Author Interviews

A Chat With Author Kelly Barnhill

By on August 9, 2016   /   Author Interviews  

Book jacket for The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Some books grab you from the first moment you see their gorgeous cover. Such was the case the first time I saw Kelly Barnhill’s beautiful middle-grade fantasy, The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

Anticipation grew even more when Barnhill and her publisher released two prequels to the story last month on Entertainment Weekly (read Part 1 and Part 2 for a taste of Barnhill’s storytelling). So I was delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Kelly and to help her celebrate the release of The Girl Who Drank the Moon.

Hello Kelly, welcome to From the Mixed-Up Files! Which middle-grade books did you love when you were younger?

A: I wasn’t much of a reader before fifth grade. Like at all. I knew that one should read, and I was very good at pretending to read, but the ability to sink into a page just wasn’t there for me. What I did love was listening. My parents read to us all the time, and I can remember listening to Grimm’s fairy tales, and later C.S. Lewis, and later Tolkien, and later Dickens. I also —thanks to a garage sale purchase of a Fisher Price orange plastic record player — loved checking out books on records from the library. Because, once upon a time, that was a thing. I listened to Treasure Island and Kidnapped and Just So Stories and both Jungle Books. Later, when I started seeking books out on my own, I loved weird things. L. Frank Baum, particularly. And Roald Dahl. And Daniel Pinkwater. And Diana Wynne Jones. And Ursula K. LeGuin. And Andre Norton. You don’t have to scratch my skin very deeply to find the undercurrent of those writers, pulsing in my veins.

Q: Which came first, the story itself or the prequel?

A: Oh, the story. For sure. But one thing that I didn’t realize when I started writing the story was how much Xan’s unremembered history would come to play in the way the action unfolded. There is much that I couldn’t include in the story itself, simply because Xan had chosen not to remember it — because memory is dangerous, as is sorrow. Or so Xan thinks. Anyway, the idea of her as a child in the company of a bunch of irascible magicians and scholars — many of whom do not have her best interests at heart — intrigued me. And so some of the cut pages and a bunch of the notes started swirling around until a story emerged.

Q: Last year, you wrote a novella for adults called The Unlicensed Magician. Can you talk a little bit about the differences between writing for adults and for children? Which do you prefer? Should we expect more adult stories from you in the future?

Writing a novella, I feel, is a bit like the Spanish Inquisition — no one expects it. I have written and published quite a few short stories for grown-ups that have appeared in a variety of journals. I like writing short stories; I like the muscle of it and the precision needed. It’s an entirely different skill set from what is required for a novel. And while I’ve written a few short stories for kids, the vast majority of them have been for adults. I’m not entirely sure why this is. Maybe my “adult fiction voice” is just more narrow than my “children’s fiction voice.” Or something.

When I started “The Unlicensed Magician,” I assumed I was writing a short story. And then 30,000 words poured out over the course of a couple days — just like that. This was a muscle that I didn’t know I had, and when I finished, I was tired and sore and had no idea what to do with the thing. I’m glad it’s found an audience, and that people seem to like it. As far as the intended audience goes — man. I don’t know. I will think and think and think about a story — just the story — and have no idea if it is a kid’s story or an adult’s story or just a weird story that only I would like. I don’t really know that until I’m done. Really, all I think about is the story itself — what the experience is, what the language feels like, what the big ideas are underpinning the whole thing. I don’t think about audience until the very end.

Author Kelly Barnhill

Author Kelly Barnhill

Q: Like you, I attended my first nErDcamp this year. Can you talk a little bit about the experience and what it meant to you as a writer and former teacher?

A: nErDcamp is magic, plain and simple. I have been fighting for so long — first as a teacher and then as a parent — for reading instruction in schools that is humane and empathetic and inspiring and challenging and ultimately joyful. Reading instruction and encouragement that helps young minds to be more than they are through the power of radical empathy in books. And I have found myself thwarted and frustrated at every turn. Coming to nErDcamp felt like coming home. So many joyful teachers! So many joyful book pushers! So many joyful writers and readers and kids! It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.

