Author Interviews

Writing for Younger Middle Grade Readers—Is That A Thing? + A Giveaway!

By Gail Shepherd on March 27, 2019 / Articles, Author Interviews

Categories in children’s publishing seem to come and go with the seasons—remember that fleeting “tween” category everybody was so excited about a few years back? But whether publishers market to these thin slices of readership or not, most of us middle grade authors have an ideal kid reader in mind for our stories. That kid might be 9, 11, or 13—but the age range does influence the tales we tell, the subject matter believe is appropriate, the language and vocabulary we employ, and sometimes even the themes of our books.

This month we’re talking to writers who do see themselves as writing for younger middle grade readers—essentially kids who are nine or ten rather than say, twelve or thirteen. Even so, they recognize that these categories can be very fluid—some kids read up, some kids read down, and some kids do both. What are the unique considerations for writing for this age range?

Karla Manternach is the author of MEENA MEETS HER MATCH, which published in January (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). She lives with her family in Wisconsin and works as a freelance writer.

Lisa Schmid is the author of OLLIE OXLEY AND THE GHOST, coming June 18, 2019. She’s a stay-at-home mom and a pug wrangler. When she is not scaring up ghostly adventures, she is most likely scaring up fun with her husband and son.

Deborah Lytton is the author of the MG series Ruby Starr (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky) and the YA novel SILENCE (Shadow Mountain). Her latest release is THE GREAT MUSEUM MIX-UP AND OTHER SURPRISE ENDINGS (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky).

Karla, Debby, and Lisa, first, tell us a little about Meena, Ollie, and Ruby Starr.

KARLA: Meena’s life is full of color! She wears vibrant clothes, eats every shade of the rainbow, and makes art out of eye-catching trash. But when her best friend deserts her and a scary event sends Meena to the hospital, it feels like her whole world has turned gray. Does Meena have the imagination to make something beautiful out of this? MEENA MEETS HER MATCH is a funny, heartwarming story about who we choose to be when the going gets tough.

LISA: Ollie is moving-again. His mom is starting another new job, this time at the Bingham Theater in Granite City, California. Moving all the time means Ollie has struggled in the making friends department, but he quickly connects with a boy named Teddy. To Ollie’s surprise, though, his first friend in town is a little more . . . unique than those he’s made in the past. Teddy is a ghost.

DEBBIE: Ruby is feeling fabulous after helping to save her school’s library and creating the world’s first (and best) pickle cupcake. And she’s feeling extra stupendous when she’s assigned a book report and finds the most perfect, meant-to-be book ever―one about unicorns! But when her bestie is not acting like herself, and a class field trip to a museum doesn’t go the way Ruby imagines, Ruby’s not sure she’ll get the perfect ending she was hoping for.

These sound like great fun! What elements did you add to your books to make them more appealing to new independent readers?

KARLA: The main thing I tried to remember is that kids that age do read for fun. They don’t want to feel like they’re being made to eat their vegetables. I was writing about something scary, but I also knew that the books my kids and I enjoyed most featured smart, funny, impulsive characters with big personalities and minds of their own. I wanted Meena to be like that. I wanted readers to get a kick out of her and to be rooting for her so they’d stick around for the tough stuff.

LISA: I think the paranormal element is fun. Teddy is mischievous and a bit of a prankster. I think every kid would like to have a ghost who’s got their back.

DEBBY: Ruby often imagines herself in the pages of a story. These imaginings are illustrated in order to draw in new readers. Jeanine Murch created the illustrations and she really captured the spirit of the text. I have also included Easter eggs throughout the books that relate to classic children’s literature or to Ruby Starr facts. So new independent readers can search for them as they read.

Related to this, what’s your take on vocabulary for younger middle grade fiction? Is it okay to use sophisticated vocabulary and sentence structure, or did you make an effort to work within a certain lexile level?

KARLA: I do try to use words that kids are familiar with, but I don’t mind challenging them a little. I also favor internal monologue that sounds like kid-speak, even though that means bending a few grammar rules. I actually really like working with shorter sentences and a more limited vocabulary. To me it feels a lot like creating fine art with a pack of eight crayons. You can create a lot of depth and nuance using simple language. You just have to know how to blend and build and layer.

