Author Interviews

Book Giveaway! And an Interview with Jennifer Duddy Gill

By on February 14, 2014   /   Author Interviews, Giveaways  

Congratulations on your debut novel, Jennifer, and thanks for celebrating your launch with us. We’re so honored!

Ferrellcover

What would you like to tell us about your book?

‘The Secret of Ferrell Savage’ begins with Ferrell entering a sled race to impress a girl he likes and, for reasons that are beyond his control, he gets her attention and becomes a celebrity in his town. A jealous racing competitor threatens to reveal a secret about Ferrell that even he, Ferrell, didn’t know: he’s a descendent of the infamous Colorado cannibal, Alfred Packer.

So it’s a cannibalism story! Excellent! That’s rare in MG fiction. 🙂

Ha ha! Actually, it’s a not-too-gruesome story about an awkward first crush. Thank goodness, none of the main characters get eaten. The main thing that Ferrell has in common with his great, great, great uncle is that they both became unexpected legends.

What inspired you to write ‘The Secret of Ferrell Savage’?

It was the character himself that came to me before the actual story. He didn’t have a name at first, but I knew his personality. He’s lovable and easy-going. He isn’t a good student because he’s too daydreamy and he’s not good at sports because he doesn’t like to compete. He hates it when other people feel bad for losing. I would be driving in my car or taking my dog for a walk and this 12-year-old boy’s voice would come into my head and say funny things that would express his own quirky interpretation of the world and I couldn’t wait to find out what his story was.

Ferrell Savage is the most awesome character name I’ve read in years. How did you come up with it?

Most of the names in the story give clues to the characters. Just like real-life Alferd Packer himself – he was a meat packer. J Ferrell and his friend Mary Vittles have a discussion about their names in the book. She finds it humorous and somehow suiting that his name is pronounced “feral” like a wild, brutal animal. Then she points out that her own name sounds like it could be a title for a cookbook because “Merry Vittles” sounds like happy food.

happyDSC_5984Have you always written?

When I was ten years old my sister, Mary, bought me a journal and I loved having a place to write my thoughts. Soon, I was so hooked on writing that I would put off doing my homework because I needed to write about my day first. I have a huge trunk filled with my writing in colorful notebooks of different sizes.

Wow! Sounds like you had a really awesome sister? Does she still encourage you to write? Have there been any other key encouragers of your writing?

Both my immediate family and my in-laws have been very supportive and excited about my publication and that means so much to me. My agent, Wendy Schmalz, has been my greatest supporter of all. I’ve heard of agents parting ways with clients when the first book didn’t sell, but Wendy never lost faith in those earlier manuscripts, nor in me as a writer. Ariel Colletti bought Ferrell Savage for Atheneum and she was wonderful to work with. She is easy going and very approachable. She’s also got a great sense of humor. Sadly for everyone in publishing, Ariel decided to choose a different career path. My new editor is Ruta Rimas and while the editing part of the process was finished when she took over, she has been a champion of the book and I’ve been grateful to have her on my side. I hope to have the opportunity to produce a book together with her, from start to finish.

Speaking of gratitude, I also want to bring attention to the book’s adorable art work. Sonia Chaghatzbanian’s interior illustrations are the perfect highlight to each chapter heading. There are several that made me laugh so hard!

And how did you choose middle grade as a focus for your writing?

When we lived in Costa Rica I bought a composition book with Tweety Bird on the cover. In this book I wrote about our experiences as I imagined them from my eight- year-old daughter’s perspective. I had a lot of fun with it and both my daughters loved the stories. I thought, hmm, maybe I should try writing other stories for kids. So, I wrote a book with hopes of selling it. I was lucky enough to get the interest of a fabulous agent, but unfortunately the book didn’t sell. I wrote two more books, both a little bit dark and serious, and they came close to selling, but unfortunately the time wasn’t quite right. Ferrell Savage is actually the fourth book I wrote.

The view from Jennifer's writing desk in Costa Rica.

The view from Jennifer’s writing desk in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica! Wow! Have you ever lived any where else?

After college I joined the Peace Corps and taught organic agriculture on a West Indian island called Dominica. Later, I taught English as a second language in Barcelona. For a brief time I worked in a printing press on a kibbutz in Israel. By the time my husband and I met, we’d both seen a lot of the world. We adopted our second child in South Korea and as soon as she and our older daughter were grown up enough, we wanted to give them a view of the world outside of the U.S. We hope they’ll always be aware of the whole wonderful globe we all share.

 

And now the lightning round

Your favorite beverage and soundtrack while writing?

Ha! I’m going to sound painfully boring, but I like water best and complete silence when I’m writing.

Your favorite place to write?

At my desk or on the couch with one foot resting on our dog, Susi. She likes to always be within my reach.

Your favorite quote or writing mantra?

I can really relate to Gertrude Stein’s quote: “It takes a heap of loafing to write a book,” because when I’m working my hardest, I’m usually staring out a window.

