Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is
the author of Little Shepherd and A Christmas Kindness. A blogger and book
reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She
also has a son who is married.
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Ten-year-old Macy
is waiting for her grandparents to arrive on
Thanksgiving. When the front door swings open, Grandma and Grandpa are covered with hugs and kisses. Crash! Everyone rushes in to find the dog gnawing a meaty turkey leg. Can Macy’s quick thinking save dinner?
Thanksgiving. When the front door swings open, Grandma and Grandpa are covered with hugs and kisses. Crash! Everyone rushes in to find the dog gnawing a meaty turkey leg. Can Macy’s quick thinking save dinner?
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Thank you for this interview! I’d like to know more about you as a person first. What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a wife, mother of three, and a licensed real estate
agent in Massachusetts. Our son
is married, but we still have two teenage daughters at home. Gardening is a
hobby of mine—though I’m not that good at it. I’ve loved cross-stitching for
decades but rarely have the patience for it anymore.
When did you start writing?
I’ve liked to write as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t
a career choice until 2004 when I became a stay-at-home mom. Even though I have
returned to outside work, I still enjoy writing too much to leave it behind.
As a published author, what would you say was the most
pivotal point of your writing life?
Tough question. I think the first time I met with an agent.
That first time was really scary because I had no idea what to expect. But now
it’s over and I rarely get nervous pitching to agents these days. They are
usually very pleasant and helpful…unlike that mean gatekeeper image we often
picture in our minds.
If you could go anywhere in the world to start writing
your next book, where would that be and why?
The Outer Banks of North Carolina.
It’s beautiful there. The thought of looking out the window of my second floor
office to see the Atlantic is one of my dreams. My goal
is to retire down there.
If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you
do?
You mean other than sleep. LOL! I work a lot.
It would be breakfast in bed followed by a spa day with my
girls.
Where would you like to set a story that you haven’t done
yet?
Somewhere in the future because it would make me leap
outside of my comfort zone. I’m usually going the other way when it comes to
story settings. My favorite time period is the mid-1800s, usually post-Civil
War.
Back to your present book, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving, how did you publish it?
Macaroni and Cheese
for Thanksgiving was released by Guardian Angel Publishing, an independent
children’s publisher who also released my first book, Little Shepherd. They are wonderful to work with.
In writing your book, did you travel anywhere for
research?
Not necessary for this book, but I would love to do that one
day.
Why was writing Macaroni
and Cheese for Thanksgiving so important to you?
I really wanted a book about Thanksgiving that didn’t focus
on being thankful. This one is a little nutty; it has a set of twins who fight
a lot, a naughty dog who steals dinner, a frazzled mom, and one smart girl
whose quick thinking might just save dinner.
Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think
that is?
Some of my best ideas have come from Picture Book Idea Month
(PiBoIdMo). I’ve participated
twice now in this challenge where you strive to come up with 30 picture book
concepts in 30 days. I’ve already written out several of these ideas. Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving was
a PiBoIdMo idea from 2010.
Any final words?
Thanks for the interview. These are great questions. I hope
you’ll invite me to visit again when my next book is released.
Thanks for the wonderful interview. You ask some great questions. Happy holidays.
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