Author Reply: Marci Peschke & Tuesday Mourning

Happy to report that both the author and illustrator of Drama Queen (see post here) replied to my emails. Tuesday Mourning said that the Kylie Jean series was "a treat" to work on. Marci Peschke said that the lessons about staying a good person and being beautiful on the inside to be beautiful on the outside "seeped in organically," and that "Being pretty inside and out is a lesson my mother taught me!" She also said that getting the books published is a dream come true!

Pretty cool overall. I really like when the authors write back.

"Pretty Is As Pretty Does": Marci Peschke & Tuesday Mourning

"Drama Queen" (Amazon) by Marci Peschke and illustrated by Tuesday Mourning is obviously for young children (Amazon says ages 4-8). However, I don't see why an adult wouldn't enjoy reading this book with their child. Yes, the plot is simplistic. It's about a young girl wants to be a beauty queen and has to deal with various obstacles. In this case, her obstacle is a mean new girl named Paula who wants the same part in a school play. However, there are a couple of scenes that parents would probably be more amused at than their child-a miscommunication about a dog being one of them.

When I first read the description of this book, I was a little on the fence about it. After all, do young girls need more beauty queen role models? However, the book contains an important lesson: In order to be pretty you have to act pretty. Occasionally Kylie struggles with this. However, she does her best, and I think that it sends a good message to young girls.

Luckily, both Marci Peschke and Tuesday Mourning have contact information! Here is what I wrote to Marci Peschke:
"I just read Drama Queen (I got a copy from netgalley.com) and I wanted to say that I enjoyed it, even though I am definitely not the target audience. I applaud your effort to teach girls that to be pretty they have to act pretty-a lesson many people seem to forget.

Good luck with your writing!"

And here's what I wrote to Tuesday Mourning:
"I just finished reading Drama Queen (I got a copy through netgalley.com) and I just wanted to let you know that your illustrations were very enjoyable. I really liked your art style, and I think it's the sort of thing that would appeal to both parents and their children.

Good luck with all your future projects!"

I hope two posts a day isn't too much... I have a lot of books to read and I read pretty fast so I don't see why not. The next post will probably be tomorrow and about Cloud of Ink by L.S. Klatt. See you then!