Congratulations on the release of THE INS & OUTS OF AIR.
Please tell us more about it.
About the book: The
respiratory system is busy 24 hours a day, while we are awake and asleep. In
fact, unless we are out of breath, we might not even know our lungs are on the
job. The rhymes and learning activities plus the terrific illustrations by
Eugene Ruble will help you learn the basics about how the respiratory system
works.
What was the inspiration for this book?
Bill: Good
question. By the way, thanks for
extending this interview opportunity.
As part of THE SUM OF OUR PARTS series, this particular book was
inspired literally by the huffing and puffing while doing everyday stuff. The series started out as a single book: “No
Bones About It” published in 2009. As it turns out, although hardly
planned, that first book formed the structural
foundation for the rest of the series.
So you could say the series has good bones and with Book Seven, it is
catching its breath.
What is your favorite moment from the book?
Bill: I’ll have to
think about this question because the books in the series don’t actually tell a
story. Also, if there is a Main
Character, it would be the Respiratory System which is the subject of the
book. That said, I do have a couple
favorite verses to share with you. You
may notice the strong leading syllable in each line and the staccato, rap feel
to the verses. When writing these kinds
of rhyming verses, pretty much the possibilities are endless, which makes it
both challenging and loads of fun.
Quickly, molecules of O2,
Crossing membranes
one-cell thick,
Find the blood cells they
must go to,
And which places they must
stick.
In reverse, CO2
oozes
From the blood cells as
they pass.
Through gas transfer, blood
then loses,
All its Carbon Dioxide
gas.
Respiration’s thus
repeated,
Each three seconds—day and
night.
When your O2’s been depleted,
Breathe and you will be all
right.
I love it! Thanks for sharing that. What a fun way to learn
about the body, Bill. Is this your first published book?
Bill: No. “The Ins
& Outs Of Air” is Book Seven in the series, which will eventually have ten
books covering most of the body’s major structures and systems, basically from
head to toes. Also, four of my fiction
stories have been published.
We’d love to hear more about you.
Overall, I’m just a normal person
with a slightly wacky view of words and how they fit together, although I
suppose there is a remote possibility that I am indeed a wacky person. I was a nomad for the first 38 years of my
life, moving around on five continents as a kid and later with my own
family. But for the last 28 years, I
have lived in the same house in Sacramento with my wife, Rita, of 44 years. We have two children and four grandchildren
split between California and South Carolina.
I’m an Air Force veteran, a Scout leader and a church Deacon. Some of my favorite things to do when I’m
not writing is running, backpacking in the High Sierra and sleeping on the
ground.
In addition to stories written in
rhyme, I also play around with humor and satire. I’m planning a trip to a local
fabric store to research my next humor fabrication. Then there’s that perpetual
novel waiting in the wings. Everything else has been a little this and a little
that.
Do you have any book signing events or book tours scheduled
for THE INS & OUTS OF AIR?
Bill: I have
developed a long-standing relationship with the K-8 school our grandson
attended when he was younger and with the Sacramento Public Library. I’m
working with the librarians at both places to do readings as part of their
on-going literacy programs. I also
donate my books to local schools and branch libraries.
How can our readers learn more about you and any upcoming THE
INS & OUTS OF AIR events?
Bill: I feature all
my published books on my website at http://www.billkirkwrites.com
where each book has its own book page.
I also have two blogs, one of which specifically features all the books
in THE SUM OF OUR PARTS series at http://billkirkwrites-tsoop.blogspot.com
.
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