Donna St. Cyr
This week, we’re celebrating Donna St. Cyr’s debut! Born and raised in south Louisiana, Donna and her husband returned to Baton Rouge after briefly living in Maryland. Their household now includes three children and two devoted Labradors.
After receiving a BS in zoology from LSU, Donna taught high school physics, chemistry and biology before returning to graduate school for a master degree in library and information science. She then worked in school libraries in the Baton Rouge area for over fifteen years, emphasizing her passion for information literacy and teaching children to be effective, lifelong learners. When she’s not spending time with family or writing, Donna enjoys hiking, gardening, traveling, and volunteering her time for adults with autism.
Here’s a little bit about THE SECRETS OF THE CHEESE SYNDICATE (CBAY Books).
Robert Montasio didn’t think his day could get any worse until his sister drinks a bizarre soda that causes her to start shrinking. Robert’s only hope is a mysterious organization known as the Secret Cheese Syndicate. Unfortunately, they can’t help without a special cheese that has been lost for years. Now, with a tiny little sister in his pocket, Robert has to travel the world to find the Mystic Cheese of Eliki and, perhaps, discover secrets from his family’s past.
THE SECRETS OF THE CHEESE SYNDICATE by Donna St. Cyr
If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?
I would give it a G to a PG. It’s full of action and adventure. There are a few menacing characters, and some suggested violence but no fistfights, cursing or blood and guts. Well, there are ozaena guts, but those don’t count.
What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?
The story is a modern fantasy that weaves elements of traditional mythology throughout. It’s a story of good versus evil, unlikely heroes, and cooperation between siblings. An episode with my children provided the story starter, then my inherent interests in fantasy and mythology took over and I latched on to the cheese theme, which provided great fodder for some corny (or cheesy) humor.
Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.
Readers who would identify with my book? Middle school aged school boys with bratty little sisters, mythology lovers, children with a goofy sense of humor, and people who love cheese. (Sorry, that was four!)
List a few statistically improbable phrases or sentences one might find in your book. These are phrases or sentences you might never find anywhere else.
- I am a very old cheese.
- You are the penultimate Montasio.
- Who can know the mysterious mind of a gnome?
- The Drunken Goat of Spain brings you home again.
How can your book be used in the classroom?
It’s really more of a “fun” read than a literary novel, but there are many curriculum tie-ins. Here are a few activities:
Science – Make cheese as part of a laboratory experiment. There are several
references to cheese-making labs on the internet. One page with two good
experiments (including questions for a lab report) is maintained by Stephen Fuller, a science instructor in the Kansas City, Missouri school district. His website, LabDad’s Laboratory can be accessed at http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/1410/index.html. Look under the Food Labs.Science – cheesemaking
Language Arts 1 – Riddles are an ancient form of communication. Many riddles
have become part of our common culture and language. Create a riddle scrapbook with original riddles and favorite riddles you know. Illustrate your riddles.
Language Arts 2 – Research Homer. Who was he? Read an adaptation of one of his stories, such as Mary Pope Osborne’s “Tales from the Odyssey” series. Find out about the circumstances surrounding his famous riddle.
Foreign Language – The names of many characters in this story are the phonetic spellings of Greek words. Using a Greek online dictionary, find the Greek spelling of these words: dog, dolphin, dwarf, bird, and fairy. Choose one character and rename that character in a foreign language. Create a personal card for your character with physical characteristics expressed in that language. (A personal card is similar to a baseball card with characteristics and picture.)
Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.
- PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS (series) by Rick Riordan
- THE EMERALD TABLET by PJ Hoover
- TALES FROM THE ODYSSEY (series) by Mary Pope Osborne
- ARTEMIS FOWL by Eoin Colfer
Now whet our appetites with a teaser.
Hello, my name is Robert, and I have a problem. Actually, today I had lots of problems. I usually make a “Top Ten” list, but today I had to throw in a couple of bonus ones.
Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?
Yes
Are you willing to speak nationally?
Yes
List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.
- From Idea to Book: Takes students through the writing and publishing process, including story. 45 minutes
- Be an Author: From brainstorming to revisions, students will create a story and mock up a picture book dummy. 90 minutes. Elementary/Middle
- Storytelling 101: Interactive storytelling with audience participation. 35 minutes Preschool/Lower Elementary
- Research and Writing: Using a pathfinder, students learn to brainstorm through a selected topic and design a research project. 90 minutes. Middle School.
- Faculty Presentation: Literature in the Curriculum: Collaborative planning and integration of literature across subject areas -presentation with examples of thematic unit ideas and activities. 45 minutes
- Faculty Presentation: Research, Writing and the Internet: Focuses on how to create a successful writing project that avoids the pitfalls of plagiarism, undocumented sources, and dysfunctional writing. 45 minutes
This concludes our interview with our latest author, DONNA ST. CYR. We wish her much success with her debut novel THE SECRETS OF THE CHEESE SYNDICATE. To see what Donna is up to these days, visit her website at http://www.donnastcyr.com.
