1. What made you decide to become an author?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: When I was in second grade we had to write a story. Mine, called "My Brother Goo Goo" about my new brother who couldn't talk yet, earned an ‘A’ and at home they said, "Gloria's going to be a writer." Once I learned to read I was at the library every week taking out books, and began writing my own stories. In high school I joined the school newspaper and one exciting evening, when I was only 15, interviewed the president of the American magician's society. I majored in English in college and wanted to be a journalist but instead became a scriptwriter for the Navy Department working on films on rockets and torpedoes. It wasn't until my second son was born and I began reading pictures books to the boys that I turned to writing for children.

2. What's a typical workday like?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: I go to the computer right after breakfast, read and answer email, and then try to make progress on whatever book I'm writing. Sometimes the days are "research' days, meaning I might have to interview people or get information that will help me understand what I want to write about. Three to four hours a day at the computer is as much as I can take. Each day I review what I wrote the day before and then move on. I like to write a chapter a week. If I don't complete the chapter by Friday, I have to work Saturday. If I finish the chapter on Thursday, I have the choice of going out with friends, or starting the next chapter.

3. You said you do a lot of research before writing. Can you give any examples of unusual research for any of your books?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: Before writing The Enemy Has a Face I thought I'd write about Seeds of Peace, an organization that brings Israeli and Arab teens together for three weeks each summer to get to know each other. At first these children are enemies, afraid of each other, but as they exchange experiences, they become friends. It could be the answer to peace in the Middle East — understanding the other side's pains and problems.

However, I feared basing the story on the camp experiences could become a tract — with arguments back and forth about the Arab/Israeli issues, so I began thinking of some other way to get my point across. With the help of Seeds of Peace and others, I was put in touch by email with many Arab and Israeli teens who had attended the camp. They answered many of my questions about their lives and thoughts. I located the director of a Muslim middle school. She provided information about her religion and what is expected of Muslim children. A police officer I interviewed explained how Pasadena police deal with missing children.

Another example I like to tell is about Masada. In my story Simon tries to save his friend John who has been wounded by a Roman arrow. Well, I was stuck! How to save John? First, I went to the UCLA medical library in search of information about medical practices in the second century. At the end of a long day of searching I came upon a seven-volume book translated from Latin by a doctor called Paulus. He described what different arrows looked like. Now I knew what kind of arrow the Romans would have used — not barbed or loose so that the arrow remains in the body if the shaft is pulled out — but how would I save John? Inspiration! I checked the phone directory for thoracic [N.B., organs in the upper chest] surgeons and phoned the nearest one. The doctor returned my call that evening and for an hour explained what he would have done if he'd been a doctor in 72 A.D.

4. Why do you write mostly for young adults?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: My teen years are the most memorable of my growing up years. I also like young adults and feel I can help them deal with difficult problems through my books.

5. Do you rewrite much?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: Oh, yes! Before computers I used to bring a typical manuscript page from a book I had written to schools where I spoke. It was full of scotch-taped pieces, cross outs, and hand-written changes. When the page was almost unreadable I used to retype and even the clean typed sheet saw more revisions.

6. Where do you get the ideas for your books?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: I read the newspaper, listen to the news, read teen magazines, visit schools and ask students what they want me to write about. Secrets in the House of Delgado stoked my imagination after seeing an exhibit in San Diego's Museum of Man. It showed tombstones of Conversos living in New Mexico with the Star of David and the Cross on the stones. Who are these Conversos? I wondered. It led me into reading widely about Spain during the Inquisition. Creating Angelica, one of the important characters in the book, was great fun because she became me — as willful, obstinate, and curious as I am!

7. Do you have any advice for would-be authors?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: Yes! Keep a journal of thoughts, ideas, things that happen to you and other people, bits of dialogue. Write in it as often as you can. Find a group of others who like to write and meet regularly with, if possible, someone who has published, or a creative writing teacher. Read other people's stories aloud and critique each other in helpful ways. Let someone else read your story so that you can hear what you miss when you read it yourself.

8. What characteristics do writers need most?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: Curiosity. Don't be afraid of asking questions. When you meet your parents' friends, ask about their work. Read good books and see how an author creates conflict, sets scenes, etc. Determination. If you want to be a writer, stay with it; don't give up if your story is rejected. I had a student who wrote a book about kelp. She sent it out to 47 different publishers before someone bought it. Work. Apply your bottom to that seat until the words start coming out. Writing is hard, but so much fun when your characters begin taking over and telling YOU what they want to do.

9. Can you tell us one thing people may not know about you?

Gloria D. Miklowitz: Well, people may be interested to know that all four Miklowitzes have books in print. My husband (now deceased) authored two books on engineering mechanics as a professor at Caltech in Pasadena. Both sons are college professors with Paul, a philosopher, the author of a book on Hegel and Nietzsche, and David, a psychologist, the author of two books on bipolar disorders.

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