Voyage of the Sea Wolf (Pirate Captain's Daughter)

Q&A with Eve Bunting, Author of The Voyage of the Sea Wolf

I'm a writer of books for children and young people... all the way from preschool to young adult. Someone said once that if you love your work it isn't work, and that person was right.
--Eve Bunting

Q: Have you always wanted to be a writer?

A: I have always loved to write. When I was in school, a long time ago, I would offer to do essay homework for my friends just for the fun of it. They thought me a bit crazy but I didn't care.

Q: Why did you write a book about pirates?

A: I have also loved pirates forever, it seems. My father used to read to me and one of our favorite novels was Treasure Island. Maybe that was the start of it for me. Writing and pirates! They go so well together!

Q: Did you have to do a lot of research or were you already familiar with the subject?

A: I did quite a lot of research when I was writing The Voyage of the Sea Wolf and the pirate book before it, The Pirate Captain's Daughter. But I didn't need to go to the library or to the internet to check my remembered facts. I have jillions of pirate books in my own library. When a new pirate book comes out... I have to have it. The needed research was there on my shelves. And I had an excuse to read all those beloved stories over again!

Q: Why did you decide to make it a series?

A: Actually, when I had completed The Pirate Captain's Daughter my editor at Sleeping Bear Press asked me if I would like to do a sequel. "YES!" I said. And pretty soon I am going to be doing an Alphabet Book for Sleeping Bear Press as well. Can you guess what that Alphabet Book will be about? You guessed right: pirates, from A to Z.

Q: What advice would you give a young writer?

A: If you want to be a writer I would suggest you read a lot, especially about something that really interests you. Then, think about what you could write on that subject. Try to be different. Let your enthusiasm shine through. Be excited. Have fun. I do!