For Creative Kid Thursday, I am posting my 2014 Upper Bucks Free Press Newspaper (the newspaper I write for) article I wrote. I got to interview Felicia Maziarz the kid-author behind the book “The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets.”
The online version was just published. To see the online version of the newspaper, click HERE (see page 9). I hope you enjoy it!
Young Author Keeps on Writing
Felicia Maziarz describes herself as “a ten-year-old sixth grader, and hamster owner, attending the University Scholars Program at PALCS. She adores writing, reading, acting, gymnastics, stuffed animals and working with technology. Felicia is a member of the Davidson Young Scholars Program and her latest creative project is organizing the D.I.R.T. Kids – a small group of performing kids who want to raise money for charities (dirtonstage.blogspot.com).”
I met Felicia when I reviewed her book on my blog. Felicia’s first book is titled “The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets.” I thought the story and writing in the book was awesome and I was surprised to learn the author, Felicia, is around the same age I am. I was very happy to meet a kid who likes reading and writing as much as I do.
Here is what “The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets” is about;
After three years of living under the same roof as the dog in the house, Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge decides to write a letter to her canine housemate, Stanley. Katrina loves treats, naps and bossing the dog around. Stanley loves snow, attention and turkey. The diva kitty, Katrina, will have none of Stanley’s antics and most certainly will not stand for him eating her food. The only reasonable solution is to take him to Kitty Court.
I think there are a lot of kids out there writing great stories and maybe some kids who want to get their stories published. Felicia is a great example of a kid doing just that. She let me ask her a few questions about writing and being an author.
Erik – Your book, “The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets,” is a hilarious story about a cat and a dog who live in the same house but interact by writing letters to each other. How did you get the idea for your book?
Felicia – I got the idea for my book because I have attempted to write books about humans before, which didn’t go so well. I think I understand pets better than humans. I also kind of built the story around the name Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge and it grew from there.
Erik – I love Katrina’s full name! This is a question that’s been on my mind ever since I read your book; because dogs and cats can’t write, how do they communicate by letters? Do they have a typewriter? A computer?
Felicia – They found a typewriter in their basement, I still don’t really know how they type on THAT. Yes, they keep secrets from me.
Erik – They do seem to be very sneaky. What attracts you to writing?
Felicia – I think that it is a creative outlet that can go anywhere. Oh, and it’s fun!
Erik – Speaking of writing, you just completed NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Can you tell us what that is and about your experience with it?
Felicia – NaNoWriMo is in November, and it is where you try and reach a word count goal. If you do, you WIN! I use YWP (the Young Writers Program) NaNoWriMo where you can pick your own word count goal, but the grownups just use regular NaNoWriMo, they have to make it to 50,000 words. I have written Stanley & Katrina’s first and second book through NaNoWriMo (nanowrimo.org) and am soon going to be interviewed on their blog. Happy Dance!
Erik – NaNoWriMo sounds like a great challenge for kids (and adults) who want to write their story down. Which authors inspire you the most? Do you have any writing mentors?
Felicia – I think the authors that inspire me the most are Rick Riordan and all of those Indie authors out there. I actually do happen to have a writing mentor named Julie Grasso who wrote 2 books. She helps me edit and review my books.
Erik – I’ve read Ms. Grasso’s “Adventures of Caramel Cardamom” books. They are great! What do you want to be when you grow up?
Felicia – I would like to be an interior designer and write books in my free time even if I don’t have any free time.
To learn more about Felicia and “The Perpetual Papers of the Pack of Pets,” visit her website at stanleyandkatrina.com.
For book reviews and more, please visit my blog ThisKidReviewsBooks.com.
Categories: Creative Kids, Newspaper Columns, Other Stuff Related to Books and Reading
It’s Kids like you and Felicia that make this old ape hopeful for the future of Humanity Erik 😀
You’re OLD? I never knew. Your pictures make you look so young. 😉 Thank you TSRA! 😀
Thank you for this lovely comment. And you do not look old at all. In fact you look great for an “old ape.”
~Felicia
Sweet interview. Letters are a great way to communicate. I need to see if I can find a typewriter around here. I have a few things I want to get off my chest.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I want pictures of how you use the typewriter Cupcake! 😉
Yeah, typewriters are good. I would like a picture of you using a typewriter, as well.
~Felicia
Thanks for the interview, Erik! I will be visiting again after school. Thrilled to be interviewed by you.
~Felicia
You are welcome Miss Felicia Author Miss! 😉 Thanks for being interviewed. 😀
Terrific interview! Look forward to reading Felicia’s book. Love the cat’s name.
Yes, the cat’s name is the gem of my book. Thank you for looking forward to reading my book.
~Felicia
Katrina’s full name IS a mouthful… 🙂
Erik, congrats you on your latest column. Felicia’s book sounds fantastic. Maybe it will inspire my own child writer.
I hope it inspires your child writer ’cause that is awesome!
