Author Karen Greenwald Presents: THE MUD ANGELS + A Chance to Win an AMA Zoom Visit

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Today I am thrilled to have a chance to share a wonderful non fiction picture historical book from author Karen Greenwald (illustrated by Olga Lee).

MUD_ANGELS_kmg

I had a chance to ask Karen about this story centered on the 1966 flood that engulfed the city of Florence and nearly destroyed it’s museum and library treasures.

How did you discover this amazing story?

I wanted a topic featuring a STEAM theme mixed with cultural issues and international
cooperation. I mentioned this to my cp/college roommate. She asked if I had ever heard about the
Arno flood of 1966. Surprisingly, I had not—but after reading a brief amount, it felt like this
story was almost waiting for me.

What was the research process like for a story set in the 1960’s in another country?

Well, unlike in my first book (A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR), I had the opportunity to interview a wide range of people in both the United States and Italy who had experienced it first-hand. This was my personal favorite part of my research process for this book. I formed beautiful friendships with many of the people I reached out to (another aspect I love about doing non-fiction research). Thanks to conversations and content from librarians, conservators, and people who experienced the flood as children, and my extensive interviews and interactions with true Mud Angels—the research almost felt multi-sensory…though, I’m so glad that I did not smell the mud! Everyone said it was unforgettably bad!

The illustrations are wonderful! Did you have any input into how the pictures were going to tell part of the MUD ANGELS story?

Olga Lee is so talented! I am incredibly grateful she was chosen to illustrate this book! I did  have some input concerning image content and details. I also submitted 15 “contact sheets” of pictures taken in Florence both during and after the flood. I know illustrators do their own research, but I had additional images not locatable elsewhere.

What surprised you most during the writing?

I chose to write this story lyrically because it just felt thematically correct. It is my favorite way to write and the way in which I formulate content. I don’t know that there was a surprise in the process—more like a comfort. I just felt engaged in “the moment” for the entire duration of writing the manuscript. The editing process felt almost like trimming a topiary!

What do you want readers to know and remember from this remarkable story of kindness and cooperation?

First, thank you so much for your support of it and for the phrasing of your question! I want
children and the adults who read with them to think about the power and promise of youth—how young people can change the world for the better. In the darkness of the basement, on the staircase leading out of the mud pit, in the streets filled with rubble, and in the homes and public spaces that had no running water, heat, or electricity, people found ways to work together peacefully. Again, young people showed heroism, kindness, selflessness, and the ability to unite and work together for a common good.

Any other thoughts or comments?

I think this book also points out something important but scary. We are living in an era where the number of floods is greatly increasing each year. I hope people will learn more about ways to protect our environment.

Karen is giving away a  20 min AMA Zoom visit to one lucky reader of this post. Just leave a comment below and one person’s name will be drawn at random and announced later this month.

www.karengreenwald.com  

karen greenwaldPB: A VOTE FOR SUSANNA, THE FIRST WOMAN MAYOR (Albert Whitman)Library of Congress: Great Reads from Great Places 2022Library of Congress: National Book Festival 20222022 Kansas Notable BookA Mighty Girl: 2021 BOOKS OF THE YEARWe Have Kids: The 20 Best Children’s Narrative Nonfiction Books About Women (2023)PB: THE MUD ANGELS: HOW STUDENTS SAVED THE CITY OF FLORENCE (2024)Winner, Gold international SCA Award Winner, Platinum international MEA Award 2023YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@karenmgreenwald

19 thoughts on “Author Karen Greenwald Presents: THE MUD ANGELS + A Chance to Win an AMA Zoom Visit”

  1. Glad to hear more about the story of the students’ work after the serious flooding in Florence. Thanks, Karen, for writing this book, and thanks, Darlene, for the post. Look forward to reading the book.

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    • Thank you so much, Robin! a cp/college roommate — my critique partner is one of my roommates from college. She is really honest and blunt with her comments, which is what you need, right?! Lol! First semester of law school I was in an 11 person study group. It didn’t work for me. Second semester, I teamed up with one friend and we both agreed it was a lot less chaos and a lot more helpful. So, instead of a large critique group, I’ve applied the same standard from law school!

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  3. So interesting to see which historical events become well known and which don’t–until a book like this is published. Thanks for writing and sharing.

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  5. This sounds like a book of the heart-and I love the description of this revision as trimming a topiary! That sounds a lot better than mine which tend to be more like wrangling cats, lol.

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