McElligott at GES
Young authors learn from a pro

GUILDERLAND — The 14 kids at the table in the back of the Guilderland Elementary School library looked more earnest than the author they admired. Matt McElligott fielded their questions last Thursday morning with wit and whimsy.

He was spending the bulk of his day at the school as part of its Young Authors celebration.

The kids took turns reading questions from their notebooks, and took copious notes on his answers.
"What’s your favorite author"" asked Elizabeth.
"That’s like saying, ‘What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream"’" replied McElligott. He did say he liked reading Daniel Pinkwater, and spelled his last name, upon request. "He writes very funny books for all different ages," said McElligott.
Similarly, when asked about his favorite book, McElligott said, "I have a bunch of books that I really like."
And, likewise, when asked who was his "big idol" when he was young, McElligott said he got support from many, and named his parents and his teachers.
And, when asked, "What’s the favorite part of your job"" McElligott answered, "I can’t pick one thing."
"What’s the most frustrating part of illustrating"" asked Courtney, and a specific answer followed.
"Illustrating is a lot slower than writing," said McElligott. "I can write a sentence and, bing, that thing happens." He said it takes him a month or two to write a story but six or seven months to illustrate it.

McElligott has used different kinds of drawings in his children’s books. The Truth About Cousin Ernie’s Head, in which a boy discovers old family arguments at Thanksgiving, is illustrated with acrylic paintings. Uncle Frank’s Pit, in which an eccentric uncle prolongs his visit by digging for treasure in the backyard, uses computer illustration.

And, McElligott’s latest book, Backbeard and the Birthday Suit, about a hairy pirate who gets fancy new clothes, is illustrated with a collage of wild fabrics his mother had collected for quilting.
McElligott said he often has friends pose for him and he is always looking at other books and pictures for ideas. He stressed, "Looking for ideas is different than copying."
"Do you always agree with your publisher"" asked Joey.
"No, no, not at all," came the swift reply. "The publisher is looking for what will sell."
He went on, though, to give an example of a publisher who said his book had too many words for a picture book. "I thought everything was necessary," said McElligott. "Now I think the book is stronger because it just has the important parts."
"What made you get started on your first book"" asked Rachel.

In the early 1990s, said McElligott, he was killing time in a bookstore, waiting for his wife, when he felt inspired to write one.
"Did you ever doubt a book you wrote and then it turned out to be a big success"" he was asked.
"I think I doubted all my books," McElligott replied. "You know that voice in your head"" he asked as several kids nodded. "It never goes away," he said.
"What does it feel like to be rejected"" asked a girl taking detailed notes.
"It’s tough, because, if you write a story and send it off to the publisher...you start to think, ‘Maybe it’s not very good,’" confided McElligott. "Uncle Frank was rejected six or seven times and it became one of my most popular books."