Q: You teach writing to adults and children and you mentioned on your web site that a big part of that involves “un-teach(ing) what they have already learned.” Can you elaborate on that?

A: When we learn to write, we learn there are rules, and when we actually write, we throw those rules away. So often, my students come to me already stuck in particular boxes of what they think “good” writing is, and is not, and what kind of writer they think they are, and are not. And primarily, I think a lot of kids and adults have learned over the years that their ideas just aren’t good enough. That they don’t have a story to tell. That an idea for a story is something that happens to other people — special people. This is balderdash. All of us are built out of stories. I have to un-teach them the lie in order to teach them the truth.

Q: What books are on your nightstand right now?
A: A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC, by V E Schwab. And after that, I have some marvelous Murakami waiting for me. There is something about summer that simply begs for Murakami. After that, I plan to read MR. FOX, by Helen Oyeyemi and a few Diana Wynne Jones books that are due for a re-read.

***

Oh, how I loved A Darker Shade of Magic and so did both of my children (readers, please note that it is technically adult, although I let my 10 & 11 year old read it!). Thanks so much for your time, Kelly, and best of luck with your new book.

THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON releases today from Algonquin Young Readers.

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Interview with Debbie Reed Fischer and Two Great Giveaways

By on July 12, 2016   /   Author Interviews, Giveaways  

I’m thrilled to interview author Debbie Reed Fischer about her amazing middle grade novel, This Is Not the Abby Show. Thanks for stopping by the Mixed-Up Files on your release day, Debbie!

Headhot in TurquoiseFirst, let me say thank you for inviting me. I’m a Mixed-Up Files subscriber and so happy to be here.

You’re welcome. I enjoy introducing our readers to talented authors like you. I absolutely love This Is Not the Abby Show and was excited to read that Booklist compared it to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries. What was it like seeing a review like that?

Well, first I had to lie down because I don’t take good news very well. And then I felt overwhelming happiness. Years ago, when I came across the first Wimpy Kid book in the bookstore, I stood in in the aisle reading it for about twenty minutes, blown away by the humor, truth, and voice. I thought to myself: ‘This is going to be HUGE.’ I admire Dork Diaries as well. So the comparisons mean a great deal to me. Publishers Weekly compared Abby Show to Jack Gantos’s Joey Pigza books, another series that rocked my world when I read it. I’m very grateful the feedback has been so positive. A teacher who read my book described it as Joey Pigza meets The Breakfast Club for middle grade.

What do you think would appeal to fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries?

I think Abby’s voice, plus the comedy and tragedy of middle school life will appeal to readers. There’s a lot about friendship, family, and how relationships change, especially during the tween years. I hope that strikes a chord. Then there’s the humor. I really believe kids are funnier now than they were back in my middle school and high school days. Their sense of irony is sharper; they seem to be wittier. I notice it at school visits and with my sons’ friends. Maybe it’s because there are so many risk-taking authors now who have raised the bar writing authentic middle grade humor AND serious struggles, like the Hank Zipzer series by Lin Oliver and Henry Winkler. I’m beyond honored to have a seat at the table.

I really feel like I understand ADHD so much better now—especially how it can affect people differently. How did you learn so much about it and weave it into the story in such a natural way?

Thank you. It’s great to read that you understand it better now, because so much is misunderstood about the condition. As far as how I learned about ADHD, my son Sam has ADHD, and I knew many kids with it growing up, both girls and boys. I also taught students with ADHD in middle and high school. While writing the book, I interviewed doctors as well as kids of many ages with ADHD. One interesting way I know about it is because when my son Sam was being diagnosed, a doctor told me that I meet a lot of the criteria for the condition as well. He went so far as to say I’m a textbook case. Another doctor told me the same thing, although I haven’t been formally diagnosed. It’s not uncommon for a parent to have an unofficial diagnosis while their kids are going through the formal testing. ADHD commonly runs in families.

Also, there are many books about boys with ADHD. Where are the girls? There are so many studies coming out now about high percentages of girls who go undiagnosed and slip through school without the medical attention they need. This is a problem. I’m glad articles about girls with ADHD are gaining more national attention and thus raising awareness, but I know it’s a problem first-hand because, like Abby, I had to go to summer school (history and geometry), and like Abby, I was definitely misunderstood – and undiagnosed. All the kids who signed my yearbook in middle school signed it, “Dear Spacey.” I was so spacey I didn’t even know they were calling me spacey.

