Michael Uslan

Michael Uslan is the executive producer of the critically acclaimed children's television hit, "Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?" and the blockbuster hit, "Batman Begins".

Book Description: A funny, spirited, and heart-felt bird's tale about a lonely child who comes out of her shell when a very near-sighted, talking parakeet swoops into her life. Told in Dr. Seuss-style rhyme, this story of a girl and her bird shows how very special the relationship between a pet and a child can be. As a special bonus, this book includes an audio CD reading o f the story, along with two special songs, read and sung by actress Brittany Murphy. Printed on premium paper and encased in a matte dust-jacket, the Chatterbox features watercolor and ink illustrations from renowned children's book artist John Steven Gurney.Publisher: ee publishing & productions, inc. (December 1, 2005) Language: English ISBN: 0975384325

 

Pageonelit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life?

Michael E. Uslan: I grew up in New Jersey. I was an avid reader of comic books, magazines, newspapers, and books since I was small. I actually amassed a comic book collection of over 50,000 comic books dating back to 1936, and recently donated over 35,000 to Indiana University's Lilly Library of rare books and manuscripts.

My seventh and eighth grade English teachers, Mrs. Elinor Stiller and Mrs. Rita Friedman uncovered a creative writing ability within me and nurtured it, encouraging me every step of the way to develop my ability to the fullest.

 

Pageonelit.com: Who were your earliest influences and why?

Michael E. Uslan: In the world of children's books, my favorites growing up were the Dr. Seuss books, the Winnie-the-Pooh books, Curious George and The Boxcar Children. I'd put Dr. Seuss and A.A. Milne at the top of my list of influences. In the world of comic strips and comic books, my favorites/influences would include Charles Schultz ("Peanuts"), Hank Ketcham ("Dennis the Menace"), Marge Buell and John Stanley ("Little Lulu"), Bob Bolling ("Little Archie"), and Bob White ("Cosmo the Merry Martian").

 

Pageonelit.com: What is it about the children's genre you enjoy and why? Is
"CHATTERBOX- The Bird Who Wore Glasses" your first book?

Michael E. Uslan: From my earliest days as a camp counselor telling my 4-6 year old boys stories, I've always enjoyed being a raconteur for the young. My comic book work previously opened the door to doing so on a world-wide basis, and even the animated television series I created came from a series of bedtime
stories I told my son, David. "CHATTERBOX" is, indeed, my first children's book, and I'm having the best time with it!

 

Pageonelit.com: What makes "CHATTERBOX - The Bird Who Wore Glasses" different from others in the children's genre? Why should someone buy "CHATTERBOX - The Bird Who Wore Glasses" right now!

Michael E. Uslan: Amazingly, as popular as parakeets are as pets, no one hasmade one the star of a children's book. I also like the way the book evokes Dr. Seuss without being derivative. The book is designed to be fun for kids, yet with some powerful themes woven in which will hopefully make it an emotionally impactful reading experience for the parents.

 

Pageonelit.com: "CHATTERBOX - The Bird Who Wore Glasses" has a message of "A child coming out of shell" - What were you like as a child?

Michael E. Uslan: Rather than reflecting my childhood, this book echoes some of the trials and tribulations my daughter, Sarah, encountered in middle school when many of the other girls were terribly mean to her and others. They lowered her self-esteem and her self-confidence. One part of the solution for her was a
pet and this book also delves into the deep satisfaction and responsibility of having one's first pet.

 

Pageonelit.com: Do you remember the first book you read as a child and how as that book (if it has) stuck with you through the years?

Michael E. Uslan: My Mom told me that when I was just shy of my fourth birthday, I learned to read from a "Howdy Doody" Golden Book. To this day, I can remember the pictures and the excitement of that first book. I read it so much that only shreds remain today.

 

Pageonelit.com: "CHATTERBOX - The Bird Who Wore Glasses" is well written, funny and the art work is absolutely amazing! Please comment on the artist and illustrations and how you worked together?

Michael E. Uslan: I had a choice of a dozen artists and there never really was a choice once I saw the work of John Gurney. He evokes a classic Disney feel though his style is very contemporary and kinetic. He can convey a powerful range of emotions with his drawings and draws about the CUTEST bird I have ever seen in a children's book, a comic book, or a cartoon.

 

Pageonelit.com: What do you hope to achieve with "CHATTERBOX - The Bird Who Wore Glasses"? What do you hope readers will take away after reading "CHATTERBOX - The Bird Who Wore Glasses"?

Michael E. Uslan: I hope that children who read this book have such great fun with it! It's meant to entertain them....(but...Shhh! Don't tell them this: they may just come away feeling better about themselves and feeling a stronger sense of caring for a pet.)

 

Pageonelit.com: In "CHATTERBOX - The Bird Who Wore Glasses" you write, "Fulfilling and fun-filled will life be for me, Alongside C.B. who wears glasses to see!" Is rhyming while telling a story difficult? It obviously takes a special talent -- Did this story just roll from your pen or was there blocks as any writer encounters?

Michael E. Uslan: My goal with the rhyming was to evoke Dr. Seuss without seeming derivative. But I really did have a story to tell that was rooted in the real life tale of my wife, Nancy, with her pet parakeet, Chatterbox, who could never fly straight. I actually wrote the book the night Chatterbox died and Nancy was despondent. I wanted to capture all the little details of their relationship and the funny things C.B. did before they would fly from my memory. And I wanted to give this to Nancy as a gift the next morning to help her feel better. It worked. But the book wrote itself.

 

Pageonelit.com: What has been your feedback from readers?

Michael E. Uslan: I love hearing these two comments over and over from adults who read it: "It reminded me of Dr. Seuss " and "It made me laugh. It made me cry. And it made me laugh again."

From kids, I love how they laugh at the pictures and want to meet Chatterbox when they finish the book.

 

Pageonelit.com: What's next?

Michael E. Uslan: The sequel is next. CHATTERBOX: CATS DON'T MAKE PASSES AT BIRDS WHO WEAR GLASSES. This is the continuing story of Nan's pudgie budgie who falls in love with the family cat.

 

Pageonelit.com: What was the last book you read?

Michael E. Uslan: THE COMPLETE PEANUTS, VOLUME 3; THE COMPLETE DENNIS THE MENACE, VOLUME 1; LITTLE LULU, VOLUME 6; 1776; ALEXANDER HAMILTON (can you tell I'm also a history buff?).

 

Pageonelit.com: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

Michael E. Uslan: I'm an avid comic book collector and historian. Comics have always fed my imagination Recently, I wrote my first hardback graphic novel, BATMAN: DETECTIVE #27, which combines my love of comic books and the character of Batman with my interest in history. Like THE ALIENIST or CARTER BEATS THE DEVIL, the book deals with a fictional character (Batman) involved with real people in real events in history. The plot begins the night of Lincoln's assassination and culminates at The New York World's Fair of 1939.