Blog Archive - When I was 15 Interviews

“Own your self, own your history, own your body, own your life for what it is” Tamiko Nimura’s advice to her 15-year-old-self

April 19, 2017

Over the last ten years, our paths have crossed in so many places—yoga, the playground of our kids’ elementary school, cafés, and of course, the halls of the university where we both once worked. I always think that walking in the same circles is a good indicator of a kindred spirit.  At the same time, these serendipitous conversations with Tamiko Nimura are Way Too Short. So, I’m especially grateful that she agreed to participate in this interview, and gave me the chance to get to know her a bit better.

With so many similar interests—love of nature and family, literature, art, and music—I guess it really surprised me to see that her comments on PE are the ones that made...

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Over the last ten years, our paths have crossed in so many places—yoga, the playground of our kids’ elementary school, cafés, and of course, the halls of the university where we both once worked. I always think that walking in the same circles is a good indicator of a kindred spirit.  At the same time, these serendipitous conversations with Tamiko Nimura are Way Too Short. So, I’m especially grateful that she agreed to participate in this interview, and gave me the chance to get to know her a bit better.

With so many similar interests—love of nature and family, literature, art, and music—I guess it really surprised me to see that her comments on PE are the ones that made...

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“You are full of possibilities” Advice to his 15-year-old self from Author Jes Battis

April 3, 2017

One of the best things about getting my novel published? Meeting other authors.  I think as you read this powerful interview with Jes Battis, you’ll understand what I mean. What Jes says below is what every young adult needs to hear–and more than once.  

I met Jes a few weekends ago in Los Angeles at the Medieval Association of the Pacific’s annual conference. This year I was part of a panel on modernizing medieval works. Sitting alongside me at the table were Kim Zarins, author of Sometimes We Tell the Truth—a modern retelling of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales—and Jes Battis, author of the Parallel Parks and the Occult Special Investigator series.  I’ve never...

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One of the best things about getting my novel published? Meeting other authors.  I think as you read this powerful interview with Jes Battis, you’ll understand what I mean. What Jes says below is what every young adult needs to hear–and more than once.  

I met Jes a few weekends ago in Los Angeles at the Medieval Association of the Pacific’s annual conference. This year I was part of a panel on modernizing medieval works. Sitting alongside me at the table were Kim Zarins, author of Sometimes We Tell the Truth—a modern retelling of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales—and Jes Battis, author of the Parallel Parks and the Occult Special Investigator series.  I’ve never...

Read More

“You are full of possibilities” Advice to his 15-year-old self from Author Jes Battis

April 3, 2017

One of the best things about getting my novel published? Meeting other authors.  I think as you read this powerful interview with Jes Battis, you’ll understand what I mean. What Jes says below is what every young adult needs to hear–and more than once.  

I met Jes a few weekends ago in Los Angeles at the Medieval Association of the Pacific’s annual conference. This year I was part of a panel on modernizing medieval works. Sitting alongside me at the table were Kim Zarins, author of Sometimes We Tell the Truth—a modern retelling of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales—and Jes Battis, author of the Parallel Parks and the Occult Special Investigator series.  I’ve never...

Read More

One of the best things about getting my novel published? Meeting other authors.  I think as you read this powerful interview with Jes Battis, you’ll understand what I mean. What Jes says below is what every young adult needs to hear–and more than once.  

I met Jes a few weekends ago in Los Angeles at the Medieval Association of the Pacific’s annual conference. This year I was part of a panel on modernizing medieval works. Sitting alongside me at the table were Kim Zarins, author of Sometimes We Tell the Truth—a modern retelling of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales—and Jes Battis, author of the Parallel Parks and the Occult Special Investigator series.  I’ve never...

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‘Listen to yourself more than you listen to other people’ Advice to her 15-year-old self from Author Peg Cheng

February 10, 2017

I met Peg Cheng via email through a mutual writer friend, Tamiko Nimura.  Right after, I purchased her middle grade novel, The Contenders, on amazon.  I was hooked from page 11 by the clean writing and sweet father-daughter relationship.  A few weeks later, over coffee at Corina’s Bakery, I had the feeling I had known Peg forever. Our conversation ran everywhere.  Our stories towards our lives as writers merged in many places. I thought later how interesting and useful it would be to share with younger writers the twisted and uphill routes we take and make as we move forward in life.  So when I came up with an Author Q&A, When I was 15,...

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I met Peg Cheng via email through a mutual writer friend, Tamiko Nimura.  Right after, I purchased her middle grade novel, The Contenders, on amazon.  I was hooked from page 11 by the clean writing and sweet father-daughter relationship.  A few weeks later, over coffee at Corina’s Bakery, I had the feeling I had known Peg forever. Our conversation ran everywhere.  Our stories towards our lives as writers merged in many places. I thought later how interesting and useful it would be to share with younger writers the twisted and uphill routes we take and make as we move forward in life.  So when I came up with an Author Q&A, When I was 15,...

Read More