Tiny Treasury

The Friday Fifteen feature (what alliteration) is intended to introduce you to a host of authors and illustrators, from established writers and illustrators like Judy Roth, Sue Mongredien and Brian Biggs to those just breaking into the field. Today’s guest on Friday Fifteen is up and coming children’s book author, Chris Erb. I am sure that we’ll see more of him in the near future. Enjoy!

1. Where are you now?

At the office, at my real job, not doing my work.

2. What were your favorite books as a kid?

Well, I did the whole Encyclopedia Brown to Three Investigators to Hardy Boys thing, although the Three Investigators were my favorite. Our neighbor worked for a PVC pipe company, so we buried a large pipe as an entrance to our clubhouse as a sort of homage to them. We also bought a lot of used books, so I really liked Tom Swift and the Penrod books from Booth Tarkington.

3. What are you reading now?

Uh … well, I read a lot of books in German, and I’m currently reading Russendisko (Russian Disco) by Wladimir Kaminer. It’s a series of essays about the Russian expat community in Berlin by, of all things, a Russian expat.

4. Do you have kids?

Yep, three of the little buggers.

5. What projects are you working on now?

Well, I’ve been working on a series of travel books for the 2-4 year old crowd with our neighbor, who is an illustrator. The idea is to take kids through a city in search of something which is associated with that city (e.g., pretzels for Munich, Liberty Bell for Philadelphia). The first drafts are for European cities, so we may well end up trying to have it published by a European publisher.

6. What is your biggest writing or illustrating luxury?

Well, time, of which I have precious little.

7. Coffee or tea?

Coffee, black and strong, preferably espresso.

8. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).

John Coltrane (lots), Joe Pass, Lyle Lovett, Everclear, New Model Army

9. What would I be surprised to know about you?

That I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary to the US Air Force, and was slated to learn to be a pilot and parachute from an airplane. I hate flying - in any form - and I’m so not military.

10. What college did you attend (in what subject)?

Drexel University, Commerce and Engineering, a Business Administration degree for those with a bit of geek in them.

11. If you weren’t working with kids’ books, what would your dream job be?

That changes from time to time, but some variation on writer

12. What’s the best thing on TV right now?

The Daily Show, now that Arrested Development is gone, with Scrubs a close second.

13. How did you get your “big break” into the field?

I haven’t.

14. Which celeb would you want most to meet?

I’m not a big celebrity follower, and most of the ones I’d like to meet are dead, so … I guess Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert.

15. Who is the best book character EVER?

Since we’re on the kid theme, I’ll say Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes!