Why I Wrote It
For several years now my dear editor, Melanie, has been asking me to write something funny for younger readers. I have wanted to do
this, because I think I’m pretty hilarious, and it sounded like so much fun . . . naturally, I had no good ideas. Oh, I toyed around
with a couple of things, which might eventually be whipped into shape and published. But nothing that really had me jazzed.
Then one night as I was getting into bed ZAP! ZING! POW!
Now, those of you who have heard me talk about how I wrote DRAGON SLIPPERS will recognize that ZAP ZING POW as the painful sound of
inspiration striking my tired brain. But instead of the words, “It was my aunt who decided to give me to the dragon” in my head, I heard
different words. To be specific, these words:
“Sometimes, when it was bored , Castle Slaughter liked to grow a new room.”
Wait a minute, you say. Castle SLAUGHTER?! Er. Yes. The name that originally popped into my head was Castle Slaughter. Clearly
that was one of the first things that I changed. It has been pointed out to me that Glower isn’t exactly very chipper, either, but
Glower seemed to fit.
Much like everything else about this book clicked into place: I suddenly knew that it was about a young princess, who lived in a
magic castle that could change rooms and hallways whenever it wanted. And I also knew that I would be able to write more than one
adventure for this princess and her castle.
And so, behold: TUESDAYS AT THE CASTLE, the first book in a new series!