Blog Posts - THE WORLD OF NANCY KRULIK

RIGHT NOW!

1/13/2018

It’s a new year. To my mind that gives me a fresh start. A chance to do something new, and exciting, and hopefully helpful to the world in some small way. So it’s extremely serendipitous that my Princess Pulverizer series is hitting bookstores on January 16.

Yup. A new series. In a new year. Right now.

When I started writing the series over a year ago, I had no idea just how important the story of a princess who doesn’t want to be trapped by societal norms might be. I never dreamed how badly the world would need a Quest of Kindness, in which good deeds are the goal of all the main characters.

But that’s where we are right now.

I assure you, there’s nothing political about the Princess Pulverizer books. I don’t write “lesson books.” I don’t hit kids over the head with “messages.” Because I’m in no position to preach to anyone—least of all kids. In general, the books in the Princess Pulverizer series are just funny books about an imperfect kid who fights wacky bad guys like liverwurst-loving wizards, hairy, smelly ogres, and lactose-loving giant trolls. That’s by design. Because I really want kids to laugh as hard and as often as they can.

Because there’s just too much crying right now.

I am really, really excited for everyone to meet Princess Pulverizer. I really relate to her. She’s impatient. A little selfish. And sometimes even a little snobby (okay, a lot snobby). And she’s pretty bad at sharing—which anyone who has ever tried to share food with me can tell you is a problem she and I have in common. But Princess Pulverizer is trying really to correct all of that. She’s trying to be a better person.

Which is what we should all be working toward right now.

The more kids read, the more they use their imaginations. The more they use their imaginations the more they learn to problem solve. And let’s be honest—we have a lot of problems that need to be solved. I always figure, if I can make kids laugh while they read, I can get them to read more. And that’s why Princess Pulverizer has been paired with Dribble, a dragon who uses his fire to make grilled cheese (let’s face it, grilled cheese is kinda funny), and Lucas the Lily-Livered, a knight-in-training who is afraid of…well..everything.

I’m having so much fun writing these books. The dog thinks I’m crazy because I laugh so hard while I’m writing. Sometimes I even snort because I’m laughing so deeply. No really. A big old, unlady-like snort. Which somehow seems appropriate.

So I’m hoping you and your kids will head to your local bookstore and pick up Princess Pulverizer: Grilled Cheese and Dragons or Princess Pulverizer: Worse, Worser, Wurst.

Right now.

(Or actually on January 16—because that’s when the Quest begins!)

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

5/27/2017

It's that time of year again.
Graduations.
Moving on.
Making changes.
It's an exciting time. The moment you can take pride in your accomplishments and smile as today becomes yesterday, But it's also a little scary, because what comes next is unknown and unfamiliar.

Graduations are usually thought of only in terms of school. But writers have graduations too. As one book or series ends, and we are forced to say goodbye to characters who have seemed more like family for the many years we have been writing them. Those characters live on, of course, as new generations discover them, read them, and pass them along to friends. And that brings me joy, especially because in the past year I said goodbye to writing two of my favorite series--George Brown, Class Clown and Magic Bone. Both series remain popular, and you will find them wherever books are sold, but I won't be taking George or Sparky on any new adventures. At least not for the foreseeable future.

That means in order to keep writing (And trust me, you don't want to be around me when I am not writing) I have had to create new friends, new worlds full of laughter, and new difficulties to overcome. Let me tell you, that's pretty scary. As I broke new ground, I wondered, can I do this? Can I be funny again? Can I help kids love reading with these new characters, new worlds, and new stories?

Sometimes that fear of the unknown is motivating, and in the cases of the new books I am writing, it has been incredibly helpful. The first two books in The Kid From Planet Z series have allowed me explore what it feels like to be different in a new place (and trust me, we all feel that way sometimes) and my upcoming Princess Pulverizer series allows me to put together a trio of misfits who have somehow managed to become heroes despite themselves. And then there's Project Droid, which has not only allowed me write with a different kind of humor than I've used before, but has also given me the opportunity to write with my incredibly talented daughter. And happily, I've brought my son into the fold as he launches his new promotional trailer business--check out the book trailers page on this site to see what he's up to.

I can honestly (if not modestly) tell you that these three new series contain some of the best writing I have ever done. It's almost as though the things I wrote before, like Katie Kazoo Switcheroo which you can buy wherever books are sold, Jack Gets a Clue, and How I Survived Middle School led me to this place, and I am now seeing the fruits of my efforts.

