Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is happy to shine our Friday spotlight on Picture Book Author Adam Rubin. Most of his books are about eating snacks.
The first question I asked was, where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester–though they should totally check here first!)
You can probably find one of my books at your local bookstore. Dragons Love Tacos is the most popular one. They even made little dolls.
How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?
You can follow me on Twitter if you like (@rubingo) but I am currently on a social media hiatus.
What draws you to the particular genre or style that you write? What do you think draws readers to these kinds of books?
I like writing picture books because the object of the book is very important. I like the tactile nature of the artifact and the inherent drama/surprise of the page turn revealing new information. I like writing with that kinesthetic experience in mind. It’s also a good creative challenge to come up with ideas that are amusing to young readers, parents, teachers and toddlers.
Do you have any favorite foods or drinks that must be in the vicinity (or must be avoided) while you’re writing or editing a piece of work?
I never write without a cup of coffee and a glass of water within arm’s reach.
What does your writing space look like? What do you need to have around you while writing or editing?
My writing desk is pretty bare. I need to avoid distractions. I could procrastinate for two hours with a paperclip. That said, the book shelf behind me is full of fascinating knickknacks and doodads but it’s out of view while I’m facing the computer.
What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?
My best piece of advice is to write something you like. Tell a story that feels funny or exciting or important to you. Don’t worry too much what someone else might like. If you write something to please someone else and you miss the mark, you’ll be left with a story that no one is happy with. But if you make something that you LOVE, even if no one else likes it, you’ll have created something that makes you feel happy and proud.
Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions, Adam!