Ask the Author: Rick DeDonato
Answered Questions (5)
Rick DeDonato
I just live and take notice of everything around me. Inspiration is everywhere and my advice to any writer is just get out in the world and talk to people, explore and try to look at everything in a bunch of different ways. I know this sounds cliche but it's really true. Now FINDING THE TIME to write is another issue...life is so interesting that living it is a lot easier that writing about it.
Rick DeDonato
People really seemed to like Alfred Z. Turtle in the first two books, The Disappearing Caterpillar and The Lunchnapper. He's a little bit silly and ALWAYS HUNGRY and usually has something clever to say about any situation he and Pipsie are in. So I started thinking about all the different things a TURTLE would get into CRAWLING around the park that a person WALKING wouldn't see. TURTLE TROUBLE is about all the things Alfred encountered during his walk in the park with Pipsie that caused his foot to get bumpy and sticky and stinky. Solving that mystery sent them back to the park to recreate his day to find clues and figure it out. That allowed me to teach kids about LOTS of different insects and reptiles and other creatures in nature. It was just a lot of fun to research and write.
Rick DeDonato
Don't be afraid to me laughed at! My mentor gave me that advice when I was first an advertising creative back in 1977 and I just applied it to everything I did.
Rick DeDonato
Creating a story that makes sense out of a lot of random information. Plus, I LOVE that I have created a character that can teach kids. That's how Pipsie started and it looks like kids really understand that Pipsie is a scientist who solves mysteries using the tried-and-true scientific method.
Rick DeDonato
I am a research junkie. If I'm working on something and get stuck, I start to look up related subjects and start reading. If that doesn't work, I walk down the block to the basketball court and shoot baskets.
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