An Interview with Author Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo is a New York Times best-selling children’s author born in Philadelphia and now living in Minneapolis (where she faithfully writes two pages a day, five days a week). DiCamillo has published more than 25 novels, including the Newbery Award winning The Tale of Desperaux and Flora & Ulysses, making her one of only six authors to win the award twice! In 2014, she was named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. In the following Q&A, DiCamillo discusses the series finale of her beloved Tales from Deckawoo Drive, reflecting on the series and offering insights into her craft.

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Candlewick Press released the series finale of the Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Mercy Watson is Missing! in December. How does it feel to wrap up such a widely popular series?  

Oh, I'm sad. I truly am. I could write about Mercy and Deckawoo Drive (happily!) for the rest of my life. Maybe at some point, I can cajole Chris Van Dusen into revisiting the pig and her environs.

Can you remind us of the origin story of Mercy and where she first came from? 

She appeared in the Watson's life when she fell off the back of a (Molson's Pig Transport) truck as a piglet. For me, she appeared in my imagination as a full-grown pig. I was on an airplane, and I closed my eyes and saw her face, and underneath her face, her name: MERCY. It made me laugh. 

You have been collaborating on the Mercy Watson titles for various ages and formats with the incomparable Chris Van Dusen for almost 20 years. Why is he such an incredible artist to illustrate this series? 

Listen: no Chris Van Dusen, no Mercy Watson. That’s the truth. He is, indeed, incomparable. And it has been one of the supreme delights of my life to make up characters and think: wow, I can't wait for Chris to bring this person to fantastic, colorful, loving, humorous life.

Do you have a favorite storyline or character from the Deckawoo Drive world that you looked forward to writing and revisiting throughout the years? 

This is the wondrous thing about Mercy – all you have to do is think of a situation and put her in it and then follow her as she follows her snout through the story. It has also been delightful to me to see how beloved grumpy Eugenia Lincoln is. Kids love her. 

Did you enjoy writing the Mercy titles between your other novels over the years – how was working on these books different from your other fiction? 

It has been such a joy to turn to Mercy to work on in between larger (more serious) books. It's a respite. And a delight to spend time with her and everyone on Deckawoo Drive.

What do you hear most from fans about the Mercy Watson and Deckawoo Drive titles? 

Well, there's that thing about Eugenia Lincoln and how much they love her. And then, too, there’s this thing where kids have figured out the same thing I have: you can tell a story about Mercy just by imagining a scenario and following her through it. Some of my favorites from kids have been Mercy Watson Meets Moby Dick and Mercy Watson Gets Audited.

Do you have any other titles or series coming soon for younger readers? 

I've got a new early reader called Orris and Timble, about a rat and an owl who become friends. And my newest novel entitled Ferris published in early March.

Interview courtesy of Candlewick Press.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kate DiCamillo is the author of many books for young readers. Her books have been awarded the Newbery Medal (Flora & Ulysses in 2014 and The Tale of Despereaux in 2004); the Newbery Honor (Because of Winn-Dixie, 2001), the Boston Globe Horn Book Award (The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, 2006), and the Theodor Geisel Medal and honor (Bink and Gollie, co-author Alison McGhee, 2011; Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride, 2007). She is a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Emerita, appointed by the Library of Congress. A native of Florida, Kate now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Find her at www.katedicamillo.com.