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IOBA Standard - VolII, no. 2
Note from the editor
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Interview with John Dunning | What's this Book Worth?
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Interview with Jill Morgan, Purple House Press
Len Kessler is the author of “Mr. Pine's Purple House”, currently
being republished in a new edition by Purple House Press.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, and your writing career? And what
books of yours have been published?
A: I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, went into the Army in 1942, and was assigned
to the 28
That first year I painted, Pearlstein had made contact with a producer at one
of the networks. They wanted to produce a show for young kids that would focus
on art…Phil and I would devote each episode to one aspect of drawing and
painting and there would be a guitar player strumming background music with
just our hands on screen, drawing and painting. I wrote a TV script for the
first three episodes. After six months, the network did not have the funding
to produce our educational program, and an art director friend suggested I turn
the script into a kid's book. The first publisher I gave it to sent me a
contract. The book was “What's In A Line?”, published in 1951 by
Young Scott Books, Wm. R. Scott Publishers.
2001…I have been making books for fifty years, and I have enjoyed every
day looking for that skinny six year old kid I used to be.
I've written and/or illustrated more than 200 books for eighteen different
publishers, including the Mr. Pine series, the Old Turtle series, “Is
There An (Elephant, Horse, Hippo, etc.) series, and have illustrated books for
other authors, also. Mr. Pine's Purple House was originally published by
Wonder Books, and now in 2000, a new edition for Purple House Press.
Q: Were you initially excited about or resistant to Jill's idea of republishing
your book?
A: One day last April I had two letters forwarded to me. One was from the
Author's Guild and one from Harper Collins Publishers. They were from Jill,
telling me about her work as a seller of out of print books, and how much she
loved Mr. Pine as a little three year old sitting on her Dad's lap. She wanted
to start a publishing company, and told me that Mr. Pine's Purple House was the
one of the first she wanted to publish, since she had loved it so much as a
child. My first reaction was to try to sell the idea to one of my two
publishers, but then I decided to call Jill. I was so impressed with her
sincerity and her absolute desire to be a publisher (and most important, her
love for the book) and I have always made decisions quickly and decide from my
gut feelings, so “Jill”, I said, “you can have the book”.
Then she asked “One more favor…could I name my publishing house
Purple House Press?”. “Of course”, I said, “and I will be
happy to design your logo.” Thus the purple turtle reading a book was
born.
Q: And how do you feel about the idea now, after seeing your book(s) in print
again?
A: It has been a rebirth for me…for my career…although I have never
really retired. How can one retire if one never had a regular nine to five
job? I have always been a free lancer. When we lived in Rockland County, New
York, one day little Greg (four years old) walked into the studio (always open
to neighborhood kids), saw me at the drawing board and asked “Mr. Kessler,
could I ask you a question…why don't you get a job or come out and play
with us?” “Greg” I said, “this is my job, I am making
books.” “Oh” he says, “that is a job…but can't you
still come out and play?”
And now I am back again at the drawing board, the word processor, the Mongol #2
pencil…such a joy…I can't wait to work each day. Thank you, Jill
Morgan!
Q: Without giving away any company secrets, has seeing your work in print again
gotten the creative juices flowing and gotten you writing more stories
(assuming that you haven't been writing all along)?
A: I guess I have never stopped writing. I am always thinking about stories
in my head. I have kept an idea box. Today there are still about 200 good
ideas, even after my wife, Ethel, and I sift through and discard some. I
figure if I do
two books a year that would take me to August, 2100. Right now I have three
new manuscripts in progress.
Q: What originally got you into writing children's stories in particular?
A: That TV script…the educational program that never was to be.
Q: Do you illustrate your own stories? If not, did you get a choice about who
did the illustrating? Did you take them to a publisher pre-illustrated
originally?
A: I was an art major…painter. I guess I wear two hats…author and
illustrator, and I love to wear both of them.
Q: Was it easy for you to get that first story published, when you started out?
A: I mentioned above that I gave the book to Young Scott Books. Here is the
real story. When I took the dummy to my friend, George Hornby, he told me that
the two publishers who might be interested in a concept book were Scott and
Knopf. I had no knowledge of how to submit my dummy, so one warm day in May,
1950, I walked into the offices of Wm. R. Scott Publisher with my little dummy
under my arm. I had a pencil attached to the jacket. I asked the receptionist
if I could see the editor. “Do you have an appointment? Do you have an
agent?” My answer was “What's an agent?” I can recall the look
of exasperation on the receptionist's face. At that moment, May Garelick, the
editor, came out of an editorial meeting; she looked at the dummy and was
fascinated with the pencil. I told her it was my book “What's In A
Line.” She looked at the dummy, looking through the pages quickly, and
said “Leave it.” “I can't”, I said, “I have to go up
to Knopf to see the editor.” May slowly took off her thick glasses,
looked me in the eyes and said slowly “Young man, if you walk into Knopf
without an appointment and ask to see the editor, they are on the 18
That summer Ethel and I were working at a children's summer camp and
on August 11
Q: Okay, now I'll put you on the spot--how is Jill to work with (big smile
here)?
A: Working with Jill is smooth and professional. It has been a real pleasure.
She has kept me informed on each step in the production of the book. We have
kept in contact by letters…proofs…email…telephone, and we enjoy
working together. The result is the lovely new edition of the intrepid Mr.
Pine and his Purple House. Four stars for Jill!
Q: Are you helping Jill in any way to get publicity for your stories and her
publishing company?
A: Mostly with ideas, but also a great story in the Sarasota Tribune, sending
out email to colleagues, alumni publications, and other periodicals. Also
sending an autographed poster for the book.
Email and mail interview by Shirley Bryant.
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