Rita Williams-Garcia is the bestselling author of picture books for young readers and novels for young adults and middle grade readers — including Clayton Byrd Goes Underground and her trilogy about the Gaither sisters (One Crazy Summer, PS Be Eleven, and Gone Crazy in Alabama). Many of her books are rooted in recent American history and all her stories brim with the authentic voices of young people. Her novels have received numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalist, Newbery Honor Book, and Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction.

In this interview, you’ll learn about the origins of One Crazy Summer, why Williams-Garcia always does deep research for her books, and what she does to push through writer’s block (it might surprise you!).