Welcome Author Martha Freeman – Giveaway Alert

We are lucky today, as Martha Freeman takes a break from her very busy writing schedule to give us some insights into her books and inspiration. She is the author of many wonderful books for children of all ages, including BORN CURIOUS: 20 GIRLS WHO GREW UP TO BE AWESOME SCIENTISTS which was the last in person book launch before everything shutdown in March, 2020. Her books, GOLDILOCKS GO HOME and its follow up, LITTLE RED HOODIE, are both funny and delightful just like Martha herself. Martha is generously giving one lucky winner a copy of her latests masterpiece, NOAH McNICHOL AND THE BACKSTAGE GHOST. Make sure to comment on this post to enter the raffle.

What were you like at the age of your target audience?

Main character Noah is 11 and in sixth grade. At that age, I was too cool for school and eager to grow up. I was also curious about countercultural things (this was in the late 1960s) such as happenings (which would later be known as raves) and the whole hippie lifestyle. I was anti-war and pro-tie dye. It was in sixth grade that I wrote my first stories as well. I remember one took place during a shipboard battle, and when the mast fell the captain shouted a profanity! What did I know about shipboard battles? Absolutely nothing. I didn’t know much about profanity either. My father occasionally said “damn,” and I expected lightning bolts from heaven. 

What inspires you?

It’s tempting to say that travel inspires me because, like so many people, I miss it so! I’ve been around the world twice. Both times it was on-the-cheap and I wouldn’t trade any of those nights spent on hard beds (or floors or the ground), but I’m not sure I’m truly up for more of those. Reading also inspires me, and so do the students I tutor at CU. I’m glad to say that many of them seem to have the grit and smarts that will be needed to save the world… or at least the species. 

What’s one thing you hope your readers take away from your books?

One of my books is called BORN CURIOUS: 20 GIRLS WHO GREW UP TO BE AWESOME SCIENTISTS and that reminds me that inspiring curiosity is something I hope my books – fiction or nonfiction – do for readers. With Noah, it would be great to think that a reader is inspired to learn more about Shakespeare or theatre in general. I would say that tolerance is another quality I value – and so do the so-called good characters, maybe call them the thoughtful characters, in my books. So I hope that the stories I write encourage kids to broaden their perspectives about their friends, their neighbors, their communities. 

What can we look forward to next?

I’m working on a mystery set in Boulder, my first set in Colorado. If all goes as planned (ha!), it will be published by Simon & Schuster in 2023. Life-wise, I’m expecting a second granddaughter this summer and, like everyone, wondering what post-pandemic life will be like. 

To connect with Martha and learn more about her books:

Website www.marthafreeman.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/marthafreemanauthor Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mafreeman225

 Register for Boulder Book Store’s event : Children’s Author Martha Freeman, in Conversation with Editor Sylvie Frank Tickets, Thu, Mar 11, 2021 at 5:00 PM | Martha Freeman will speak about her books “Little Red Hoodie” & “Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost,” in conversation with Sylvie Frank.www.eventbrite.com