home and wrote a draft. If the voice is correct,
it should pour out of me.
being books that ultimately thread
an idea of developing the self for a
child. They’ve been coined self-help
books for kids, and
t hat”s beautiful, because if that
h elps someone, then great.
CC: Over the last few years you”ve
talked a lot of body image
and accepting oneself.
Have you thought about
writing for older kids to
address issues of self-esteem?
JLC: It’s really important that you understand
that these books, although
idea based, are not written
because I’m sitting there
thinking, “Hmm … I”m
going to write a book abo ut language.” It
really is born out of a creative impulse. And I
guess what I’ve learned is that my creative
idea is based in an emotional territory.
You’ll notice that I don’t write adventure
stories or imagination stories, per se. I write
something very deeply based in emotion. The
only criterion by which I judge it is, Does this
move me? Does it affect me? Does this connect to me?
Having said that, they’ve all ended up
CC: Many celebrities have
w ritten children”s books, but
y oursareamongthefewto
r eceive critical acclaim. What
d o you think sets them apart?
JLC: The tricky thing is, I
w as not that big of a celebrity
when I started writing 17
years ago. And when I wrote that book, I
really don”t believe that [publisher] who
bought it did so because I was such a big
celebrity that they would get some big publicity. I believe they bought it on the merit of the
manuscript.
It’s a weird idea that if someone is creative
they can’t be creative at something else. Why
wouldn’t someone be creative in other areas?
It was a creative impulse that came out of
me, and when it came out it moved me to
tears, and I thought, ‘Oh, there is something
here.” I never connected the dots that the
books would sell a lot, I never connected the
dots that they’d win awards and I never connected the dots that I’d become famous for
writing books.—Stephanie E. Ponder
The Costco Connection
Jamie Lee Curtis’ Big Words for Little People
is available at costco.com and in most warehouses. For a chance to win a signed copy,
see page 41. Some of her previous titles will
also be available in most Costco locations.
Listen
to This
By Shana Rawers,
Costco Assistant Book Buyer
As the days get shorter, family vacations
become fond memories
and children return grudgingly to school, it might
feel as if your brain has
been taking a summer
holiday of its own. For
the perfect mental pick-me-up this fall, why
not try a new audio book from Costco?
When we think of audio books, many of
us automatically think of fiction. The truth is,
nonfiction is another great option in audio
books, and Costco has
the best in brand-new
audio nonfiction to get
you started.
Instead of listening to
talk radio to and from
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work, why not try a
nonfiction audio book?
Nonfiction can be a
wonderful way to stay
on top of current events,
and audio books bring
it all to you commercial-
free! Just in time for
the election comes Bob
Woodward’s newest,
Untitled, which covers
the waning years of the
Bush administration and
the wars that define it.
Bestselling author James Patterson’s Against
Medical Advice tells the heartbreaking
real-life suspense story of one family’s battle
with Tourette’s syndrome. And the best-selling author of The World Is Flat, Thomas
Friedman, tackles global warming and the
energy crisis in Hot, Flat, and Crowded.
If you crave true
stories about your favorite celebrities, skip
the radio gossip and
pick up an audio CD of
Phillip Norman’s revealing biography, John
Lennon: The Life, or
Bill O’Reilly’s autobiography, A Bold Fresh
Piece of Humanity.
For a riveting glimpse
into the life of one of
the wealthiest men in
the world, listen to The Snowball: Warren
Buffet and the Business of Life.
Need a little inspiration during that morning
commute to get you through a long day
at work? Pastor Victoria
Osteen’s Love Your Life
might be just what you’re
looking for. Or try Dr. Phil’s
Real Life, which will lead
you through the seven
most difficult days of your life and into a
brighter future.
Audio books aren’t just
about great storytelling.
They’re also a great tool
for learning. Reading nonfiction might seem like a
chore for some of us, but
listening to it can be a great alternative. After
all, isn’t it about time you put that brain of
yours to work? ◆
PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN ALL LOCATIONS OR ON COSTCO.COM. ALL BOOK JACKETS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
