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Introducing...Hannah Stark!

2/20/2019

28 Comments

 
Hannah Stark is the next featured author in our #Notable19s members interview series. We are in awe of how much Hannah accomplishes with having to take care of her children, teaching full time, writing, and helping run events for our debut group. So, let’s not dilly-dally since Hannah is one busy person!
 
Notable19: First of all, Hannah, tell us about your debut book.
 
Hannah: My book TRUCKER AND TRAIN is about a big rig named Trucker who loves to rule the road with his size, strength, and mighty horn. One day he meets the larger, stronger, and even louder Train. Trucker quickly realizes that Train is bigger, stronger, and louder but isn’t using his might for power. Instead, Train is well-admired by the vehicles around him. Trucker and Train is a story about using our strengths for good. I hope young readers will see that with great power comes great opportunity.
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​Notable19: What a terrific message, especially in the light of today’s issues where it seems like people with power and wealth abuse both to suppress those who don’t have either. So, how did you get the specific story idea?
 
Hannah: When my son was three he was in a pre-school class made up predominantly of boys. Some of the kids had much more rough and tumble personalities than my son does. I was fascinated by how each kid used their budding personality, as well as, their body size, volume, and speed to sometimes take power over one another during play.
 
At about the same time, my son was into trucks and trains. We spent countless hours lying on the apartment floor drawing roads on butcher paper and creating worlds using wooden interlocking train tracks. One day my son got really aggravated that the trucks couldn’t fit on and drive smoothly along the tracks. There was a meltdown and afterward we spent time talking about the differences between trucks and trains. This was when I first thought about a character named Trucker.
 
Notable19: Spending quality time with one’s children often sparks the best ideas. We love picturing you and your son lying down on the floor together playing. We assume you don’t lie on the floor to write though, LOL!, so where do you like to write?
 
Hannah: I like to write in the Rose Main Reading Room of the New York Public Library. It is an incredibly inspiring space and I like being around other New Yorkers reading and writing. For me, it feels studious and quite official. I take my writing seriously when I am there.
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There is also something about the motion of a vehicle on a track that soothes my soul into a place of imagination. I love to take long trips by train but as a New Yorker I spend a lot of regular time on the subway. I typed (or maybe I should say pecked) my first drafts of Trucker and Train into the notes app on my phone while commuting by subway in Brooklyn.
 
Notable19: Wow! That is dedication. Some of us can’t even write if we can hear someone else breathing in the same room. Hah! Maybe you grew up having to tune out sibling so you can concentrate in all sorts of places. Are you a first born/middle/family baby? Do you think that has affected your creative life at all?
 
Hannah: I am the oldest of three kids and have two younger brothers. I grew up in a house that was fairly isolated from neighbors and surrounded by woods. My mom is an artist and she let us explore and express ourselves pretty freely. I think a lot of my creativity came out through play. I remember making restaurants in the house (and creating elaborate menus), talent shows with extended family when they visited, and playing school. My brothers usually had subservient roles in each of these until they grew bored or fed up with me. Then I’d usually resort to using my dolls. I’d say these were my earliest experiences as a storyteller. 
 
Notable19: Love that your mom is a creative type who allowed you to grow up free-spirited! Sounds like an idyllic childhood. What is a moment from that childhood that is crystal clear in your mind?
 
Hannah: I remember being shy at school but bold and brave at home. When I was around seven or eight my parents decided to put a pool in our yard. A couple of mini diggers showed up with a crew of workers and I remember thinking the yard started to resemble a big sandbox. One day, I started playing in the dirt as the machines were digging. The men stopped their work, walked up the hill to the house, and had to call my mom outside to tell her it wasn’t safe to have a little kid playing where they worked.  Needless to say, my mom wasn’t very happy with me. I think I’ve always liked watching vehicles at work.
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Notable19: How marvelous that you’ve come full-circle from watching, and playing around, big vehicles to writing a book about them! Thank you for taking time out of your packed schedule to share some interesting facts about you and your book, Hannah.
 
Check out our Books page to see where you can preorder TRUCKER AND TRAIN! Don’t forget to follow Hannah on Twitter, too.
28 Comments
Kaitlyn Sanchez link
2/20/2019 11:13:58 am

I love the idea of teaching kids with great power comes great opportunity! And of course, like most kids, my daughter LOVES cars and trucks so this will be a hit for sure!