LISA: I didn’t think about the Lexile level for a second. I had too many other things to think about, plot, structure, clues, etc. I was, however, acutely aware of vocabulary. In the first chapter, I have a sentence about how moving sucks. I went back and forth between stinks and sucks through final edits. I finally went with sucks, but even now, I’m not sure if that was the right call. The first time I read it out loud to a group of kids, I paused and looked up to see if there were expressions of horror. But alas, no one blinked an eye, so I guess it’s okay.

DEBBIE: For me, the voice dictates sentence structure and vocabulary. I try to balance storytelling with the target age range so that readers can comprehend the words but also allow for some challenges and learning to take place within the pages of fiction.

What books were your favorites when you were seven and eight years old and how did those books influence the writing of your new release?

KARLA: I remember reading a lot of Encyclopedia Brown and Choose Your Own Adventure books. I loved how they let you be a part of the story, either by trying to solve the mystery or by actually picking the outcome. Independence and mastery are really key for this age group. They’re important to Meena, too! I think one of the reasons graphic novels and early chapter books are so popular is because it gives new readers a wonderful feeling of accomplishment to finish a whole book.

LISA: I had a chaotic childhood, so I read books with a magical escape. I loved The Chronicles of Narnia and The Wizard of Oz. I used to imagine that I was Lucy in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe disappearing into Narnia or Dorothy getting whisked away to the land of Oz. I was also a Nancy Drew fan, which explains why I love to write mysteries.

DEBBY: DEBBY: I can remember carrying around my copy of HARRIET THE SPY by Louise Fitzhugh when I was eight. I admired Harriet’s courage and her independence. I also loved ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O’Dell. I was inspired by Karana’s bravery and inner strength. Many of my favorite books from when I was a young reader are featured in the Ruby Starr series as Ruby reads and cherishes these same books. I have also tried to create a relatable but admirable character in Ruby who is not afraid to be herself and faces her mistakes with honesty and humility.

How do you weave heavier themes into books for younger readers so that you don’t lose them? Are there topics you feel are inappropriate to address at all?

KARLA: I don’t think it’s appropriate to include graphic violence or sexual situations. (Does anybody?) I do think it’s okay to explore big questions and to write about real-life situations that hurt and confuse kids. I think the trick is to understand how children deal with those things in real life. If they’re going through a hard time, they might cry or sulk or cling one minute, but then they run off to play or hang out with friends the next. They never really forget what they’re going through, but they don’t focus on it every minute. Readers need that same breathing room. Meena deals with some scary stuff, but then she works on a project or hangs out with her family. She distracts herself. That’s true to life, but it also lets readers take a break and relax into the story again.

LISA: My style is to keep things light. In my book, Ollie’s dad bailed on his family. I didn’t go into details, but I did sprinkle clues throughout the story about how his absence affected Ollie. This element was not a central theme to my story, so I gave the reader just enough information so they wouldn’t spend time wondering about what happened to the father.

DEBBY: One topic I stay away from with this age range is romance. Besides that, I think any topic that is relevant in a young reader’s life has a place in literature. For me, the issue is not the topic itself but the amount of detail to provide with the heavier topic. In my debut novel, JANE IN BLOOM (Dutton Children’s Books), there were certain facts I removed during the revision stage because I thought they would overwhelm target readers. I never underestimate young readers though. They often display more depth and capacity than adults.

What do you love about early middle grade readers?

KARLA: Oh, my gosh, they’re so fun! Every once in a while, I run into a quiet, star-struck child, but usually they don’t hold anything back—not their stories or their feelings or their opinions. They’re starting to learn tact, but they’re still compulsively honest, so they ask how old you are and tell you when you made a mistake. I love that about them! I also love that they ask such complex questions at that age. They’re much more philosophical and self-aware than adults usually give them credit for.

LISA: I feel like middle grade readers are starting to look beyond their parents for answers. They are testing new boundaries and full of wonder. But, best of all, they still believe in magic.

