Interview with Matthew Wittenberg

Published 2016-10-25.
What are you working on next?
Possibly another Buddies of the Sea book, focusing on Ollie the Octopus.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Working! Haha. Playing with my dog, watching TV, painting, drawing, etc.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
It was before I could actually write words, so I just drew the story. It was about a kind of dinosaur called a compsognathus, which was one of my favorites. I loved dinosaurs when I was a kid... actually, I still do!
Describe your desk
A mess!
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Chicago, and it certainly has, although my Buddies of the Sea book was more influenced by my experience of living in Savannah, GA. Most everything else I write takes place in Chicago.
When did you first start writing?
Before I could even technically write, I would "write" books with pictures. When I could write, I would fill notebooks with stories. It was incredibly annoying to my teachers in school...
What's the story behind your latest book?
I wanted to make something fun that would inspire kids to conserve the environment.
What is your writing process?
Usually, I make a flowchart that makes very little sense to anyone else who looks at it.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Mostly I don't have an agent.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
That "A-ha!" moment when you figure out an element that's been missing from your book.
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Books by This Author

The Great Turtle Rescue: Buddies of the Sea
Price: $4.99 USD. Language: American English. Published: October 25, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Nature & the Natural World / Environment
The whimsical tale of Shelly the Sea Turtle as she bands together with the buddies of the sea in an effort to save her baby turtles from the dangers of the modern world.