So as you all move on--to a new grade, a new school, or a new job--embrace the change. Embrace the fear. You are ready for this. And everything you learned along the way will come in handy in this, your new chapter.

That's what life's all about!
xoxo
Nancy

What's New With You?

2/3/2017

It's February. That means cold, gray weather here in the Northeast. Some say February was created as the shortest month because it's just so darn depressing. But I don't find February depressing at all. In fact, February can be quite positive. For instance, have you noticed that there are more hours of daylight now than there were in January? That makes me happy. But then again, I am always searching for the light.

February is also a month of birthdays around here. My husband is a February baby, and so are my daughter, my brother, and my niece. That means lots of celebrations and reasons to give gifts and go out for dinner. (Not that I need a reason to go out to dinner--if you know much about me, you know I don't cook. Ever. I have the cleanest stove in the East!)

Okay, I know I'm not fooling anyone. Despite my outward optimism, I'm as stressed as anyone else. The world is a topsy turvy place these days, and it's all I can do sometimes to keep myself from reading the paper or turning on the news--if only for a few hours. I feel like I keep praying for humanity and kindness to win out in the end. I know we are all capable of it.

When I get bummed out, I retreat into books--either the ones I'm writing or the ones I'm reading. There's something about words that I find comforting. At the moment I'm reading The Princess Diarist by the late, great Carrie Fisher, because I just need a good laugh. And as for what I'm writing, well, that's something I'm very excited about. I'm working on the third book in a brand new series called Princess Pulverizer, about a princess who wants to be a knight and is on a quest of kindness with her friends Dribble the Dragon and Lucas the Lily Livered Knight in Training. I'm having a great time creating a new universe where people consciously try to be there for one another and help them out of some pretty silly jams. Those books aren't heading your way until next January, but I promise you're gonna laugh when you read them.

Perhaps the best part of February is that March is coming next, and I have two books coming your way that month. There's Project Droid: My Robot Ate My Homework (written with my tres-funny co-author Amanda Burwasser, and George Brown, Class Clown: Return to the Scene of the Burp. I hope kids scoop 'em off the shelves and get lost in the silliness that is a Nancy Krulik chapter book for a while.

In the meantime, keep looking for the robin red breast. Because spring will be here before you know it.
xo
N

What is Right. What is True. What is Hilariously Funny.

12/6/2016

I realize I haven't posted here for a while, and I apologize. But I haven't been one hundred per cent sure what to say. The past few weeks have been difficult, as I've watched our country be torn apart by an election. I've seen people furious over who won. I've seen people thrilled by who won. I've seen people unable to function and in genuine pain over the results. That's to be expected I suppose. But what isn't to be expected is the hatred I've seen toward those who some view as "others." It's as though they've been given permission to hurt them. Through words Through violence. Through the drawing of hateful swastikas (on playgrounds!). It's despicable and I wish the people the evil doers claim to be honoring with their actions would speak out and stop it. (As of this writing they have not.) I never dreamed there was so much vehement anger in this country. But then again, I live in that "bubble."

Actually, I don't think living in a bubble is a bad thing. In fact, I hope my books give kids a few hours in a bubble. I want kids to laugh despite what's going on around them. I want them to spend time in a world where the bad guys get their comeuppance in the end. I want them to find refuge in a world where the worst thing that can happen to you is a really big burp.

When I started the Magic Bone series, I wrote it because I thought seeing things from a dog's eye view would be fun. But now I see it may have a greater purpose--introducing kids to other cultures, and allowing them to see that while people may look different, speak different languages, or eat different foods, they all have the same needs, wants and desires. They all want to feel safe in a family, have a purpose in the world, and be surrounded by friends and love. If they can see that, maybe the next generation won't hate people because they are different. Maybe they will embrace them, learn from them, and find joy in their company.

Okay, I know this is lofty language coming from someone who truly is known for turning a girl into a hamster, giving a boy a magical burp that makes him leap up on tables and do the hokey pokey, or creating a robot who thinks laughing your head off literally means tearing off your head. But it is the truth. MY TRUTH. When kids ask me why I write children's books I tell them all the same thing. I write because I want them to love to read and to love to laugh. In the scheme of things, I think that's a pretty noble thing.

I'm Back In the Saddle Again (or at least at my desk)

10/8/2016

Post tour let-down. I get it every time. And now that I'm back at my desk in New York City I can admit that I miss the road. There is no rush like hearing a couple of hundred kids burp at me in unison like George Brown, Class Clown, or bark like Sparky in the Magic Bone books, or having a mom tell me that my books were the first her second grader actually showed an interest in reading. Okay, I admit the student teacher who told me she read Katie Kazoo Switcheroo books as a kid might have thrown me, but I am really psyched that teachers still love Katie and her pals.