*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Donna is giving away a signed copy of THE SECRETS OF THE CHEESE SYNDICATE to two winners. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by October 27th, 2009 11:59 PM CST.
Your email address will not be displayed publicly and will only be used to contact you if you win! And don’t forget to participate in our other AuthorsNow! giveaways.
Comments
1 Bidisha // Oct 20, 2009 at 8:00 am
This book’s perfect for my brother. He’s a cheese buff.
2 jama // Oct 20, 2009 at 12:32 pm
This looks good! Thanks for the interview!
3 Ann F // Oct 20, 2009 at 2:14 pm
This sounds like a great book that I’d like to give to my daughter. Please enter me in the giveaway.
abfantom at yahoo dot com
4 Caroline Rose // Oct 20, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Got the book, loved it, just wanted to say hey! Keep your SCBWI-LA crew posted on all your latest news.
5 Amber G // Oct 20, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I would so love to win this book and share it with my preschool class!
6 David Walker // Oct 20, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Fabulous fun from a fabulous writer. As they say in Green Bay, “If the cheese fits, wear it.”
7 Monika // Oct 20, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Congratulations Donna!
8 Lisa Orth // Oct 21, 2009 at 6:56 am
Thanks so much for coming to speak to us at Encyclo-media. I enjoyed hearing the background of your book!
9 sandy carlson // Oct 21, 2009 at 7:19 am
What a delightful book. Kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through it.
10 DeeAnn S // Oct 21, 2009 at 7:41 am
This is a great book for kids. And I love the idea of making cheese as a science project. Thanks.
11 Mary Marlatt // Oct 21, 2009 at 12:30 pm
This sounds like a book my best friend and I both would like — then we would pass on to her nephew (who does have a bratty sister!).
12 Angela J // Oct 21, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Sounds interesting.
13 Llehn // Oct 21, 2009 at 7:05 pm
I’d love to play please!
14 Aimee // Oct 21, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Congrats Mom! I’m proud of you!
15 Sarah Hallmark // Oct 22, 2009 at 8:28 am
This books sounds like a great first book to introduce children to fantasy!
16 Lauren // Oct 23, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I would love to enter!
17 Natalie Aguirre // Oct 23, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I’d love to win a copy of your book. I love fantasy and mythology. I recognized it from your editor’s blog, Buried in the Slush Pile.
18 angie // Oct 23, 2009 at 11:23 pm
This looks like a great book with such a creative idea.
19 Lisa // Oct 26, 2009 at 8:19 am
Can’t wait to read your book! Thanks!
20 Erma // Oct 26, 2009 at 8:46 am
This looks good.
21 shawna // Oct 26, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Sounds like a wonderful book!
22 Jason // Oct 26, 2009 at 1:50 pm
My nephew would love this book. It looks great
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
23 Ed Nemmers // Oct 26, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I want someone to eat cheese with!
24 David Hoffman // Oct 26, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Who cut the cheese ?
25 Roseann K. // Oct 27, 2009 at 7:04 am
Cheese is wonderful to eat! Thanks for the giveaway! Love to read it!
26 James T. Mitchell // Oct 27, 2009 at 9:36 am
I think this would be just awesome. Hope I get lucky.
27 Tim Hughes // Oct 27, 2009 at 10:57 am
How could I live in Wisconsin my whole life and NOT have heard about this great book!? Can’t wait to read it.
titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
28 Susan Smith // Oct 27, 2009 at 11:21 am
Sounds like a good book
29 DanV // Oct 27, 2009 at 1:55 pm
This book is making me hungry. Sounds great.
30 Sherri B. // Oct 27, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Sounds like a great read for my nephew! He loves to read and has a bratty little sister!!!! LOL She isn’t that bad…he just thinks so! thanks!
sherri419 at gmail dot com
31 Gabriel J. // Oct 27, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Great read, great contest!
32 susan smoaks // Oct 27, 2009 at 6:22 pm
i love cheese too, i would love this book!
33 Karrie // Oct 27, 2009 at 6:41 pm
sounds great
34 Gloria // Oct 27, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Sounds read interesting! I love cheese!
35 Bridget Michelle Combs // Oct 27, 2009 at 9:06 pm
My son would love this book!
36 Veronica Garrett // Oct 27, 2009 at 10:25 pm
It sounds like a great book for children. My granddughter would enjoy it.
37 Charlene Kuser // Oct 27, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I am a cheese head as my DH calls me.And I love all cheese so I think this book is one I would enjoy.
I like the way the author thinks outside the box
Thanks for a nice giveaway
38 Lily Kwan // Oct 27, 2009 at 10:44 pm
This book sounds very interesting. Thanks for the great contest!
39 Gianna // Oct 27, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Sounds like an interesting read
40 Janet // Oct 27, 2009 at 11:00 pm
sounds like a good book:)
41 Angela Winesburg // Oct 28, 2009 at 12:01 am
I’d love to read this, thanks for the chance!
42 Pothi - Admin Assist - AuthorsNow! // Oct 29, 2009 at 8:47 am
Congratulations Susan and Amber!
You have won this Spotlight.
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