Today I am thrilled to share an interview with author, Linda Elovitz Marshall. She has generously offered to give one lucky winner a copy of her book, THE POLIO PIONEER DR. JONAS SALK AND THE POLIO VACCINE. Leave a comment on the blog for a chance to win this book (US addresses only.) In a year when everyone’s mind is on vaccines, I couldn’t be more excited to read this book.
What were you like at the age of your target audience?
I was a spunky, sassy kid. I loved books and stories. When I was in third grade, my parents got me an encyclopedia for children. They also got me a typewriter. I decided to read the entire encyclopedia. Every night, I would find something else to write a “report” about. Every morning, I would bring my report into school. Fortunately, I had a teacher who encouraged me.
Wow! You would have been my favorite student. I love this idea.
What inspires you?
Anything and everything inspires me. I try to find something new and exciting each day…and add it to my “idea” file. There’s so much to learn about!
What’s the one thing you hope your readers take away from your books?
I like to stress hope and possibility – the possibility of helping to make the world a better place, of doing something useful, and that we all have talents. There are so many types of talents and abilities. I think it’s important to see that sometimes, what seems like a screw-up is, when looked at from a different perspective, actually a talent.
What can we look forward to next?
I have three more books currently in the publishing pipeline. They’ve not yet been publicly announced, so I’ll just mention that two are picture book biographies and the third is a very sweet story told in verse. I’m working on several other projects, including a MG novel. Although I’ve been social distancing and keeping much to myself during the pandemic, I’ve found plenty to write about and I’ve made lots of new writing buddies.
Linda can be reached at: www.lindamarshall.com
Twitter @L_E_Marshall Instagram @LindaEMarshall Facebook: Author Page: LindaMarshallBooks
She’s a judge at https://www.rateyourstory.org and a member of SCBWI, the Authors Guild, and PEN.
Other books released in 2020 by Linda Elovitz Marshall
Don’t forget to comment on this post and let me know what social media you share it on for your chance to win THE POLIO PIONEER.
Laura Roettiger Books 
I love the concept behind the book, something we can all learn from, he changed our lives! Love the background story, this is was good thing to read this morning 🌟
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, a hero in his time and for my family for sure. Good luck on the raffle.
LikeLike
Linda, your parents were so creative themselves to gift you with a typewriter & encyclopedias! I used to LOVE going through all our encyclopedias when I was little, too (My parents won them at a state fair way back when, LOL!) And I have to know…what is that fabulous looking food item you’re holding in your pic?! 🙂 Congrats on your latest book baby launch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I want to know what it is, too. I’m imagining it’s something sweet, cinnamonny, and yummy!
LikeLike
Laura, we need to get the scoop! This foodie author must know 🙂 !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I checked with Linda, and she said it is babka. Do you think if I go visit her, she’ll make one for us to share?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Come visit! Can’t wait until, once again, we can all hang out together.
I’ll make three, four, many babkas!
(And when I find my password for WordPress – it’s around somewhere – and, yes, I know I can just do a “find my password” thing, but I’m working on something else right now…Nope, it’s not another babka…)
http://www.lindamarshall.com
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Linda, it would be wonderful to meet in person and share yummy treats and stories.
LikeLike
YUM!! And yes, you must visit, LOL!
LikeLike
I was such a curious kid (and I’m still a curious grownup). I think that the supermarket (Stop & Shop) where my mother shopped had a special deal; if you spent X amount of dollar, you got a volume of the encyclopedia. Every month, a new volume was available. I don’t know why they got me the typewriter.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s so cool that you collected Encyclopaedia volumes one at a time!
LikeLike
Almanacs are fun, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
THE POLIO PIONEER sounds so timely and important! I love your books, especially SAVING THE COUNTRYSIDE, and can’t wait to read your newest. Congratulations on THE POLIO PIONEER and all of your other upcoming books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t even count the number of times I’ve thought about the polio vaccine since the pandemic began. THE POLIO PIONEER is such a wonderful book. Good luck!
LikeLike
Absolutely LOVE the picture of Linda as a child…and look at the book she is holding…so 1950’s…a book on Manners for kids! Great Q&A, dear ladies!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vivian, I loved her photo too! It’s so fun to see pictures of people when we were small. Especially from an era when cameras and picture taking weren’t every day occurrences.
Thanks for commenting and I’m looking forward to sharing an interview with you in the future.
LikeLike
Love all of Linda’s books! I keep my friends and relatives supplied with the latest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great! Thanks for stopping by. 😊
LikeLike
I recall eating those sugar cubes! My mom was a public health nurse, and you better believe we were early adopters of vaccines. My husband’s uncle was permanently affected by polio before the vaccine was available. Thank goodness for Dr. Salk! He saved so many lives!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jilanne, yes thank goodness for Dr. Salk. My cousin contracted polio six months before the vaccine came out. You can imagine how deeply my family felt about vaccines. Thanks for sharing your experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to share this story with my students and add it to my classroom library! Thank you for sharing it!
I shared it on twitter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading, Melissa! Good luck in the giveaway!
LikeLike
Hi Melissa,
Congratulations! You won the raffle for THE POLIO PIONEER – Email me so that I can connect you with Linda E Marshall. I did a winners announcement last Monday and will include it in Monday’s announcement for the next two winners. – Laura
LikeLike
This would be a fun book to have in a classroom, especially now that we are all talking about vaccines and how they help us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading. Yes, a wonderful way to talk with children about vaccines. Good luck in the giveaway.
LikeLike
This book sounds like a great book, especially with the current pandemic. I love how Linda Elovitz Marshall talks in the interview about people finding hope and helping others. This idea of helping others is something I try to instill in all my students. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading! Yes, a very timely message and a universal theme of helping others work perfectly together. Good luck in the raffle!
LikeLike