Author Interviews

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel: A Chat with the Author + Giveaway

By on August 19, 2020   /   Author Interviews, Giveaways  

Any fans of the movie Clue out there? You gotta love a good whodunnit. I enjoyed reading the ARC of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley and got a chance to interview the author. Keep reading to find out how to win a free copy of the book!

Thank you for sharing Midnight at the Barclay Hotel with me. It was such a fun whodunit. Can you give us a short summary about the book?

Of course! Here’s the description on the cover:

Hunting ghosts and solving the case before checkout? All in a weekend’s work.

When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he’d find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner’s death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.

Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother’s name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.

 

When does the book come out?

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is out on…Aug. 25th! I’m so excited. There will be lots of cake—be it the virtual kind.

 

You mention in your Author’s Note how you enjoy mysteries. What mysteries did you read growing up?

When I was a kid, I read like crazy. By the time I was twelve or so, I’d read most of the books in the children’s section. There was no YA department at the time (yes, I’m that old), so I moved to the books for grown-ups. A kind librarian pointed me toward the Agatha Christie section; I read The ABC Murders, and I’ve been hooked on mysteries ever since. I love a good puzzle.

 

You have a wonderful cast of characters in the book. Who was your favorite to write? Who are you most like and why?

Fleur’s cat, Chloe, who makes an appearance in the book and on the cover

They were all so fun to write! I set out to make every character a little bit larger than life, to keep a sense of humor about the murder mystery.

The kid characters were very fun to write too. JJ is really into ghost hunting; as a kid I remember being so super excited about something that it’s all you can think about. Emma was fun to write, since she’s so eager to make friends—I remember feeling that way too when I was twelve.

I’m probably most like Penny: a big reader, a little shy sometimes, and a sceptic when it comes to ghosts and ghost hunting.

 

How can teachers use this book in their classrooms?

Mysteries are great to use in the classroom: the deductive reasoning, the character profiles, and different perspectives are all useful in analyzing story. Plus, mysteries are very accessible.

I wrote Midnight at the Barclay Hotel as a way to introduce kids to the traditional, Agatha Christie style mystery, with spooky elements (without being scary). Kids and teachers can follow along and see if they can use the clues in the story to figure out who killed Mr. Barclay, and why. The book is structured around the traditional investigative technique of finding motive, means and opportunity for each suspect.

There is a teacher guide on my website, plus extra activities for kids: http://www.ftbradley.com/barclay-hotel.html

I also love doing Zoom (or other platform) visits to talk about mysteries, and my process when writing.

 

I enjoy asking authors how their book got its shape. What would you say was the spark for Midnight at the Barclay Hotel? What came next? And what components organically fell into place later on? 

It really all started with my love for mysteries, and my own spark when reading Agatha Christie. I wanted to write a fun mystery that would get kids excited about mysteries, too.

The character profiles (the suspects!) probably came next, then the outline for the story. I also wanted to have the story take place at an interesting, closed-off setting, one that I could imagine being a fun place for kids to visit—that was when I created the Barclay Hotel.

 

Did you go anywhere interesting as research for your book?

The Barclay Hotel is inspired by the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado—of the movie The Shining. I went to visit and knew I had to set a story in a place just like it…

My family and I even went on a ghost hunting tour at the Stanley Hotel—that was so much fun. Alas, I didn’t see a ghost, but I did get lots of inspiration.

The Barclay Hotel is a bit more isolated, and has more fun stuff for kids: there a carousel, a bowling alley, a pool, a cupcake shop… I had a lot of fun creating the setting.

 

What ended up taking more time than you anticipated when researching/writing/revising?

The original manuscript was longer and had a lot of chapters written from the perspectives of the adult characters—the suspects. When discussing revisions with my (very smart) editor at Viking, she suggested the book would be better and more accessible for reluctant readers if it was a bit shorter, and if we added illustrations. She was right, of course. Although it was hard to cut those chapters, the story is so much better for it. And I love the illustrations!

 

I have to ask: do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever seen a ghost?

I’ve never seen a ghost, though I’ve heard voices I can’t explain… I’m probably more of a sceptic, like Penny in the book, but I’m open to the possibility.

 

How can we learn more about you? 

My website www.ftbradley.com has more about my books, author visits, and a page just for Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, with kid activities and an educator guide. I’m on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor, and post on Instagram as fleurbradley.

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is available here:

bookshop.org
amazon.com

If you’re an educator, librarian, or parent, send her an email and let her know what you think of the book!

 

Fleur Bradley will be giving a copy of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel to a lucky reader. Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a copy.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats to Danielle H.! 

*This giveaway is only available in the United States.