DEBBY: I would have to say their enthusiasm. I also love their attention to details—they notice everything.

Do you have any suggestions for classroom activities that teachers can center around your book?

KARLA: Anything where kids get to imagine new uses for thrown-away items is great! Bonus points if they bring materials from their own recycling bins.

LISA: One question I always ask when visiting a class is-Have you ever been bullied? Just about everybody raises their hand. This question opens the door to great dialogue.

DEBBY: Teachers could start a book club in class like Ruby’s book club. The students could break into mini groups to discuss what they have read. I have book club questions for all of my books available for free download on my website www.deborahlytton.com.

Anything you’d like to add?

KARLA: I got to write a second Meena book! Keep your eyes peeled next year for NEVER FEAR, MEENA’S HERE!

LISA: There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep moving forward. And above all, be kind.

DEBBY: Thank you, Gail, for including me in the group today. Congratulations on your debut release! For more information about me and my books, visit www.deborahlytton.com.

GiveAway Alert!

We’re giving away a copy of Debby Lytton’s newest book, THE GREAT MUSEUM MIXUP AND OTHER SURPRISE ENDINGS! Comment on this post for a chance to win (and feel free to follow Debbie at @DeborahLytton and tweet this post!). Limited to U.S. and Canada.

Want to see more of Meena and Karla?

Purchase links available at https://www.karlamanternach.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5023673.Karla_Manternach
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @mskarlam

Want to see more of Lisa and Ollie?

https://www.instagram.com/lisalschmid
https://www.facebook.com/LisaLSchmid
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41003731-ollie-oxley-and-the-ghost
Twitter: @LisaLSchmid

Want to see more of Deborah and Ruby Starr?

Twitter: @DeborahLytton

website: http://www.deborahlytton.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2004219.Deborah_LyttonBarnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-great-museum-mix-up-and-other-surprise-endings-deborah-lytton/1128560812;jsessionid=708302844383405241762AD31A144FF4.prodny_store02-atgap04?ean=9781492645832#/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Museum-Mix-Up-Surprise-Endings/dp/1492645834/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+great+museum+mix+up&qid=1553585695&s=gateway&sr=8-1

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781492645832

Interview and 3 book + swag bag giveaway with Sarah Floyd

By Mindy Alyse Weiss on March 25, 2019 / Author Interviews, Giveaways

I’d like to welcome Sarah Floyd to the Mixed-Up Files blog.

Thanks so much, Mindy! This is a dream come true for me. I’m a huge fan of this blog!

Huge congrats on the launch of your debut middle grade novel! How did you come up with the idea for Butterfly Girl?

Butterfly Girl, or at least the idea of flying, has percolated in my mind for as long as I can remember. As a child I often dreamed of flying (sleeping dreams as well as daydreams), and on one particularly windy day in kindergarten, I ran across the playground with my umbrella open and lifted two feet off the ground. If my umbrella hadn’t flipped inside-out, breaking its spines, I might have flown right over the rooftop! As a fourth grader, my friends and I tried to levitate. During lunch period, we sat cross-legged on our school’s tall lab tables, eyes closed in meditation, whispering “light as a feather” and waiting to float toward the ceiling, mind over matter. And in sixth grade we created wings out of cardboard and duct tape and ran down the hills of San Francisco (where I grew up), flapping our arms and trying to fly. None of our attempts were successful, but there was a delicious sense of almost flying, that the secret was ever so slightly out of reach. That secret, that mysterious missing ingredient, is magic—and that’s why the book’s main character Meghan can fly, and I still can’t!

What was the hardest part about writing Butterfly Girl?

Butterfly Girl literally woke me up at 5:00 every morning, demanding to be written. I navigated daily life distracted by thoughts of magic spells, wings, farming, paparazzi, frenemies, and first crushes. I became a master list-maker and relied on timers to pry myself away from the manuscript to take care of my family and other responsibilities. Some days my head was so full of characters chatting with each other and plot points twisting and turning that I could hardly fall asleep at night!

I love when a manuscript begs for attention like that!

What type of research did you have to do so we could experience circus and farm settings and what inspired you to include them in Butterfly Girl?

