This week, we’re celebrating Patti’s debut! One of Patti Zelch’s fondest childhood memories is of her family’s’ weekly visit to her hometown library in East Liverpool, Ohio. That family ritual created a love for books that traveled with her when she and her husband moved to south Florida. There she read to her three children, shared books with the pupils in her elementary school class and used picture books to introduce lessons to her middle school students. After fifteen years of teaching, Patti retired and became a student. She earned her MFA at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, and pursued her dream of writing for children. Many of her stories are influenced by the wonderful wildlife of south Florida, but it was a question from her oldest grandson that inspired her to write Ready, Set…WAIT! While the family prepared for Hurricane Wilma, he asked, “What do wild animals do during a hurricane?” Now that she has answered Jaxon’s question, Patti is busy fishing, boating, reading and, of course, writing from her home in the beautiful Florida Keys.
Here’s a little bit about READY, SET…WAIT! (Sylvan Dell Publishing).
When hurricanes threaten, humans prepare, but what about wild animals. How do they prepare? Ready, Set… WAIT! answers that question. Children of all ages will learn how herons and pelicans glide toward the mangrove islands and huddle among the twisted roots. How sharks explode through the shallows of a nearby bay; and how crocodiles crawl into caves in the canals that crisscross the land. They know and they wait.
Ready, Set...WAIT! by Patti Zelch
If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?
G –Learning about animals and hurricanes appeal to children of all ages as well as adults.
What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?
Ready,Set…WAIT! deals with hurricanes but, rather than tell how humans prepare, it explains how some animals seem to sense an upcoming storm and get ready. My oldest grandson asked me what wild animals did during hurricanes. I didn’t know but set out to find the answer. Ready, Set…WAIT! is the result.
Name a few examples of readers who would identify or like your book.
- An elementary age student studying weather.
- A boy or girl that lives in an area where there are hurricanes.
- And certainly, any child that loves animals and is curious about their behavior.
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
Dolphin pods squeeze closer – whistling and buzzing to one another.
Their silver bodies streak through the waves heading for the safety of the open sea. They know!
How can your book be used in the classroom?
Teachers can use Ready, Set…WAIT! as an introduction to a weather unit. It can also be used when students are studying animal behavior.
Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.
As far as I know, there are no other creative nonfiction books for children that deal with animal behavior in regards to hurricanes.
Now whet our appetites with a teaser.
Far out over the warm ocean waters, clusters of storms join together; lightning lashes – thunder thumps.
The wind grows stronger and begins to spin the clouds into a tight curl.
A hurricane is brewing!
Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?
Yes, I am.
Are you willing to speak nationally?
Certainly.
List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.
- What is a Hurricane?
- Do Animals have a sixth sense?
- Making Writing fun with Alliterations and Rhythm
This concludes our interview with our latest author, PATTI ZELCH. We wish her much success with her debut novel Ready, Set…WAIT!. To see what Patti is up to these days, visit her Facebook page .
*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Patti is giving away a signed copy of READY, SET…WAIT! to five winners. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by August 17th, 2010 11:59 PM CST. (U.S. and Canadian residents only, please.)
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 JAMES LYNAM // Aug 10, 2010 at 9:05 am
GREAT SUMMER READ.
2 sandy // Aug 10, 2010 at 10:26 am
looks great
3 Ed // Aug 10, 2010 at 11:53 am
Interesting book!
4 vicky // Aug 10, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Living on the South Carolina Coast this would be a great book for my kids and I to read.
5 Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug} // Aug 10, 2010 at 11:16 pm
I enjoyed the interview and would love to read Ready, Set…WAIT!
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
6 Ann F // Aug 11, 2010 at 4:31 am
This looks like a great book. I’d love to get if for my daughter who has a fascination with hurricanes.
7 Julia Pitau // Aug 11, 2010 at 8:28 am
Sign me up for an opportunity to win a copy. This would be a great addition to our elementary section of the school library.
8 Mickie // Aug 11, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Sounds like a great story! Very unique topic.
9 Louise // Aug 12, 2010 at 8:13 am
I am a retired school librarian in a hurricane zone and will tell all my still employed friends about this title- which I am sure they will want to order and use with their students.. it’s certainly a subject our students are interested in – as much as the author’s grandchild is…
10 Karen // Aug 12, 2010 at 9:26 am
I have the extreem pleasure of knowing both Pattie and several of her Children and Grandchildren. Pattie is truly dedicated to her family and preserving family treditions. So it was no surprise when she devoted her time and efforts to answer Jaxons, extreemly important question.
You would think that this book would be just for kids but in fact I truly enjoyed the read myself. and plan on reading it to my Grandson. I recomend that parents and Grand parents Buy and read this to your children and grand chidren. I know all will enjoy. and be a bit more prepaired for the next storm brewing. Thank you Pattie for all your efforts in educating us all.
11 Bonnie J. Doerr // Aug 12, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I’ve been waiting and waiting myself. Finally, Patti’s book hit the shelves and it was worth every bit of the wait!
12 Doret // Aug 12, 2010 at 10:38 pm
This looks great. I would love a chance to win a copy.
Patti – much congrats on the debut.
13 Rita T. // Aug 13, 2010 at 4:56 am
Sounds like this would also be a great addition to a Florida unit.
14 Benita // Aug 15, 2010 at 2:46 pm
It’s sounds like a really fun book to motivate students in science. I’d love to plan some lessons around it, and include it in the classroom library. Thanks for the possibility.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
15 Michele anne // Aug 16, 2010 at 9:48 am
Sounds great….would love to win it…..sign me up.
16 Ed Nemmers // Aug 16, 2010 at 4:41 pm
This book sounds so intriguing!
17 Kerrie Mayans // Aug 17, 2010 at 10:29 am
This looks like a book my 8 year old would really like.
18 susan // Aug 17, 2010 at 12:45 pm
this would be great for my daughters library! thanks for the chance. suelee1998 @gmail.com
19 Susan Smith // Aug 17, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Sounds like a good book
20 Tim // Aug 17, 2010 at 10:02 pm
This book sounds fascinating, thanks for the chance at it!
21 heather c // Aug 17, 2010 at 10:20 pm
I sent a message to my friends, but they’re all asleep, I’m guessing. lol
Anyway, this would be perfect for the kinder…and for me! Thank you!
22 Pothi - Admin Assist // Aug 18, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Congratulations Rita T., Mickie, Kerrie Mayans, Tim and Doret…
You’ve won this Spotlight!
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