What is your full name?
Natalie Kim Rompella
Where did you grow up?
In Waukegan, Illinois. It is a city north of Chicago.
When is your birthday?
Christmas Day. My name, Natalie, means “child of Christmas”
(Natale is Italian for Christmas).
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
I have a sister named Melanie, who is two years older than I am.
Did you always like to write?
On and off. In elementary school I usually entered the Young Authors Contest and got to go to the regional ceremonies.
What got you interested in writing?
When I was in college getting my master’s degree, I wrote a children’s book about chemistry. My professor said I should try to get it published.
Who are your favorite children's authors?
I like books by Jerry Spinelli, Linda Sue Park, and Wendy Mass.
What are your favorite books?
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Do you enjoy writing fiction or nonfiction better?
I enjoy both. I think I’ve learned so much from doing research for my books. I even got ideas for fiction books from nonfiction topics.
Where do you get ideas from?
Everywhere. I always carry paper and a pen with me in case I think of something interesting. In the car I talk into a little tape recorder when I get a new idea.
Where do you write?
Usually at my desk, although writing also includes getting ideas, which I often get while I am running, walking in the woods, or even once I’ve gone to bed. I also like to work at coffee houses for a change of scenery while working on my computer.
How often do you write?
I work on writing two hours a day, seven days a week. Most of this time is not spent actually writing though. It is spent coming up with ideas, editing, and making revisions.
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