Fourth Grade Journey

A Fourth Grade Teacher's Journey Through the World of Books

Monday, October 7, 2019

An Inside Look #109 (Author INTERVIEW)


An Inside Look with Donna Gephart
(Author of The Paris Project)

*During the summer of 2016, I added this feature to the blog which was called "Season #ONE".  This first season ran from June of 2016 to March of 2017.  

*I started up the interviews again in June of 2017.  It was great to get back to Season #TWO.  This season ran throughout the summer.  

*Season #THREE ran during the school year of 2017-2018.  



*The next season (season #FOUR) of interviews took place during the summer and fall of 2018.  With each interview I became more and more impressed with the authors I was having interactions with.  

*Season #FIVE ran during the 2018/2019 school year.  I took a little break at the start of June 2019.  

*During my summer 2019 vacation I continued a series of interviews in which I put under the heading of Season #SIX.

*To kick off my 29th year of teaching, I'm adding Season #SEVEN with a whole new season of authors, books, and interviews.  


*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the FIFTH interview in which I'm calling Season #SEVEN.  

*Thank you to Graham Salisbury for being the One-Hundred Eighth author that I've had the pleasure of interviewing.  I truly appreciate it.  

*Here are links to the first One Hundred Seven interviews…


SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

























SEASON #FOUR (Summer 2018)






















SEASON #FIVE (2018/2019)










Interview #81 with Tony Abbott (Author of The Great Jeff)

Interview #82 with Susan Ross (Author of Searching for Lottie)

Interview #83 with Gillian McDunn (Author of Caterpillar Summer)

Interview #84 with Rebecca Ansari (Author of The Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly)

Interview #85 with Ali Standish (Author of August Isle)

Interview #86 with Shaun David Hutchinson (Author of The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried)

Interview #87 with Greg Howard (Author of The Whispers)

Interview #88 with Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Author of Shouting at the Rain)

Interview #89 with Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Author of One for the Murphys)

Interview #90 with Laurie Morrison (Author of Up for Air)

Interview #91 with Jody J. Little (Author of Mostly the Honest Truth)



SEASON #SIX (Summer 2019)

Interview #92 with John David Anderson (Author of Finding Orion)

Interview #93 with Lisa Thompson (Author of The Light Jar)

Interview #94 with Keith Calabrese (Author of A Drop of Hope)

Interview #95 with Alicia D. Williams (Author of Genesis Begins Again)

Interview #96 with Kim Ventrella (Author of Bone Hollow)

Interview #97 with Natalie Lloyd (Author of Over the Moon)

Interview #98 with Cynthia Lord (Author of Because of the Rabbit)

Interview #99 with Tina Athaide (Author of Orange for the Sunsets)

Interview #100 with Elly Swartz (Author of Give and Take)

Interview #101 with Amy Rebecca Tan (Author of A Kind of Paradise)

Interview #102 with Varsha Bajaj (Author of Count Me In)

Interview #103 with Laura Resau (Author of Tree of Dreams)



SEASON #SEVEN (2019/2020)

Interview #104 with Laurel Snyder (Author of My Jasper June)

Interview #105 with Lisa Bunker (Author of Zenobia July)

Interview #106 with Jasmine Warga (Author of Other Words for Home)

Interview #107 with Barbara Dee (Author of Maybe He Just Likes You)

Interview #108 with Graham Salisbury (Author of Banjo)



*Donna Gephart was kind, gracious, and giving with her answers to the questions.  It is an honor to post her responses here on the blog. 

*Thank you Donna for writing this incredible and thought-provoking book.

*Here is my book review...



The Paris Project 

by Donna Gephart (October 8, 2019)



How did you come to know Cleveland Rosebud Potts?
Cleveland marched across the pages of my notebook when I thought I was writing something entirely different. Her voice was so strong and her story so clear and well-defined that I followed where she was leading. This story was a gift.



What do you think is Cleveland's most admirable quality?
Her loyalty and tenacity are some of her good qualities.



Is there anything you wish Cleveland would have changed or done differently in her story?
Cleveland makes mistakes. We all do, but I think that’s how you learn and grow, so I wouldn’t change a single mistake.



What do you think Cleveland can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what she went through?
I hope Cleveland lets others know they are not alone. My real goal is to reduce shame and stigma so people can be seen for who they are and get the help and support they need. Incarceration is an epidemic and a big business in this country. Do we think enough about how this affects the families and communities of the incarcerated?



How did you research Cleveland and the circumstances she found herself in?
I always choose to write books where I don’t know something, so that I have to research. I looked up a lot of statistics and data about incarceration and the ways it affects loved ones, especially children of incarcerated parents. It’s a huge and often hidden problem. There is information and resources at the back of the book.



Do you and Cleveland share any similarities?
We both were kicked out of ballet school after the first class. (But at least I didn’t break anyone’s toe.)

What was the hardest scene to write about Cleveland?
It was tough to write Cleveland’s memory of the day the police showed up to arrest her dad. That scene shredded my heart.

Who do you think was Cleveland’s biggest supporter and why?
Her sister, Georgia, was a huge ally from the first page when she helps her get the spot she wants at the ballet school. I wanted to honor the relationship of sisters in this book. And I love her friend, Declan, who sticks by her through some hard things and is always ready with a limeade spritzer.

Why do you think some young people, like Cleveland, have bigger hopes and aspirations for themselves, than some adults do?
Kids have big imaginations and haven’t adopted some of the cynicism that can come with difficult life experiences.

What do you think Cleveland is doing as the present time?
She’s probably walking a few dogs in her neighborhood, speaking French to them and dreaming big dreams of going to Paris.
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