Interview with Bonnie Pryor: Author of the Hannah Pritchard books

This excerpt and interview appeared in Baker & Taylor's October's CATS Meow.

Award-winning author Bonnie Pryor has written numerous picture books and novels for young readers. Bonnie’s latest historical fiction novels with Enslow Publishers are about the adventures of a teenaged pirate girl named Hannah Pritchard. Both Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution (978-0-7660-2851-7) and Pirate Hannah Prichard: Captured! (978-0-7660-3310-8) take place during the American Revolution.

In Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution, Hannah finds her family murdered by British red coats, Tories, and Iroquois Indians. Searching for revenge and adventure, Hannah hides her identity to work aboard The Sea Hawk (an American privateer ship) as a cabin boy. In Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured!, The Sea Hawk is attacked and destroyed by the British. Hannah and her friends escape with the Sea Hawk’s treasure but are later captured by the British and face brutal conditions as prisoners.

These fast-paced, adventure stories are hard to put down. Both Hannah Pritchard: Pirate of the Revolution and Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured! bring history to life for readers ages 9 and up.

And now, a question and answer session with author Bonnie Pryor:

Q1. What was the inspiration behind the Hannah Pritchard series?

An editor at Enslow read one of my historical novels and asked me to write a book about a female pirate. After some research I learned that there were probably women aboard some of the privateer ships. By setting the story during the Revolutionary War, I was able to bring in the historical figures Paul Revere and John Paul Jones as well as information about the little known terrible prison ships.

Q2. How did you approach writing these titles? How do you incorporate nonfiction with a fictional story?

I did about two months of research before starting to write. Then I went through my notes to bring historical events that would work in the fictional story that was growing in my head. I especially looked for details that kids would find interesting (like using the bathroom).


Q3. How did you create each of the characters in the Hannah Pritchard series?

That is a hard question. I suppose that is why I am a writer. I have all of these characters in my head waiting for me to write them a story. By the time I start to write they are almost like real people to me.

Q4. What is your favorite part of the Hannah Pritchard series?


There is a battle in the second book Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured! that was fun to write. Then when Hannah and her friends escape the sinking Sea Hawk in the small ship’s boat Hannah insists on taking the ship’s cat and a goat.


Q5. How did you begin your writing career?

I wrote a few magazine articles in the early 80’s before I realized that what I really wanted to do was to write for children. My first book was published in 1985. I have written 40 books, both picture books and novels. I’ve written family stories, mysteries, even science fiction, but my favorites are the historical.

Q6. What made you decide to write for children?

I love books, but especially children’s books. When I was a little girl, you know, the days before X-box and cable television, I discovered reading as a way to escape into other worlds and have crazy adventures. When I had children of my own I used to go to the library and get stacks of books to read to them. I could never wait, though, I always had to sit down and read them first.

Q7. What do you do when you are not writing?

I own a children’s bookstore so I’m often there. I really enjoy matching the children that come in with just the right book.

Q8. Will there be a Hannah Pritchard part 3?

Oh, I think so; in Pirate Hannah Pritchard: Captured! Hannah and her crew buried a chest of Spanish coins on the Outer Banks. She will probably have to go back to retrieve it……

To learn more about these books, please visit Enslow's website.