As far as weaving it naturally into the story, I had to be careful not to be too instructional. I had to remind myself that this is a novel about a girl who just happens to have ADHD while the course of her life is changing. For that reason, I had to omit some ADHD info, or it would have overburdened the novel. As Richard Peck advised at our Florida SCBWI conference, “First, you must entertain. Everything else is secondary.” One way I weave it in is with Abby’s brother’s bar mitzvah. He is preparing for his big day, and she winds up taking energy and focus away from what should be a special time for him. ADHD has an impact on the whole family. I think that aspect of the book will resonate for lots of kids with siblings who have ADHD or other differences.

Wow, thank you for sharing so much of yourself and your journey, Debbie. I’m sorry kids called you ‘Spacey’ when you were in middle school. I really hope your book helps kids and adults (especially the Mr. Finsecker’s of the world) accept and celebrate people for who they are. 

What would Abby like to say to people who meet someone with ADHD?

First, she would ask you to repeat the question because she wasn’t listening to you. There was something more interesting she was listening to in her head. Then she would answer the question as follows: You’ve already met someone with ADHD; that kid who was fascinated by the ants on the sidewalk during the fire drill and didn’t hear when it was time to go back inside? Yeah, that was the one. She would also point out that many people with ADHD are also gifted, known as twice-exceptional, and have very high IQ’s. With the right treatment, an ADHD child can be a straight A student in the most advanced classes. She would want you to know that it’s not only about focus, and it is not an excuse. It is a complex medical condition, and can be an emotional rollercoaster for the person who has it. It’s not fair when kids are labeled “behavior problems” because of a medical condition over which they have little control. What people don’t always understand is that ADHD is chemical, not character.

She would also explain that when a person has ADHD, thoughts are not linear and logical. They fly around rapidly, and often fly out of the person’s mouth before they’ve had a chance to process what they are saying. This is Abby’s biggest problem. The barrage of criticism and punishment from teachers, parents, and peers can lead to her feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness. I’ve seen this play out in real life repeatedly, so I really wanted to write about how that happens, and what it’s like for the person going through it. I hope my readers will have compassion and understand that the struggle is real. I read a Goodreads review of This Is Not the Abby Show from a librarian, and she stated that she had been a “disbeliever” but now is aware of the enormous impact ADHD can have on a student.

That’s wonderful! I love when books are not only funny and entertaining, but really change how people view the world. 

How would Abby describe her perfect friend?

The one thing Abby realizes by the end of the book is that there is no such thing as a perfect friend. She makes plenty of mistakes trying to be a good friend. Abby also realizes there’s no such thing as a perfect sibling or perfect parent. Everyone is flawed. Her journey in this book is a learning curve for everyone. If Abby had to fill out a checklist for a friend, though, I’d say she would request someone who gets her sense of humor, someone who is forgiving, and someone who is there to help her clean up the messes she makes. Abby finds a group of friends who are flawed as well, but somehow, they balance each other out. They have a deep well of empathy, forgiveness and patience for each other. I’m glad you brought up friendship, as the ups and downs of friendships are a key theme in the book.

I love the rough draft and final draft letters Abby writes. It looked like so much fun to have the freedom to write whatever comes into your mind first, then rewrite a letter in a more acceptable way. Do you have a similar exercise for students or other writers?

Well, I guess I do now. Thanks, Mindy! Great idea! I’ve written letters that were never sent, such as to the professor who told me I had a better chance at getting struck by lightning than ever getting published, and to an editor who rejected one of my manuscripts with nothing more than, “THIS IDIOT THINKS SHE CAN WRITE? EVERYONE IN OUR OFFICE IS LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY AS WE TAKE TURNS READING THE WORST PARTS AND BALLING UP THESE PAGES AND SHOOTING THEM INTO THE TRASH!” Okay, this editor didn’t say that. But that is what they meant. I’m pretty sure. And because I have a very active imagination and am also sensitive but not brave, I responded with scathing letters. I just never sent them. They are currently in a secret Swiss bank account. Instead, I sent back polite notes allowing me to take the high road publicly while taking the low road secretly, much like a seventh-grader in detention silently seething while forced to write an apology letter for talking in class. By the way, kids never write what they really think for those mandatory apology letters they have to write in detention. If they did, they would probably be expelled. But hey, it would be worth it because it would be SO funny.

