Author Interviews

Interview With Author Josh Roberts

By on October 23, 2024   /   Author Interviews, Fiction, kidlit, New Releases  

I’m thrilled to welcome Josh Roberts to the Mixed-Up Files . . . Just in time for Halloween. Today we chatted about his new middle grade, THE CURSE OF WILLOW COVE. This is the second book in THE WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE series.

Grab a cup of hot chocolate and pull up the covers; it’s time to talk all things spooky.

Lisa: Tell us about THE CURSE OF WILLOW COVE.

Josh: Thanks for inviting me to talk about my new book. I always love chatting with the Mixed-Up Files! The Curse of Willow Cove is the second book in my upper middle grade series aimed at tweens and teens ages 10 and up. I call it a standalone sequel to book one, The Witches of Willow Cove, because it’s intended as an accessible entry point for anyone discovering the series for the first time.

School Library Journal says that the Willow Cove books “may be written for middle grade, but the exciting narrative could appeal to young adults,” and that’s exactly what I was going for—stories that can be enjoyed by a lot of different age groups.

The Witches of Willow Cove and The Curse of Willow Cove are both set in a small New England town with a secret history dating back to the Salem Witch Trials. In the first book, a 13-year-old girl named Abby Shepherd learns that she and several of her seventh grade classmates are witches—with all the spell casting powers and flying broomsticks that come with it. Working together with a group of non-magical friends from their middle school, the young witches must solve a mystery from their town’s distant past before it can threaten the lives of everyone living in the present.

In The Curse of Willow Cove, Abby and her coven are all now 14 years old and they have a year of witchcraft under their belt. Things seem to be going well, until some of their classmates begin to vanish in the night… only to come back as something dangerous and different. Just as the first book in the series pulls from the real history of the Salem Witch Trials, The Curse of Willow Cove leans into another mysterious episode from the past called the Great New England Vampire Panic.

Lisa: Did you always plan to write a sequel to THE WITCHES OF WILLOW COVE? If yes, did you always know where you wanted to go with the story?

Josh: Yes and yes. From the beginning, I envisioned The Witches of Willow Cove as a series, and my publisher encouraged me to think of it that way, too. Although the first book is a standalone novel with a beginning, middle, and end, I was able to plant certain seeds for the sequel in it so that the second book feels very much like a natural continuation, even though it can be read on its own without having read the first book. Of course, things change when you sit down to write. Once I really dug into the story, not everything I’d planned for the second book made sense to me anymore, or new ideas came along, or certain characters began to demand more page time than I’d initially planned… but that’s one of the things that keeps it fun as an author.

I would say that The Curse of Willow Cove ends exactly where I always planned for it to end, but the route we took to get there changed quite a bit from my initial notes.

Lisa: What kind of research did you do while writing books about witches?

Josh: As a lifelong New Englander, I was already very familiar with the history of the Salem Witch Trials in particular. But “familiar with” and “an expert on” are two very different things, so for book one I did a lot of research into the real history of the period and then tried to weave a plausible secret history around those events while remaining respectful to the real historical victims. For The Curse of Willow Cove, almost all of my research went into understanding the Great New England Vampire Panic of the late 19 th century when farmers and townspeople all across the region were literally digging up their dead relatives because they believed they’d come back as vampires. The Curse of Willow Cove began with the question, “What if they were actually right about the vampires?”

Lisa: Do you think there are real witches with magical abilities?

Josh: Living so close to Salem and its modern witch culture, I would never be foolish enough to deny the existence of real witches!

Lisa: Do you base characters on people you know? If yes, spill the beans! (Translation: Do you know a witch?)

Josh: That’s a really good question. I don’t think I’ve ever set out to intentionally base a character on someone I know, at least not entirely, but without a doubt there are certain personality traits and habits I’ve borrowed from people in my life. It’s always fun to see if they recognize themselves in those characters. There’s one character in particular that reminds me of my wife when she was around the same age (we met when we were young teenagers) and so she’s obviously a favorite character of mine.

Lisa: How much of your real-life experiences play a role in the stories you tell?

Josh: Growing up in Massachusetts, I became fascinated by the fact that not only were there accused witches all across the state—including one in my hometown—but also that the witch trials did not actually occur in modern day Salem. I think there’s even a line in one of my books that basically amounts to “Salem gets all the tourists, but the real witch history happened elsewhere.” For the purposes of my story, that “elsewhere” is my invented town of Willow Cove, and it’s based off of the places I’ve lived all my life. So while Willow Cove isn’t literally a real place, it’s real to me because it feels like I’ve walked every inch of it at one time or another.

