It’s always a pleasure to shine the Author Spotlight on a fellow Mixed-Up Files member, so I’m thrilled to chat with my friend and fellow MG author Lisa Schmid! Lisa’s sophomore MG novel, Hart & Souls, about an anxious middle schooler with a ghost problem, is out now from Andrews McMeel Publishing.
And now, without further ado…
Interview with Lisa Schmid
Melissa: Welcome, Lisa! So glad to have you here today.
Lisa: Thank you so much! I always love hanging out with you at the Mixed-Up Files.
About Hart & Souls
Melissa: The last time we chatted, back in October 2023, it was in conjunction with the cover reveal for your second MG novel, Hart & Souls (you can read the interview here). To refresh readers’ memories, what is the premise of the book? Also, how did you come up with the idea?
Lisa: Stix Hart wants to avoid trouble at his new middle school, but his first day brings ghostly encounters that push his anxiety to the limit. He meets three spirits who have been trapped for decades and need his help to move on. To free them, Stix must confront his fears to solve this paranormal predicament.
The idea for Hart & Souls came to me after encountering the local bully at Target. He was on the phone at the front of the store, frightened and crying. After eavesdropping, I learned no one had picked him up from school, and he didn’t know where else to go. I could tell from the conversation this was a regular occurrence.
It told me a lot about why he was acting up at school. I’ve always believed that when somebody behaves unkindly, it usually means they’re fighting a battle we know nothing about. At that moment, I knew I had my next book.
Writing a story about three ghosts with unfinished business allowed me to explore different backstories of kids and how it impacted their lives. And just as important, how their actions affected others.
Overcoming Anxiety
Melissa: The main character, Stix, a talented drummer, was the target of bullying at his previous school. Because of this, he starts middle school with a great deal of trepidation and anxiety. Can you tell us how Stix’s anxiety manifests itself, and what he does to cope with it?
Lisa: Stix is dealing with some fairly intense anxiety as a result of a bullying incident in the third grade. As a result, he suffers from panic attacks when something triggers this memory. It can be a sight, sound, or even a casual glance.
To manage his anxiety, he focuses on music beats to give his brain something else to think about. This coping mechanism is a technique I learned about after speaking with a psychologist while doing research for the book.
Bang a Drum!
Melissa: As above, Stix is a talented drummer. Is this something you have in common with him, or did you have to do extensive research to familiarize yourself?
Lisa: I knew from the start that music would be the underlying theme. I’ve always wanted to be a drummer but never had the patience to pick up the sticks. My son is a musician, so I asked his guitar/drum teacher for advice about playing the drums.
Melissa: Let’s switch gears and talk about the spooky side of the novel. Ghosts are involved, of course. Can you elaborate?
Lisa: Yes! *rubs hands together with glee* I love writing about ghosts because there are no rules. I get to make them up as I go. They are also the perfect sidekicks, providing situations that often lead to funny and heartfelt moments.
I tend to shy away from the super spooky themes. To be honest, that’s not my jam. I wish I could spin a spine-tingling horror story, but I think I would end up throwing in a farting ghost just to lighten the mood. Best to stay in my goofy lane. I have lots of fun there.
Lessons Learned from My Partner the Ghost
Melissa: Your debut novel, Ollie Oxley and the Ghost, was spooky as well. Have you always been drawn to the supernatural? Also, what is it about ghosts that fascinates you?
Lisa: When I was around nine, my favorite show was a British TV series called My Partner the Ghost. It was about a pair of private detectives in London. In the pilot, one gets killed, comes back as a ghost, and helps his partner solve crimes. I’ve been obsessed ever since with the idea of friendly ghosts. It’s brilliant, and I love it to this day! It was my inspiration for Ollie Oxley and the Ghost.
(P.S. You can watch the pilot episode on YouTube.)
Literary Easter Eggs
Melissa: Hart & Souls contains several “Easter eggs,” aka little surprises for eagle-eyed readers to find. Without giving too much away, can you tell us about some of your favorites?
Lisa: There’s actually only one Easter egg in Hart & Souls, but I love it! You will easily find this fun little nugget if you have read Ollie Oxley and The Ghost. Many folks have emailed or commented on a social media post when they see it.
Fun side note: The Chronicles of Narnia are my favorite books of all time. I usually drop in a reference that fellow Narnians will catch. You can look for those as well.
Plotter Versus Pantser
Melissa: Switching gears again, what does your writing routine look like? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?
Lisa: I am a card-carrying member of the Pantser Society. I always know how a story will begin and end, but I never know what will happen in between. I write all my books chapter by chapter. The idea that people can plot a story is magical. I don’t possess that extraordinary talent. This process makes me a painfully slow writer because I have to figure things out as I go. I also edit along the way . . . I can’t help myself. (grimace face)
Path to Publication
Melissa: Can you tell us about your path to publication? Smooth sailing or a meandering path? Also, what advice would you give to wannabe MG authors?
