Melissa Roske author

Melissa Roske - author of Kat Greene Comes Clean

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Media
  • Contact
  • Teacher’s Guide

Ask the Author: Cory Leonardo

February 10, 2020 By Melissa Roske Leave a Comment

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: Cory Leonardo, middle-grade author of THE SIMPLE ART OF FLYING (Aladdin/S&S) and its U.K. companion, CALL ME ALASTAIR (Scholastic).

What is your idea of perfect happiness? A walk in the woods with, depending on the season, a light snow, the smell of honeysuckle in the air, a summer sunset, or the crunch of leaves.

What is your greatest fear? Loss of a loved one. Regret.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? The need for approval.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Self-righteousness

Which living person do you most admire? All the unsung heroes who look out for the well-being of others, day in and day out, without ever expecting a pat on the back. 

What is your greatest extravagance? Books, probably. Just. Can’t. Stop.

What is your current state of mind? Nervousness? I’m an awkward interviewee. <You’re in safe hands, Cory. Relax! 🙂 — M.R.>

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? I think the most underrated virtue is humility. So whatever could be considered the enemy of humility.

On what occasion do you lie? When the nurse asks how much you weigh I tend to shave off three pounds.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? When I did a search for the word “just” during edits, I was shocked. SHOCKED.

Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to blast angsty music in an ice rink and skate your heart out.  

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Raising three thoughtful, kind children (not always toward each other, but we’re working on that).

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? The best version of myself, if I could.

What is your most treasured possession? My notebooks. It’s amazing to be reminded of where you’ve come from on the road to where you’re going.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Self-centeredness

What do you most value in your friends? How real they are. No drama. Only generous love, support, and a whole lot of laughs.

Who are your favorite writers? Top three: C.S. Lewis, Kate DiCamillo, Mary Oliver.

Who is your hero of fiction? Molly Weasley. What a woman. 

Which historical figure do you most identify with? Not exactly historical, but any woman trying to explore/navigate the interweaving nature of art and faith–Flannery O’Connor? Dorothy Sayers? And balancing those with motherhood? Madeleine L’Engle?

What is your motto? “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

CORY LEONARDO is the author of THE SIMPLE ART OF FLYING and its UK companion, CALL ME ALASTAIR (nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal). Watch for her forthcoming retelling of The Wizard of Oz starring a hedgehog (!) in Spring 2021. A born and bred upstate New Yorker, Cory currently lives in the Syracuse area with her husband, a collection of snow shovels, and her three plucky children. Learn more about Cory on her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram. 

 

 

Filed Under: Ask the Author Tagged With: author interview, children's books, children's fiction, middle grade fiction, middle-grade, publishing, writing

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Melissa Roske on Facebook Melissa Roske on Twitter Melissa Roske on Good Reads

Categories

  • Ask the Author
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015