At-a-Glance
Latest book: Tyrannosaurus Math (coming July 09)
Lives in: The Valley
Used to be: "Marine recreational watch" radio reporter
Favorite restaurant: Yamashiro
Website: www.michellemarkel.com
My life keeps circling back to UCLA. I just finished teaching a writing class for Extension in Haines Hall, where I used to take French lit classes in the master’s program. Through the years I had several part-time jobs on campus – one of them led me to my future husband (who later went after a PhD from the Anthropology department.) My two children were born at the UCLA medical center (the whole family was once featured and photographed for one of their in-house publications). A few years ago I attended my older daughter’s graduation at Pauley Pavilion. Do I even have to mention the book signings in the quads at the L.A. Times Book Festival? If there was a Bruin cemetery, I’d probably be buried there.
In between the MA and the kids, I got a second bachelor’s degree in Journalism from CSUN (full disclosure: my first was from USC). While interning at the L.A. Times, my first articles were published.
I worked as a free-lance writer before selling my first children’s book. Since then I’ve written all over the genre, including fiction (Gracias Rose), non-fiction (Cornhusk, Silk & Wishbones: A Book of Dolls from Around the World), biography (Dreamer from the Village: The Story of Marc Chagall), creative non-fiction (Dream Town, about my hometown of Los Angeles), bilingual (The Shark that Taught Me English). I’m also grateful to have sold two picture books during this economic downturn: Brave Girl: Clara Lemlich and the Shirtwaist Makers Strike of 1909 (Balzer & Bray/Harper Collins), and The Amazing Jungles of Henri Rousseau (Eerdman’s).
SoCal Book Scene Exclusive (Mini) Interview:
SCBS: What did you do before you “officially” became an author?
MM: Lots of clerical work in my earlier years, more recently as a teacher. My quirkiest part-time job was doing the “marine recreational watch” on KNX radio while I was a student at USC. I got information from the various harbor masters and phoned in my spot once an hour. My fans thought I was being provocative with my low, breathy voice, but actually I was scared of being on the air. At first, anyway.
SCBS: How do you spend your weekends?
MM: The weekends are writing days like any other. When the muse splits (that is, if she showed up at all), I take a walk and think about what’s gone on between us. Sometimes I end up at the library. Then there’s always something to run out for at the store, maybe an ingredient or two for dinner. My husband likes to grill, or we might go out to eat. Finally it’s time to rip open the Netflix for an enigmatic film from Norway.
SCBS: What’s your favorite restaurant in Southern California?
MM: I live in the flats of the Valley, so when it comes to restaurants, I need serious atmosphere . It’s a three way tie between Chateau or Bar Marmont (for old and new Hollywood), Yamashiro (breathtaking views of glittering city lights) and Inn of the Seventh Ray (woodsy Topanga hideway, complete with ribbiting frog soundtrack in the spring). We have a family tradition of eating out on birthdays, but the rule is, someone has to sneak away from the table at some point to remind the waiter. If it’s your birthday, you have to pretend to be surprised when the waiter brings the cake and a sputtering candle. I highly recommend this ritual. Lots of my wishes have come true.
Available at your favorite local Southern California independent bookstore July 09:
