Woodchuck Attack! An interview with Dan Elish

Daphne and I recently read the furiously funny new middle-grade novel Attack of the Frozen Woodchucks, which is about (among other things) homemade rocket ships, space exploration, cotton candy, mute buttons, and of course, woodchucks. Really, it’s a whole lot of fun. After we were done reading, Daphne and I whipped up some questions for Woodchucks author Dan Elish (who also writes Broadway musicals! How awesome is that! I can’t stop using exclamation marks!!!), and he was nice enough to answer them for us. So read on for Dan’s thoughts on Roald Dahl, Java Chip ice cream, and of course, woodchucks.


Daphne: What inspired you to write Attack of the Frozen Woodchucks?

Dan: I started my career writing slightly over the top, Roald Dahlesque children's novels but had gotten away from writing that kind of book for a number of years. Fortunately, an editor at Harper Collins, Jill Santopolo, read one of my early books, The Worldwide Dessert Contest, and suggested that I try and come up with some sort of new zany novel. For some reason I thought of a deeply stupid inside joke I had with my brother during my college years. Don't ask me why, but we often referred to the sundry frozen woodchucks we kept in our freezers. I remembered that and got thinking about how I could use those woodchucks in a longer story. To my utter amazement, I guess I succeeded.

Lisa: Do any of the children in your life ever find their way into your stories? If so, how do they feel about that?

Dan: It wasn't intentional but most people simple assume that two and a half year old Imogene in The Attack of the Frozen Woodchucks is based on my daughter, Cassie. I suppose they're right. In the book, Imogene is a mechanical genius who rigs her stroller with motors and invents a Gameboy that can move objects through space. In real life, Cassie hasn't rigged her bike or scooter with an engine (she's almost five now) but she can sing most of the score of Singing in the Rain.

I haven't asked Cassie how she feels to be immortalized in my book, but I don't think she'd mind.

Daphne: Based on the planets in your book it seems like you have a sweet tooth -- what is your favorite kind of candy and why does it stand above all others?

Dan: I actually do have a sweet tooth, especially for mocha chip ice cream. It's something of an obsession. My favorite brand used to be Howard Johnson's mocha chip; now I go for Starbucks Java Chip. I like the stuff so much I only allow myself to buy it once every other week. When I get it home I have a serving or two then throw the rest out before I eat the entire quart. To be honest, I've been known to pour vinegar on the ice cream before I toss it away so I won't root through the trash, take it out again half melted and scarf the rest with my bare hands. It's a true sickness.

Lisa: What are your favorite places to travel to, both on our planet and off?

Dan: Well, my favorite on earth locale is Vermont because I went to summer camp and college there. I have lots of good memories and it's beautiful. My favorite place in the Universe to visit is definitely Grindlepick because their lemon cotton candy is good for my sinuses.


Lisa: My favorite character in the book is William H. Taft V, the great-great-great-great-nephew of the former president. Why did you chose to make him a descendent of Taft and not, say, Garfield or Monroe?

Dan: I'm actually something of a history buff – not in an obnoxious way, I hope. For instance, a friend of mine and I are trying to come up with stupid and creative nicknames for all of the presidents. When I was writing The Attack of the Frozen Woodchucks I thought it'd be fun to have Jimmy's best friend be related to an ex-president. Taft came to mind because 1) he got stuck in a bathtub and 2) he was president recently enough that it was somewhat conceivable that the boy William would know he was related to him and 3) because Taft was the first president I thought of when I had the idea.

Daphne: How long have you been writing, and how did you get into it?

Dan: I started writing in college where I majored in music and wrote two musicals. After graduating, I came to New York to make my name on Broadway. But a year or two out of school I re-read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on a whim and had this massive "Eureka!" moment. I thought, "I can do that!" I immediately started my first book, The Worldwide Dessert Contest. Of course, what I thought would take a few months to write ended up taking a year and a half. Fortunately, I was able to get the book published and my career veered away from theater toward books.

Daphne: Who are your favorite authors?

Dan: Hmmm…I have so many. But I prefer to mention favorite books because even some of my favorite writers have written books that I love and then some that don't thrill me. I suppose it makes sense that my favorite kids' books are in the same spirit of the books I try to write. So here's a short and very incomplete list: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Trumpet of the Swan, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Tuck Everlasting. I just read my daughter A Cricket in Times Square and loved it.

Many of my favorite "adult" books are set in New York City such as The Great Gatsby, Breakfast at Tiffanys, and The Catcher in the Rye. Two more NY books have a "kids" feel to them. First, there’s Time and Again by Jack Finney but my all time favorite novel is City Boy: The Adventures of Herbie Bookbinder. It's about a charming kid named Herbie who lives in the Bronx and convinces his parents to send him to summer camp because the girl he loves is going. It’s by Herman Wouk. Check it out.

Daphne: Tell us about the Thirteen project you've been working on.

Dan: In the spring of 2003 I managed to meet Jason Robert Brown. Many of you are probably wondering "who is Jason Robert Brown?" Well, he's one of today's best musical theater songwriters and I was a big fan of his work. In any case, I had heard that he wanted to write a musical that starred a whole bunch of "dancing teenagers." When we were introduced, I discovered that he was actually serious and we decided to write a show together – now called "13."

In brief the story: Evan Goldman has six weeks to go before he turns 13, and after an idyllic childhood in New York City, his parents divorce and he is transplanted to Appleton, Indiana with his mother. He has one mission: get all the cool kids in school to come to his Bar Mitzvah, or else spend the rest of his academic career banished to the land of the Geeks.

The show stars thirteen 13 year olds who play every part, as well as an onstage all teen band. "13" was produced at the Mark Taper Forum in the winter of 2007 and is slated to open on Broadway in the fall. I hope to see everyone there!


For more conversations with Dan, check out his very interesting visit to the Work-in-Progress blog, where he talks about the difference between writing for kids and writing for adults.

Thanks for visiting with us, Dan!

~lisa graff~