Author Interview: Catherine Ipcizade; 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day

'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade (author), Ben Hodson (illustrator). (Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2008)

Catherine Ipcizade's 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day' is a clever adaption of the classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.' Everybody is getting ready for Zoo Day, but there isn't much that's going the way it should. Isn't it always the case? Perhaps when Zoo Day arrives, the llamas won't spit, the giraffes won't drool or burp, the elephants won't roll in the dirt and soak everyone with trunks filled with water, and the zebras will finally be satisfied with their stripes. Will Zoo Day go off without a hitch? Watch out for those dancing monkeys!

The rhyming verse and the illustrations make this one fun picture book! And just when you thought the book was done, don't miss the activities and animal fun facts at the back.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Catherine Ipcizade (pronounced ip-chi-zah-deh) has written for numerous publications, both in print and on-line, and also works as an assistant editor for Thirteen Minutes Magazine. In addition to writing and blogging, Catherine likes to spend time with her husband and two children, cozy up with a good book, spend time in the kitchen cooking and baking, and practicing photography. Catherine is a member of SCBWI and volunteers for The Little Owl Mentoring Program, a program that pairs published writers with high school students who wish to be writers. Catherine and her family live in southern California.

Don't forget to check out Catherine's website.
Also, check out the Sylvan Dell Publishing website where you can see a preview of the book (best previews for a book I've ever seen) and learning activities.

Congratulations on the publication of 'Twas The Day Before Zoo Day'. Where did you get the idea for this book and why did you decide on an adaptation of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'?

Hi, Lori! Thanks so much for having me! Would you believe you're the first person to ask me why I decided on an adaptation of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas? Go figure! First of all, I got the idea for the book after visiting my son's classroom and reading to my own children. I realized that, although young kids LOVE animal books, many fell into one of two categories: fiction or non-fiction. The fiction books were humorous and overexxagerated and just fun silliness, while the non-fiction books were straight fact and often boring. I decided to write a book that provided facts while entertaining children. As I began writing the book, I knew I wanted to write about the day before the kids came to the zoo for Zoo Day. The first line started out as, "It was the the day before Zoo Day." Somehow, as the stanzas went on, it clicked to me that this would make a great adaptation--and thus 'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day was "born!"

How long did it take you to get this book from
idea to a full blown published book?

Not as long as you might expect. I wrote this book specifically to market it to Sylvan Dell Publishing. I happened to submit it just a few months before they decided on their 2008 list. I received word that they were going to publish the book three months after I submitted it. From there, it took another 14 months for the book to come out.

What do you like best about writing and why?

Ooh! So many things! I think what I like best is that writing allows me to set my imagination free. It allows people the chance to ditch the "rules" of every day life and to create worlds for themselves--what's better than that? :)

What advice do you have for beginning writers?
A couple of things actually.
1. Write as often as you can--even if it's just for a few mintues. Don't let your ideas get away!

2. Don't send out the first story you write. Find a critique group. Revise. In short, don't be so eager to send your work out when it's still "raw" that you burn your bridges before you've built them!

3. Don't give up. So many people give up in this business before their dreams are realized. Write what you know. Write what you love. Never stop--rejections hurt, yes, but acceptance is sweet, and you can't get that acceptance until you determine yourself to learn your craft and keep at it.

Can you tell us about your other books?

Thank you! I'd love to. I just had three books released from Capstone Press, an awesome educational publisher. They are part of their new series on African Animals and are targeted for new readers. The books are great--they're big with photographs instead of illustrations. I think kids will really love them. The titles are:

Giraffes (Pebble Plus)

Lions (Pebble Plus)

Zebras (Pebble Plus)

Is there anything you'd like to add?

Hmmmm....let's see--I'll be having a book launch at the Santa Ana Zoo in Orange County, California on March 1st and 2nd from 10am until 2pm. If you're in the area, stop by!
Oh...and here's a little animal fact you might be interested in sharing. Giraffes have VERY long tongues--they can reach 18-20 inches in length! Can you guess why giraffes have slimy, blue tongues?

Answer: To help prevent sunburn! It's true. Giraffes spend hours eating from the treetops each day. The blue color on their tongues works like sunscreen!

Thanks so much for having me--it's been lovely "chatting!"