An Interview with Leslie Susskind: A Month of Mondays

1.12.10 - Michael F. Shaughnessy - I'm a busy working mom who lives outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my husband and two daughters. My love of reading started in kindergarten and I've rarely been without one or more books by my side or on my bedside table!

An Interview with Leslie Susskind: A Month of Mondays

Michael F. Shaughnessy
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, New Mexico

1) Leslie, first of all, tell us about your education and training and experience:

I'm a busy working mom who lives outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with my husband and two daughters.  My love of reading started in kindergarten and I've rarely been without one or more books by my side or on my bedside table!  Around the time I was in 5th grade, I decided I wanted to write books, and I've been writing ever since.  I graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Gettysburg College.  My career has been spent in marketing and advertising as a Creative Director during the day, and as writer by night.

2)  Now, tell us about your book "The Month of Zephram Mondays" and why you wrote it:

Back in college I drew together many story threads and ideas I'd written down and collected, and started "The Month of Zephram Mondays" for a creative writing assignment. Needless to say, it's gone through many changes since then.  I had loved all of the Narnia books and Chronicles of Prydain and other fantasies like those, and I wanted to write a story that children could fall in love with and easily feel a part of, just as I had.

3) What are some of the messages in the book and lessons that you wanted to convey:

Messages and lessons that I wanted to come across loud and clear in the book range from  hard work really does pay off, and people who are different can be just as capable as you are, to cooperation and working as a team are vitally important to success in our lives.  And, even if you're young and different from everyone else, you have an important part to play.

4) Why do pre-teens seem to be interested in magic, fantasy and the like?

I think people of all ages like to lose themselves in fantasy worlds where the characters get to experience or do things far beyond anything that can happen in our normal lives. For pre-teens, they are just starting to figure out who they are as people and coming up against all kinds of peer pressure and anxieties. A fantasy world gives them a break from all the pressure. It allows them to see how other people handle the bullies, or the popular girls.  Many times it lets them read about the underdog being the champion, and they can easily imagine themselves as the hero or heroine. Sometimes the characters seem so real, they're the friends or family they wish they had! 

5) Tell us about the four main characters and the challenges that they will face:

The main characters of the book are the Royal Quadruplets: Tom, Lizzie, Ned and Nell.  Most fantasies or fairy tales feature the unlucky princess (or prince) or the unlikely hero/heroine who is of a different social class than others in the book and must prove his-or-her-self. The Quadruplets combine both of those descriptions:  they are royal and under attack, but they are also different than everyone else around them and discounted because they are not magical.  As heir to the throne, Tom is the smart, responsible quadruplet.  Lizzie is the thoughtful, practical one.  Ned is the jokester and Nell is the easy-going one.  They tease each other but rely completely on each other; they are very isolated not just because they're royal, but also because  they're different.

When Zephram is attacked and held for ransom, they are the only ones who can go find help.  On their journey and through their encounters, they find themselves becoming the unlikely heroes of the story and they and everyone around them come to find a real appreciation of their non-magical strengths.  

7)  This book has a certain "twist."  What is the twist and why did you include it?

There are several twists and turns to the story but the most important one is that when the Royal Quadruplets finally reach their destination and find the people they think can help them save Zephram aren't able to, these ordinary children truly rise to leadership roles.

8)  Where can interested readers get a copy of the book?

"The Month of Zephram Mondays" is available on Amazon or at www.themonthofzephrammondays.com

9)  What plans do you have for the future?

I am finalizing the second Zephram Tale, "The Tale of Time Warp Tuesday," available Fall 2010.