Meet Karen Foxlee, author of the middle-grade novel, THE WONDROUS TALE OF LAVENDER WOLFE. The fantasy adventure, with illustrations by Martina Heiduczek, is the first MG book released by the new imprint Sarah Barley Books. Below, Foxlee answers questions for From The Mixed-Up Files of Middle-Grade Authors about the middle-grade audience, her course on writing, and why she calls herself a “non-plotter.”
From The Mixed-Up Files: Congrats on the new middle-grade novel, Karen. Tell us a little bit about THE WONDROUS TALE OF LAVENDER WOLFE.
Karen Foxlee: Thank you so much! The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe is a magical adventure fantasy for young readers and the young at heart. It follows the story of Lavender Wolfe, who in 1719, is stolen aboard a pirate galleon by the ship’s cook, Big Agatha. It’s not just any ship though, it’s the most cursed and magical pirate ship on all the seas. Lavender, who desperately wants to go home, finds herself on a journey to break curses, rescue a boy trapped inside shell, and discover the magic she has inside herself. It’s a story about friendship, love, hope and lots of magic!
MUF: What inspired you to write this book? How do you typically get your ideas for stories?
KF: I love both the sea and baking, and both these things play a huge role in this story, so I think this tale was always probably lurking around inside me just waiting to come out. This story started with a few sentences that kept echoing in my head – I had three names, the first was Lavender, a pretty name but with too many letters if you’re no good at spelling. I immediately wanted to find out who this character was! I love how story ideas sometimes arrive magically like that. They also come from lots of different places too. Things I love, experiences, emotions, history and art. Whatever is bobbing around in my brain, I guess.
MUF: Yours is the first middle-grade novel from the new imprint Sarah Barley Books (@ Simon & Schuster). Did that make this journey to publication different from other books you’ve written?
KF: It made it really exciting! I was so happy to learn that Sarah Barley Books was acquiring The Wondrous Tale of Lavender Wolfe because it’s a story that means so much to me. I know it will be in great hands with Sarah and her team. And I’m so thrilled to have a story published for a North American audience again. The book was published earlier in Australia, so it was a very straightforward journey to publication after acquisition.
MUF: Paired with your words are the illustrations by Martina Heiduczek. How did the two of you work together?
KF: We actually didn’t have any contact during Martina’s illustration phase, but I had long been an admirer of her art. I fell in love with her internal sketches as they came through. Some of the text narrative is moved through illustrative means, so it forms such an important part of the story.
MUF: How do you approach writing for middle-graders?
KF: Honestly, I don’t think I think too much about approaches or processes when I start out writing a middle-grade novel. What I want is to chase down an idea that means something to me. A character I want to know, a place I want to bring to life, a problem that I want to understand. I write freely in the first stages, following my heart, playing around with character voices and stories, trying to find the tail end of a plot. I’m a non-plotter and love how stories evolve and eventually solidify this way. In much later drafts I do start to be more objective and think about audience. Is this story too scary? Is it clear enough for young readers? Am I keeping the reader turning pages?
Author Karen Foxlee. Photo: Esther-Visser
MUF: In addition to your career as a kidlit author, you also work as a freelance editor. Does your work as an editor help you as a writer, and vice versa?
KF: I wouldn’t call myself an editor although I do have a degree in communications. I’m more of a helpful advisor! I love stories and working out what makes them tick and after writing ten (soon to be eleven) novels, mostly for kids, I think I’ve got a pretty good idea on how to fix them up. There are so many incredible “fixer-upper novels” out there languishing in bottom desk drawers. I really like taking them apart and looking for strengths and weaknesses and making lots of suggestions for emerging writers on how to make them stronger stories.
MUF: You have a new MG course – Writing the Middle Grade Novel with Karen Foxlee. Was it fun to brainstorm a curriculum and lessons? What can someone expect if they sign up for this?
The course was a mammoth task, but I had a lot of fun. I’m sure there are many shinier, more technologically polished courses out there, but I really just wanted to share everything I knew about writing for this incredible readership. It’s me and some slides talking about working with ideas, growing characters, making sense of plot and exploring themes (and so much more). I hope emerging writers find it helpful!
MUF: Can you share a few new MG novels you’ve read lately and enjoyed?
I recently loved the verse novel Song of a Thousand Seas by Zana Fraillon. It’s about an octopus named Houdini. It was stunning. Another one was a MG debut novel by Brenton Cullen called The Prime Minister Problem. It’s a lovely little book with a big heart about a young boy in regional Australia and how his love for his gran sets him on a journey to make big changes in his community.
MUF: What’s next for you?
I have a new middle grade novel coming out in Australia this year. It’s called The Witches of Winderry Spires and it’s a companion book to Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy, that was published over a decade ago! It’s very exciting. And I’m currently having a blast working on a new middle grade set in the 1980s about a girl, a mysterious sewing pattern and her quest to turn back time. I’m channelling my inner 80s child and loving the moments I get to spend with this story.
You can find Karen Foxlee on her website, Facebook, and Instagram. Order a copy of THE WONDROUS TALE OF LAVENDER WOLFE (or request it from your local library!).
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