Greetings Worthy readers!Welcome to another Take Notes blog post! This time I am thrilled to be interviewing more of my favorite book people this time stellar author Tania Del Rio and phenomenal artist Will Staehle!!
I will start with my favorite quote from the first two books of the Warren the 13th series:"Beauty is on the inside..
Warren the 13th and the All Seeing Eye is a brilliant story, a Mysterious fantasy for ages 7 and up full of magic, clues, codes, rhymes, riddles, songs and fantastical creatures of all kinds! Warren the 13th is a physically small, and seemingly ugly young boy who starts off full of doubt, shame, guilt and fear. As the story unfolds, Warrens bravery, wit, and moxie grows page by page. Warren is the 13th Warren in his family to work for a dazzling, baffling, and eerie, hotel. Warren the 13th allies with and befriends a diversity of hotel staff as remarkably original yet strangely relatable adventures ensue in order to save the hotel from evil forces! Magicians, sleuths, and children of all ages are sure to love the first book of the Warren the 13th series! But don't take my word for it! Open new lobby doors and enter the Warren hotel... we know you'll enjoy your stay!
I will continue with my elevator pitch review of the first two books in the Warren the 13th series, then I will go right into sharing the interview I recently visited with both of the Warren the 13th Creators/masterminds. First off an honest review of Warren the 13th and The All Seeing Eye the first book in the enchanting series: Now a quick and real review of book 2, Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods!
Soon after book one ends, Warren the 13th still works for his families legacy, a rapidly aging hotel. The now vehicular Warren hotel moves at a pitch perfect pace, as does book 2 in the Warren the 13th series. We join Warren and his band of misfit friends as they detour into the Malwoods. With a collection of new characters this magical mystery is once again made marvelously real through the words of Tania del Rio and the images of Will Staehle! A more than worthy sequel! Join the magical journey today!
Now for the interview!
1. In your own words Introduce your new book, Warren the 13th and the Whispering Wood, and how it differs from first book in series and what is the intended audience for the new book?
TANIA: Warren the 13th is the 12-year old manager of his family’s ancient hotel, set in the fictional world of Fauntleroy. In the first book, WARREN THE 13TH AND THE ALL-SEEING EYE, his hotel had fallen on some hard times under the careless eye of Warren’s ward, the lazy uncle Rupert. But after word of a hidden treasure called The All-Seeing Eye got out, suddenly strange guests from all over the globe flocked to the hotel to look for it - including some evil witches led by his Aunt Annaconda. Warren had to solve riddles to find the All-Seeing Eye before anyone else in order to save his hotel from ruin. Book 2, WARREN THE 13TH AND THE WHISPERING WOODS, Warren must venture into the dreaded Malwoods, a place filled with witches and strange creatures to search for his missing hotel and stop an mischievous doppleganger from taking control of his home. Book 2 is much more of an adventure and quest story, but like in the first book, Warren must solve riddles to save the day. The books are marketed towards a middle grade audience, but we’ve heard that many kids in elementary school have enjoyed it - as have adults!
WILL: I think Tania summed it up pretty well, but while Volume #2 is still full of mysteries and puzzles, it takes Warren on a bit more of a quest / adventure than in book one.
2. Explain how Warren was created? The primary influences on his character especially for the new book. Is Warren's character influenced by any real (living or dead) social justice / peacemaking icons?
TANIA: Will was the creator of Warren, so I’ll let him answer that. But as far as writing Warren’s character, I wouldn’t say he’s influenced by any actual person. But there is a bit of an influence of the character Cedric from “Little Lord Fauntleroy”, a 1886 children’s book where the main character had golden curls and a very virtuous, upstanding personality. That’s also where the name of Warren’s world comes from!
WILL: That’s a good question, and to be totally honest, I’m not sure! I actually woke up from a dream one morning and this image of this odd-looking bellhop with great hair was stuck in my mind. I grabbed a sketchbook next to my bed, and drew a quick sketch of him. For some reason, I “knew” that his name was Warren, and I jotted that down. I don’t recall now if the 13 was part of the original drawing now, or if that came into play a day or two later. After that initial creation, I did some mini comic pages of Warren the 13th for my comic illustration class in art school, and that’s how Warren was “born”!
3. Clearly there are plenty of Roald Dahl influence in your books. Explain how his books impacted your new book? What was the origin of your monsters?
WILL: The monsters and villains are some of the most fun to create, and to draw! Their inspirations are really from a wide-range of places. I’d say for me, the influences range from Roald Dahl, to old black and white monster movies, to 1980’s comics and from reading way too many reference books about ghost, monsters, myths, and legends during the few years that I was a major x-files fan!TANIA: Yes, I adore Roald Dahl’s works. I loved how dark and creepy they were, and yet how funny they could be at the same time. As a child reading them, the heroes of his stories were all ordinary enough for me to, but they had such extraordinary experiences! I also liked the roles the adults played in his books - some of them were downright awful! And yet, there was usually one adult who was caring and kind. This is what inspired me to write Mr.Friggs’ character. As for the monsters, a lot of that is informed by Will’s character designs. But as for the witches that populate the story, I definitely consider it a callback to Dahl’s book, THE WITCHES.
