Christine wrote the poems WOLF GIRL, and REFLECTING ON MEDUSA.
Gnome & UnGnome Facts About Christine:
Though Christine Van Zandt would love to have wings–and maybe even a tail–she’s actually just a human who edits and writes books.
She lives with her family and various creatures (including a cat who thinks she’s a dragon!) in Los Angeles, California.
Absol’s Q&A with Christine:
Greetings Christine! It’s so lovely to have you as our LEGEND of the WEEK!
Let’s jump right in! If you could be any legendary creature, who or what would you be and why?
A garden fairy because they love nature and care for it. I would enjoy being able to fly, sip nectar from flowers, and sleep nestled under leaves.
Oh, that’s a nice answer. This also ties in nicely with your new (Feb 2024) book, MILKWEED for MONARCHS, illustrated by the incredible Alejandra Barajas!
Can you tell us a little about how you came to be a part of Gnomes & UnGnomes?
I found Audrey on 12×12. That led me to read and review FRIENDS AND ANEMONES. I found the call for this anthology when I visited The Writers’ Loft website and knew it was something I wanted to be part of because I loved the previous anthology, write poetry for kids, and am a fan of fantastical creatures.
I enjoyed your humorous take on the history of underpants in your cleverly named book, A BRIEF HISTORY of UNDERPANTS.
Thanks! Did you notice that the wheel on the cover of A BRIEF HISTORY OF UNDERPANTS spins to four different styles of underwear? The cute guy on the book cover is called Buttley Breeches.
National Underpants Day is August 5th. How do you celebrate?
Uhhh…I’ll have to get back to you on that.
How did you choose your poem topics? What drew you to Medusa, and the Werewolf Girl?
Medusa is one of my favorite creatures and I feel the need to tell her story because she’s misunderstood: seen as a monster when actually she was a victim. I’ve also enjoyed dressing up as her for Halloween though the wig full of snakes sure gets heavy after a while!
I chose a werewolf because lying in bed at night, listening to the coyotes howl, I wonder about werewolves and envision how people once came to believe in them.
These get the gnome seal of approval!
What’s great in your life right now that you want to share, personal or professional? Some wins?
I’m happy to announce my lyrical nonfiction picture book, MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS (Beaming Books, 2024) which follows one monarch’s journey from egg through metamorphosis. These amazing butterflies journey up to 3,000 miles from Canada through the US and into Mexico. After a drop to near extinction in 2020, the western monarch has been classified as an endangered species. We can help all monarchs by planting flowers for the butterflies and milkweed for the caterpillars–it’s the only food they can eat.
Incredible! Congrats! It sure sounds like an important book for our butterfly friends.
writersloftpress.com 