This is a transcript of live IM chat with author Tonya Bolden on July 17, 2007. 

Tonya_Bolden: Hello! Thanks for having me!

sewardsfolly: Hello

QueensTeensCentral: Greetings Tonya!!!

silia900: hi

krissy680: hi

Tonya_Bolden: Hello to you!

sewardsfolly: How much time did you spend researching for the books that you wrote?

Tonya_Bolden: I spend a lot of time researching. I've never done a count. But each book takes many, many, many hours of research.

QueensTeensCentral: What is the inspiration for your books?

Tonya_Bolden: Many of my books are inspired by my curiosity—or that of me when I was a child.

silia900: how many books have you written?

Tonya_Bolden: I have written more than twenty books. I have also edited a few.

silia900: do you enjoy writing?

Tonya_Bolden: Yes, I absolutely love writing. I have to remind myself of this on bad writing days, when for example, I know what I want to write but can't come up with an engaging way to write it

Chantell:  hello Ms. Bolden, What made you want to start writing?

Tonya_Bolden: I loved writing as a child. I was always writing poetry and short stories when I was young.

Chantell:  Do you travel alot?

Tonya_Bolden: I travel a fair amount for readings, programs, and book industry events.

von23: are any of your books based on real life experiences?

Tonya_Bolden: My novel Just Family is semi-autobiographical?

sewardsfolly: Out of all the people in your book Strong Men Keep Coming and The Stories of Ten African-American Woman who do you idolize the most?

Tonya_Bolden: That's a tough question! Let's say it depends on my mood.

chantal: what is your favorite thing to write about?

Tonya_Bolden: History is my passion.

chantal: what 's the hardest thing you have written about?

Tonya_Bolden: Whatever book I am currently working on is the hardest thing I've written. When I was working on my book on reconstruction, Cause, I thought I'll NEVER get through this. Then when I was working on my book MLK: Journey of a King, I thought the same thing. I am now working on a book about W.E.B. Du Bois and he is busting my brain!

chantal: Do you write about any kids in your books?

Tonya_Bolden: I often have children in my books. My book Tell All the Children Our Story is all about children.

von23: you wrote several biographies, did you meet these people personally?

Tonya_Bolden: I have personally met some people about whom I've written. One example is the writer Charles Johnson.

HarryG: ms.bolden if u had to go back to a period in time like somewhere in the past what would point in time would it be? and why?

Tonya_Bolden: Hmmm. I love the 19th century. I would love to go back and time and be a part of the abolitionist movement.

Chantell:  Have you ever been to Brazil? I heard it was nice.

Tonya_Bolden: I, too, have heard some wonderful things about Brazil. I haven't yet had a chance to go. Maybe one day.

QueensTeensCentral3: Is there a reason why you picked the number 33 for the things girls should know?

Tonya_Bolden: Actually my first editor on that book had the title in mind before she chose me to compile the pieces?

jasmine: do you like your job?

Tonya_Bolden: I love my work. I get to learn and pass on what I learn at the same time.

chantal: Do you have a favoite writer?

Tonya_Bolden: I don't have one favorite writer. I have many!—so many. They include Charles Johnson, Toni Cade Bambara, Anton Chekhov, August Wilson, James Baldwin, Maryse Conde, Flannery O'Connor. I could go on and on and on!

silia900: where do you get all the pictures in your books from?????????????

Tonya_Bolden: I usually get the pictures from historical societies and libraries.

QueensTeensCentral3: What do you wish someone would have told you when you were a girl?

Tonya_Bolden: Never thought about that. I'll try to get back to you.

silia900: do you prefer to read or wite books?

Tonya_Bolden: What a fun question. Can't choose. I know that because most of my books require so much research I'm always reading a lot of books. That means I do not do as much pleasure reading as I'd like to do. One day I'll take a long vacation and read all books I've been wanting to read over the past few years.

chantal: In your books do you write about music?

Tonya_Bolden: I often right about music and musicians.

Chantell:  Looking back on your books so far....is there anything you would add or change about your books?

Tonya_Bolden: Often, as soon as I get that first copy of a new book, I find where I could have phrased something better. The will to rewrite never ends.

Chantell:  When you are writing, what crowd of people are you addressing?

