Interview with Valerie Tripp!

As many of you know, on August 2, 2014, I went to the American Girl Place Boston and met the author of some of the Historical/BeForever books Valerie Tripp! Valerie wrote some of the Samantha books, and all of the Maryellen books, Felicity books, Josefina books, Kit books, and Molly books. She also wrote about Nellie, Emily, Ruthie, and Elizabeth.

While I was at the brunch, Valerie gave me her personal e-mail address so I could send her these questions for the Q & A!

EDS= ElevenDollStars

VT= Valerie Tripp

EDS:  I feel most connected to Kit out of all of the characters you’ve written about. Who do you feel most connected to?

VT: I can't say that I always feel “most connected” to any one of the characters I’ve written about but I can say that I always feel most connected to whomever I’m writing about at the time –especially if the story is going well!! I connect to the characters through our similarities: I’m like Molly because I am bossy; Kit because I like to write; Samantha because I grew up near New York; Josefina because I have three sisters; and Felicity because I like adventures. I feel connected to ALL my girls; they are like daughters to me.

Do you feel connected to Kit because you are both good writers? (You ARE a good writer, you know!)

EDS: Are you currently writing any stories for BeForever? If so, what time period, if you can say?

VT: I am currently writing about a new character, but I can’t tell you when or where she lived. I can tell you that she is very winning and intriguing, though, and that I have LOVED writing about her. I can’t wait for you to meet her!

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

VT: I love to “inhabit” the characters’ worlds and live there imaginatively. I love coming up with plots. I love fussing over words. I love making up jokes. I love resolving their problems. I love that working for AG means that all I read and do and see and dream about matters because it may spark a story. I love meeting wonderful readers like YOU!

EDS: What is your opinion on the best friend dolls being retired?

VT: As long as the books are still available – in libraries and schools -- I feel as though the best friends and their stories still thrive and can still delight and educate and entertain readers. Don't you agree?

EDS: Which doll book did you have the most fun writing?

VT: Well, they were all fun for different reasons. Right now, I am thinking about Josefina, and so I am back in New Mexico in my imagination, which is lovely. Molly is fun because she is funny. Kit is fun because she is based on my mother, so she is dear to my heart. Samantha is fun because I love the way roles for women changed at the turn of the last century. Felicity is fun because she is impulsive and I am NOT, so I can send her off to do things I’d be too chicken to do! 

EDS: Which is your favorite American Girl Historical Best Friend book that you have written?

VT: I enjoyed writing about Nellie and Elizabeth and Ruthie and Emily because it gave me chances to revisit the worlds of Samantha, Felicity, Kit, and Molly. Brave Emily was especially fun because it allowed me to go to London to do research, and it allowed me to atone for fooling my mother. I played the clarinet in Elementary School and I was supposed to practice 45 minutes a day and then my mother would sign my practice book to verify the time. What I used to do was to practice 15 minutes a day, ask my mother to sign the book, and then change the 1 to a 4. If you have read Brave Emily, you know that I made Emily do that and boy, does she suffer the consequences! Writing Brave Emily gave me the opportunity to apologize to my mother 50 years later!

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

VT: It takes about 3 to 5 years to write a series of books. 

Thank you so much Valerie!