads review:

Goodreads Reviews…

My heart is full from reading this beautifully crafted story of loss, friendship, family, and finding your way when the world seems to have been turned upside down. The plot captures you from the very first line, the characters envelop your heart, and the setting makes you feel like you've found home. When I reached the last page, I returned to the start, not wanting to say goodbye to Grace. Beautiful from beginning to end... The "secret hum" of this lyrical prose will stay with me for a long time.

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:24 JoAnn Jonas
5:25
Tracy Holczer: 
Sniff.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 Tracy Holczer
5:25
 Tracy Holczer
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 
5:25
Tracy Holczer: 
I hope the image shows up!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 Tracy Holczer
5:25
JoAnn Jonas: 
LOVE THIS...saw it on your web site!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 JoAnn Jonas
5:26
Tracy Holczer: 
I have been so pleasantly surprised by the support of the book...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 Tracy Holczer
5:26
Tracy Holczer: 
I have been worried that adults might think it was too sad for kids...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 Tracy Holczer
5:26
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
It was interesting that you made it so the characters couldn't email each other. Why did you do that?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 School librarian
5:26
Tracy Holczer: 
School Librarian - that is a great question...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 Tracy Holczer
5:27
Tracy Holczer: 
I just wanted there to be old fashioned letters...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:27 Tracy Holczer
5:27
Tracy Holczer: 
plus this area is so uneven in terms of where you can get an internet connection that it made sense.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:27 Tracy Holczer
5:27
Tracy Holczer: 
forget cell phones - we can't really use them here.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:27 Tracy Holczer
5:28
Tracy Holczer: 
Plus I felt that Grace needed to be isolated.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:28 Tracy Holczer
5:28
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, can you talk a bit about the characters? THey are so rich...

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:28 JoAnn Jonas
5:29
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Excellent point -- loved the letters. it did add an old-fashioned element, without putting the story in a different era.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 School librarian
5:29
Tracy Holczer: 
I have to know every character inside and out before I can really get them onto the page in a scene.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 Tracy Holczer
5:29
Tracy Holczer: 
Thanks School Librarian! I was worried. I'm glad you felt it worked.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 Tracy Holczer
5:29
Tracy Holczer: 
They have to be real people to me or they don't whisper in my ear :)
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 Tracy Holczer
5:30
Tracy Holczer: 
Plus I have three kids, so I've been surrounded by kid-ness.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:30 Tracy Holczer
5:30
JoAnn Jonas: 
Love that...they really do engage us from the start, and keep us so involved right to the last page
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:30 JoAnn Jonas
5:31
Tracy Holczer: 
Hooray!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 Tracy Holczer
5:31
JoAnn Jonas: 
SO Tracy I know Lisa always asks, do you have a pet?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 JoAnn Jonas
5:31
Tracy Holczer: 
I do!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 Tracy Holczer
5:31
JoAnn Jonas: 
And she likes pictures, if you have one!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 JoAnn Jonas
5:32
Tracy Holczer: 
I found a silly one. It's downloading.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:32 Tracy Holczer
5:32
Tracy Holczer: 
It takes a minute...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:32 Tracy Holczer
5:32
JoAnn Jonas: 
Chatters, you have had some great questions...any others you would like to ask Tracy?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:32 JoAnn Jonas
5:33
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, how hard was it getting your debut book published?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:33 JoAnn Jonas
5:33
Tracy Holczer: 
I was lucky to have a relatively smooth ride...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:33 Tracy Holczer
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
I queried agents in late December and had a deal in May.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
Sorry - dog pic isn't loading :(
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
For two books!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
JoAnn Jonas: 
And was it for several books? I know you have another coming out in 2016
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 JoAnn Jonas
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
My second book is due to my publisher next month.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
JoAnn Jonas: 
What can you tell us about that?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 JoAnn Jonas
5:35
Tracy Holczer: 
It's the story about a girl named Samantha Rossi...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:35 Tracy Holczer
5:35
Tracy Holczer: 
She's eleven and her dad has come home from Vietnam changed...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:35 Tracy Holczer
5:36
Tracy Holczer: 
So she turns to her science books to see if she can reverse evolution.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Tracy Holczer
5:36
Tracy Holczer: 
She's Italian American, so I'm leaning heavily on my childhood again.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Tracy Holczer
5:36
JoAnn Jonas: 
Sounds like an interesting one! I look forward to it already!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 JoAnn Jonas
5:36
[Comment From MD librarianMD librarian: ] 
Why did you choose to write this in the first person?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 MD librarian
5:36
Tracy Holczer: 
She's a pistol.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Tracy Holczer
5:36
[Comment From DaynaDayna: ] 
I'd love to know more about the beautiful cover artwork. Who designed it? Did you go through many versions before choosing this design?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Dayna
5:37
Tracy Holczer: 
MD - I tried third, but it just didn't work...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:37 Tracy Holczer
5:37
Tracy Holczer: 
I needed to be in her skin.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:37 Tracy Holczer
5:37
[Comment From Sue D.Sue D.: ] 
So do any of the characters want to have a sequel? Is someone still talking?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:37 Sue D.
5:38
Tracy Holczer: 
Maybe because I needed to be in my own skin.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:38 Tracy Holczer
5:38
[Comment From StacyStacy: ] 
Have you ever imagined a movie? Do you have a dream cast?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:38 Stacy
5:38
JoAnn Jonas: 
I wondered this too Tracy...do you see this as a movie?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:38 JoAnn Jonas
5:39
Tracy Holczer: 
Dayna - the cover was done by Annie Ericcson and it was the third cover.