Tonya_Bolden: I usually just write to a smart, curious person who is the age that is the book's target age.

silia900 what gave you the idea to have your title be "TAKE-OFF"?

Tonya_Bolden: The title came from a 1940s ad for women musicians. I present this ad early on in the book. I came across the ad while doing research.

sewardsfolly: How do you come up with the titles for your books?

Tonya_Bolden: Sometimes my editor comes up with the title. Sometimes the book in a sense, tells me what to name it. For example if was after I wrote the chapter "Cause" in my book on Recontruction that I knew that had to be the title of the book. Sometimes the people in the sales and marketing division of the publisher has some input.

sewardsfolly: Are you a fan of Harry Potter?

Tonya_Bolden: I confess I have not read any of the books, but I have seen I think two of the movies. I enjoyed them.

chantal: Is writing the only thing u like to do?

Tonya_Bolden: I like doing jigsaw puzzles. I sometimes daydream of learning to play the cello. I have no idea where that comes from.

Chantell:  Were your english teachers any inspiration at all for you?

Tonya_Bolden: I am so grateful to so many teachers. I remember one who made us do long research papers too often. This was in 10th grade. I thought she was mean. When I went to college I was so grateful that she had been so demanding. It was great preparation.

Chantell:  Yes me too, i can identify.

sewardsfolly: Who was your favorite president?

Tonya_Bolden: I never thought of having a favorite president. If I could time travel I'd like to talk with FDR, JFK, and several others. Definitely Abraham Lincoln.

QueensTeensCentral4: can we ask what you are workig on now ir is it secret?

Tonya_Bolden: Right now I'm working on a biography of W.E.B. Du Bois.

QueensTeensCentral4: How many hours a week do you write?

Tonya_Bolden: I write eight days a week!

QueensTeensCentral4: How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?

Tonya_Bolden: I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was child. That is, I knew in my spirit. I didn't think I might be able to do it professionally until I was in my twenties.

silia900: what is your favorite movie?

Tonya_Bolden: OK. There's no one favorite movie. One is the Lion in Winter by James Goldman, for whom I worked when I was young.

Chantell:  Out of all the books you have written, which one did you enjoy writing the most?

Tonya_Bolden: I probably had the most fun writing Take-Off because I had challenged myself to write it mostly in the language and the beat of the Swing Era.

HarryG: When you write books do you escape from the world? like do you have your own private place to write, what are some of your writers habits? Do you listen to music while you write or is it distracting?

Tonya_Bolden: When I write, yes, I usually got to a different place, to world of the person or people about whom I'm writing. I try to put myself in their shoes.

jasmine: how many book have you written?

Tonya_Bolden: I have written more than twenty books. It could be thirty.

Chantell:  Whats your favorite childhood story?

Tonya_Bolden: I remember loving Dr. Seuss. Also the little --I think her name is Madeline. I remember being enchanted by The Borrowers. I probably need to reread it to see why.

QueensTeensCentral4: Did you use the library as a kid?

Tonya_Bolden: Yes, I used the library a lot when I was a child. It seems to me that today people can take out a lot more books than when I was a child.

Chantell:  Do you have any say in what you want the cover's of your books to be?

Tonya_Bolden: Usually I see what the designer has come up with for a cover. I suppose if I hated something it could be changed, but I loved what different designers have come up with.

QueensTeensCentral4: Are you reading anything right now?

Tonya_Bolden: All that I'm reading now are things from the mind of W.E.B. Du Bois because I'm writing a book on him. Truth be told some days I wish he hadn't written so much! He is one of the most amazing people who ever lived?

HarryG: Do you set limits for how many pages you want your book to be??

Tonya_Bolden: My editor and I usually have an idea as in this will be a 48 page book. Sometimes it changes.

QueensTeensCentral4: Do you think computers in the librqary is a good thing or a bad thing?

Tonya_Bolden: I think computers in libraries are blessings.

Summer Reading: Thanks for joining us today, Tonya. It has been a pleasure.

Tonya_Bolden: Thank you! This has been a first for me! Gave me lots to think about!

Summer Reading: We're glad you could join our chat today. Check summerreading.org again soon for upcoming events

Find out about Tonya Bolden and her books at www.tonyabolden.com