The one takeaway I have from every tour is that I love book people. Booksellers, librarians and teachers are all links in a single heroic chain. They share an important goal--let's get kids reading! It's no easy task--what with televisions, iPads and video games beckoning at every turn. But somehow, these heroes manage to find new and creative ways to get kids to discover the magic of books. Real books--with pages and covers, and that new book smell you get when you open it for the first time. (Sure e-books are books, but I still say it's not the same.) Hopefully that love of books will open the minds of the next generation, so that they are more loving, accepting, and imaginative than the folks that came before. The book people I met on this tour gave me hope because they are helping kids realize that books matter-- and that words matter.

So now I'm at the computer, revising the second book in a brand new, upcoming series (which I wish I could tell you more about, but I'm sworn to secrecy.). Oddly, although I miss touring, I'm not sad. In fact, I'm feeling kind of motivated and excited. Because I know there are kids out there who still want to read. And that gives me a rush--not a burp in my face kind of rush--but just as good.

The Pre-Tour Crunch

9/19/2016

Okay, so now it begins--less than a week til I leave for my Fall 2016 book tour which Penguin is calling Nancy Krulik's Rocking Chapter book Tour. Gotta love it--I feel like a rock star. I can't wait to meet kids in Poulsbo and Seattle WA and San Carlos, El Dorado Hills, and Pleasanton CA! There's nothing like walking into a room of kids who are all antsy and excited (not to mention often sweaty from recess) and asking them to burp and bark at you! Signing books for eager readers and posing for pix with the parental paparazzi isn't bad either. And then I gotta say Penguin puts me up in some awesome hotels. And this go-round I will get to see my daughter in her newly native Northern Cali habitat, which is an added bonus.

Yeah, nothing beats touring. But right now, I'm paying the price. The week before a tour is tough--not only do I have to sweat out whether or not my character t-shirts will arrive on time (they arrived this afternoon thankfully), I also have to plan out the program--which chapters I will read, and what games the kids and I will play. And of course, I have to get two week's worth of work done now, because writing on an iPad in a hotel room after a day of hanging with kids, signing and flying is a real no-can-do (mostly because of the flying. The airlines don't make it easy do they?). So if I seem a little distracted this week, please forgive me. I'm in pre-tour mode.

I will most definitely post pictures on Twitter @NancyKrulik--so you can all follow along on the fun. Look out West Coast--the burps and barks are flying out your way on a magic wind (well, actually on a plane, but that has nothing to do with Katie Kazoo Switcheroo!)

xo
N

Be In The Know!

7/22/2016

You guys know by now that my daughter, Amanda Burwasser, and I are writing a new series called Project Droid. The books are already getting great reviews, and they don't hit stores until September. But that doesn't necessarily mean you have to wait until then to get in the know about Logan Applebaum and his android cousin. You might be able to get advance reading copies of the first two books waaaayyy before hand. Our amazing publisher, Sky Pony Press is giving away copies through Goodreads. Enter the contest here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/194569-science-no-fair-project-droid-1

GOOD LUCK. And remember, if you don't win, you can always preorder books online or at your local bookstore.

ORLANDO

6/30/2016

Okay, I admit it took a while before I felt ready to write this. As some of you may know, I have spent June jetting back and forth between conferences in Orlando, Florida. I love Orlando—especially the Disney parks, where my kids literally grew up because I did so much business with Disney back in the day. For almost all of my life, and definitely all of theirs, Orlando meant time spent flying off to Neverland, careening off Splash Mountain, riding in the dark in Space Mountain, driving with a ghost host through a Haunted Mansion, and not being able to get that darn It’s a Small World song out of my brain.

But that all changed June 12 when 49 people were killed doing what I had always done in Orlando—having fun. I cannot describe to you the pall of sadness I felt when I woke up that next morning. I had spent June 11 teaching an all-day seminar on writing chapter books with one of my dearest friends, and we were rewarding ourselves on the 12th with a trip to the Magic Kingdom. And although we went on rides and tried to stay upbeat, the surreal experience of being on a boat with the Pirates of the Caribbean, only to check our phones when we got off, searching for news of any kind, was simply the strangest juxtaposition I have ever experienced. What a strange juxtaposition—people had just been killed for living their lives, for loving who they chose to love, and here we were going on rides. Survivors guilt—most definitely.

