Interview with Elana from AG Life!

Hey!
It's been a little bit since I last posted an interview, so here is a new one! Today's interview if with the star and host of American Girl's new YouTube series "AG Life", Elana Cacares! Elana's fun, bubbly personality drew me in from the very beginning, and she quickly became my favorite of the five featured girls. Read her interview below!

EDS: How did you get a spot on AG Life?
Elana: American Girl had a casting call in May, I submitted a video. In June, they called me for an audition.

EDS: Do you have any American Girl dolls? If so, who?
Elana: Yes, I have four dolls!
- My 1st doll is a Just Like Me Doll and I named her Lizzy.
- 2nd doll is the 2008 Doll of the year, Mia
- 3rd doll is a historical doll, Kit Kittredge
- 4th doll is another historical, Josefina

EDS: How does the filming for AG Life work?
Elana: American Girl has an amazing crew that work very hard in putting weekly shows together. Filming takes place at various locations including the 5th Avenue store.

EDS: What is your favorite part about being on AG Life?
 Elana: I've been a huge fan of American Girl since I was 6 years old. I am truly honored to represent AG as a YouTube host. I love to inspire girls and AG Life allows me to do that! The film crew is so cool and I always have so much fun on set. I LOVE the segments they offer and even I look forward to learning new things and watching new episodes every week.

EDS: Which of the other girls from AG Life are you closest with?
Elana: I love the girls all the same, they are all so sweet and we are a great team!

EDS: If you could be any BeForever character for a day, who would you be and why?
Elana: It would have to be Kit, I love that she is determined.

Here are some photos Elana sent me of her having fun on set!

Thank you so much for the interview, Elana!

Interview with LoveLivAutum!

Hey!

I haven't done an interview in a while, and who better to do it with than with Valerie aka LoveLivAutum! You may recognize her from one of American Girl's new Behind The Scenes youtube videos and their Holiday 2015 catalogue! Valerie was recently invited to the American Girl headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin! She was treated like royalty by AG, and even got to work on a top secret project with them! She shared some exclusive photos with me to show my readers! Read below to hear more about her fabulous trip!

EDS: Tell us everything about your trip!
LoveLivAutum: One day I was checking my YouTube email and saw I had a PM (the message I sent you.) I think I was actually shaking when I read it. They started saying how they would like to call and wanted to work with me! It was crazy (and so unreal.) They flew me out to Middleton, WI July 1st (I left very early on the 3rd, short trip!) When I got there they wanted us to call and drive to the factory right away. When I got there at least 50 people (and tons of cameras) were outside filming me drive/walk in. Everything was so unbelievable, and the staff was so nice! The first day they filmed me for a bit then told me the plan of what we were going to do. Then the 2nd day we got to work right away. The picture in the catalogue actually took 6 hours to finalize! After that they gave me a tour of packaging facility, doll hospital, and call center. They also had me mix and match a bunch of outfits (I guess they're actually going to display one of my outfits in some of the larger AG stores)!

EDS: How did American Girl contact you?

LoveLivAutum: The first message was through a YouTube PM then the rest were/are through email.

EDS: What was your favorite part about being at American Girl?

LoveLivAutum: My favorite part was definitely helping design the picture. I had so much fun moving the dolls, throwing the snow, and setting the table. Honestly the whole trip was amazing, but after helping with the set, I think I found where I want to work when I'm older!

EDS: Who did you meet while at American Girl?

LoveLivAutum: So many people, I can't even remember everyones occupation. I got to meet the art directors, some designers, set designer, stylist, social media manger (she's the one who emails me, and actually runs AG's Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!), photographers, and the president of the company! Like I said, lots of people.

EDS: Did you get anything special from AG?

LoveLivAutum: Of course the experience itself, they also gave me several doll outfits, Grace's suitcase, the Grace movie & soundtrack, and Caroline! It was so sweet, and of course not necessary.

EDS: How long were you there?

LoveLivAutum: July 1st-July 3rd. It was a VERY short trip (I'll definitely have to make my way back to visit the area).

