KianMarisaAnton

(H= Host A= Author H2= Host 2) __TEN MINUTES WITH THE SIRKINATOR__

H= Hello and welcome to Ten Minutes with the Sirkinator! I'm Marisa Sirkin and today I am happy to introduce you to Jerry Spinelli, award winning author!

(APPLAUSE)

H= Hello Jerry! Thank you so much for coming out to see us today! A= No, thank you for having me! It is a pleasure! H=So Jerry, tell us about your birthplace. I hear you were born right here in Pennsylvania! A= Indeed, I was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. I grew up with my mother, father, and a brother named Bill. H= Interesting. What exacly inspired you to be an Author? A= I was inspired to become an author from the poet Loren Eiseley. Though I never intended to be a writer as a child, I wouldn't change it for the world. Actually. I decided to become a writer when I was... let's see... 11 years old. Before that I had wanted to be a baseball player and a cowboy. H= I can see you as a cowboy. A= I can't. H2= Before you made your choice to become an author, were there any other occupations you professed before you started writing your first novel? A= Yes, before I started writing my first book I was in the military. I later realized that the military wasn't for me and started my first novel. H2= I can imagine you in the military. A= I really don't think I look that military-ish. H= I guess not... So, what genre do you enjoy writing in? A= I really enjoy realistic fiction. It can relate to the life of the reader. H2= How about your family? Do you have any children? A= Yes, I have two daughters and two sons. H= Nice. A= And sixteen grandkids. H= SIXTEEN GRANDKIDS? A= Yes. It's a lot. I forgot most of their names. H= Ha. H2= Do you have any pets? A= Not at the moment. But I have had pets before. I have had pet rats! H= RATS? I'm terrified of them. A= They're really not that bad. H= But they're so dirty. A= No, they're actually very clean. Like a hamster with a hairless tail and red eyes. H= Ew. H2= Anyways. So Jerry, which awards have you won? A= Many, not to brag. but the biggest was the Newberry Medal. H2= What an accomplishment! A= Thank you. I am very proud of it. H=I sure hope you are. Do you have any family members that are authors? A= Yes, in fact, my wife is an author! H= What a coincidence! And could you name some of the books you have written? A= Yes, I have written Maniac Magee, Crash, Stargirl, Smiles to Go, Space Station Seventh Grade, and Wringer, just to name a few. H= My son reads those. His favorite is Wringer. Which one is your favorite? A= Space Station Seventh Grade, probably. It was really fun writing because a lot of it is based on personal experience. H= Interesting. I heard that you were part of a writers organization, which is it? A= The Philadelphia Writers Organization. H2= Oh, so you live in Philly? A= Not quite, I live in Wayne, Pennsylvania. H2= A nice area to live. Quite suburbs. Trees. Grass. So, Jerry, how old are you? Not to make you uncomfortable, of course. A= Oh, I one day have to admit my old age. I am 69 years old. H2= Well, you look quite young for your age. Plus, 69 isn't very old. A= Thank you. H= Jerry. It's amazing how many wonderful books you have written with such a busy life. A= It is quite amazing. I'm surprised I can do it. H2= Well, your fans are glad you can. A= So I can see. H= (laughs) H= So, are you children fans of your books, Jerry? A= Oh, they're proud of my books, and used to always read them. But now they are older. H= Well, other than yourself. Who is your favorite writer? A= Lorein Spinelli. H= Your wife? A= Yep, she's an amazing writer. H2= So how is it like living with another writer? A= It's actually great. In fact, every time I finish a chapter, I show it to her. She's like a personal editor! H= But does she ever steal your ideas? A= She really can't. She writes books for little little children. (Dinging sound) H= Well, I guess that it is time to go. The bell has rung! H2= A round of applause to Jerry Spinelli! (APPLAUSE) H= Thank you for coming Jerry. A= No... Thank you! H2= Bye! H= See ya!