Nerd Culture, Fandom, and the Middle Grader: An Interview with Sam Maggs

The blog interview, much like the blog book review, is no good to anyone unless there is a hook. You could place before me any author or illustrator and tell me that they’re everything I’ve ever wanted in an interviewee, but unless I know how to tackle my talk with them, I will not be able to string together two words that anyone will want to hear.

When Macmillan proposed that I speak to one Sam Maggs, I was impervious to their charms. Sorry, guys. This person I do not know. What is the hook...