Sheri Answers
Frequently Asked Questions

1. I'm writing a book/author report about you. Can you help me?
2. How did you know you were going to be a writer?
3. Do you have any bad habits?
4. Did you ever want to have a different job?
5. Are you working on a book right now?
6. Can I buy your books from you directly?
7. Can you donate an autographed book to our fund-raising event?
8. How did you get the idea to write about WWII?
9. Do you think America is the best country in the world?
10. How did you get the idea to write about the ancient Maya?
11. How did you get the idea for You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?
12. Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy?
13. Do you believe in God?
14. Did you ever win any awards or prizes for your books, like the Newbery Award?
15. What's your favorite color?
16. Who do you admire? Who would you like to meet?
17. What are you afraid of?
18. How can I get a picture of one of your book covers for my book report?
19. Have you met any famous authors?
20. Do you have any kids?
21. Do you have to pay the publisher to publish your books?
22. How long does it take to write a book?
23. What kind of qualifications or education do I need to become a writer?
24. Where do you live?
25. What's on your desk right now?
26. How does being an author affect your life?
27. Can you come to our school?

I'm writing a book/author report about you. Can you help me?
You're writing a book report about little 'ol me? COOL BEANS! Send me an email,
with a deadline of when you need my response, and I'll try my best to answer you.
Just don't ask me the night before, okay?!
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How did you know you were going to be a writer?
Not until I'd wasted a LOT of years in other jobs. That is my biggest regret in life! My problem was
that I was too shy to get started. Plus, I didn't know how to get started. I'm just lucky that my last
full-time boss took the time to tell me, "You know, you sure can write!" With that bit of encouragement,
I contacted my local newspaper and asked if I could write a community piece about a local poet. Soon after I began writing for local magazines. Eventually I found myself writing books! It's never too early
to nab your first byline. There's one thing I do KNOW about the writing biz: NO GUTS, NO GLORY!
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Do you have any bad habits?
Wow, now we're getting personal! Okay, I'll share one with you: I'm hopelessly addicted to
jalapeno peppers. Worse, I even drink the juice from the jar! And I love to sneak
spoonfuls of salsa!
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Did you ever want to have a different job?
Oh sure, I wanted to be a famous singer. But I was too shy to get the necessary training! I also used to wish I had mile-long legs so I could sashay down the catwalk.
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Are you working on a book right now?
I'm organizing two book projects, actually. The first is a middle grade novel based loosely based on my childhood, the second is a found object art activity book proposal. I LOVE found object art!
I also plan to do some research on Buffalo's amazing history. Did you know Buffalo was the first
U.S. city to be electrified?!
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Can I buy your books from you directly?
I hope to soon offer autographed copies of my books on my website. But for now, please order my
books from your local bookstore or from Amazon.
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Can you donate an autographed book to our fund-raising event?
Probably not, as I only get a limited supply of author copies after each book comes out.
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How did you get the idea to write about WWII?
Actually, my editor suggested the book, though she did leave the content up to me. I loved learning
about how cool we were, as a people, when our country needed us to pull together. For more
information on my WWII book, please visit my WWII Book Page.
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Do you think America is the best country in the world?
I think there are a lot of great things about America, but no, I don't think we're the "best." Why do we
have to be the best, anyway? Who made up that dumb rule? I think every country should be proud
of what it does right--and get global credit for it. But I am proud that the U.S. functions as a
democracy and that our society still rewards decency and hard work.
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How did you get the idea to write about the ancient Maya?
Again, my editor at Nomad Press suggested the title, as part of the "Build It" series. I'm really glad
I wrote this book! I had no idea how brilliant the Maya were. To learn about some of their amazing inventions, please visit my Maya Book Page.
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How did you get the idea for You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?
Beats me! Actually, you'll find lots of info about the book on my Tooth Fairy Book Page.
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Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy?
Absolutely! And leprechauns. But I have serious doubts about Santa.
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Do you believe in God?
Without a doubt. I am convinced this universe developed with divine assistance. Too, I like the
idea that there's an all-knowing, all-loving super being who's got everything under control. Believing
in God makes me a better person, as I daily try to please Him.
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Did you ever win any awards or prizes for your books? Did you ever win the Newbery?
I've won awards for my magazine writing, but not YET for my books. Frankly, it's not something
I obsess over. But Tooth is selling well, and has been listed a "Best Book of 2007 from Chronicle Kids"!
