Author Interview -- Tamra Norton, Part Two

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

15 Oct 2006 06:28 AM

Thank you for joining us for part two of our interview with author Tamra Norton. If you missed part one, click here.

Tamra, in yesterday's interview we discussed how your book has been given to school children in your community. It was also chosen by the Utah Governor as a book of the month for literacy. Can you tell us some of the other ways your book has positively impacted military families?

I had a librarian from a school on base at Fort Hood tell me that when she was reading the first chapter to a group of students, they all made the same comment-"I feel the exact same way!" referring to my main character, 11-year-old, Allie. Her Dad's been deployed, she's in the process of moving (away from her friends!!!), and she's feeling a bit frustrated by it all. Again, I think it just goes back to the fact that these families really aren't much different that any of the rest of us. They've just been given this unique set of circumstances, and they are making the best of it. They really do rise to the occasion, but perhaps not without a little bit of a grumble or bump along the way. And that's okay!

Tell us about your other novels.

I've written 4 other novels-all for the LDS Young Adult market. There's my "Molly Mormon?" series (some have referred to it as the modern Mormon version of Anne of Green Gables, but since I'm in total awe of anything written by L.M. Montgomery, I'd have to respond with, "If only I could write so well.") I think the one parallel is that Molly has a touch of red hair (we call her strawberry blond), she tends to be a little feisty, and she often finds herself in a bit of a pickle. There are 3 books in the series, and then there's another novel called, "Comfortable in My Own Genes." In all of my books I try to write with humor. I think we all need to laugh just a little bit more!

I've also written a nonfiction book: Homeschooling a Houseful: Juggling 101 co authored with Wendy Roberts.

I know that you are an LDS author. Is "Make Me a Memory" LDS?

No. It's my first book geared for a general audience. I really wanted to write something that was universal-that everyone could relate to and enjoy. And even though my target audience is about 2nd to 6th grade children, I've had parents and grandparents tell me how much they have enjoyed this story. It really does touch the heart, whether young or old.

You are not only a busy author, but you are a mother and a homeschooler as well. How many children do you have, and how do you fit schooling in with all that you do?

I have seven children ranging from 21 to 4. The three oldest are college age (I had my first 3 in 3 years!) The next 3 are my homeschoolers right now, and the littlest one just follows along, and is even starting to read on her own since she's often sitting in on whatever we're doing that day.

So how do I fit it in? Whenever I can . . . which is usually after the kids are in bed at night. I also write in the waiting room at the dentist and doctor's office, on the sidelines at soccer practice, waiting in the car during a piano or gymnastics lesson. Sometimes in the evening, I just drive to the grocery store, park my mini-van under a light, and write for an hour in blissful silence! As you can see, I write in snatches of time, and I take what I can get.

Thank you so much for your time, Tamra. I enjoyed chatting with you and wish you the best with all your future writing projects.

Click here to read the article about Tamra's visit to Cedar Valley Elementary and the person who brought it about.

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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