About Fleur Bradley:

Fleur Bradley is the author of many middle-grade books aimed at reluctant readers, including the (spooky) mystery Midnight at the Barclay Hotel. Fleur is passionate about two things: mysteries and getting kids to read, and she regularly speaks at librarian and educator conferences on reaching reluctant readers. Originally from the Netherlands, Fleur now lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two daughters, and entirely too many cats.

For more information on Fleur and her books, visit www.ftbradley.com, and on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor.

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Spooky, Scary Stitchers

By on August 17, 2020   /   Articles, Author Interviews  

For those of you who love spooky, scary middle grade, I have a treat for you. The Stitchers (ABRAMS/Amulet 2020), by debut author Lorien Lawrence, releases this week, and alongside that spooky scary goodness, it’s SO. MUCH. FUN.

The Stitchers Cover

About The Stitchers:

Thirteen-year-old Quinn Parker knows there’s something off about her neighbors. She calls them “the Oldies” because they’ve lived on Goodie Lane for as long as anyone can remember, but they never seem to age. Are they vampires? Or aliens? Or getting secret experimental surgeries? Or is Quinn’s imagination just running wild again?

If her dad were still around, he’d believe her. When he was alive, they’d come up with all sorts of theories about the Oldies. Now, Quinn’s determined to keep the investigation going with the help of Mike, her neighbor and maybe-crush. They’ll have to search for clues and follow the mystery wherever it leads–even if it’s to the series pond at the end of the street that’s said to have its own sinister secrets. But the Oldies are on to them. And the closer Quinn and Mike get to uncovering the answers, the more they realize just how terrifying the truth may be.

Interview with Debut Author Lorien Lawrence

Welcome, Lorien Lawrence, to the Mixed-Up Files! As I often do, I shared your book with my son, who’s a middle grade and young adult reader.  He loved the Stitchers–which meant he and I got to collaborate on these interview questions.  NOTE: This interview has been edited slightly in order to group topics and transitions.

HMC: I am always curious about origin stories – where did you get the idea for the Stitchers?

LL I think I say this in another!er interview, but there’s nothing scarier than losing someone you love. I wrote this story after my dad suddenly died. I had just moved back to my hometown with my husband, and we would go for these really long walks and try to make sense of what happened. Eventually, my childhood streets brought back happy memories and feelings of nostalgia instead of sadness. And we started to play a “what if” sort of game, where we took turns wondering “what if that house was haunted?” or “what if that pond was magical?” Eventually, one of these “what ifs” turned into THE STITCHERS. So I guess writing Quinn’s story helped me come to terms with my own grief.

Writing About Loss for MG

HMC: (As you just mentioned,) your main character, Quinn, is coping with the loss of her father … and picking up where he left off, investigating the same mystery. Loss and fear are pretty scary subjects no matter how old you are … how did you balance respecting your middle-grade readers’ maturity with knowing when the subject matter needed to be age-appropriate?

Finding this balance was probably the most difficult part of the writing experience for me. I knew I needed to show Quinn coming through the other side, so to speak. She doesn’t miss her dad any less, but she learns how to live a new kind of normal. Her dreams continue, her friendships continue, even though she herself has changed. But the change isn’t all bad: she’s stronger. She’s braver. She’s more determined and more vulnerable. And she realizes that she’s still surrounded by people who love her.

Questions from HMC’s Son

HMC’s Son: What was your favorite part of this book to write? 

LL: Great question! My favorite part to write was the scene in the basement of the funeral home. I won’t give it away, but it was delightfully gruesome and fun to imagine!

HMC’s Son: What did you like most about Quinn? 

LL: Another great question! I like that Quinn is flawed. She lies. She hides the truth. She hides her true feelings. But these are things that normal 12 year olds do. And by the end of the book, she makes things right.

HMC’s Son: This book is the beginning of a series. Can you give us any hints about what is coming up next for Quinn and Mike?

LL: The next book in the series is called THE COLLECTORS, and it comes out next fall. It follows Quinn once again as she and Mike launch into a new supernatural investigation – but I don’t want to give too much away! 😊 I can say that it picks up directly where THE STITCHERS leaves off.

Stitchers Fan Art

                                                                                Stitchers Fan Art, by Elle Jauffret

Eternal Youth, Monsters, and Witches

HMC: Another interesting theme in your book is about the eternal quest for youth … and how it can make people do strange things. (!!) What takeaways do you think this element in your plot has for the middle-grade reader?

I think I was inspired by the day-old conundrum of kids wanting to be older, and adults wanting to be younger. In reality, we need to just learn to appreciate where we are in the moment.

HMC: In this book, I found lots of literary and theater connections, from Frankenstein to the Crucible. Did any of those influence your writing?

LL: Oh my gosh, I’m thrilled that you noticed! YES! I’ve always been taken with Frankenstein and The Crucible – really the whole idea that society creates the monsters, not the other way around.

Open Mic Question

HMC: What do you want us to know about The Stitchers that we haven’t asked?

