“Writing is one thing, publishing is another”: An Interview with Barry Denenberg

Fuse #8: Now you’re someone who has had a hand in writing both non-fiction and historical fiction for kids. In fact, you sort of began your career with the DEAR AMERICA, MY NAME IS AMERICA, and ROYAL DIARIES series. Now you’ve a non-fiction account of Abraham Lincoln out. So in your experience, which do you prefer to write? The non-fiction? Or the historical fiction?

Barry Denenberg: In one sense, the answer is simple: I like to write conventional non-fiction more than historical fiction. Creating plots is not something I enjoy-most of the story lines in my DEAR AMERICA books are ‘borrowed’ from my research. I don’t read historical fiction and my professional goal is to convince young readers that truth is not only stranger than fiction, but better.

Writing is one thing, publishing is another. LINCOLN SHOT is my attempt to come up with a ‘third way’

Fuse #8: There’s a profile of you on Scholastic.com where you say that "I think there’s an art to both writing and research. I’m a good writer but a better researcher." What’s the distinction between the two?

Denenberg: Although both require certain characteristics, intelligence, literacy, etc., they are distinct crafts. Many writers have a way with words but they don’t really know what they’re talking about; not in a real, substantive way. They’re facile, not factual (with a handful of exceptions like "The New Yorker", just read any periodical).

Research is its own art and involves a separate set of tools: patience, perseverance, curiosity, obsession. You learn to use bibliographies and to follow footnotes in a way that will, eventually, add the detail, density and color that will make a work come alive. You also learn to appreciate the lost art of proper indexing.

Fuse #8: Let’s talk a bit about your newest work LINCOLN SHOT: A PRESIDENT’S LIFE REMEMBERED. It’s known in several librarian circles as "the tall Lincoln book" and it certainly distinguishes itself from the pack of Lincoln bios we’ve seen recently. Where did the idea for the book come from?

Denenberg: The idea to do a biography of Abraham Lincoln that captures the boy, teenager, young lawyer, newly married husband and affectionate father along with a visual component was Jean Feiwel’s and I opted for something unconventional. The newspaper idea evolved from our first meeting with Christopher Bing where we discussed our concern for historical accuracy, conveying a feeling for the mid-nineteenth century and the challenge of presenting history to 2lst century young readers.

Jean, who should have a sign on her desk that says THE BOOK STOPS HERE made the final decision to maintain the newspaper format, not fold it and bind it in hardcovers.

Fuse #8: Well done Jean then.  Now continuing along those lines the first thing people notice when they see the book is the sheer size of it. Was the layout and presentation entirely your idea or were you talked into it?

Fuse #8:  And did you stumble across any surprises in the course of creating the book? Things you did not expect to find, or little known facts you were unaware of?

Denenberg: Lincoln’s relationship with his wife, Mary; Lincoln’s lifelong struggle with what we would call depression; his political and spiritual evolution over the course of the war; Mary Lincoln’s life after the assassination and her relationship with her son, Robert; the concept of Union vs. disunion and secession and General George McClellan.

Little known facts: l3-year-old John Wilkes Booth’s relationship to the unjustifiably ignored September ll, l85l Christiana Riot.

Fuse #8: Is there any thought of creating other books like LINCOLN SHOT but based on other moments in history?

Denenberg: Yes, there are two books I hope to do in the LINCOLN SHOT format. However, my agent will be very, very unhappy if I mention them right now. Stay tuned.

Fuse #8: Aw.  So what else are you working on next?

Denenberg: For the past year I have been working on an adult book entitled; MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR; THE ORIGINS OF THE COMMONPLACE AND THE CURIOUS IN AMERICA. It’s an unconventional approach to history that uses etymology as a departure point.  The book investigates words and objects we encounter daily and delves into their origin and evolution, eventually weaving a rich tapestry seen from a unique perspective. Each entry is finely crafted and reads like a short story. With the alphabet as an organizing principle, MHT creates a kaleidoscopic view of American history that, at various points, illuminates aspects of: the American Revolution; the westward movement; the Civil War; industrialism and unionism; immigration, feminism; civil rights; consumerism, popular culture ; and the history of the presidency.

Some words so far: Barber Poles, Bloomers, Boycott, Break a leg, Co-ed, Deadline, Hooker, Jim Crow, Lynch, Sideburns, Sandwich, Spelling Bee……