Speaking of funny, I laughed so much while reading your book. Do you have any tips to share about adding humor to a story?

Thanks, I wanted to write a book that didn’t only spotlight the negative aspects of ADHD. I wanted to show the funny situations that can happen when a person has the condition. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves. That’s what gets us through tough times and helps us to deal with life’s challenges.

So I actually have a lot of tips, but you’d have to take one of my workshops for us to really get into it. Here are two top tips. Number one: Eavesdrop and Observe. Eavesdropping is a really helpful tool. I recently observed an elderly woman in a wheelchair arguing with her aide about a health food store that puts spinach on cupcakes. The older lady was outraged. “Spinach should NOT be on a cupcake!” I jotted it down for future use. (So you can’t have it. Sorry.) Humor is everywhere if you pay attention. It’s the little things.  Listening to people order food can have me in hysterics. Little kids say funny things, and so do the elderly. Take note of irony. It’s all around you. Moms who let their kids jump off public benches in the mall like chimpanzees while they push their dog sedately in a stroller. I live for that kind of thing. I love people who talk back to the movie screen. The things around you that others find annoying and want to tune out should be your source. I say TUNE IN to the absurdity, and there lies the humor! My second tip is to make sure the humor is authentic to the character’s age and personality. Writing humor for kids is tricky because what they find funny at 12 isn’t the same thing they find funny at 16. When you write for tweens and teens, you’re not just a writer, you’re an impersonator. And you have to be believable because if you’re not coming across as an authentic tween/teen, it’s obvious. That’s one of the challenges of writing for kids, and why I respect truly funny books. I wish there was more critical recognition for funny books, because they have to have everything a serious book has, PLUS be funny. Humor should be taken more seriously. Seriously.

How did This Is Not the Abby Show change as you revised it?

Throw Pages on Floor Like Mad Scientistrevising chapters on floor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This went through A LOT of version. It was originally titled Inappropriate Giggling, then Smartmouth, and was submitted as a YA. Several editors expressed interest in it. YAY, right? Not so fast. The catch was that they wanted to see it revised as a middle grade book before they would seriously consider it. At the time, I’d only thought of myself as a YA writer, and although I’ve always enjoyed reading middle grade books, I knew I’d have to take out the book’s romance plot, much of the rest of the plot, and some characters. Plus, capturing MG voice authentically isn’t something I take lightly. It seemed too daunting, so I shelved Abby Show for a couple of years. But Abby’s character stayed in my mind. Deep inside, I felt a great sense of purpose in writing Abby’s journey. So I started revising, but my first attempts weren’t working. I felt defeated and unmotivated. I even questioned if I should keep writing. One day, while walking my dog, I slipped and fell hard on a broken sidewalk. I broke my arm and shoulder and only had the use of one hand for several months. As crazy as it sounds, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Being unable to write made me want to write more than ever before. I made up my mind to take This Is Not the Abby Show off the shelf, and jumped back into writing with gusto–throwing each revised page like a mad scientist. With a broken arm, I rewrote a lot of the book with one hand. I give a lot of credit to my agent, Steven Chudney, who gave me great suggestions on that first draft. After it was sold to Random House/ Delacorte, credit goes to my editor, Rebecca Weston, for pushing me to dig deeper and keep rewriting until I got it right. After several drafts over about six months, the humor flowed, the plot flowed, and so did the new characters. I’ll be donating my stack of old drafts to the Hipple collection of Young Adult Literature at University of South Florida.

Congratulations on your amazing new middle grade novel, Debbie. Thanks for celebrating your release day with us, all your great advice, and two generous giveaways. 

You can find Debbie on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  Teachers and librarians can contact Debbie via her website to request an Educator’s Guide for This Is Not the Abby Show. 