Most of the settings in my writing have a personal connection to my own life, although I often do additional research to support my understanding and add details. So, farm life and the circus both have a basis in my own history.

I spent my early childhood on the Big Sur coast of California, near the Salinas Valley, the most productive agricultural region in California. Farm life was all around me, part of the landscape. My best friend’s mom had a wonderful organic garden (smaller in scale but similar to Meghan and her grandfather’s garden), where I learned about composting, organic fertilizer, and the challenges and rewards of working the land. For accuracy in the book, I researched crops that would thrive in Oregon, where Butterfly Girl takes place, as well as bird species and geographical details that are specific to that state. The idea of terraced farmland came from the year I spent in Malaysia as a ten-year-old, where fields are often cut into the hillsides like terraces, which helps maximize irrigation and land use (it’s a method that some savvy organic farmers have also adopted here in the United States).

The circus element in the book comes from my current life in Florida—the Ringling Circus Museum is located in Sarasota, Florida, about an hour from where I live. It is the former winter home for that circus, and over time, many performers have settled in Florida year-round. There’s a strong sense of family within the circus community, which was a perfect fit for Meghan’s mom. The notion of her running off to join the circus came from a childhood memory of my teenage brother taking me to the circus . . . everything about it seemed magical and exciting, so different from anything I had ever experienced, and I remember him talking about how the circus moves from town to town, and often attracts runaways. He wondered who in the crowd might run away and join the circus that very night! That idea stuck with me—the circus was the perfect place for Meghan’s mom to disappear for a while, and it suited her spotlight-loving personality.

Wow! I love seeing your connection to the settings in Butterfly Girl.

You weave in lots of senses and find unique ways to describe things that really make us feel like we’re there–things like baseball sized tomatoes, shiny red strawberries the size of a baby’s fist, and Greta’s eyes glinted like shards of green glass.

Can you share a writing exercise that will help students (as well as writers) dig deeper to find creative ways to make their prose pop?

This is a fun and easy exercise that taps into emotions to create vivid imagery. Later, students might label their sentences as similes or metaphors, or categorize parts of each sentence, but ideally this starts as a brainstorming session to unlock creativity and show students how to come up with fresh, vibrant imagery. Students can work individually, or if groups are preferred, they can collaborate by using a shared list or index cards to come up with their group’s sentences.

Sensory writing exercise:

Combining sensory details with mood words is a great way to create more depth and emotion in your writing. A deeper emotional connection helps readers immerse themselves in the story by experiencing whatever your characters are feeling. Here’s how to get started:

Make a list on the board or a sheet of paper, or use index cards to write one or two Sensory Details for each sense: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Here are some examples:

Sight: sun beaming, the sky

Sound: my dog barking, birds chirping

Smell: bread baking, fragrance of wildflowers wafting on the breeze

Touch: velvet texture of moss, rain dripping onto skin

Taste: sour lemon, cotton candy

(“Taste” is tricky—along with taste words like sour, sweet, or salty, I sometimes use an actual food item to create the emotion I’m trying to convey, such as “cotton candy clouds,” a cheerful and pleasant image.)

Make a list of Mood Words (things, not feelings) that match whatever emotion or mood you would like to create. So, for “happy,” my list might include:

a gold medal

a life raft

a heart

a cake

the summer sky (sky is on both lists—some words can be both sensory and mood words!)

Now, mix it up! Combine a Sensory Detail with a Mood Word to express each of the five senses and create more emotional depth. Here are some examples:

Sight:

The sun beamed like a gold medal above the finish line as I rounded the final bend.

Sound:

Marley’s familiar bark echoed across the distance, a life raft in the storm.

Taste:

Cotton candy clouds floated across the summer sky.

Sensory details combined with mood words will make your writing more vivid, emotional, and memorable. Try different combinations and see what happens!

Thank you so much for that fantastic writing exercise!

If Meghan wanted to be anything besides a butterfly, what would it be…and why? What would you want to be?