Due - Max may have a companion story...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:39 Tracy Holczer
5:39
Tracy Holczer: 
I'm a very visual writer. I have to SEE everything so I'd love to see I as a movie!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:39 Tracy Holczer
5:40
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy--here is a question that we touched on...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 JoAnn Jonas
5:40
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Did you always want to write novels? I have a feeling you are also interested in the visual arts and poetry, of course.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 School librarian
5:40
Tracy Holczer: 
I am a terrible artist, sadly. I like to paint with words.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 Tracy Holczer
5:40
Tracy Holczer: 
But I do love poetry.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 Tracy Holczer
5:40
JoAnn Jonas: 
Have you written much poetry?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 JoAnn Jonas
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
Sometimes I think it's a bit too fancy, though.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
This book was my first attempt at poetry...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:41
JoAnn Jonas: 
It really was a strong element in this story...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 JoAnn Jonas
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
Other than the sad poems I wrote as a teen.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
Does a teen write any other kind??
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:42
Tracy Holczer: 
My agent suggested the poetry...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:42 Tracy Holczer
5:42
Tracy Holczer: 
as a stronger connection to the father she never knew.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:42 Tracy Holczer
5:43
Tracy Holczer: 
She said, "write more in the vein of Robert Frost"...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:43 Tracy Holczer
5:43
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tell us more about about the relationships between Grace and herfather
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:43 JoAnn Jonas
5:43
Tracy Holczer: 
And I said, HAHAHA! Them's pretty big boots to fill.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:43 Tracy Holczer
5:44
Tracy Holczer: 
I feel like now that she's in Auburn Valley with Grandma, she'll be able to think more about her dad and who he was...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 Tracy Holczer
5:44
Tracy Holczer: 
I see her having dinners with Margery and going for walks and looking through his things.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 Tracy Holczer
5:44
JoAnn Jonas: 
Agreed, Tracy Robertt Frost icasts a big shadow...ha!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 JoAnn Jonas
5:44
Tracy Holczer: 
But he wasn't clear to her before the story.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 Tracy Holczer
5:45
JoAnn Jonas: 
Do you have a favorite character in the book Tracy?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:45 JoAnn Jonas
5:46
Tracy Holczer: 
I don't know - that's like picking a favorite child! You love them differently for different reasons...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:46 Tracy Holczer
5:47
Tracy Holczer: 
I love Grandma's cleverly disguised toughness. And Grace is such a fighter.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Tracy Holczer
5:47
[Comment From Boston Blue StockingBoston Blue Stocking: ] 
What made you want to become an author?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Boston Blue Stocking
5:47
Tracy Holczer: 
I really have come to love writing...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Tracy Holczer
5:47
Tracy Holczer: 
Then next step seemed to be writing a novel.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Tracy Holczer
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
I did a post here: http://www.unleashingreader...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
That explains it a bit better.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:48
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, can I post the link to your web site too...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 JoAnn Jonas
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
Sure!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
It's not on the website yet, but I do free Skype visits for classes who have read the book and want to discuss.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:49
Tracy Holczer: 
And there's a great teacher's guide on there, too.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 Tracy Holczer
5:49
JoAnn Jonas: 

