Michael F. Shaughnessy
Senior Columnist EdNews.org
Eastern New Mexico University

Michael Sullivan (MLS, Simmons, 1999) is the author of Connecting Boys With Books: What Libraries Can Do (ALA Editions, 2003), and The Fundamentals of Children's Service (ALA Editions, 2005).

He has spoken widely on the topic of boys and reading. He has been a Children's Librarian and Library Director in public libraries for more than fifteen years, and is currently Director of the Weeks Public Library in Greenland, NH. He has written several articles for Public Libraries, including "Giving Them What They Want in Small Public Libraries" (May/June 2000) and "The Fragile Future of Public Libraries" (September/October 2003), as well as "Why Johnny Won't Read." for School Library Journal (August 2004).

In 2005 he was profiled in Library Journal's "Movers & Shakers" edition for his work in promoting reading to boys. He is a traveling storyteller and a chess instructor, and once worked at the Boston Museum of Science as part of its overnight "Camp-In" instructional program for children. His chess program at the Parlin Memorial Library in Everett, Massachusetts was honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award in the U.S. Conference of Mayors City Livability Award competition in 2001.

He is a former President of the New Hampshire Library Association and was the 1998 New Hampshire Librarian of the Year.

He is the author of Escapade Johnson and Mayhem at Mount Moosilaukeand his latest book is Escapade Johnson and the Coffee Shop of the Living Dead – due to be released in early April. In this interview he responds to questions about his work and getting boys interested in reading !

1) I understand that your latest book will be out in April. What is this one about?

It is called "Escapade Johnson and the Coffee Shop of the Living Dead". In the first book, you were introduced to all the characters in the fifth grade of Sanbornton Elementary School. In number two, we focus in on Escapade, Davy, and Jimmy. Escapade gets egged into doing one thing wrong, one mistake in all his eleven years, and of course that one mistake leads to danger, car crashes, punishment, police chases, and a job working side by side with the undead.

2) What first got you interested in writing?

I've wanted to write since before I could read. I can remember filling page after page with lines of senseless scribbles. I wanted to be a reporter because I thought it was such an exciting job. Telling stories was just a natural extension.

3) Who is "Escapade Johnson" based on?

While all of my characters are fictional, most are originally based on one or two people I knew. Escapade is not, as many people ask me, based on myself.

He is based on my best friend from when I was in elementary school, a boy named Doug who, and this is not fictional, had a barbed wire collection. Expect to see that in a future book.

4) Why the "Coffee Shop of the Living Dead"? What prompted you to get into this domain?

I was waiting for my order at a local coffee shop one day watching the two elderly servers totter around as the lines got longer and longer. They were never on during the morning rush, but even at the late morning lull they couldn't keep up. The funny thing is that most of the people getting their coffee were fully aware that these two people would be serving them and that there would be a wait. It was all part of the show, and many people talked and joked with the two workers as they shuffled around.

5) How much of "Escapade Johnson" is really Michael Sullivan?

I am not Escapade, but I did put myself in the second book, though most people will have a very hard time picking out who I am until the very end of the book.

6) You seem to write for boys- do boys and girls have different reading preferences or styles?

While each kid is an individual, there are types of reading that appeal to more boys. Boys tend to respond to plot, to the action of the story, as well as humor and fantasy elements. They tend to be less interested in complex character development and descriptions of settings. Of course, different kids have different tastes, and the bottom line is everybody loves a great story.

7) What other books have you written?

I wrote a book called "Connecting Boys With Books" that talks about promoting reading to boys. It has sections on reading aloud to kids, using games and competition, and storytelling. I wrote a book for librarians called "The Fundamentals of Children's Services" as well. Plus, I have two more episodes written in the Escapade Johnson series, "Escapade Johnson and the Witches of Belknap County" and "Escapade Johnson and the Phantom of the Science Fair". Look for them over the next year.

8) Do you have a web site and where can our readers get a copy of Escapade Johnson and the Coffee Shop of the Living Dead?

Yes, there is more about me than you would ever want to know at www.talestoldtall.com. You can get my books online at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble, or you can visit my publisher at www.bigguybooks.com.

9) What question have I neglected to ask? 

You can send comments and questions about Escapade Johnson to my email at [email protected]. There is currently an argument going on between a group of girls who want to see Escapade fall in love with Melinda and a bunch of boys who want no part of that. You want to cast your vote while you still can.

Published March 29, 2007