And now in honor of the day A Cannibal Valentine! Yes, that’s Alfred Packer! Thanks to Meghan Gates for the artwork.

339544_995126960631_1686891192_o

 

Thanks for sharing your book launch, Jennifer!

If you can’t wait to get your hands on this book, leave a comment and you are automatically in the drawing for a free signed copy!

The giveaway winner will be announced on Thursday, February 20! Stay tuned!

Back to Top

Welcome Super Librarian and Author Louise Simone!

By on February 7, 2014   /   Author Interviews, For Librarians  

Nobody knows the books kids love better than someone who’s surrounded by lots and lots of kids and lots and lots of wonderful books, which is exactly how I’d describe elementary and middle school librarian and author Louise P. Simone. What’s more, Louise is on the homestretch of her doctorate, on fantasy literature for children and young adults.

Family Photos_©BoschStudios-31

Today I’m delighted to welcome Louise to From The Mixed-Up Files! Let’s get down to business, Louise. How do your students select great books- cover design, word of mouth, reading the first page or a random interior page, other?

In my experience the cover has a lot to do with which books go out and which don’t. Since I updated our copies of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House Series, which had 1970s era covers (the books were still in great shape, by the way, despite being loved by hundreds of students over the 35 years the library housed them), the books have been in almost constant circulation.  Same thing with the Box Car series. So much for not judging a book by its cover…

But just as important is another child/classmate’s recommendation. I can stand there talking up a book until I’m blue in the face, and get blank stares, until another student who I have managed to entice to read the story steps in to second my recommendation. Many kids are happy to take my word for the story’s worth, but when a friend recommends one, it’s gold.  I suppose the last thing a potential reader looks at is the jacket copy or the back cover’s description.  It has to be intriguing  and come almost to spoiling the story. Of course every publisher and writer knows the importance of a hook…I’m here to tell you they really, really work.

What surprises you about your students’ selections?

I must admit I take a great deal of time finding a book to meet my students tastes. I know who likes to cry, or who likes a fast paced adventure, or a mystery with just the right amount of puzzle to decipher. I don’t carry a lot of the really short, quick read series because they take up a lot of shelf space and kids go through them so fast I can’t keep them in the library long enough for them to check out the next one when they are ready. But because of the school’s demographics, most parents are happy to keep their children in reading material, so I am off the hook about purchasing those. But what surprises me is that even when I think I’ve figured out a kid’s preference, it changes, Which is great because then I have a whole new pile to recommend. I love watching a student venture off the mainstream into a new genre. It makes my job more interesting and keeps me thinking.

How do you go about steering kids to a just right book?

I use all the usual tricks: a five finger rule, grade level, and asking them what books he or she recently read and really loved. I also ask which books they hated and why, so I don’t offer those up, but it also helps me narrow down their tastes. Sometimes, when I get an especially tough reader, I ask what they like to watch on television or what video games they play. That helps me focus on the kind of things that keep them interested and focused over longer periods of time, and it really surprises kids when the Librarian asks about things most teachers don’t. Also, I’ve found, that students who wouldn’t touch a serious piece of fiction with a ten-foot pole, will often read some of the most intense nonfiction or biographies. They might not like to fight through a made-up story, but give them one about real people facing real obstacles and you’ve reeled them in.

 I suppose the only other trick I use is to ask them to tell me if they could write a book, what would it be about. I try very hard to come up with one that matches their interests whether it be pirates and battles or pink hearts and dinosaurs.

What are some of your current favorites?

Anything by Kathi Appelt or Kate DiCamillo. I love The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp because it combines wit and adventure with an environmental message. Any time a book is both entertaining and makes a kid think, is great. Of course Rick Riordan is a perennial favorite. Recently, the 39 Clues series and The Seven Wonders series have been popular. Although I try to read new things each year, a few I go back to regularly are Lloyd Alexander’s The Book of Three, R. J. Palacio’s Wonder, and Christopher Paul Curtis’s Bud Not Buddy.  I also loved this year’s Newbery Winner, Flora and Ulysses, and Clair Vanderpool’s Navigating Early. Two of my favorite sleepers are Christopher Healy’s The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom and The Hero’s Guide to Storming Your Castle.  They are hilarious. Also, Grace Lin’s books are very popular, and Kekla Magoon’s, Walter Dean Myers’s, and Rita William’s Garcia’s books go out all the time.  For older students, John Green. 

Is setting aside time for read aloud important for middle grade readers?

Everybody loves to be read to. I especially love it when after a few minutes of reading, I’ll look up and the squirmy, fidgeting middle schooler who I have had my eye on is suddenly fully engaged, completely still, listening with his or her mouth open. You gotta love a story that can do that. 

9781463567330_p0_v2_s260x420

Louise is the author of the action packed upper middle-grade/YA thriller HEIR OF THE JAGUAR. Hailed by Kirkus for “nail-biting suspense” and “tight, sharp and intelligent” prose, it’s great for daring advanced readers who aren’t afraid to be a little bit scared when they read. JAGUAR was a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award and is now available as a graphic novel.