Great news! Debbie has generously donated TWO amazing giveaways. Enter the Rafflecopter widgets below for a chance to win:  

  1. A signed copy of This Is Not the Abby Show. If a teacher or librarian wins this, Debbie would be happy to send up to 30 bookmarks, too!

Cover photo Abby ShowAbby is twice exceptional—she is gifted in math and science, and she has ADHD. Normally, she has everything pretty-much-sorta-kinda under control. But when Abby makes one HUGE mistake that leads to “The Night That Ruined My Life,” or “TNTRML,” she lands in summer school.
Abby thinks the other summer school kids are going to be total weirdos. And what with her parents’ new rules, plus all the fuss over her brother’s bar mitzvah, her life is turning into a complete disaster.
But as Abby learns to communicate better and finds friends who love her for who she is, she discovers that her biggest weaknesses could be her greatest assets.
Hilarious and heartwarming, This Is Not the Abby Show is for everyone who knows that standing out is way more fun than blending in.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

  1. A critique of up to 10 pages of a middle grade or young adult novel. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, July 19th. Good luck, everyone!

*Anyone can win the 10 page critique, but the signed book is only available in the United States or Canada.

Mindy Alyse Weiss writes humorous middle grade novels with heart and quirky picture books. She’s constantly inspired by her two daughters, an adventurous Bullmasador adopted from The Humane Society, and an adorable Beagle/Pointer mix who was rescued from the Everglades. Visit Mindy’s Twitter, Facebook, or blog to read more about her writing life, conference experiences, and writing tips.

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Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story–Nora Raleigh Baskin Interview and Giveaway

By on June 28, 2016   /   Author Interviews, Diversity, Fiction, For Kids, For Librarians, For Parents, For Teachers, For Writers, Writing  

9781442485068-1

I’m thrilled to welcome author Nora Raleigh Baskin to From the Mixed-Up Files. Today is the release date of her newest novel, Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story, which has already received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews.

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Nora about her work as a writer. Read on for the interview, as well as more about her, the novel, and how you could win an autographed copy!

 

When did you first get the idea to write about September 11, and how long did it take you to determine what you wanted to say about the event?

Well, I don’t know that I had anything specific to “say,” and certainly not to “teach” about the event, other than I wanted to re-create the moment it happened, or more precisely, the hours just before it happened. My goal for this book was to raise questions, rather than present answers. Of course, I’m human and I have my own perceptions and biases, but I try very, very hard not to use my characters that way.

My interest in writing about 9/11 was to write about “change.” I wanted to show the world we knew before, and the world after. There are many events in our collective American history so profound, they altered everything we knew, or thought we knew, to be true. I could have chosen any number of them; Pearl Harbor, the Kennedy assassination, the sinking of the Lusitania — moments when our innocence (or naiveté) was lost. I chose the one I remembered, the one I had actually experienced.

Did you plan from the beginning to have four narrators or is that something that evolved once you started writing?

Interesting question because yes, in fact, I had the structure before I had anything else. I was watching a movie called Bobby, about the day before Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed in the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel. When that happened, in 1968, I was seven years old, too young to understand what ended that day, but I grew up in a culture that was forever altered.

The movie follows several unconnected characters (except that they all find themselves in that same Los Angeles hotel) and each story reveals something about the specific time period in which they all live; feminism, racism, the drug culture, and of course, the political landscape.

In Nine, Ten I worked very hard to do the same thing with each of my four characters, but in a way that requires work on the part of my readers. For example, Naheed clearly foreshadows the bigotry Muslim Americans faced after 9/11. Aimee is in the story to represent all the It-would-have-been-me-but (fill in the blank) stories that came out of that day. Sergio’s story touches on the first responders, because no one can talk about 9/11 without thinking about those dedicated men and women. But the very hardest to connect was Will’s section, against the context of Flight 93 and the passengers that rose up against the hijackers. I wanted to speak to the concept of bravery and heroism, which is not a cut and dry, black and white, either or, issue.

I want my readers to think, and come to their own conclusions. I expect my readers to tax their brains a little when they read a book of mine.

