3 Question Interview – ANN KOFFSKY

I am thrilled to feature my critique partner and amazing friend Ann Koffsky on the blog today! You can read my previous interviews with Ann here, here and here. Ann’s KAYLA AND KUGEL series is perfect for celebrating and learning more about the Jewish holidays, and for all year round too! The latest book, KAYLA AND KUGEL’S PLAYFUL PURIM, is absolutely adorable! Ann shares about stories . . . creativity . . . and connection. Welcome back, Ann!

  1. STORIES – Discuss the inspiration for your ideas and stories, and share the process about your latest projects.
 The first book of the Kayla and Kugel series came out back in 2015! Which is incredible. Which means I wrote it in 2013, when my daughter was just about 7 years old. It was inspired by my daughter setting up her tea set. Then putting away. Setting it up, putting it away. Again and again. And I thought: hmmm. Setting the table seems like it is great fun to this kid! Perhaps I should write a book that focuses on setting the table for Shabbat. And that became the first book, Kayla and Kugel.

Now the FIFTH book: Kayla and Kugel’s Playful Purim is out! And the sixth book, Kayla and Kugel’s Super Sweet Rosh Hashanah will be out this year too, in September.

  1. CREATIVITY — How do you showcase your creative side through writing/illustrating and other pursuits?  

This sounds so trite, but it really is social media. We all know all the terrible, horrible, no-good things that social media can do. But for me, social media is an opportunity to post my art and share it with my friends. One of my favorite things to post is a work in progress, and ask for feedback—it really gets people engaged with the process and makes what could be a solitary pursuit feel more communal.

  1. CONNECTION — How do you connect to your young readers through your writing/illustrating, and how do you stay connected to the KidLit community?  

School visits is huge. My kids are all grown-up now, so going to schools and spending time interacting with students of all different ages is the way I stay current and keep a sense of who they are and what interests them on the top of my mind.

 

ANN’S BIO:

Ann Diament Koffsky is the award-winning author and illustrator of more than 50 books for children, including Ping Pong Shabbat (Little Bee) Different Kinds of Minds with Temple Grandin (Philomel) and the Kayla and Kugel series (Apples and Honey Press).

CONNECT WITH ANN:

You can see more about her work here and you can sign up to receive her free coloring pages on substack here.

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