EDS: Do you plan on having a career in AG when youre older?

LoveLivAutum: Definitely! My problem is choosing what I want to do there. All of the people I worked with looked like the had such fun jobs.

EDS: What is the meaning behind your unique username?

LoveLivAutum: My username is a bit of a long story, but there was this sheltie that I would visit (I called her Autum, I didn't know the correct spelling of Autumn.) Unfortunately she had a heart murmur though, so she passed away at a really young age. I made my YouTube channel 3-4 months after her passing and wanted to preserve her memory, so that's where love and live come from.

Here are some pictures from Valerie's trip to the American Girl Headquarters

This is the original YouTube PM Valerie got.

Here is Valerie mixing-and-matching some outfits. Some of her creations will even be in the larger American Girl Places! Did you know that ALL dolls, clothing and accessories are hand packaged at the headquarters?

Valerie having fun on the set.

Valerie posing the model dolls for the shoot.

Did you know that the Grace doll and the Truly Me #27 dolls are Valerie's own dolls (Eleanor and Emma)? How cool!

Valerie even got to keep this parking sign that American Girl made her. It is currently hanging up in her room!

Here is the finished product! Valerie's photo is featured in the Holiday 2015 (Together We Make The Holidays) Catalogue! Can you believe this photo took over six hours to perfect?

Thank you so much Valerie for letting me interview you for my blog! You were a pleasure to work with!

Connect with Valerie on Social Media!

INSTAGRAM: @lovelivautum

YOUTUBE: lovelivautum

Interview with Jane Kurtz!

Hello! Today's blog post is an interview with the wonderful Jane Kurtz! Jane is the Author of the books "Lanie", "Lanie's Real Adventures" and one of the books in American Girl's "Girls of Many Lands" line. It was so much fun to talk to and interview this amazing author!

EDS:  Which Girl of The Year book did you have the most fun writing?

Jane Kurtz: I've only written two books for the same girl of the year: Lanie.  I alsowrote a book for American Girl's "Girl of Many Lands" series--a book setin Ethiopia where I spent most of my childhood.  Both of those projectswere terrific!

EDS: How do you come up with your storylines for your books?

Jane Kurtz: In both cases, some things were already in place.  For SABA, American Girlwanted a protagonist who was twelve-years-old and (of course) active andtrying to figure out something for her life against the backdrop of aninteresting historical period someplace in Africa.  With Lanie, they hadalready figured out that they wanted a girl who loved the earth.  Ithought about where my love of the earth comes from and realized it'sconnected to all the time I spent outside when I was a girl, so Isuggested that Lanie be an outside girl who loved to garden and dreamed ofcamping and also saving animals the way Jane Goodall does.  I had to thinkabout what would block her from getting outside.  What might she discoverat the end that she could do for animals right in her own back yard?Thinking of what animals are in a city (Boston in Lanie's case) led me todo research about citizen science with birds and bees and butterflies.

EDS: What do you love most about working for American Girl?

Jane Kurtz: Probably most of all I loved meeting all the girls who came to my signingsand asking them what they like about their back yard.  Kids that age aresuch a hoot!

EDS:  How long does it take to write a series of books for AG?

Jane Kurtz: I was on a pretty tight schedule both times.  I think it took about eightmonths.

EDS:  Which doll that you've written about do you feel most connected to?

Jane Kurtz: The fun connection with Lanie is that a few years after I wrote her books,I moved to Portland, Oregon into a house that had a very neglected yard.Through what I learned in researching Lanie's story, I've created abackyard habitat.  So I think about Lanie almost every day.  I have even BECOME Lanie in some ways.

Thank you so much for the interview, Jane!

Interview with Mary Casanova!

Today, I have a very special treat! It is an interview with five time American Girl author, Mary Casanova! She has written four Girl of the Year series of books for American Girl, and one for American Girl's series called "Girls of Many Lands" back in 2002. The title of the books Mary has written are: "Cecile: Gates of Gold", "Jess", "Chrissa", "Chrissa Stands Strong", "McKenna", "McKenna Ready To Fly", "Grace", "Grace Stirs It Up", and "Grace Makes It Great". Mary Casanova is SOOO nice, and I had the opportunity to meet her at the American Girl Place Boston on August 7, 2015. So, without further a due, lets get to the interview!