Meghan wishes she could fly like a butterfly, but the wings she grows aren’t actually butterfly wings, although there’s a connection to butterflies—which I can’t talk about without spoiling. : ) The shape of her wings is reminiscent of a butterfly’s wings, but they are sturdy and flexible, with a leathery consistency, not delicate and fragile. If given a choice, she might have liked to grow bird wings, if it was only about flying . . . but from the author’s point of view, Meghan’s longing for wings and her connection to butterflies is also about her longing for independence, and about the transition from childhood to becoming a young woman—coming of age. So, even though bird wings would have worked, the idea of a butterfly’s metamorphosis from a crawling caterpillar to a joyful winged-creature seemed like a perfect fit on a meta-level, and was more emotionally resonant.

As far as what I would want to be, I would want to be myself, but with the ability to “think” myself airborne. When I fly in dreams, I just think myself into the air and suddenly there I am, flying. I love when that happens!

What’s something unique people don’t know about you?

I know how to ride a unicycle! I learned when I was eleven and my cool older sister received a unicycle for Christmas, which she promptly hid in the garage. The boys on my block laughed at my clumsy attempts to ride it, so of course I had to learn how! That stubbornness (let’s call it tenacity) helped me stick it out through many clumsy manuscripts and queries—thank you, trusty old unicycle! I passed the unicycle along to my young nephew—he was so excited to try it, and over time I realized I wasn’t riding it very often (my husband and son both have two-wheeled bikes, which are faster and more stable for the longer distances we travel together). It’s great to see someone else enjoying my old unicycle, and keeping it in the family means I still get to ride it once in a while. I will never completely turn away from that determined little girl who worked so hard to learn how to balance on one wheel.

I love how a unique activity when you were a child shows the determination that helped you become a published author!

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

I have wanted to write for children since I was in elementary school, and finally decided to go for it when my now sixteen-year-old son was in kindergarten. I started with picture books and then branched out to include writing for tweens and teens. I’m happy to share that my first picture book will be released soon, Ten Clever Ninjas. It’s an incredible feeling to finally see some of my work making its way into the world!

Congratulations, Sarah! It’s great to see your childhood dream of being a children’s author come true. Thank you for stopping by the Mixed-Up Files and letting us celebrate with you.

Thank you so much for having me, Mindy! It has been an honor and a pleasure to chat with you! : )

To learn more about Sarah, stop by her website and follow her on Twitter.

Sarah has generously donated 3 signed copies of Butterfly Girl along with awesome butterfly swag bags which include bookmarks, stickers, tattoos, and other surprises!

Twelve-year-old Meghan is abandoned on her grandfather’s Oregon farm, stumbles on an ancestor’s magic spell book . . . and sprouts wings. When her absentee-mother shows up with superstar plans for her Winged Wonder Girl, Meghan must decide if a Hollywood life with the mother she longed for is worth leaving the friends who stood by her, and Grandpa, who loved her before the whole world knew her name.

2 signed books plus a cool butterfly swag bag for a teacher or media specialist

*1 book for a teacher or media specialist

*1 for their classroom, media center, or library

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A signed book plus a cool butterfly swag bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*These giveaways are good in the U.S. and Canada

Winners will be announced on Sunday, March 31. Good luck!

Author Spotlight: Sandy Stark-McGinnis

By Melissa Roske on March 20, 2019 / Articles, Author Interviews, Fiction, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers, New Releases, Publishing & Promotion, Writing

Full disclosure: Author Sandy Stark-McGinnis, author of the grippingly beautiful MG debut, EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS, and I share four things in common: 1. an agent (the incredible Patricia Nelson, of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency); 2. an all-encompassing love for the iconic TV sitcom, The Golden Girls; 3. a penchant for cowboy boots (don’t judge); and, above all, 4. genuine friendship. Sandy and I “met” on Twitter last year and have been enjoying a back-and-forth flurry of messages—of support, encouragement, or just to vent—ever since. Today, I have the honor of interviewing Sandy, whose novel flies free from Bloomsbury on April 30. Enjoy!

MR: First off, Sandy, I need you to know how much I loved EXTRAORDINARY BIRDS. It gripped me from page one, and never let me go. I was also deeply moved by your main character, December—a truly remarkable heroine. Can you tell me a little about her, and what led you to tell her story?

