S. C. Whiddon

SC Whiddon is a NY based illustrator and children’s book writer. This is her contribution to our Love and Heartbreak open call.

PenTales: What are the ingredients of a good comedy?

Sofia: I think a story that is relatable to people and honest. Also, witty dialogue helps.

PenTales: Tell us about a favorite character in a story, and why you relate to this character.

Sofia: I can watch Amélie many times and not grow bored of it. She’s so quirky, though a bit of a loner. She has such a good outlook. I don’t know if that relates to me, but I’d like to have a positive outlook on life.

PenTales: Tell us a 100-word story about yourself to help us get to know you better.

Sofia: I used to have an unhealthy obsession with Gummi bears. I had a favorite, particular way of eating these chewy candies. I would bite off their heads and mix and match their heads to different colored bodies before I popped them back into my mouth. Once I had one, I couldn’t stop. My mom had to hide them in hard-to-find areas in the kitchen. Once I found them in our rice cooker, and I hid in my room and ate the entire bag. It was the first and only time I got sick from too many Gummi bears. The end result looked like a rainbow kaleidoscope of mutilated Gummi bears.

PenTales: Continue this story (five sentences or less): “He packed his bags and headed out the door. Little did he know that…”

Sofia: He would never make it on the 7:30 train that evening. As he walked out on Myrtle Avenue to catch the B69 bus downtown, he noticed a shiny, black gypsy cab rounding the street corner. On impulse, he flagged it down. “This will be much more relaxing than three transfers on public transportation,” he thought.

PenTales: What was your first thought this morning?

Sofia: Breakfast…

PenTales: Which came first, the chicken salad or the egg salad?
Sofia: I think the chicken salad. Otherwise, I start thinking whether or not the eggs are fertilized…

PenTales: This is a question asked from a previous artist we interviewed. What was your most recent dream?

Sofia: I don’t remember all of it, but at one point I was riding on the back of a Harley with a pizza pie balanced on my lap. I’ve never actually ridden a motorcycle before.

PenTales: What question should we ask the person (writer, storyteller, or artist) we interview?

Sofia: Do you listen to music while you work? If yes, what would be your most recently played song?