LL: A quick fun fact: I have tiny clues hidden in THE STITCHERS and THE COLLETORS that hint towards future books in the series!

THE PANDEMIC QUESTIONS

HMC: I’ve begun a new line of pandemic questions in all my interviews because I’m curious about how we as kidlit authors are going to handle the pandemic in our writing going forward. You’re a middle school teacher in New England – will you be going back into the classroom to teach this fall, or will you be teaching virtually?

LL: As of right now, I still don’t know where or how I will be teaching. I am assuming that I’ll be teaching virtually as I did in the spring. I’m from Connecticut, and our state got hit with the virus early, so my school closed in early March and remained closed for the year. Whatever I end up doing, I’ll try to make the best of it!

HMC: How has the coronavirus pandemic affected your writing life?

LL: I grew up with (and still struggle) with anxiety, and writing has always been a coping mechanism for me. So I’ve actually been writing a lot! I wrote two new manuscripts during quarantine. I don’t know if these books will ever see the light of day, but it helps me to throw myself in a made-up world when times are scary.

HMC: Will Quinn and Mike have pandemic related conversations in your new book?

LL: This is a great question! I honestly don’t know the answer! They won’t be talking about it in the first two books in the series, but if I’m able to publish more adventures of Quinn and Mike, I’ll have to have a serious think about what to do with that. Maybe I’ll ask my students if they would be interested in reading about something so scary and recent. I’m sure they’ll have strong opinions either way!

((More about pandemic writing in this archived post on Writing Prompts for a Pandemic))

HMC: Thanks so much, Lorien. Congratulations on your debut and best of luck to you!

Debut Author Lorien Lawrence

Lorien Lawrence

Lorien Lawrence is a writer and middle school English teacher from Connecticut. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found hunting ghosts with her family. The Stitchers is her debut novel.

Where to find the Stitchers:

  1. Bookshop.org
    1. Click on this link, then search for THE STITCHERS — or any other book.
  2. Amazon

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Interview with Aliza Layne, Author of Beetle & the Hollowbones!

By on August 5, 2020   /   Author Interviews  

Hello Mixed-Up Filers!

Today, I am pleased to welcome to our site, Aliza Layne, author of the Graphic Novel, Beetle & the Hollowbones, from Simon & Schuster which came out on August 4th.

JR: Hi, Aliza and thanks for joining us today!

AL: Thanks so much for chatting with me!

JR: First off, for those who don’t know about the book, can you tell us a little bit about Beetle & the Hollowbones and where the idea for this story came from?

AL: Beetle is a story about a young witch whose routine of bumming around at the mall with her best friend is shaken up when she realizes that Blob Ghost not only is a kid living by themselves in a mall, but is actually trapped there by a wall of necro-energy. So when the mall is about to be torn down, the only thing to do is get B.G. out of there. Beetle has a lot on her plate with this and it doesn’t help that her crush might be evil! It’s a story about unforgivable birds, rowdy grandmothers and trying not to be awful at magic. The idea started with the characters, I made up some Halloween kids who had great chemistry and just figured everything else out from there!

JR: The crush is always evil! I learned that in high school. This started as a web comics, which you do a lot of as well, such as the popular Demon Street. What are the pros and cons of doing a web comic as opposed to a more traditional format?

AL: Webcomics are really incredible! Almost anybody can do one if they have an internet connection, a camera or a scanner, and a pen and paper. You find a place to put it up and you put it up! The problem with webcomics is, not to get too down to brass tax, that you don’t make very much money at it, usually. You also don’t have as much access to collaboration and editors so it’s difficult to put something out that’s super slick. And because people are generally not being paid enough for their time, most of them are passion projects that take a really long time to finish, because you have to focus on other stuff! But when it comes to showing everybody your raw talent, they can’t be beat. I see things being done in webcomics that are raw and weird and brilliant all the time and I wouldn’t trade my time in webcomics for anything!

JR: Much of the action takes place at a mall, which right there had me hooked. Malls were a huge part of my childhood. So much so, that I made it an important in one of my books, as well. What is it about a mall that appealed to you and also made you think it made for a good story?

AL: There’s this thing that’s happening to malls around the country that is SO spooky, where they are becoming the kind of gothic that’s really funny, because we DID used to have mall goths. For the benefit of your readers who might not know, in the late 1700s the genre of romanticism in literature gave way to the genre of gothic; that is to say, there was (I’m kind of paraphrasing here) a loosely-defined era where art dominated that had this focus on beauty and prosperity, followed by an era where a genre showed up in response to that. Beautiful castles and manors became spooky, crumbing ruins. Poetic heroes got twisted became wicked, bizarre creeps, and sometimes people who were the wicked, bizarre creeps of the story became poetic heroes! It was really cool! For people who grew up hanging out in malls, they used to have these pretty palace-like facades where you were supposed to spend money and forget what time it is, but in a lot of rural areas (and other places) they’re just kind of being abandoned and left to rot. So I think there’s so much room for a weird new kind of gothic there! What’s left to get all crumbling and nasty after the mall isn’t cool anymore? I also find the idea of treating this so seriously to be super funny.