In terms of the characters I write, The Witches of Willow Cove series has a big and diverse cast, but I think it’s safe to say that there’s a little bit of my personality in each and every one of them—the witches and non-witches alike.

Lisa: What books did you like to read when you were a kid? Do those books influence your writing?

Josh: I loved everything by Lloyd Alexander, but especially The Prydain Chronicles. Those were the first books I ever fell in love with, and also the first to make me sad when I reached the end because it meant I’d never get spend more time in that world with those characters again. I think you can see the influence of those books in my writing most clearly when you look at the kinds of characters I’m drawn to write. The main female character in The Prydain Chronicles is a girl called Eilonwy, who is smart, strong-willed, sharp-tongued, brave, and (at times) sensitive. I think that describes most of the girls in The Witches of Willow Cove series, too.

Lisa: What advice would you give twelve-year-old Josh?

Josh: When I was younger, I wasted a lot of years believing I wasn’t talented enough to write a book because the words never came out the way I hoped they would on the first try. I wish I’d understood that writing is a journey and no one starts out perfect at it. You have to work hard, and you have to keep working hard even when it gets frustrating—or maybe especially when it gets frustrating.

I came from a family of readers, but no one else I knew ever wanted to write like I did. That made it hard for me to understand that writing is not something you’re expected to be instantly good at. So in short, I’d tell twelve-year-old Josh to keep writing and trust the process. If we’re being honest, sometimes I still need to be reminded of this!

Lisa: If you could cast one spell, what would it be?

Josh: I would conjure up the one thing every writer dreams of and that we all know doesn’t exist… a perfect first draft!

Lisa: Last, but most important . . . What are you working on now?

I’ve got a lot going on! My big focus right now is a young adult historical fantasy called Victoria Dare and the Blood of Kings, which I pitched as Indiana Jones meets The Diviners. It comes out in 2026 and follows the adventures of 16-year-old Victoria Dare, who accompanies her father on an excavation to uncover a lost Egyptian tomb and gets drawn into a plot involving Nazi occultists, Bolshevik assassins, and a mysterious figure her psychic friend calls “The Shrouded Man.” It’s everything I’ve ever loved all rolled into one story. If you’re interested, you can add it on Goodreads to get notified when it comes out. I’m also doing some early work on the next book in The Witches of Willow Cove series, which is already under contract and tentatively called The Haunting of Willow Cove. I have so many ideas for where the story will go and I can’t wait to get back to these characters again.

Josh Roberts is the author of The Witches of Willow Cove series for tweens and teens, and the forthcoming Victoria Dare series for young adults. His debut novel received starred reviews from Kirkus and School Library Journal, and was a Massachusetts Book Awards Must-Read, a Kirkus Book of the Month, and A Mighty Girl Book of the Year.

 

 

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WNDMG Author Interview with Elle McNicoll

By on October 23, 2024   /   Author Interviews, Diversity  

WNDMG Author Interview with Elle McNicoll

My reading sweet spot is MG fantasy, so give me dragons, witches, spells, and curses any day of the week. Like A Curse by Elle McNicoll delivered on them all, plus more including a new creature I haven’t read about before! 

I had the esteemed pleasure of sitting down to interview Elle. Here’s the inside scoop on both the author and her book…

About the Author

Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning novelist. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, was a Schneider Family Honor title, an overall winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and a Blackwell’s Book of the Year. She has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, the Branford Boase Award, and the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award. Her second novel, Show Us Who You Are, was a Blackwell’s Book of the Month title and one of the Bookseller’s Best Book of the year. She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing and currently lives in London.

Interview with Elle McNicoll

Kate: Our Mixed-Up-Files readers would love the inside scoop on book 2 in your Like a Charm series. Can you tell us a bit about neurodivergent tween Rayma and her role in becoming a witch?

Elle: Ramya is a witch in training. She’s a little too emotional when it comes to her magic and, while a lot of fantasy heroes need to be convinced that they’re the chosen one, Ramya needs people to remind her that she can’t do everything by herself.

Kate: Beyond casting spells, there are other magical abilities to read about in your book as well. I absolutely love the notion of Glamour! This one’s new to me. Is this something you created? And, if I were to go about daydreaming this was my magical power, what are the rules around using it?
Elle: I wish!! Glamour is a fae creation, and it’s popular in Scottish mythology. It’s a kind of disguise, and Ramya is lucky (or unlucky) in that she can see through it. The rules of glamour are fairly simple. It can turn you into anything to just about anyone. It’s like a magical filter. It helps you edit or reinvent yourself.

