Meet the Tom Angleberger the talented author of “The Strange Case of The Origami Yoda.”
Here is a brief bio:
Tom is a hillbilly nerd, living in the Appalachians, calling square dances, watching kung-fu movies, juggling, reading Victorian novels, tubing, folding origami, writing and drawing.
WOTS: What was your road to publication?
TA: It ran straight through Hell. Twice. I’m still waiting to get some of those SASEs back from 2004!
But now, I’ve reached Heaven … also known as Amulet Books.
WOTS: Can you tell me a bit about your writing process? Do you plot or not?
TA: I like to let things stew. I’ll get an idea and just let it simmer for awhile. Maybe a month, maybe more. If I keep thinking about it and adding to it, it will eventually be ready.
My first book, Qwikpick, was the result of me realizing that two such stews could be combined into one.
WOTS: Are you working on any new projects that you can tell us about?
TA: Nobody knows this yet except my wife … I’ve written an semi-outline for Origami Yoda 3. It’s been stewing for a long time and I was ready to write down the basics. And I’ve got a ton of MSs at various places in the pipeline.
WOTS: Describe your studio or usual work space for us.
TA: I have a gigantic pile of junk in a room upstairs. A desk and chair can be found within. I am surrounded by Star Wars stuff and origami paper and old drawings, toys, books, robot parts, etc…
WOTS: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
TA: Sometimes I really wish I’d gone into advertising. It’s been a lifelong fascination of mine.
WOTS: What’s one thing that most people don’t know about you?
TA: I was on the college newspaper with Patton Oswalt, Dave Lasky and Cece Bell. Patton is now a Hollywood star. Dave is about to blow everyone away with his Carter Family graphic novel. Cece is a Candlewick author with 7 books out and more to come.
I married one of those 3.
WOTS: What was your inspiration for your book The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda?
TA: I was reading BoingBoing, one of the best Websites around, when I saw a picture of Fukiami Kawahata’s origami Yoda. It’s a masterpiece. I knew I could never fold it. So I tried to fold my own, super-simple one. When I was done, it fit on my finger like a puppet. From there the book wrote itself.
WOTS: Was it difficult coming up with a follow-up for Origami Yoda?
TA: No! The kids have made it very, very clear who they wanted to star in the book. And I wanted it too. And my editor helped inspire the plot.
WOTS: We here at Writing on the Sidewalk tend to procrastinate with our writing, where do you fit in Procrastinator or Proactive?
TA: In bewtween, I guess. When I know I’m ready to write, it’s just a matter of finding time to sit down and let it pour out. And when it’s revision time, I like to get it done as soon as possible.
“The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda” has been selected as a CYBILS finalist and an ALA Notable Read nominee, we wish you all the best. I will be sharing my book thoughts on this very fun book during my next turn to blog.
Tom’s latest book “Horton Halfpott” will be released in May. To find out more about Tom and his books or to learn how to fold an origami yoga be sure to check out http://www.origamiyoda.com or http://riddleburger.wordpress.com.
Suzanne Santillan
Writing on the Sidewalk
Writing on the sidewalk 
I did an interview with Tom Angleberger at ALA last June and you can see him in action if you go to abookandahug.com and click on Books Alive on the homepage. Scroll down through the authors there and find the ALA Redcarpet video. The wonderful Tom is in the lineup.
Just finished reading Horton Halfpott and thought it was one part Lemony Snicket, one part fairy tale and one part melodrama. Highly entertaining, imaginative and a hilarious read aloud.
Barb
Thanks for sharing Barb. I picked up an ARC copy of Horton Halfpott at ALA and I am looking forward to reading it.
Thanks for visiting our sidewalk.
Sue
[…] recently read THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA by Tom Angleberger (Who was kind enough to allow an author spotlight, thanks to my SBB). Although I haven’t heard it described as such, I see this book as a […]
hey can you make me a advanced origami yoda and darth paper
I could make you an advanced copy but I’m not very good at origami. You may want to checkout the Origami Yoda site to find directions.
http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/
Sue
Mr. Angleberger, my name is Jeannie Whetzel. I am a teacher at Gayle Middle School. I want to say that I was totally impressed by the time you took with the students and even this old teacher during your autograph session. My grandchildren love your books and are anxiously awaiting “The Secret of the Fortune Wookie”. However, I am really writing to thank you for your sensitivity towards autism.