The movie, Bobby, never hits you over the head with its agenda (although I am balling my eyes out when its over), but allows the everyday stories of everyday people to reveal themselves as profound. It was powerful, and I was so terribly excited to try and attempt the same thing in a written work.

P.S. If I had known how hard it was going to be, I might not have tried!

Without giving the ending away, how soon after getting the idea for the novel did you know how your narrators would finally cross paths?

Ah, another interesting question. No, I never thought they would cross paths again, until … well, I got to the end. It was so overwhelming, my own need for hope and redemption, that the ending was almost forced on me. I knew, as I was writing it, that there was a sentimental factor, but it felt right. And everyone I showed it to agreed. So it stayed. The ending truly sprang from my heart.

Another P.S. As unlikely as it may seem that four people who never know each other cross paths more than once in their lives, it is an idea I am fascinated by, and I believe happens much more than we ever realize. Kurt Vonnegut even invented a word for it in Cat’s Cradle.

Karass: A group of people linked in a cosmically significant manner, even when superficial links are not evident.

On your website, you mention that your writing is a vehicle of sorts for your own self-discovery and healing. How did writing this novel facilitate that discovery and healing?

Well, I cried a lot while I was researching this story. I had no idea how close to the surface these memories were, and how unprocessed they still are. I imagine that will be true for many of us who are old enough to remember (of course, my young readers were not yet born.) Because of this, none of my main characters lose anyone during the course of the book. As my editor said, there is enough loss in the premise itself.

It’s funny, or maybe not so funny, but as I get older I find myself reaching past self-discovery and my own need to heal my personal story, and out to the world at large. My kids are grown, my life is now stable and safe, and lord knows I’ve mined my family history plenty, so now I sense a greater, larger family.

What I mean is that I finally feel whole enough, to start telling the stories of other—not so autobiographical—characters. The healing that happens now is in discovering how connected we humans are. We are truly more alike than we are different, and I see this as the path my writing journey is now taking me.

You’ve published consistently since your first book in 2001. Were there ever any times when the writing didn’t flow or the ideas didn’t come so readily? If so, what got you back on track?

Ha! No, the writing always comes. It’s the publishing that doesn’t always flow so easily. 🙁

Can you tell us two of your best writing tips?

If I have to give only two … I’d say: Write from your heart. Every story has already been told, but no one can tell your story.

And … Finish what you start. You never know if your story is good or not, until you’ve finished that sucky first draft and get to work on revising.

So finish. There is so much learning from just doing that!

IMG_0646 (1)Nora Raleigh Baskin is the author of thirteen novels for young readers and has won several awards including the 2010 ALA Schneider Family Book Award for Anything But Typical. She has taught creative writing to both children and adults for over fifteen years with organizations such as SCBWI, The Unicorn Writers Conference, Gotham Writers Workshop, and The Fairfield County Writers’ Workshop. You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Good news! Nora has generously offered an autographed copy of the novel to raffle off to one lucky winner who shares this post on Facebook or Twitter. Read about the novel and how to win it below.

nine tenAsk anyone: September 11, 2001, was serene and lovely, a perfect day—until a plane struck the World Trade Center.

But right now it is a few days earlier, and four kids in different parts of the country are going about their lives. Sergio, who lives in Brooklyn, is struggling to come to terms with the absentee father he hates and the grandmother he loves. Will’s father is gone, too, killed in a car accident that has left the family reeling. Naheed has never before felt uncomfortable about being Muslim, but at her new school she’s getting funny looks because of the head scarf she wears. Aimee is starting a new school in a new city and missing her mom, who has to fly to New York on business.

These four don’t know one another, but their lives are about to intersect in ways they never could have imagined.

Tell me in the comments section where you shared by Thursday, June 30 at midnight. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday, July 2. (Continental U.S. only, please.)

Dorian Cirrone has written several books for children and teens. Her middle-grade novel, The First Last Day (Simon and Schuster/Aladdin) released this month and is available wherever books are sold. You can find her on Facebook and on Twitter as @DorianCirrone. She gives writing tips and does occasional giveaways on her blog at: http://doriancirrone.com/welcome/blog/

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