EDS: Which Girl of The Year book did you have the most fun writing?

Mary Casanova: Honestly, every book and character I’ve written for American Girl has been a wonderful, challenging, and fun opportunity! The first character I wrote was a girl living in the early 1700s in France when AG had a series called “Girls of Many Lands.” My book was “Cecile: Gates of Gold” and it required spending a week of research at the palace of Versailles. (Readers of GRACE will understand why I wanted to weave a short trip to Versaille into Book 1, after getting to know that palace life so well.)

The next book was my first “Girl of the Year” for 2006- JESS- and it required doing jungle research in a country south of Mexico called Belize. I loved the adventures there; canoeing in bat-filled caves, camping out in the jungle, listening to howler monkeys . . .

Then came 2009 and CHRISSA, a story about a girl who stands up to bullying. That story didn’t require research away from home, but it did demand lots of research about bullying—swimming and llamas—to make the story work.

In 2012, McKENNA made her debut as the “Girl of the Year.” I traveled to Seattle, volunteered at a therapeutic horseback riding center, and interviewed and watched a young, talented gymnast as part of my research. McKenna is awesome at gymnastics, but not so great when it comes to reading. I could definitely relate to her reading challenges, as I struggled with reading when I was in elementary school.

And this is the year of GRACE! I loved going to Paris to research book 1, and I loved spending time on the east coast to create her life in Massachusetts. I identified with Grace’s passion and ambition. I do love to bake, but I especially love to write. At 16 years old, I decided I wanted to be a writer; it took years of hard work to get published, but I’m so happy I didn’t give up on my dream!

EDS: How do you come up with your storylines for your books?

Mary Casanova: I have written many novels for other publishers, but when it comes to writing for American Girl, it always starts with a phone call. I’m asked if I would be interested in writing again for them. (Of course!) And I’m given a few elements to think about: baking, Paris, starting a small business.

The key is for me to find a way to start making a character real—a character I truly care about. I can always find a way in, some personal connection. Sometimes that comes from my own experiences, and sometimes it comes through the research process. But there’s always a character there, waiting to tell her unique story!

EDS: What do you love most about working for American Girl?

Mary Casanova: I just returned from a visit to American Girl stores in  Washington DC, New York city, and Boston (where I met you!) I’m a writer, which means spending most of my time working alone; but meeting enthusiastic, young fans of my work is such an honor. The readers of my books remind me why I love writing for American Girl!

EDS: How long does it take to write a series of books for AG?

Mary Casanova: When I first wrote a book for kids, twenty years back, it took me four years to finish a short novel called MOOSE TRACKS. I didn’t know how to write a 120 page novel with a beginning, middle, and end. My box of revisions is quite heavy! But I’ve learned to become a better writer, to revise recklessly, and not let fear stop me. So when I get an offer to write for American Girl, I jump right in and get to work. Believe it or not (I can hardly believe it), I researched and wrote all THREE books for GRACE in a little less than a year. It was hard work, but years of experience as a writer made it possible. Plus, I fell in love with her character, and each day was a joy making her stories come to life!

EDS: Which doll that you've written about do you feel most connected to?

Mary Casanova: I think I feel most connected to Grace. Perhaps it’s because she’s the newest of my American Girl dolls, but as I said in Question #1, I connected with her passion and ambition. Like Grace, I’m filled with ideas, and sometimes my family (we have two adult kids who are now married…and my husband) . . . they need me to slow down. Just like Grace, sometimes my ideas and enthusiasm get a little ahead of those around me and I have to take a deep breath!

More from Mary: "Fans who want to connect with me can find me at my website: www.marycasanova.com. From there, readers can send fan mail via e-mail or snail mail. I always reply (at least to the first letter)!"

"Merci beaucoup" ( that's French for "Thank you very much") for the interview!