Tracy Searight Dibert is a graduate of
Indiana
University of Pennsylvania. She is a teacher at Greater
Works Christian Academy in Monroevill, Pa. She lives in
Pennylvnaia with her husband Kevin and her four children.
Her next book is The Sister That Won't Stop Talking.
http://www.detectivepancake.com/
PageOneLit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of
your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: I grew up in Munhall, Pennsylvania. Reading and
writing began when I was in high school. I took my first writing class
there. The first story I ever wrote I was sixteen years old. I worked at an
amusement park called Kennywood Park. I worked at the fishpond with a woman
name Helen. Helen had worked at the fishpond for over 20 years. I wrote the
story Helen and the fishpond for her. My earliest influence was in college
when I attended Dr. Barbara Kupetz's children's literature course. She
inspired me to have a love of teaching, books and writing. After her course
I knew I wanted to write a book one day. I have collected over 1,000
children's books since her class.
PageOneLit.com: Why do you write?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: I write because I enjoy the whole process of
developing an idea and a character. When I am teaching the students and I
create alot of things and they end up being really funny. It is great when
we can write our thoughts down on paper.
PageoneLit.com: Briefly discuss your new book DETECTIVE PANCAKE. Where did
the idea come from?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: Detective Pancake is about a boy that wakes up one
morning and his breakfast is missing! I wrote this story eight years ago. My
son had slept in very late and missed breakfast. We had told him that it was
stolen. Over the years the story has changed and evolved.
PageOneLit.com: DETECTIVE PANCAKE is very entertaining for adults - was it
for children and adults to enjoy? Explain.
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: Detective Pancake is for anyone that wants to read
it. I orignally wrote it for my children and students but I get alot of
compliments from adults that is important because they are the ones buying
the books.
PageOneLit.com: DETECTIVE PANCAKE's illustrations are GREAT! Who was the
illustrator and how did you two work together? Lowell Hildebrandt is
terrific.
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: I sent in pictures to authorhouse and wrote
descriptions and he drew them exactly. I would write an email telling
exactly how I pictured the scene in my head and he just went with it. My
son, daughter and husband are in the book and Lowell really did a great job.
He is a talented artist.
PageOneLit.com: If Hollywood called today and asked you to cast the voices
for a DETECTIVE PANCAKE cartoon/animation , who would you cast and why?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: If Hollywood came calling for Detective Pancake , I
would voices that were familar to children. I would call on the artists at
Disney. Jusin Bieber for Detective Pancake, Selna Gomez for Jenny and Drake
Bell for Michael.
PageOneLit.com: What do you hope to achieve with DETECTIVE PANCAKE?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: I hope to acheive with Detective Pancake the
opportunity to write more books and to get picked up by a publishing house
one day. I have alot of great ideas and stories. I also have a chapter book
that I am called The sticky misadventures of Detective Pancake. I am hoping
that will get picked up.
PageOneLit.com: What was the last book you read?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: Joel Osteen Your best life now.
PageOneLit.com: What's next?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: My book The Sister that won't stop talking will be
out next month.
PageOneLit.com: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance
your writing?
Tracy Searlight-Dibert: My hobbies are teaching and writing. My writing is
enchanced by my teaching because it allows me to be around children and to
see and hear what appeals to them. I can try out my stories and ideas on
them and they are my best audience.