Lisa: Meandering and full of potholes!
I did not land an agent with Ollie Oxley and the Ghost. As a matter of fact, I only got one request for a full and one personalized rejection. Otherwise, it was crickets. I got my first book deal via a Twitter kidlit pitch party. I received one “like,” and it was from my wonderful editor.
I eventually caught the interest of my fantastic agent, Leslie Zampetti, with a chapter book series about a crime-solving pug with a goldfish sidekick. Unfortunately, it has not sold . . . yet, but I’m still holding out hope that an editor will one day give Bumble & Beans their forever home.
This is a cleaned-up version of my path to publication. My journey was riddled with mishaps and missteps. I was a hot mess. But the trick is to keep plugging away and learn from your mistakes.
For the record, my fastest rejection turn-around was ten minutes. I have yet to meet anyone who can beat that time. 🙂
Melissa: Actually, I can. I once got a rejection in FOUR minutes! How the agent had time to read my query and reject it so quickly remains a mystery!
Lisa: 😂
Writers with Wrinkles
Melissa: In addition to being a writer of middle-grade fiction, you’re also the co-host of the popular podcast, Writers with Wrinkles. How do you juggle these different roles?
Lisa: I don’t think we had any idea how much time and effort goes into creating a podcast, but it’s been worth it.
The first three years, we ran four episodes a month. It was a lot of work between recording and promoting while still focusing on our individual projects. But we love serving the writing community and want everyone to succeed!
We switched to twice-monthly episodes, making our schedules slightly more manageable. We also changed our format. Once a month, we host an “Ask Beth & Lisa” segment in which listeners can send in questions. For our second episode, we interview editors or agents. I feel like we have found our groove and are making the most of our time while still packing in valuable tips for our listeners.
Our editor/agent chats are the best! I have learned so much about publishing and the querying process from our guests. Information I wish I had known when I started my publishing journey. I encourage querying writers to give them a listen.
Up Next…
Melissa: What are you working on now, Lisa? Can you give Mixed-Up Files readers a sneak peek?
Lisa: I am just finishing a middle-grade adventure. This book does not involve ghosts, but it does have ghost towns. It’s a time-traveling tale with some epic twists and turns. It’s been a challenge to write due to the different timelines. More than once, I’ve woken up in the middle of the night with the horrifying realization that I had a major plot hole. Fortunately, I believe I have plugged every last one. (Fingers crossed)
Lightning Round
Melissa: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…
Preferred writing snack? Potato Chips
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Ghosts: Real or imaginary? Real
Superpower? Empathy
Favorite place on earth? Cotswolds
If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be? My pug, Lucy, for company; The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to read; and a cozy blanket to keep us warm
Melissa: Many thanks for joining us today, Lisa! As always, it was a treat to have you here!
Lisa: Thank you so much! I had a blast. As usual . . . You always ask the best questions.
Bio
Lisa Schmid is an author, a stay-at-home-mom, and co-host of the podcast Writers With Wrinkles. When she’s not scaring up ghostly adventures, she’s most likely visiting schools to talk about writing and books. She lives in Northern California with her husband, son, two dogs, and one very sneaky hamster. Learn more about Lisa on her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Melissa Roske is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. In London she landed a job as an advice columnist for Just Seventeen magazine. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest, and received certification as a life coach from NYU. In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman). Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
President, by Rebecca Katzman, Scholastic, 2024. There are many books on electoral politics. This one is concise yet comprehensive. It offers the broadest introductory information about things like caucuses, primaries, voting rights and political parties. It’s even handed and current up to the 2020 election. However, it does not mention the Jan 6th insurrection. Given the target audience of 3rd to 5th graders I have mixed feelings on the omission. I think it’s worth overlooking that problem in favor of having a useful guide to electoral politics for this age range.
tegory that mix mythology, magic, and world cultures. Here is a round up of the most recent and the world culture they represent.
Lion Dancers. Simon & Schuster
Between the Pipes is a graphic novel about a 13 year old gay First Nations hockey player in Canada navigating both his own culture and the toxic masculinity of high contact sports. The author Albert McLeod is Cree and Metis and a human rights activist specializing in 2Spirit history and identity. The artist, Alice RL, is a non-binary Ojibwe. Highwater Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Pearl by Sherri L. Smith, illustrated by Chistine Norrie, Scholastic, covers ground I have not yet seen in a book for a MG reader. Set in WWII Hawaii and Japan, it’s the story of a young American woman who was sent to Japan before the attack on Pearl Harbor and survived the bombing of Hiroshima. It’s based on a memoir and because of the topic I’d recommend it for older MG grade readers.
The Salt Thief: Gandhi’s heroic march to freedom by Neal Bascomb is not just the story of Gandhi’s march to the sea but also a look at his influence on peaceful protest in the years following his activism. It comes with extensive bibliography and source notes. Scholastic Focus