This is the first in a series of interviews this week with the childrens book authors who are coming to town next week as part of the annual Authors in April community event, which is sponsored by the Rochester Community Schools PTA Council.

When author Gennifer Choldenko visits students next week, she will try to instill in them a sense of determination to pursue the things they love, even though they may be difficult.

"This (writing) is my passion," said Choldenko, the Author in April chosen for fourth and fifth grade. "It was rocky to get published but I stuck with it.” 

Choldenko is a Newbery Honor winner for Al Capone Does My Shirts and also wrote the sequel, Al Capone Shines My Shoes. Both are novels set in the 1930s on Alcatrez, where character Moose Flanagan's father works as a prison guard.

She said she is in the process of putting the editorial finishing touches on her third book of the Al Capone series.

Life of a writing mom

Choldenko grew up in Southern California where she spent much of her time on horseback. 

“I was completely obsessed,” she said of horses.  

In fact several of her early, unpublished books were about horses.  

About the unsual spelling of her first name, she explained that she is the last of four children and although her parents hadn't intended a naming theme, one emerged. They found "G" names they liked for each of their first three children: Gwyneth, Greg and Gena. They were stumped when it came tim to name the fourth. So they took a name that clicked and made it work. 

Choldenko now lives with her husband, their daughter, Kai, who is nearly 12, their son, Ian, 17 and a German Shepard named Sophie. They live in the San Francisco Bay area.

Outside of writing, parenting and keeping the dog in shape, Choldenko enjoys reading and playing tennis.  She also loves art museums, where her family routinely lets her indulge for Mother’s Day.

Becoming a writer

Before beginning her career as a novelist, which seemed a daunting venture, Choldenko worked for “too many” years in advertising. The business she found difficult to pour her heart and soul into did, however, build the muscles she would need in her writing career. Advertising was a good learning environment for  Choldenko: she was required to meet deadlines, write every day and hone her copy skills.

Although she prefers to write in the morning or late afternoon with a large cappuccino, she said she switches her habits with each new book. 

The challenge, she said, is to keep a balance between the business side of marketing novels and the creative side of writing.  

Although she loves the Alcatraz theme, Choldenko has written a different book between each installment of the series to keep things fresh.

Choldenko said she considers her writing voice to be that of a 12-year-old, so her novels are geared to readers in the 10-13 age range.

While visiting students regularly, Choldenko enjoys the questions and answer period.  She recently asked the audience at a Berkeley school to describe the “perfect mom,” a subject from her latest book, No Passengers Beyond this Point.

The answer that stuck with her was from a student who replied “One that never belly-dances.”

The Authors In April program is intended to encourage reading, creative writing and appreciation of literature. The authors visit students in the elementary and middle schools next week; there is a community celebration and autograph session planned at the Rochester Hills Public Library from 4-6 p.m. May 4. For more about the program, visit www.authorsinapril.org