Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz's Comments
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Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 8:05pm EST
I loved writing about the real life princesses, and could be found emailing pictures of the latest Norwegian princess baby to friends late at night!

Another thing we love about the book is that it evens the playing fields. For those who feel like they never know the rules--of tetherball, or darts--or never know the song lyrics, it was great to put it all together where everyone can find them. There are so few things that unify us these days, and it might seem trivial, but sharing songs, and sharing games is really helpful, and pulls us together. When I was a camp counselor, it was the group singing that brought all the bunks together, no matter what was happening elswhere.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 8:00pm EST
Me too. I think there's much good out there.

Of course, then there's Gossip Girls! (Ugh).
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:59pm EST
Hi Elsie,

You're welcome, and good luck to her, and to you.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:58pm EST
We started by writing a long list of things we remembered--hopscotch, jump rope, chinese jump rope, and those sorts of things. But often we had to go and find old manuals and books, because it's been years, and we couldn't always remember the words and rules.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:56pm EST
On mean girls. I so agree with you, and it's really complex. On one level, people tell us that girls have always been mean, etc. But I think that we don't try hard enough. I think we give in to the stereotypes of girls, and that we let them be mean, and yes, that continues through adulthood. As women, we need to grab hold of this. We--and our girls--may be worried about scarcity, and as a result we constantly compete with each other. Girls compete over boys and appearance, as if worried that there is not enough attention to go around. And we women compete--and are mean with each other--about all sorts of things.

I hope we can move toward a different kind of womanhood, where we are more relaxed and more trusting, and in which we can be nicer. That sounds so pollyannish, I know, but I've been in groups of women who are wonderful to each other, and it makes a big difference. I have no easy answers to this one, but I agree with you, and I think it's important. Andi and I call The Daring Book for Girls the "anti-mean girls book," in the hope that if girls have more to do, and have more of an inner life and sense of self, as well as more interests, maybe they can relax, realize the world is a big place, and be nicer to themselves and each other.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:51pm EST
Animals--oh my gosh, no, we don't, although what a good idea (can I credit you?!) We had a horse chapter that had to be deleted for space issues, that might be brought back in the future.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:50pm EST
New book--not just yet, although we're getting ready! Sorry to be so coy about the whole thing, we'll announce it just as soon as we are able.

On getting an agent: Aren't there writers books that give suggestions for querying, writing cover letters, and that sort of thing. I always suggest that you read the acknowledgments of books you love, and see who the author thanks. Other than that, I met my agent at the beach, we were both playing with our kids in the water. True story, but it means I'm not the best source of information. Good luck, I know it can be hard, but believe in yourself, follow your instincts, and don't give up.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:45pm EST
We both are incredibly honored by the badge, and by their interest. It's amazing.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:44pm EST
Chris' last question was What's next? We're not yet ready to announce that, but if the stars align, there will be more Daring Girl books.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:40pm EST
No, it's not an official Girl Scout book, but we hear that the Girl Guides of Canada are creating a Daring Girl badge, and they've written a pamphlet, based on activities from the book. I think that some of the Girl Scout troops can be a nice alternative.

Thanks for liking the book. Our hearts have been warmed by the emails we get about girls and women who have been touched by it.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:31pm EST
The message is that girlhood can be great, and that it too short these days, and that girls become jaded all too young, and instead of all that, the stuff that everyone worries about, The Daring Book for Girls is an alternative. It's a whole other world in which you can be nine or twelve and not focus on your body or worry about your appearance, but find yourself awash in the fantastic stories of women pirates or inventors. It's a positive, earnest alternative to some of the worst of what's happening today, and a celebration of the best.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:27pm EST
The question about what inspired us to write the book. We've said that in part it was seeing the boys book. The other part is that we have daughters, ages 8 and 9, and we really started to get frustrated by what we saw, by all the pressures to grow up so fast, to worry about appearance. I started to get concerned that girls don't get to develop an inner life (it may be that boys don't either, but I know girls best because I have them at home), a set of passions.

Our girls do sports, which is great, but I started to wonder: where are their hobbies? what do they do that's akin to the stamp or coin collecting of our youth, something that is personal, that doesn't need a class, something that can inspire a journey? I met someone last summer who at a very young age became fascinated by a certain kind of antique, and the search for it. The book came out of a sense that knowing things is neat, and rewarding, and that knowing how to do things, whether crafts or carpentry or what have you, is important and feels good, too. That's another angle of the question of where the book came from: our sense that kids want to know and know how to do more things, but in a personal way.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:21pm EST
Just in from Andi: her daughter likes the chiton chapter because it contains a picture of her. And she really likes the chapter about favorite books.

(My daughter was the model for the picture of a girl climbing a tree!)
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:19pm EST
Daring Book for Parents. Yes! That's a wonderful idea, and someone should write it. What would we include?
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:19pm EST
I'm calling Andi to find out her daughter's favorites!

My daughter likes the chapters on the queens and the words to impress. We made the tree swing out back, and she likes that, she likes doing and redoing the knots on it. She enjoyed the clubhouse we made over the summer. And she likes sleepouts.

Also, I wrote about Abigail Adams because my (older) daughter did a report on her last year, in third grade!
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:15pm EST
There was a question about The Dangerous Book for Boys.

1. We were inspired by their book, and were glad to receive their permission to go ahead. We also share some incredible editors on both sides of the Atlantic, and a terrific publisher. When Andi and I saw their book, we thought: cool book, where's the book for girls, and when we learned there wasn't one, we jumped in.

2. We don't know what they think! We sent a copy to Conn Iggulden, thanking him, but we haven't yet been in touch, and rumor has it he's busy with a new baby in the family. We both look forward to meeting him, and his brothers.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:11pm EST
About 18 and 19 year olds: here's the thing, we didn't "write down." Someone asked me recently to do a workshop on "Writing Young Adult Literature" and I declined because although the book is for that age bracket, I know nothing about writing for young adults. We wrote real, adult prose, and from what we know, our girls (and those boys reading The Daring Book for Girls) are rising to it! I'd say, it depends on what they are like. There's a spirit to the book that is catchy, and I think it pushes away some of the alienation we and our kids can feel. Try it. And let me know.
Nov 28, 2007 | rating: 9.5 | comments: 106
Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz Nov 29, 2007, 7:08pm EST
Donna--good luck to your granddaughter! One of the pleasures of writing this book is hearing about and meeting such amazing girls.
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