Sassy#1 -- Little Sister is Not my Name Summary: It's not easy being nine. It's hard to get respect from your family when you're the youngest and smallest in the house. You know your family loves you, but it drives you crazy because they insist on calling you Little Sister instead of Sassy. But Sassy sparkles with imagination and style. She'd change the boring blue school uniforms she and her friends have to wear to lovely costumes in shades of strawberry or jade. You'd serve boysenberries at lunch and require marigolds in every classroom. And you help your friends and family in all kinds of situations with the wonderful and mysterious items--from lip gloss to paper clips to superglue-- that are tucked into your marvelous Sassy Sack. When Sassy's Grammy comes to visit, and her family is trapped in a scary situation, Sassy learns that courage comes in all sizes, that small can be very tall, and being called Little Sister might not be so bad after all. Sassy#1 -- Little Sister is Not my Name Hardcover   $14.99 Paperback   $4.99 Type: Hardcover Paperback Quantity:  Introduction: Meet Sassy Simone Sanford! She's nine years old and she sparkles with charm and pizzazz! She never goes anywhere without her wonderful, marvelous, mysterious Sassy Sack, and always seems to find in it just exactly what the situation calls for. General Questions: 1. What inspired you to write Sassy, your first series geared toward middle-grade girls? -Sassy has such an authentic voice - how were you so successfully able to capture the sensibility of a 9-year-old 4th grader? My daughter owns a dance studio, and I'm often there talking to the middle-grade girls who take dance classes. They are avid readers, enthusiastic conversationalists, and lively participants in their world. They have strong opinions about fashions and fads, about family and friends. I wanted to capture their joy of life, so I decided to create a character and write a book that they could embrace with passion. 2. What do you think readers will love most about Sassy? I think readers will love Sassy's "spark and sparkle." She's delightful, yet realistic, with a strong sense of self and a yearning to find her place in the world. She could be anyone's "little sister." 3. Explain the concept of the "Sassy Sack." Did something particular inspire the idea? Most girls this age carry purses, and I'm always amazed at the wonderful things they carry inside as "necessities." I decided to expand on that concept and stretch the possibilities of what can be found in a purse. The "Sassy Sack" becomes part of Sassy's character. It completes her, and it often saves her and others. 4. When you were a young girl, were you similar to Sassy? I was the oldest in my family, not the youngest, but I had a strong personality and outspoken opinions on most subjects. My daughter, however, was the youngest, and as a mom I watched her struggle to keep up with her older siblings. Sassy is a tribute to all little girls who live in a family and just want to be noticed and appreciated. 5. This series features a diverse cast of girls and boys and a loving family. Who do you hope to reach with this series? I hope that girls as well as boys enjoy reading about Sassy and her adventures. I wanted to show a strong family setting, with busy parents who care for their children, and an extended family of grandparents who complete the circle. The stories are easy enough to be read by children in second or third grade, but have ideas advanced enough for discussion for children in upper elementary grades as well. 6. Given that most of your books are geared toward teens, what were some of the skills you used to write for a younger audience? Was is hard to make the switch? These are not my first books for this age group. I have written six books called The Ziggy and the Black Dinosaurs series. These books, in which the main characters are mostly boys, are geared to grades 3, 4, and 5 as well. I do lots of presentations at elementary schools and I love talking to, and listening to the children. They ask wonderful questions and are deeply excited about books and reading. When I write, I try to capture their voices and their honesty. Their age doesn't matter. 7. What are your hopes and dreams for Sassy - the series and the girl? I really like Sassy. I'd like to take her shopping at the mall, although I doubt if I could afford all the sparkles and glittery items she'd want to purchase. She'd chatter constantly and keep me laughing. I hope that the series becomes a classic in elementary classrooms, and that Sassy and her sack become icons of kids everywhere.