~Felicia
Which one likes to write? Thanks Ms. Larson! 😀
Fantastic interview, SuperKid Erik! I am obviously not paying attention because I had no idea that Stanley and Katrina was written by another SuperKid! Call me shocked and amazed by you two! Way to go Felicia! By the way, Felicia, I understand animals better too.
Yay, I’m a SuperKid! That was my plan all along… to deceive people to think that I am not a kid but I am …. I am… I am… (echo off into the distance).
Thanks!
~Felicia
Thank you Shocked and Amazed by You Two! 😉 Felicia’s book is great! 😀
What a great interview with Felicia. Such an inspiration to see kids writing wonderful books. Love the theme behind the D.I.R.T Kids. And, I agree with “old ape.” When I see kids like you and Felicia and many others around the world doing remarkable things at a your age, it gives me great hope for the future!
Thank you for this lovely comment and for reading about D.I.R.T. Kids!
~Felicia
Thank you Ms. Tilton.
I am glad that Felicia and I give hope. 🙂
Wonderful, bright kids! Only this evening, my cat not only ate the dog’s food, she climbed into the dog’s bed. The poor dog looked as if she would have a nervous breakdown.Great interview Erik and all the best to Felicia for a future filled with promise.
I think that happens daily in the Stanley & Katrina household. Thank you for the lovely comment.
~Felicia
Poor puppy… 🙁 Thanks Dr. Clune! 😀
This is wonderful, Erik! I’m catching up on your site now. Congratulations to Felicia for being a fabulous author. We have just recently launched our “GatheringWriters” feature on our site too, where we feature works of young people aged 16 and below! I’d probably soeak to Felicia about this. Great post!
I hope she excepts! 😀
Totally, totally, yes, yes, yes!
~Felicia
I loved this interview and wish Felicia the best of luck with her writing. Kudos to her for completing NaNoWriMo! WOW!
It was great to learn what she likes about writing and about the writers who inspire her. I agree with her that Rick Riordan is amazing and I love Indie authors. Great post! I will have to check out her book. : )
Felicia is a great author! 😎
Yes, Rick Riordan is awesome! I hope you like my book if you get to read it. Thank you,
~Felicia
Erik, CONGRADS on this column!!!!!!!!!!!! I look forward to reading Felicia’s book. Fantastical interview! As always!! Happy January! (I’m used to saying merry this and happy that, so I thought I’d keep it going.) 🙂
Thank you Ms. Campbell! Merry Day! 😀 (did you know that today is [Inter???]National Step in Puddles and Splash your Friends Day? No joke. 🙂 )
Wow. ~Felicia
And today is Peach Melba Day and Rubber Duckie Day! 😀
Yay, you look forward to reading my book! Happy Day to you.
~Felicia
Such a great interview! I think we’ve all felt at times that we don’t understand humans very well.
I know what you mean. I write about aliens who don’t understand humans. 🙂
I am glad I am not alone. 🙂
~Felicia
Great article and interview. Felicia has the right attitude, “I’ll write books in my free time even if I don’t have any free time.” That’s what its all about!
Cool, I have” the right attitude.” Thank you Ms. Darlene.
~Felicia
Felicia is a wise girl. 🙂
Great interview Erik! It’s fun to hear the voice that gives voice to Stanley and Katrina. You and Felicia are quite the Dynamic Duo!! Keep up the good work! I’m looking forward to more tales from the other Dynamic Duos, Stanley and Katrina and Tomato and Pea!
Thanks Rhythm! And altogether, we are the… Silly Sextet! 😀
😀
Thank you, Rhythm. Dynamic Duos rule!
This is awesome. I love reading about kid authors, it’s so inspiring!! It sounds like a cool book, too. Thanks for the good interview, Erik.
Thank you for thinking my book is cool! Kid authors are AWESOME. (I am kinda biased though). 🙂
~Felicia
You are??? 😉
Erik, how cool is it that you interviewed Felicia?! I got so excited when I was on stanleyandkatrina.com and saw that you did! I can’t get over the quality work you both do at such young ages. I just LOVE that you’re both doing such meaningful, productive things instead of wasting your time with too much (some is good) nonsense 😀
I do enjoy some nonsense once in a while (okay, often) but yeah, writing is fun, too. Thank you for visiting my blog!
~Felicia
Well, nonsense in moderation, is a good thing, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone 🙂 And…extra bonus: it sometimes feeds the writing 🙂
Fantastic interview, Erik. Neighbor girl is so wonderful – and her book is wonderful. It’ so nice to meet you – finally. I also learned some things about Neighbor Girl. I didn’t realize she was into gymnastics!
Thanks for this great post!
Hi, Squishy Lady! 🙂
Yeah, I LOVE gymnastics. This is the first you met, Erik? Wow. He’s famous. Thanks for thinking I am wonderful. Squee! Thanks for all of your support!
~Felicia