Kate: Let’s talk setting. Edinburgh has been on my bucket list for years, so I thank you for bringing it to life for me! How important was it for you to place your story inside a real world vs a created one?
Elle: So important. As a Scot, I want the kids I write for to touch the places in the book. I’ve done a few sold out walking tours in Edinburgh and the kids adore being able to take pictures in the real locations.
Kate: Rayma comes into contact with many interesting creatures such as Hidden Folk – Hulders, Blue Men, selkies, and kelpies – just to name a few. When choosing who to add to your storyline, were any of these mythological creatures based on research? Or do they stem from part of your cultural folklore?
Elle: They’re all part of my culture, in stories that have been handed down. I liked using childhood memories of Scotland to craft the world Ramya lives in.
Kate: It’s often fun to read about the baddies of a book, and Portia is certainly up there on that list! How fun is it for you to write the antagonist?
Elle: It’s fun! I like her. There’s lots about her to like. And she’s got a big wound, one that’s much more personal than her enemies realise. I love that!
Kate: Other important characters include many of Rayma’s family members. In what ways do these multiple generations impact how you developed Rayma as a character?
Elle: I love the whole wild bunch. I like the three sisters, I think that’s such a witchy number. They’re all sort of a coven, and their disapproval of Ramya’s impulsivity make the dynamics fun to write. She feels like a bad witch compared to her aunts.
Kate: You and Rayma share many things in common, I’m sure, one in particular is dyspraxia. Can you tell MUF readers about dyspraxia and how this connection to Rayma helped you in your story development?
Elle: Dyspraxia is a learning difficulty that can impact coordination, balance, processing and memory. Amongst many other things. I wanted Ramya to be dyspraxic, like me. I’m also autistic. I thought a neurodivergent witch would be fun. Also, ND kids are forced to be really resilient so we make good protagonists, I think.
Kate: Like a Curse leaves readers with such a great message. Without revealing spoilers, can you describe your writing process: in organizing your duology, did you have this ending for book two in mind when you set out to write book one? And, can you give us an example of something you cut, changed, or reworked from draft to publication?
Elle: I knew I wanted to see Ramya and Opal’s relationship develop in Like a Curse and I wanted more of Portia. Everything was planned, I didn’t need to make big cuts. It was enough stories for a tight duology and I’m glad it panned out that way.
Kate: You write for multiple age ranges. Do you set out knowing before you write a book whether it will be MG or YA? And for Like a Curse in particular, how did you nail that MG voice?
Elle: I always know which age the book is for, usually because the main character’s age dictates it. It’s important to know, I think. I remember being 12. It’s very close to my mind at all times, so it’s easy to get back in those shoes.
Kate: Thank you for taking the time to share the inside scoop on Like a Curse. Is there something beyond Rayma’s world you can hint at? Perhaps a new project in the works?
Elle: I’ll be writing witches again. Without a doubt!
Kate: Where can readers best find you if they want to reach out?
Elle: @ellemcnicollofficial on Instagram
Or ellemcnicoll.com

And of course, no MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Favorite place to write? At home.Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? White chocolate.

Superpower? Glamour

Rollerblades or bike? Neither, I’m dyspraxic.

Dream job when you were a kid? This.

House pet? My dog, Cheeseburger.

Favorite piece of advice? Take the work seriously, but not yourself. And if you’re different from the herd, you gotta be tough.

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Author Spotlight: Mixed-Up Files Member Lisa Schmid

By on October 18, 2024   /   Author Interviews  

It’s always a pleasure to shine the Author Spotlight on a fellow Mixed-Up Files member, so I’m thrilled to chat with my friend and fellow MG author Lisa Schmid! Lisa’s sophomore MG novel, Hart & Souls, about an anxious middle schooler with a ghost problem, is out now from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

And now, without further ado…

Interview with Lisa Schmid

Melissa: Welcome, Lisa! So glad to have you here today.

Lisa: Thank you so much! I always love hanging out with you at the Mixed-Up Files.

About Hart & Souls

Melissa: The last time we chatted, back in October 2023, it was in conjunction with the cover reveal for your second MG novel, Hart & Souls (you can read the interview here). To refresh readers’ memories, what is the premise of the book? Also, how did you come up with the idea?

Lisa: Stix Hart wants to avoid trouble at his new middle school, but his first day brings ghostly encounters that push his anxiety to the limit. He meets three spirits who have been trapped for decades and need his help to move on. To free them, Stix must confront his fears to solve this paranormal predicament.

The idea for Hart & Souls came to me after encountering the local bully at Target. He was on the phone at the front of the store, frightened and crying. After eavesdropping, I learned no one had picked him up from school, and he didn’t know where else to go. I could tell from the conversation this was a regular occurrence.

It told me a lot about why he was acting up at school. I’ve always believed that when somebody behaves unkindly, it usually means they’re fighting a battle we know nothing about. At that moment, I knew I had my next book.

