Interview with Laura Schaefer, Author of "The Teashop Girls"

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AN INTERVIEW WITH LAURA SCHAEFER

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As I announced yesterday, Tea Pages was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview Laura Schaefer, the author of "The Teashop Girls." (My review of "The Teashop Girls" is here.) We are thrilled to share what we hope to be just the first in an ongoing series of author interviews. I think you'll find Ms. Schaefer as amusing and endearing as the book she has created.

I also wanted to link you to a great article about Ms. Schaefer that is on the 77 Square website. (77 Square is an arts and entertainment guide for Madison, Wisconsin and its surrounding area.)

TEA: Hi, Laura. Thank you for agreeing to do an interview with the Tea Pages. We're honored that you took the time to talk to us. And congratulations on your debut novel. Although I understand it is not your first published book. Can you tell us a bit about your first book?

LS: My first book is called Man with Farm Seeks Woman with Tractor.
It is a compilation of personal and matrimonial ads from the 1700s through today. I had so much fun reading and compiling these unique advertisements, especially the ones from the Victorian Era. Despite the formal language, people's practical--and romantic!--sides shone through.

TEA: "The Teashop Girls" is a bit of a love letter to the city of Madison, Wisconsin. How did you develop your love for this part of the world? Did you grow up in Wisconsin?

LS: I grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and moved to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin in 1997. I have fallen in love with the city, which is located on an isthmus between two lakes. Aside from the natural beauty, I find the people here to be both cultured and kind. I also enjoy the amazing restaurants and rich history of activism. Madison is a very special place and I plan to spend my life here...though I do admit our winters can get veeeeery long.

TEA: How did you develop the concept for "The Teashop Girls"? Why did you choose to write a a book for 8 - 14 year olds?

LS: The concept occurred to me during the summer of 2005 when I was in an actual teashop. I wanted a place or an idea around which to center the lives of some unique and fun girls, similar to how babysitting formed the nexus of The Babysitter's Club books (which I adored when I was a tween). The more I thought about it, the better the idea seemed. A teashop is a community gathering place, which naturally lends itself to lots of stories.

I chose to write for 8-14 year olds because I am secretly still 13 years old, so it comes very naturally. I guess the cat is out of the bag now, though! Seriously, I just think it is a great age. Girls are starting to decide what sort of person they want to be and it's just a wonderful, enthusiastic time of life.

TEA: What do you hope that young readers gain from reading this book?

LS: I hope they try lots of different types of tea! I also hope they value the idea of taking some time to just sit and think, or visit with a valued friend or relative. We have to carefully guard our quiet time these days in an ever more rushed world. Finally, I hope they see that it is cool and charming to be passionate about what you believe in.

TEA: Is the Steeping Leaf based on a place you know or is it more of a composite of those independent type shops that you like to support? (I have read that you are a fierce advocate for independent small businesses.)

LS: The Steeping Leaf is a composite of many local businesses I love, among them the Tea Lounge in Brooklyn, Imperial Garden in Middleton, Manna Cafe in Madison, and Lazy Jane's (also in Madison).

TEA: I understand that you, like your character Annie, spent some time working in coffeeshops. Not an easy job. (I come from a family with much of that type of food service work - diner owners, waitstaff, bartenders...) What was your biggest lesson learned from that experience?

LS: Actually, to clarify, I work on my laptop writing in coffee and tea shops. But I can still speak to this, as I've done my share of restaurant shifts. In fact, this is why I dedicated The Teashop Girls to Imperial Garden, where I've worked on and off for the last nine years.

Many, many writers find themselves doing food service and I think it is a good thing. First of all, it connects you to a huge web of people and experiences and writers need material. Second, it gets you out of your head for a little while. I think physical work can be good for the soul, in the right dose. Finally, when you finally have a completed work to sell, all your "regulars" will buy it. Thank you, regulars!

TEA: I was struck by the novelty of including the tea advertisements in the book with Annie's handwritten commentary. Did you seek these advertisements out specifically for the book or are you a collector?

LS: I sought them specifically for the book with the help of my amazing editor Alexandra Penfold. But I will say that finding all of the ads for "Man With Farm" laid the groundwork for this part of Teashop. I love thinking about books like collages. It's just fun.

TEA: How did you learn about tea in the first place? Were you enamored immediately or was it a love you grew into?

LS: As a kid, tea was just that stuff in bags you drank when you had a sore throat. I didn't get in to it until after college, when I tried loose tea. A whole new world opened up. My friend Aimee and I went to high tea at several places including teany in NYC, and I thought, "This is awesome! Little yummy food!" Also, as I became interested in healthy living, I've learned a bit about herbals and worked tea into my lifestyle just because it is so good for you. Tea is a soothing habit that also happens to be very healthy. I love it.

TEA: What is the future of "The Teashop Girls"? Will we be seeing Annie and her friends again (please!)? What other projects do you have in the works?

LS: I'd like to write a sequel to The Teashop Girls in which Annie becomes involved in Madison's extraordinary farmer's market and learns more about the local food movement. At the moment, however, I'm working on a YA (Young Adult) novel about a girl named Frankie Sullivan who lives in Hollywood during its golden age and yearns to be a movie director.