Reading Rockets offers reading comprehension and language arts teaching strategies for kids, and is a free web site for parents and educators
star1 star2 star3

Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in working with struggling readers who require additional help in reading fundamentals and comprehension skills development.

You are here: > Books and Authors > Video Interviews > Laurence Yep
A video interview with

Laurence Yep

Laurence Yep

Laurence Yep writes books that draw from his Chinese American background yet speak to common feelings and experiences. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Laurence Yep discusses his love for his work and the gratification of writing stories.

Click on the links below§ to watch this interview online, or read the interview transcript. You can also read a short biography of Laurence Yep or see a selected list of his children's books.

Download this video from:

For more information and options, please see the Podcasts & Videos section.

View online

  • Adapting to different realities (1:40)

    As a young boy, Laurence Yep couldn't find books that spoke to his cultural identity or day-to-day reality. But he could enjoy the strange, new worlds of fantasy and science fiction.

  • Writing for pennies (1:20)

    Laurence Yep collected many rejection letters before selling his first story to a science fiction magazine – for a penny a word.

  • Writers are writers (:20)

    Aside from his 60 published books, Yep has file cabinets filled with unpublished stories.

  • Corner grocery store (1:00)

    Laurence Yep learned self-discipline early in life, while helping his father at their corner grocery store.

  • Seeking dead english professors (:30)

    Laurence Yep's freelance writing didn't offer a steady paycheck. This worried his father, who went to great lengths to find him work.

  • A special way of living (1:00)

    You don't have to go to Paris, or even be in a shipwreck, to write good stories. Laurence Yep suggests simply looking at the things around you.

  • A cultural outsider (:45)

    Laurence Yep describes what it was like to grow up as an outsider.

  • A professional daydreamer (:45)

    Laurence Yep loves his work and is grateful for his longevity as an author.

§ To play this clip, you'll need a copy of the free RealOne Player. Most computers already have it installed, or you can download it now.

Search

Free newsletters

Page tools

Save and share

del.icio.usdel.icio.us
Join Reading Rockets on Facebook!

"I am a tutor of children in grades K-6, and your articles are ALL very interesting and exactly the type of professional reading I have been looking for."
~ Laurie L.

AdLit.org
Real parents. Real questions. Research-based answers.