 

JR: You used to work in a mall. What store, and did any of your experiences influence anything in this story?

AL: I used to work at a bookstore! The pumpkinhead person in chapter one is just me. At some point while I was working there, some teens upended a puck of yellow dinosaur slime onto the carpet in the back and it hardened into amber, I tried to chip it off the floor with a sticker scraper but I couldn’t even get the dinosaur out of it, let alone the whole dried puck. It’s STILL back there. I go back and visit the store sometimes if one of my friends is working there. They tried to hide the dinosaur slime puck, but I know where it is.

 

JR: Now I need to go search for dinosaur slime puck! I also read on your website, https://beetlebones.net/  that you’re known for your Halloween costumes. What are some of your better costumes, and what goes into making a great Halloween costume?

AL: The main thing about Halloween costumes is passion and it also helps to go with the classics. Last year I was a wizard, I made a big yellow and orange and pink beard out of needlefelt fiber and wore a pink wig and kids got a kick out of it! But a couple of years I have been a pumpkinhead, and THAT always gets em. I made the pumpkinhead costume myself out of half a carvable fake craft pumpkin carved into a jack-o-lantern face and full of those little electric tealights so it’d look like it was lit up, and I put some plastic netting inside so you couldn’t see in.

 

JR: That’s an awesome costume! Can you tell us a little bit about your writing journey getting to this point? 

AL: I cold-emailed for agents to represent my pitch for Beetle for about a year before I connected with Susan Graham, who I instantly bonded with over our shared love for illustrated novels. Susan was representing some of my friends, so I was happy to get to know them too! At that point it was a very traditional search for the right editor and the right publisher. We were lucky to connect with some really lovely people along the way! But before Beetle was ever a book, it was actually a cartoon pitch! You can still read my storyboards for it on my website.

JR: What’s your writing process like?

AL: I always start with the seed of an idea (or a character) and then go from there, keeping in mind a couple of things: the themes I want to touch on with the story (which make themselves known as I’m writing it) and how I can make it as satisfying as possible. I like to create stories that feel like they’re coming from the heart, so a good compass is whether the story I’m writing can evoke the same emotions in me as I mean for it to do in the reader. I pay attention to what makes me cry or pine or laugh or feel joy, and if I’m writing a scene that is meant to make me feel a strong emotion and it doesn’t, I need to find out why!

JR: What’s your favorite book from childhood?

AL: That’s such a difficult question! I think I’d be lying, though, if I said it wasn’t the first two Abarat books, by Clive Barker. They were exactly the books I needed the most when I was 12 years old, and the lush oil paintings that came in the illustrated edition of the book are still an artistic influence for me.

 

JR: What’s your favorite childhood movie?

Another super tough one! The first thing that comes to mind is Mirrormask, which is a movie I still love a lot, and another really big visual influence for me. I really respect the purity of the feelings in that movie, it was another one that felt like it had been made for me when I was 12/13. I love weird art about earnest feelings and I really respect the intense way that kids feel things, even when people don’t think they do, or aren’t paying attention to the fact that they do.

JR: I think that’s the first time we’ve got either of those answers, so it’s nice to be exposed to new things to check out. Something people would be surprised to learn about you?

AL: I’m a self-taught cartoonist! I got to learn a lot of disciplines going to college locally, but I learned all the cartooning I know from seeing things I liked and figuring out what worked about them. I’m really glad I got to learn watercolor and collage and sculpting and pottery, on top of being useful when I apply what I learned to the art I do for work, they’re all fun and fulfilling!

JR: That’s amazing that you’ve taught yourself! What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve received and is there any advice you can give to writers looking to break in?

AL: Telling a story and writing for your job is only hard because life around it makes it hard. The pressure of trying to survive while you’re writing make a lot of people have to give up, and they don’t deserve to have to compromise that to stay alive. So if anyone reading is looking for advice: if you have to give up on writing for a while to survive, just understand that that’s because of the pressures of the world, not because you weren’t good enough. I’m lucky to be where I am, even when I’m struggling. Everything else about it is just working and making it happen.

JR: That’s great advice! What are you working on next?

AL: That’s a secret for now, but I’m excited and I hope readers will stick around!

JR: Can’t wait to find out! How can people follow you on social media?            

AL: I have a website for kids at beetlebones.net and twitter at @alizabees!

 

JR: Thanks again to Aliza Layne and make sure you go out and get Beetle & the Hollowbones!

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