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Hannah Stark
2/21/2019 05:58:51 pm

Thank you Kaitlyn! Your daughter and I share a vehicle loving heart. ❤️

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Marcie Flinchum Atkins link
2/20/2019 11:19:31 am

I can't wait to read Trucker and Train, Hannah! And I can't wait for my students to read it too!

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Hannah Stark
2/21/2019 05:59:55 pm

Thank you Marcie!

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Cathy Mealey link
2/20/2019 11:22:43 am

Yay Hannah! Love the woodpile picture. Maybe that will inspire your next book!

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Hannah Stark
2/21/2019 06:01:07 pm

Ha! It would have to include something about splinters. I vividly remember splinters.

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Jyoti Gopal
2/20/2019 06:10:41 pm

Love that you "pecked" your story out on your phone! The modern writer :)

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Hannah Stark
2/21/2019 06:07:57 pm

Seriously! Photos and Notes. Those are where most
of my thoughts are captured.

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Laura Renauld
2/21/2019 06:21:13 am

Sounds like a great hook and a great message. Congrats!

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Hannah Stark
2/23/2019 07:44:13 am

Thank Laura!

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Teresa Robeson link
2/21/2019 06:42:06 am

You know I loved your interview, Hannah! Your mom is so cool; I wish she were my mom! 😄

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Hannah Stark
2/23/2019 07:43:48 am

Thanks Teresa! I’ll let her know. 😉 Maybe you will someday get to meet!

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Kimberly
2/21/2019 10:21:40 am

Hannah! I’m so proud of you. Congrats! I can’t wait to read the book and share it with my boys and students.

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Hannah Stark
2/23/2019 07:45:43 am

Aww. You are the best Kim. Thanks for all the love and support. Xo

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Elaine
2/21/2019 10:39:24 am

Congratulations! Can’t wait to share it with my class!

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Hannah Stark
2/21/2019 06:04:04 pm

Thanks Elaine! I’ll have printables to go with it in the coming months. Hope they’ll help in the classroom too!

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Adam Huss link
2/21/2019 11:22:29 am

Hannah! This is so awesome! Congrats ! Love the book and love the article ! I’m writing a children’s book too! Think it’s so amazing you’ve published one! So fond of you always ! Best of luck!! Xooxo Adam Huss

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Hannah Stark
2/23/2019 07:36:27 am

Thanks Adam! You are the true star! Hope we can connect east coast sometime soon.

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Becky Scharnhorst
2/21/2019 11:25:48 am

Great interview, Hannah! I enjoyed reading about the inspiration behind Tucker and Train. Looking forward to reading it!

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Hannah Stark
2/21/2019 06:02:15 pm

Thank you!

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Kate Ambrose
2/21/2019 12:36:20 pm

I loved reading your inspiration and the lesson of your book. I feel like it’s not a common picture book message. I can’t wait to share the book with my kids and my teachers!! ❤️

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Hannah Stark
2/23/2019 07:37:47 am

Yay! I hope it’s a message that resonates in different ways to different kids. Can’t wait to hear the thoughts from the kids!

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andrew j gersh
2/21/2019 02:17:29 pm

I am sooooo excited to share this book with my kids!

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Hannah Stark
2/21/2019 06:01:46 pm

Yes! I want to hear their reviews!

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Lindsay Metcalf link
2/22/2019 04:12:14 am

I love hearing the connection between those hours on the floor with your son and the final result of Trucker and Train. And for it to come to fruition on a train--so meta and cool. :)

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Hannah Stark
2/23/2019 07:38:51 am

Thanks Lindsay! It is pretty meta. ♥️

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Jane Pollak link
2/23/2019 03:59:34 am

I loved reading this, Hannah! Your book looks/sounds terrific. Luckily, I have grandchildren who will totally appreciate your work. Congratulations!

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Hannah Stark
2/23/2019 07:42:38 am

Thanks Jane! I’m a big fan of Bob Kolar’s work and love how he brought Trucker and Train to life. In addition to picture books, he does a bunch of product art for brands like Crocodile Creek. Before I got matched with him to illustrate we already had a water bottle and two puzzles at home that he did the art for. Maybe you’ve seen his stuff shopping for the grandkids? Hope you are doing great! Xoxo

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    Notable19s

    We are a group of writers and illustrators who have debut books (actual debuts , debuts as author-illustrators, or debuts with medium/large publishers) forthcoming in 2019. Thank you for joining us on our exciting journey!

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