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What's your favorite color?
Sour apple green.
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Who do you admire? Who would you like to meet?
I admire folks who are nice, thoughtful, witty, and generous.
For some reason I've got it in my head that I'd like to meet Richard Branson. Now there's one amazing
globetrotting entrepreneur! I read somewhere that he said something like, "If you don't try, you don't
know it won't work. And if it doesn't work, so what? There's always the next thing."
What a great perspective on putting ourselves out there for possible failure!
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What are you afraid of?
Too many things! Really, "Wuss" should be my middle name!
Let's see...I abhor snakes...and heights. And sometimes I'm even afraid to reach for new writing
goals. But then I remember the time my mother made me jump into the deep end of the pool as a kid.
I didn't know how to swim! But just like she promised, once my adrenaline kicked in, I was able to
dog paddle to safety. Later, I took swimming lessons. I can swim quite well now!
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How can I get a picture of one of your book covers for my book report?
You may lift them from my website. I put them there just for you!
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Have you met any famous authors?
I've met lots of authors--in all shapes, sizes, and temperments. I'd have to say I've most enjoyed
meeting Donna Jo Napoli and Jerry & Eileen Spinelli. They're brilliant writers, but they don't let the
label define them. They're well rounded people with lots of other interests.
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Do you have any kids?
Does my husband count??!! Seriously, if I have to pick up one more of his toys I'm gonna scream!
He also makes really big messes in the bathroom and kitchen. But other than that he's cool. HA!
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Do you have to pay the publisher to publish your books?
No way, Jose. They pay me for the right to print the book, and then we share the profits from selling it. That's why book sales are so important. I typically only make 10 percent of sales. The publisher gets to keep the rest, to recover its costs of doing business.
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How long does it take to write a book?
Well, let me ask you this: how long does it take you to write a letter? It depends what kind of letter
it is and who it's going to, right? So, a quick "Thank You" letter might only take a few minutes, but a
love letter might take hours...or days...or weeks. But I'd say I worked about a month on You Think It's Easy Being the Tooth Fairy? and about four to six months on my other books.
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What kind of qualifications or education does a person need to become a writer?
Here's the good news: you DON'T need a formal education. No college. But you DO need to read
a lot, write a lot, and edit a lot. In fact, if you can't learn to self-edit and toughen your hide to accept
edits by editors, you'll NEVER become a published writer. I suggest that you spend a lot of time in
your local bookstore and library, that you register for writing workshops and conferences, and that
you plunk your butt down in your writing chair. THEN SEND YOUR STUFF OUT! It's sad how
many would-be authors resist that last part with every ounce of their being!!
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Where do you live?
I currently live in Buffalo, New York. But I've lived in many places. I actually get the urge to hit the
road after I've been in one place a while. Just ask my husband how frequently I rearrange our
furniture and picture just to feel like I've moved somewhere new!
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What's on your desk right now?
Great question! Let's see...a blue plush parrot that I got on a press trip, a bobble head Rosie figurine,
a Ferbie (he drives me batty with his incessant talking!), lots of family photos, about 40 books
(truthfully!), two stone gargoyle bookends, a lamp, a jester hat, my computer and printer, a metal bookmark that says "Faith," a personal note from the David Slonim (the illustrator of You Think It's
Easy Being the Tooth Fairy?), a wrapped piece of green and yellow taffy that's at least two years
old, a silver metal token good for one hug, a box of kleenex (for my allergies), a bar of soap in the
shape of a bright red lobster, a yellow frosted glass vase overflowing with fake begonias, a plastic
fly ring, a colorful puzzle/map of the U.S., a Starbucks gift card, and four little knick-knack boxes.
I love little boxes. They're great to put sand in. I've collected sand from beaches around
the world--green, black, and pink!
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How does being an author affect your life?
Well, for starters, I get to work at home. So even on the coldest, snowiest day in Buffalo, I don't
have to venture outside! And I can set my own hours. If I want to work really, really late--and then
sleep in really, really late--I CAN! But working at home does get lonely at times. So I get out
to the library and post office at least once a week. And sometimes I go to the mall to people watch
and snoop on conversations. I've heard some whoppers!
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Can you come to our school?
Absolutely, if your principal, librarian, or school media specialist invites me. Please show them my
website, just in case they don't know about my books. THANKS!