4. Explain the creative process for the creation of the mobile hotel?
TANIA: The mobile hotel was the result of a lot of brainstorming about what could be a fun reveal for the end of Book 1 that also fit in with the clues I wrote leading up to it. And it’s such a fun way to allow Warren to have adventures all over the world, while still staying connected to his family’s ancestral home. It’s also just a little bit steampunk, which fits in nicely with Warren’s pseudo-Victorian world. From a creepier, fairytale standpoint, it’s a little bit influenced by the home of the witch, Baba Yaga, which ran around on two chicken legs in Russian folklore. WILL: The hotel and its “unusual properties” wasn’t an immediate concept. It certainly took some time to figure out. I had some other initial ideas before coming up with that. After “the big secret” was crafted, then Tania and I had to go backwards and set up the series of clues that would lead to the eventual reveal.
5. What is the role of family in the new book?
TANIA: I think family plays several roles in the new book. Mainly, family represents home, history, and security. Warren’s current family is really a hodgepodge of different characters that have come together - they’re not related by blood. But Warren also has his ancestral family, which serves as a sort of reminder to Warren that he’s the steward of his family’s legacy, and that he has something to live up to, so in that sense family also represents responsibility. And yet, Warren is also reaching that age where he’s starting to gain more independence, and Book 2 is very much a solitary quest for him (despite the friends he meets along the way). And so he doesn’t have a family to rely on. Rather, his family is depending on him to save the hotel, and their lives!
WILL: I think Tania summed it up pretty well! I’d add that Warren ( despite his tender age of 12 ) has had a challenging life, in many ways because of a his lack of biological family. But his friends and extended family do their best to make up for those “missing pieces” of his life.
6. How would a personal advertisement for Warren read?
TANIA: A hardworking and trustworthy boy skilled with multiple tasks including: cleaning, carpentry, deliveries, light plumbing, gardening, cooking etc. etc. A winning personality and beautiful hair offset a unique and unusual appearance.
WILL: Ha! He’s a little young to be signing up for personal ads, but I’d have to say that the headline would read: “Great hair. Totally cares!” ; )
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| one of my favorite illustrations from Warren the 13th book 2 |
7. Why was our beloved apprentice Perfumier the chosen type of witch huntress? please write personal advertisement for Petula for us.
TANIA: I came up with the word “perfumier” to describe our brand of witch hunters because I liked how feminine it sounded, and I liked the visual of trapping witches in beautiful little perfume bottles. It all stemmed from some research Will did about a type of witch hunter called “witch smellers”, who root out evil by scent. An ad for Petula might read: Young progeny of the famous Perfumier Beatrice the Bold isn’t afraid to tackle difficult problems. No-nonsense personality, takes jobs seriously, and will stop evil in its tracks. Bonus portal making abilities, and ghost-like appearance add to sense of mystique.
WILL: Indeed. The origin came from an entry I had read about “Witch-smellers” who would search out evil with their keen sense of smell. Beatrice came into the Warren world a bit later on, but “Paleface” has been around since the very beginning. As a matter of fact, he was the first ever guest to check into The Warren hotel in my mini Warren comic that I wrote and drew in art school!
8. what is your definition of moxie as portrayed in your books? how does warren s
how moxie in the new book ? How does Petula show moxie in the new book?
TANIA: I love the word moxie! And yes, both Warren and Petula have their fair share of it. Basically, it’s perseverance in the face of adversity, and taking charge in a situation, rather than waiting around for a solution to arrive. Warren is more kind-hearted than Petula, so sometimes his definition of moxie stems from a desire to help others and make friends, such as when he meets Sir Sap in the book. Petula’s motivations are a little more self-serving. She really cares only about her immediate circle, and so her moxie is a little more in-your-face, such as when she faces off against the wig-witch in the Malwoods forest.
WILL: I think Tania summed it up!
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Warren the 13 and the Whispering Woods
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9. What are your favorite parts of the process of writing this book?
TANIA: Outlining is hard, and is probably my least favorite part of the process...but once a solid outline is in place, I have a fun time writing the story because I know exactly where it’s all headed. I love writing all the different and wacky personalities that enter Warren’s world. The character Sly in Book 2 was particularly fun to write.
WILL: It’s obviously a little different for me as Tania writes the final manuscript, but I enjoy being part of the creative process and helping to shape the series and the story with Tania and our talented editor / publisher Jason Rekulak.
10. Mimicking evil clone of Warren funny named Worren, why did you chose a mimicking imp as a key villain?
TANIA: Warren is such a good, sweet kid that I thought it would be fun to turn that on its head and see what an evil version of him would be like. I’ve always been drawn to the Jungian concept of the “shadow self” so it was fun to write Warren’s character.
