Interview by Sophia Thomson
SCOTT ROTHMAN is a writer of picture books, screenplays, theater, and humor pieces. Scott’s debut picture book ATTACK OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON (Random House) and its sequel RETURN OF THE UNDERWEAR DRAGON were both National Indie bestsellers and are being developed into a musical kids TV series by Mercury Filmworks with best-selling illustrator Pete Oswald and Tony-award winning composer Bill Sherman.
His most recent book KITTYBUNKPORT was featured on the TODAY SHOW and was selected by Jenna Bush Hager for her Summer Reading List. Scott’s book WARM AND FUZZY (Tundra, illustrated by Brian Won) received a starred review from Booklist who called it a “fun and helpful read about overcoming anxieties.”
Scott’s other kid’s books include the Virginia Readers’ Choice finalist BLUE BISON NEEDS A HAIRCUT and BUBBLE GUM BISON NEEDS A BATH (Random House, both illustrated by Pete Oswald), PARFAIT, NOT PARFAIT (Roaring Brook Press, illustrated by Avery Monsen), MAKO & TIGER: A SHARK’S TALE (Random House, illustrated by Mika Song) and BASKETBALL TOWN (Candlewick Press, illustrated by Darnell Johnson). He has six books coming out in 2026.
A screenplay Scott co-wrote with playwright Rajiv Joseph, DRAFT DAY, topped the 2012 Black List before being made into a feature film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Kevin Costner. In addition, Scott co-wrote the script for the comedy ARMY OF ONE starring Nicolas Cage and directed by Larry Charles.
Scott also wrote the book for the one-person musical TODD VS. THE TITANIC (music and lyrics by Murder for Two’s Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair) which was produced by the Adirondack Theatre Festival and the Hangar Theatre.
Scott’s humor writing has appeared in The New Yorker, GQ and McSweeney’s. He received an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU.
Dear Scott,
I was so charmed by Warm and Fuzzy, and as an anxious child (and sometimes anxious adult), I would have loved to read a book like this when I was younger! Thank you so much for writing this book and for being here with Young Adulting to answer some questions! Without further ado, let’s get into it.
What was the importance for you in writing a picture book about experiencing and overcoming anxiety?
Let me start off by saying that I did not set out to write a picture book about anxiety. I 100% was trying to write a fun and silly book about two friends going on some kind of a magical adventure together. It was only after I finished the first draft, and looked back at what I had written, that I realized my own fears and anxieties about embarking on anything new and unknown had seeped into the book, particularly in the character of Fuzzy. But even though I didn’t intend to, it makes me very happy that kids and adults can use this book to talk about anxiety (but only if they really want to – otherwise they can just enjoy the fun and silliness!)
Warm and Fuzzy is equal parts funny and comforting – humour seems to be one of the key aspects of your works. Is this something you set out to do and implement into your work? Or does it simply come naturally to you?
Yeah, I would say it’s the ONLY thing that comes naturally to me and the only thing I set out to do. All I have ever wanted to do was to try and make people laugh and it is literally the only thing I think about when I write these books. I love more serious books too but I will leave the writing of them to the professionals.
All of Brian Won’s artwork is so fantastic and inviting throughout the picture book – the scene with Warm and Fuzzy sitting at a dinner table with cake, cookies, and all their friends was a snapshot of a party I wanted to be in! Do you have a particular favourite spread or spreads?
The short answer is that my favorite spread is ALL OF THEM. The longer answer is, I love the one you mentioned, and I also really love the one when the magical door finally opens and Warm holds out his hand for Fuzzy and tells him they can go wherever they want. Brian captured such joy in their faces; it crushes me every time I see it. I also really like the payoff for the leather jacket contest. And the way Brian came up with the idea to use toilet paper as mummy wrap. I could go on.
With several fantastic works under your belt, how has your process in writing evolved over the years? Are there any writing rituals you practice as you craft your children’s works? Any advice you can share for aspiring writers?
I’m not sure it has evolved that much over the years… and I think that’s a good thing! I actually try to preserve – as much as I can – that wide-eyed naivete I had when I first started because if I didn’t, and thought about everything I know about publishing, and what sells and what doesn’t, and all the things I’m supposed to include, or all the things I’m supposed to stay away from, I wouldn’t be able to write. A lot of my process now is actually trying to unlearn many of those things. So my advice is, I guess, to learn everything you can and then unlearn it. Actually, no, that doesn’t make much sense, does it? My advice is to just write as much as you can – you can figure everything else out later. And do interesting things so you can tell interesting stories. Also, marry well, that helps a lot.
As a screenwriter and novelist, what’s it like for you to shift from screenwriter mode, to book writing mode? Do ideas come to you in the same ways? Is the craft process different for you?
It’s a great question with a fairly simple answer. My process is shockingly similar no matter what genre I am writing in. It’s all just telling stories. I just try to make sure they all have a clear beginning, middle and end.
(JUST A NOTE: I do not really consider myself a novelist. I do write other things like plays, musical theater, humor pieces, etc,)
Bonus question/statement! We’d love to know what you’re working on next so we can all add it to our TBR!
I have another new picture book out this summer called KITTYBUNKPORT illustrated by Zachariah Ohora that was just featured on the Today Show and Jenna Bush Hager’s Summer Reading List. Brian and I have another book coming out called HORIZONTAL CROCODILE which is super awesome and is being published by Simon & Schuster. And I am very excited for a book from Sourcebooks called JUDGY BUNNY & THE TERRIBLE BEACH that publishes next year.
YOUNG ADULTING 