No. In fact I’m rather critical of my own work and often wish I could do a bit more editing. That’s not to say I dislike my own work. The opposite is true.
I selected this image to suggest that even though I’ve loved every one of my pets through the years, I’ve loved other people’s pets as well. The relationship is different with your own pet. You know that animal intimately, just as an author knows her/his own work intimately. But it doesn’t prevent you from admiring the beauty, grace, humor, and style that is another’s.
(This question came to me from Ancillae Assumpta Academy in Wyncote, Pennsylvania)
karenhesseblog 
Hello Karen, first I want to say that you made me find a passion in reading once I found you book stowaway in my school library. You are my favorite author and once i did a presentation on stowaway my class instantly fell in love with your writing along with my teacher. My class and my teacher love you so much at a school in a small town in Rhode Island at our school called Chariho. If you see this I just want you to know I’m thankful for you and you are really good at what you do.
Matthew, I am thankful for you, your kind comment, your wonderful class,and your amazing teacher.
Hi Karen,
I was reading Letters from Rifka to my class before we had school cancelled due to Covid 19. Is it okay with you that I continue reading to them online? They have loved it so much so far, I’d like to continue reading aloud to them while they are at home.
Thanks,
Melissa Kampa Hagerty
Sorry. This somehow slipped through the cracks. I hope you went forward with your reading. Thank you so much for all you are doing in this difficult time. Your extraordinary efforts and that of your colleagues is so appreciated.
Dear Karen, I am an educator and theatre artist (of your generation) living in Upstate NY and have long enjoyed your work. I have an idea involving one of your books which I read to my daughter, as she struggled at age 8 to heal from chickenpox, that I would love to talk with you about. Is it possible to have an email exchange with you?
Thank you!
Nancy, thank you for writing. It’s good to hear from you and I love that one of my books helped an 8 year old through the misery of chickenpox. I don’t give out my personal email address. Could you tell us a little more about what you’re thinking. I’ll delete the comment from the site as soon as I’ve copied it so it doesn’t live here. Also, if you provide your phone number in the same comment my husband can get back to you.
Dear Karen,
I am a drama teacher and director in a little rural town outside of Charlottesville, VA in Nelson County. I have been teaching for 24 years and only just now read OUT OF THE DUST. AMAZING!!! I work with a Helen Hayes award winning playwright (Peter Coy), and we were hoping to discuss the possibility of writing a one act play, using your beautiful story. Our actors audition to be in the class that puts on a play each year in a play festival, and I can’t stop thinking about your story. If this is a possibility, I would love to talk to you! Even if you aren’t interested, I would love to hear from you. Thank you so much for the opportunity! Sincerely, Diana Driver
Dear Diana, Thank you for your wonderful comment. I’m delighted to know your response to OUT OF THE DUST and also to know how it has inspired you to think about how you might share the story more widely. I am very interested in your project (I participated in programs very similar to yours when I was in high school) but my publisher would be the one to talk to about your ideas. They are very generous at Scholastic and very responsive to requests like yours. Good luck and please let me know how it goes. All best wishes, Karen Hesse
Dear Karen Hesse,
I wanted to say how much I enjoyed your book Out Of The Dust, it is by far one of my favourites. After I had read your book I was wondering how I could contact you to say how much I enjoyed the story. When I finished the book it left me wondering if you would ever right a sequel to the book? I think in some ways people can relate to Billie Jo. I have read Out Of The Dust many times and it is one of my favourites.
Kind regards,
Kassandra
Thank you, Kassandra. Your kind words mean the world to me, though I’m sorry to say there are no plans for a sequel. I hope you will find other books, even among my titles, that will satisfy your wonderful reading habit. With all best wishes, Karen Hesse