WILL: I simply liked the idea as it was Warren the 13th, book #2, and thought the idea of introducing two Warren’s into the second volume was a bit of a fun play on words ; )
11. Impostor or mimic syndrome as a way of finding the true self, the true heart the true name is a crucial lesson for all readers of the new book. Explain how this lesson plays out in the book and how we can take this message into our daily life.
TANIA: One thing I believe strongly in is authenticity. But it can be challenging to be authentic because there’s always pressure to act or be a certain way, or hide your true self behind a mask. I try to write Warren as authentically as possible. He doesn’t deceive or try to change his personality or appearance to suit others. He just presents himself the way he is, whereas his mimic, Worrin, is the exact opposite, using a false identity and lying and deceiving almost everyone he meets. It’s through authenticity and honesty that Warren is able to face off against, and defeat, his villain, and I suppose if there was any message to take away from that, that would be it. By stripping away our masks and making ourselves vulnerable, we actually become stronger.
12. Why hide secret codes in the book? Why riddles?
TANIA: Secret codes and riddles are just fun! It’s as simple as that. I always enjoyed things like that in books I read growing up, and the world of Warren and his hotel really lends itself to some interesting mysteries and puzzles.
WILL: We’ve had so many kids and adults tell us how much they’ve loved the secret codes in the books. We’ve even had people email us asking for hints on how to solve certain codes!
13. What makes a book worthy of reading to each of you?
TANIA: Ultimately, I read to have a fun escape into another world. I’m not looking for lessons or anything deep - just something that will entertain me and move me. I want characters I can truly care about, and I like uplifting and hopeful stories as opposed to cynical or depressing stories. But I try to read a lot of different books in multiple genres, just to broaden my perspective.
WILL: I think it’s hard to say what makes a book “worthy” of a read. I think it’s good to keep in mind that someone or someones have worked very hard on pretty much every book out there. Each book is built from blood, sweat, and tears. You never know when you’ll find your next favorite book though, and I think that’s part of the excitement about reading for me. Finding the right book that speaks to you.
14. What would warren the 13th say to kids today?
TANIA: He would say “HI!” enthusiastically, and invite kids to stay at his hotel. He’d offer to give them an extensive tour, and then ask if they wanted to try a hand at the controls. I don’t think he’d offer any specific advice, he’d just want to make friends.
WILL: Agreed! He’d also tell them to enjoy their tasty breakfast options ( unlike Aunt Annaconda’s required breakfast porridge. Yuck! )
15. What would Petula tell readers today?
TANIA: I imagine she might say, “Put down those silly electronics and follow me to some REAL fun!” She would then lead them on a dangerous adventure, which might be over their heads, but she’d do her best to make sure they got home safe at the end of the day.
WILL: Ha! Well, I think she’d be too busy being off fighting evil witches to sit for a chat, but if kids wanted to join in, I’m sure she would be game!
16 What do you want the legacy of your series to be? Lasting lessons each of you want to empart?
TANIA: To be perfectly honest, I don’t write to teach lessons or offer advice. At the end of the day, I just want to create something fun and entertaining for kids (and adults!) to enjoy. It would be great if the series became a family classic, if kids grow up and read it to their own kids someday. I also love hearing stories of reluctant readers enjoying the series, because any time I can help a kid get into the joy of reading, I consider that to be the greatest accomplishment.
WILL: My goal, and hope is that people of all ages enjoy the books, and that the have a permanent home on their shelves for quite some time. I hope that readers love the books, but also appreciate the book as an object, and the care that was taken designing it and putting it together!
17. Any parting riddles? Parting thoughts?
TANIA: I love hearing from my readers, so please don’t be shy and feel to reach out to me on Twitter (@taniadelrio) or via snail mail, for which you can find the address on my website taniadelrio.com. Sometimes I’m so busy writing that it takes me a little while to reply, but I always do my best to respond to everyone who reaches out!
WILL: Hmmm… What has four legs, one foot, and one head? *answer below!We also wanted to say that it was such a pleasure to meet you in person in Drew, and get to share a meal! Thanks for being patient with us ( me ; ) on these answers, and for doing such great things for the kids section at Book inc! We hope to run into you again soon!
18. what's next for you two? Book 3.....????
TANIA: We’re currently working on the early stages of Book 3. We can’t say too much about it right now, but we can let readers in on a little secret. Hidden in the pages of Book 2 is a secret message that, once decoded, tells you what could happen in Book 3. The only hint I can give is: “Look in every chapter”. I know that sounds vague! But it’s actually very specific.
WILL: Get ready for a wild ride in Book #3! Plus we’ll be bringing back some characters from Vol. #1! It’s going to be fun, and we hope you join us! * A bed!
Thank you all so much for reading this! Thank you to my calling at Books Inc Kids!!
below are some fun links!
of course starting with the most important link
WARREN the 13th Official WEBSITE!!
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