READING AND DISCUSSION AT ATHENS COLLEGE

This week I was invited to read at Athens College. 200 children attended the reading. They listened attentively, and seemed captivated by the stories. After I read two books, Maddie goes to London and Maddie goes to Paris, they brought me a long list of questions that each class had prepared. Here are some of the questions : 
What kind of terrier is Maddie? 
She is a Parson Russell Terrier. 
Is the story real?  (this is the most frequently asked question) 
Some parts are real some imagined. 
How did you think of this story? 
It is based on my travels with my family and Maddie. 
Why did you choose a dog instead of another animal as the heroine for this story?
I love dogs! Maddie is so special as a character in real life I decided I had to write about her. 
Why is Maddie wearing a different color collar in each of the books? 
Thank you for noticing!! Her collar matches the book cover.
Is Maddie your dog? Do you have other dogs? 
Yes she is my dog and I have 2 other dogs, Rafa and Music. 
Have you written other books? 
I have written 5 so far, and will write more! 
Have you been to the places you write about? 
Yes all of them. 
Have you met the Queen? 
No not yet. I would love to meet her. 
What are the names of your kids? 
My kids are named Eva and Laz. 
What do you do in your free time? 
I like to read, walk with my dogs, be outdoors, listen to music, and I love watching movies. 
How long did it take you to write the books? 
The whole project look 3 years. A long time. 
What city will Maddie visit next? 
I told the kids but everyone else has to wait and see...
How did you become an author? 
I have always loved to read and write. I wrote stories as a child. One day I was inspired to sit down and start the Maddie series. 
How do you feel about your books? 
I feel proud and very happy when I see kids loving them. 
Where are you from? 
I was born in Poland and raised in America. 
How difficult is it to write a children's book? 
It takes time, imagination, dedication, creativity and perseverance. I loved every minute of it so it was not hard. 
Where did you find the information for your books? 
I am inspired by the actual city, and then I research in books and online. 
Did you illustrate the books? 
No, I can't draw at all. I worked very closely with my fantastic illustrator. Each picture takes a lot of time and we redo until we get it exactly how I imagined it. 
Why did you choose a terrier and not another breed? 
I choose a terrier because the books are about Maddie who is a terrier herself. She is spunky, cute, courageous and lovable.