What a world. That’s the thought that went through my head all day. And still does. What kind of world are we leaving our children? What will future generations say about people who let such hatred fester and then hand out guns like candy? What are the scars that are being left on our children’s souls as they wake up every day to news of another shooting or bombing? I know that old hippie spirit is still alive in me because I just want to protect the children of the world from all that is evil out there. (Okay, cue the tape: “I’d hammer out danger, I’d hammer out a warning. I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters. All over this land.”)

But it was my second trip to Orlando, this past weekend, that actually gave me hope. Signing at the ALA convention with my co-author--my daughter-- I met so many people who wanted to give the next generation something more than what is out there today. Librarians are heroes. Yes heroes. And you know why? Because they are on the front lines opening children’s minds to possibilities of a better world. They are providing kids with books that will introduce them to other cultures, so that they do not seem so scary. They are providing kids with books that say it is okay to be who you are—and love who you want to love. They are providing kids with alternatives. Best of all, they are providing kids with a chance to get away from the troubles of the real world even if it’s just for a few hours spent under a tree or under the covers, reading.

I cannot tell you how proud I was to sign books for librarians—especially because I was signing with my own kid. It was amazing to welcome Amanda into the writing world and to see her interacting with kids who are now reading our books. My kid is a kid magnet.

When I write with Amanda, she is constantly reminding me not to make the bullies too mean or to allow the characters to use words like stupid or fat because she fears the behavior will be copied. Amanda and I are creating our own world in our Project Droid books—and it is a world that is safe, funny, a little predictable, and most definitely wacky. Kind of like us. Amanda, like the librarians we met at the ALA convention, gives me hope that the next generation may just be ready to stop the hatred and anger, despite what we’ve heard certain politicians spew from their podiums in recent months.

Rest assured, I will go back to Orlando. I will go to the parks. I will laugh again. We all will. We all have to.

But we will never forget.

SUMMER!

5/27/2016

I know summer doesn't officially start until June 21, but here in NYC, where it's closing in on 90 degrees and everyone is in tank tops and shorts, it's pretty much a given that the season has begun. I don't need to feel the heat to know that summer's on its way. I can tell by the number of summer reading lists featuring Katie Kazoo Switcheroo George Brown Class Clown and Magic Bone books on them. I am so glad that teachers and librarians are suggesting my books for summer reading because to me summer is for fun. My hope is that the books I write are just that--fun to read! I write for kids because I want them to love reading every bit as much as I do. And I want them to laugh and smile and then read some more.

Speaking of fun, tonight my husband and I are heading over to Madison Square Garden for a night of music with the genius piano man, Billy Joel. Anyone who knows us is painfully aware that we spend a lot of time (and money) going to rock concerts. We just love the vibe at a concert--the dancing, the screaming, and the singing along with 20,000 other fans. (The music my husband composes is mostly classical, but he can still rock with the best of them. His new album comes out later this year and I will let you all know when it's available for download and purchase, I promise!) And I'll probably buy a concert t-shirt, because well...why not?

Whatever you all are doing this Memorial Day weekend, take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can all dance to our own beat, and read any book that make us smile. Censorship is anti-American! In the end, that's really what this weekend is all about.

And don't forget the sunscreen.
xoxo
Nancy

Look Out World, Here I Come...

4/7/2016

Okay, maybe the whole world doesn't have to be on the look out for me--Just kids in EdmonOK, Austin and Katy (TX), and Spring Lake and Point Pleasant NJ. Those are the stops I'm making on my spring tour. The kids, teachers and I are gonna have a blast, playing Mad Libs, barking like dogs, and reading from my newest books. My personal favorite part of any school stop on tour, though, is the question and answer section of my presentation. Kids do ask the darndest things--including: How much do you make? How old are you ? and Will you let Katie Kazoo switcheroo into me in her next book? When I'm in the room no question is off-limits (Even if I am less than exact in answering some of them! I tend to leave my age a little blurry and instead of an extra dollar amount I try to explain the basicconcept of how royalties work).

Touring the US and other countries is my favorite part of being an author. Over the years, I have met many many remarkable indie bookstore owners, teachers who are nothing short of heroic, and bright, inquisitive kids who I hope will be inspired to read and write books of their own after meeting me.

I usually post pix and comments along the way when I'm on tour. So follow me on twitter @NancyKrulik to see how things are going. Should be an interesting journey!