Quick Summary
"Where We Come From" was chosen for the 13th iteration of Minnesota’s state-wide book club, One Book | One Minnesota. This title presents a picture-book collaboration in which four authors explore where they each come from, literally and metaphorically. John Coy is one of four co-authors. John has earned numerous prestigious honors for his contributions to children’s literature, including the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award, Charlotte Zolotow Award, and the Kerlan Award.
What was the most rewarding part of writing this book?
Working with Diane, Sun Yung, and Shannon. They are so insightful, wise, generous, and funny, all excellent qualities when collaborating on a book. We had some excellent discussions on stars, bacteria, dinosaurs, and water that led me to think about things in new ways.
What were some of the challenges you encountered while writing, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was what to leave out. We had so much great material that it was difficult to decide what to cut from the text to stay within the limits of picture book text. Fortunately, our editor Carol Hinz is Queen of Back Matter, and included a generous amount of space in back where we were able to include some favorite information that is not in the body of the book.
What do you hope readers take away from your book, and what impact do you envision it having in your community?
I hope readers are inspired to have conversations of their own with members of their family of different generations. We can learn so much from talking with older people in our families, but sometimes we don’t realize this until it is too late. I would love it if more readers would have these conversations.
What book are you currently reading?
I am writing this in Italy, so I am currently reading "Troubling Love," by Elena Ferrante.
Read the Book
"Where We Come From" will be available from March 10 through May 5, via Ebooks Minnesota. Ebooks Minnesota's unlimited simultaneous use model makes it perfect for book clubs!