SSM: December is a bundle of contradictions—that’s why I love her. She’s strong and knows how to survive, but is vulnerable and carries a lot of sorrow in her heart.

I had two inspirations that led me to write her story. One was students I’ve had through the years, and the other was a newspaper article that reported an incident where a mother, in a methamphetamine rage, physically attacked her young daughter. With December I wanted to explore how a child could endure an event like that. Where would she find the strength to keep going and find a better place, a place of healing?

MR: Obviously, birds are a major theme in your novel. December is obsessed with birds and flying, is fostered by a caring taxidermist named Eleanor, and keeps a journal/biography called Bird Girl: An Extraordinary Tale. What is it about the subject of birds that captures your heart and imagination?

SSM: Well, I thought birds and flight were perfect metaphors to use to explore how December deals with her past. And, I’ve always wanted to try and write a realistic story about a child who believes she/he can fly.

MR: Along these lines, December has an encyclopedic knowledge of birds, with facts and figures flying off every page. What kind of research did you have to do to make December’s interest in the subject authentic?

SSM: My researched focused on specific birds. December uses her knowledge of them to navigate her way through the world. So, the hard/fun part was exploring specific birds and their behaviors, and using them to parallel December’s own interactions with people and/or situations in which she found herself.

MR: December is a foster child who has suffered extensive trauma and physical abuse in her young life. You handle this topic with great sensitivity and care. What was your approach to understanding the subject of abuse, as well as December’s mindset as a foster child? Was extensive research involved?

SSM: To get inside December’s head and heart, I focused on how she dealt with her own tragedy. I started from there and then spent a lot of time trying to find her voice and cadence, her perspective of the world based on her past experiences. Once I knew what motivated her, it was easier to capture her inner-life and how she responded to events that happened to her. When I had specific questions about foster care, I found someone who worked in the California system who generously took the time to answer any questions I had. Most of the inquiries had to do with making sure December’s experience was authentic.

MR: At school, December develops a strong friendship with Cheryllynn, a spunky transgender girl who stands up for December when she is bullied. December has never had a real friend before, and she has a hard time letting Cheryllynn into her heart. Can you tell us a bit about Cheryllynn, and her role in December’s story?

SSM: Cheryllynn is a heroine too. She, like December, is vulnerable and strong, but she’s more grounded than December. I think because she has roots—a home, a mom who is there for her—she’s able to navigate who she is and her own conflicts with honesty and a trust that December has to learn is possible.

MR: I know you’re a fifth grade teacher, as well as a mom to two young children. How do you balance work, parenting, and writing? What does your writing routine look like?

SSM: The only quiet time in my house is in the morning. I wake up at four o’clock—five o’clock on weekends—and write. I’m a morning person so it works well for me. Thirteen years as a competitive swimmer—getting up for practice before school every day of my high school years—trained me to have the discipline I needed to keep a consistent schedule.

MR: Can you tell us about your path to publication? Was it a straight shot or a long and winding road?

SSM: It was definitely long and winding. From the time I started writing Extraordinary Birds to when Patricia Nelson made an offer of representation was about five years (And in those five years, I sent out around fifty queries and revised many times.) Then, Patricia and I took another year and a half for revision before Allison Moore at Bloomsbury made an offer.

MR: And finally, I know you’re a huge Golden Girls fan. Who’s your favorite character, and why? Do you have a favorite episode?

SSM: Ugh. This is hard, but I think my favorite is Rose. She’s the character who always surprised me, and made me laugh the most. And, she was a storyteller! I don’t have a favorite episode, but anytime Rose started to tell a story about living in St. Olaf…Well, just hilarious!

MR: Thanks for chatting today, Sandy. It was a pleasure to have you on Mixed-Up Files!

SANDY STARK-McGINNIS is a debut author and award-winning poet whose work has appeared in Quercus Review, In the Grove, and Penumbra. She holds an MA in creative writing from San Francisco State University. Sandy lives with her husband and children in California, where she teaches fifth grade. You can find Sandy at her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.