Q&A: Author inspired by young cicada
While sitting on her patio last spring, Marietta resident MaryAnn Sandstrom encountered a cicada, smaller than the others and missing the tip of its wing. The insect, one of the magicicadas that arrive every 17 years, kept returning to her and she eventually named it Cady.
Her bond with the little cicada eventually inspired Sandstrom to write and illustrate a children’s book, called “Cady Cicada Goes UP TOP.” The book tells the story of Cady coming above ground with the other cicadas and experiencing the wonders of the world.
Those interested in buying a copy can contact Sandstrom at cadycicada@gmail.com. Sandstrom said she’s also available to share the story at local schools.
Question: How long had you wanted to write a book? Was it a long-time goal?
Answer: Well, I’ve written several and with one went so far as to get it copyrighted but then decided it didn’t quite work…it was about my work at an addiction treatment center.
Q: How did this book come about?
A: This happened because I was telling people about this little cicada. My friend Mary O’Connor and her husband were here for lunch one day and I was telling her the story and there came Cady right then. I lifted her up on the table…Mary just kept telling me I should write a book.
Q: How long did it take you to write?
A: Not too long because it was pretty basic. I was having trouble finding someone to illustrate it with me.
I went to these Next Level trainings (in Columbus) and the first was discovery and the second was breakthrough and after the breakthrough one, I thought ‘I’m just going to for it.’ I’m a terrible artist but I thought ‘I can draw as well as a 4-year-old’ and this is for kids. I took it to Richardson’s Printing and they were teasing me about what they called my primitive folk art.
Q: How many did you have printed? Are you planning to have more printed?
A: I did 100 with Beck and Orr in Columbus and have about five not spoken for. If there is interest I will do another 100.
Q: What’s the message of the book? What do you hope people will get out of it?
A: The story is just kind of whimsical. I did a lot of research on cicadas and what happened (with Cady) was very unusual. So, No.1, it’s educational. It’s about the life cycle of a cicada and about how all of God’s creatures are different. They all have their own little personalities or whatever you want to call it.
One of the things that inspired me was when we had a little girl here and I showed her Cady and there were cicadas crawling all over. She just stomped one and it broke my heart. We don’t do that. Just because something is ugly or not familiar to us doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile.
Q: Do you plan to write another book?
A: Oh, gosh. I don’t know. Sometimes I think about it. I’ve got a little dog named Roo, a chihuahua, and I’ve thought of writing about Roo. She’s very funny.
Kate York conducted this interview.