Why Write a Novel in Verse: a Wondering Answered

People have asked me why I chose the poetry form with which to tell Paulie’s story in The Colors of the Rain (and at least one reviewer said she did not find it an effective choice, but that’s neither here nor there; writers learn quickly that you can’t please them all). The answer to this question is two-fold.

Poetry is a natural form for me; I have written poetry nearly all my life. I grew up reading the poetry of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky (in fact, one of my favorite poems is sti...