Thanks Louise!

Tami Lewis Brown is all for nail-biting suspense… as long as it stays on the page. She’s now working on a middle-grade murder mystery with a historic twist.

 

Back to Top

ICE DOGS: An Interview with Terry Lynn Johnson

By on January 24, 2014   /   Author Interviews  

Terry Lynn Johnson

Today I have the privilege of introducing author Terry Lynn Johnson and her new MG novel, ICE DOGS. Terry is a conservation officer in Whitefish Falls, Ontario, Canada, and her love of the great outdoors shines through her novels as well. She is also an experienced musher, so for anyone interested in dog sledding, this book is a must read.

A description of the book:

Pre-order a copy today by clicking on the image above

Lost. That’s how fourteen-year-old dogsledder Victoria Secord has felt ever since her father died. A champion musher, Victoria is independent, self-reliant, and thanks to her father, an expert in surviving the unforgiving Alaskan bush. When an injured “city boy” and a snowstorm catch Victoria and her dog team by surprise, a routine trip becomes a life-or-death trek through the frozen wilderness. As temperatures drop and food stores run out, Victoria must find a way to save them all in this high-stakes, high-adventure middle grade novel of endurance, hope, and finding your way back home.

If you are the visual type, watch the amazing trailer (which is just as awesome as the book):

Welcome to From the Mixed-Up Files, Terry! I am so excited to talk with you today about both your book and your own experiences with dog sledding!

First of all, I have to ask, what kinds of things do you do as a conservation officer in Canada? That sounds like a fascinating job!

A Conservation Officer is sometimes called a Game Warden in the States. I work outdoors enforcing Ontario’s natural resources legislation. I go on patrols in boats, canoes, snow machines, airplanes, ATV’s, and by truck. It’s a very diverse job, one day I could be tranquilizing bears, the next collecting DNA from a moose kill site.

Wow. I can see why you write about the wilderness, since you get to experience it up close every day.  Is there anything in your book, ICE DOGS, that was based on your job or your own mushing experiences?  Did you have to do a lot of book research as well?

Most of the events in the story I have had personal experience with. I don’t want to give spoilers here – but honestly, some of those experiences I’d rather not have had! One thing I did specifically for the story was drink twig tea and chew on the inner bark of trees. I also forced my husband to do it with me so I can watch his reaction. He’s a good sport.

That twig tea and bark chew sounds disgusting. I’m glad I only have to experience it through your writing. I also loved experiencing Victoria’s special relationship with her dogs, particularly her lead dog, Bean. Can you share with us some of your experiences with your team?

Most of the moments that stick in my mind involve just being with the dogs. My dogs were such characters and fun to watch as they learned. Seeing them think and respond to problems we came across on the trails, that was the best part for me. And I’ll never forget those quiet morning runs – the sled skimming hard trails, being surrounded by hoar frost-covered branches that sparkled like diamonds as the sun rose. Those mornings fill up my soul.

I love your vivid description of the winter wilderness. Your book is full of them, too. I especially loved the way you described the snow and its effect on the surroundings (and the people and animals, too). Any advice for the writers out there on ways to capture the setting in your writing?

An early version of Ice Dogs went out to agents and the feedback I got from one agent suggested that setting is a character and this story would benefit from a little more description and layers. That turned out to be great advice because after I revised, I found my agent Caryn Wiseman from ABLA. How to do it? What works for me every time is to go snowshoeing. Whenever I have trouble with a manuscript, that always seems to bring me back to centre. Though, that might not work for everyone. I’ve heard some writers think of their best scenes in the shower.

It’s clear you spend a lot of time outdoors! Have you ever been lost while mushing?

I did get lost one day for a few hours in heavy snow. This is the experience that my premise came from for the book. For me, my lead dog knew the way at a fork in the trail, and I trusted him. For Victoria, unfortunately she must go through the situation of what could have happened…

And I know your readers will love going on the adventure with Victoria. (I did.)  To be honest, reading your book made me me want to take up dog sledding.  Do you have any advice for those who are interested in learning more about mushing and wilderness survival training?

Outward Bound is a good place to start. I used to run dogs with them, so I know the quality of their instructors. They teach winter survival, take you out on trips, and have fun doing it. Another fantastic place to research dogsledding opportunities in your area is www.sleddogcentral.com.

Thank you so much for coming on the blog and sharing your experiences and your book, Terry!

And don’t forget, ICE DOGS will be releasing February 4th, so add it to your wish list now. Readers, as a special bonus, Terry is offering an autographed hardcover copy of her book, ICE DOGS, as well as some matching doggy bag swag! Enter below for a chance to be the lucky winner. The winner will be announced on January 30, 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

Elissa Cruz is currently experiencing the snow in her own home state of Utah. She is not a fan of the cold. You can learn more about her than you ever wanted to by visiting her website at www.elissacruz.com.

 

Back to Top