Tracy's webiste is:

http://tracyholczer.com

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 JoAnn Jonas
5:49
Tracy Holczer: 
I should say this, too...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 Tracy Holczer
5:49
Tracy Holczer: 
I am a reader and a writer because of librarians.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 Tracy Holczer
5:50
JoAnn Jonas: 
So Tracy have you visited many schools or libraries yet? To promote the book
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:50 JoAnn Jonas
5:50
Tracy Holczer: 
We moved across the street from the Cupertino Public Library when I was twelve.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:50 Tracy Holczer
5:50
Tracy Holczer: 
I've visited a couple of schools, but no libraries yet. I'm still getting my act together!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:50 Tracy Holczer
5:51
JoAnn Jonas: 
I know we always ask, do you Skype?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:51 JoAnn Jonas
5:51
Tracy Holczer: 
Yes!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:51 Tracy Holczer
5:51
JoAnn Jonas: 
Great, can you let us know how to contact you for a school or library visit, or to Skype?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:51 JoAnn Jonas
5:52
Tracy Holczer: 
tholczer@earthlink.net
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 Tracy Holczer
5:52
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Are you willing to speak to library groups? How about SKYPE?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 School librarian
5:52
JoAnn Jonas: 
Just ten minutes left, so get your final questions in. Some of your questions overlapped, so we didn't post them all, but we think we got most of them addressed. Let us know if you have a burning question that wasn't addressed!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 JoAnn Jonas
5:52
Tracy Holczer: 
Any time, School Librarian! I look forward to this very much.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 Tracy Holczer
5:53
[Comment From MD librarianMD librarian: ] 
Gorgeous library -- it would inspire anyone.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:53 MD librarian
5:53
[Comment From Boston Blue StockingBoston Blue Stocking: ] 
Are you worried about the movie that is being made of Gilly Hopkins?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:53 Boston Blue Stocking
5:54
Tracy Holczer: 
Well, I'm worried kids will see the movie instead of read the book.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:54 Tracy Holczer
5:54
JoAnn Jonas: 
There are so many book - movie tie ins now, I hope it increases interest in the books!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:54 JoAnn Jonas
5:55
Tracy Holczer: 
It's hard to get that kind of feeling onto the screen, I think.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 Tracy Holczer
5:55
Tracy Holczer: 
Sometimes. Sometimes it works beautifully.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 Tracy Holczer
5:55
JoAnn Jonas: 
And with Gilly Hopkins being a favorite we have our own images in our heads..
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 JoAnn Jonas
5:55
[Comment From StacyStacy: ] 
Oooo, The Great Gilly Hopkins is the first book I bought with my own money when I was 11!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 Stacy
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
I read that book to each of my daughters, so it's special to me.

Yay, Stacy!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
I bought a book called Nantucket Summer.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
Weirdly, my parents weren't supportive of reading.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:56
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, are there any last things you would like to share with the chatters today?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 JoAnn Jonas
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
They thought I was already too shy.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:57
Tracy Holczer: 
I just want to thank everyone for spending their Wednesday evening with me!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:57 Tracy Holczer
5:57
JoAnn Jonas: 
So wonderful to have you with us Tracy....
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:57 JoAnn Jonas
5:57
Tracy Holczer: 
And thank you for all you do for kids. I don't know where I'd be without the certain teachers and librarians I had in my life.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:57 Tracy Holczer
5:58
JoAnn Jonas: 
We look forward to seeing a lot more great books coming from you!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 JoAnn Jonas
5:58
Tracy Holczer: 
Thanks for having me, JoAnn! I look forward to writing more books!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 Tracy Holczer
5:58
JoAnn Jonas: 
And thank you so much for giving us more insight into Secret Hum of a Daisy!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 JoAnn Jonas
5:58
Tracy Holczer: 
:)
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 Tracy Holczer
5:59
JoAnn Jonas: 
Any other comments from our Chatters?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:59 JoAnn Jonas
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks, Tracy and JoAnn for a fascinating discussion.

And thanks to the Penguin Young Readers program members for joining us today.

Our next chat, is with Heather Mackey, author of Dreamwod, a fantasy adventure for fans of Philip Pullman. More here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

If you’re not part of the program, you can sign up here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
6:00
Tracy Holczer: 
Thanks, everyone!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 6:00 Tracy Holczer
 
 

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