Q&A with Kathy and Patrick Boehlert

Kathy Boehlert is a wife and the mother of three boys. When her youngest son, Patrick, was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of nine, her family began a journey of heartache and fear. It was also a journey of incredible inspiration and support. Kathy and Patrick decided to share their account with everyone in the book “The Little Things That Matter in the Big Game.” The Boehlert family resides, attends school, works and supports the Magruder Colonels in Montgomery County, Md.

What are the best books you’ve read recently?
Kathy: I really enjoyed reading “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins. Patrick bought the book and we started reading it together. It was exciting and I can see how it became so popular with young people.

Patrick:  The last book I read was a “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book by Jeff Kinney. All of those books are funny.

What was your favorite book as a child?
Kathy:  I loved the “Amelia Bedelia” books. I enjoyed the play on words and I could re-read the same book over and over and still enjoy it.

Why do you enjoy attending book festivals, either as a presenter or audience member?
Kathy: The 2013 Gaithersburg Book Festival will be our first book festival. I have heard many good things about it so I am really looking forward to meeting other authors and browsing great books.

Have you been to the D.C. area before? If so, what is your favorite thing about it?
Kathy: We actually live in Gaithersburg, Maryland which is a DC suburb. I love all of Washington DC’s monuments and memorials. It is exciting to drive downtown for a sporting event or a night out and see all of the memorials. They are symbolic of this great country. I also love the Redskins and the Nationals.

Patrick:  I love the sports teams. I like all of the players on the Nationals!

What is the most difficult, or challenging, aspect of being a writer?
Kathy:  We have only written this one non-fiction piece. For me, I would say the most difficult part is just putting our story out there. The story is very personal and emotional and it was a little scary to open that part of our lives up to everyone.

Patrick:  For me the hardest part was remembering all of the details. That’s why I am glad we wrote it down so I will never forget.