Writing a story about three ghosts with unfinished business allowed me to explore different backstories of kids and how it impacted their lives. And just as important, how their actions affected others.

Overcoming Anxiety

Melissa: The main character, Stix, a talented drummer, was the target of bullying at his previous school. Because of this, he starts middle school with a great deal of trepidation and anxiety. Can you tell us how Stix’s anxiety manifests itself, and what he does to cope with it?

Lisa: Stix is dealing with some fairly intense anxiety as a result of a bullying incident in the third grade. As a result, he suffers from panic attacks when something triggers this memory. It can be a sight, sound, or even a casual glance.

To manage his anxiety, he focuses on music beats to give his brain something else to think about. This coping mechanism is a technique I learned about after speaking with a psychologist while doing research for the book.

Bang a Drum!

Melissa: As above, Stix is a talented drummer. Is this something you have in common with him, or did you have to do extensive research to familiarize yourself?

Lisa: I knew from the start that music would be the underlying theme. I’ve always wanted to be a drummer but never had the patience to pick up the sticks. My son is a musician, so I asked his guitar/drum teacher for advice about playing the drums.

Melissa: Let’s switch gears and talk about the spooky side of the novel. Ghosts are involved, of course. Can you elaborate?

Lisa: Yes! *rubs hands together with glee* I love writing about ghosts because there are no rules. I get to make them up as I go. They are also the perfect sidekicks, providing situations that often lead to funny and heartfelt moments.

I tend to shy away from the super spooky themes. To be honest, that’s not my jam. I wish I could spin a spine-tingling horror story, but I think I would end up throwing in a farting ghost just to lighten the mood. Best to stay in my goofy lane. I have lots of fun there.

Lessons Learned from My Partner the Ghost

Melissa: Your debut novel, Ollie Oxley and the Ghost, was spooky as well. Have you always been drawn to the supernatural? Also, what is it about ghosts that fascinates you?

Lisa: When I was around nine, my favorite show was a British TV series called My Partner the Ghost. It was about a pair of private detectives in London. In the pilot, one gets killed, comes back as a ghost, and helps his partner solve crimes. I’ve been obsessed ever since with the idea of friendly ghosts. It’s brilliant, and I love it to this day! It was my inspiration for Ollie Oxley and the Ghost.

(P.S. You can watch the pilot episode on YouTube.)

Literary Easter Eggs

Melissa: Hart & Souls contains several “Easter eggs,” aka little surprises for eagle-eyed readers to find. Without giving too much away, can you tell us about some of your favorites?

Lisa: There’s actually only one Easter egg in Hart & Souls, but I love it! You will easily find this fun little nugget if you have read Ollie Oxley and The Ghost. Many folks have emailed or commented on a social media post when they see it.

Fun side note: The Chronicles of Narnia are my favorite books of all time. I usually drop in a reference that fellow Narnians will catch. You can look for those as well.

Plotter Versus Pantser

Melissa: Switching gears again, what does your writing routine look like? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

Lisa: I am a card-carrying member of the Pantser Society. I always know how a story will begin and end, but I never know what will happen in between. I write all my books chapter by chapter. The idea that people can plot a story is magical. I don’t possess that extraordinary talent. This process makes me a painfully slow writer because I have to figure things out as I go. I also edit along the way . . . I can’t help myself. (grimace face)

Path to Publication

Melissa: Can you tell us about your path to publication? Smooth sailing or a meandering path? Also, what advice would you give to wannabe MG authors?

Lisa: Meandering and full of potholes!

I did not land an agent with Ollie Oxley and the Ghost. As a matter of fact, I only got one request for a full and one personalized rejection. Otherwise, it was crickets. I got my first book deal via a Twitter kidlit pitch party. I received one “like,” and it was from my wonderful editor.

I eventually caught the interest of my fantastic agent, Leslie Zampetti, with a chapter book series about a crime-solving pug with a goldfish sidekick. Unfortunately, it has not sold . . . yet, but I’m still holding out hope that an editor will one day give Bumble & Beans their forever home.

This is a cleaned-up version of my path to publication. My journey was riddled with mishaps and missteps. I was a hot mess. But the trick is to keep plugging away and learn from your mistakes.

For the record, my fastest rejection turn-around was ten minutes. I have yet to meet anyone who can beat that time. 🙂

Melissa: Actually, I can. I once got a rejection in FOUR minutes! How the agent had time to read my query and reject it so quickly remains a mystery!

Lisa: 😂

Writers with Wrinkles

Melissa: In addition to being a writer of middle-grade fiction, you’re also the co-host of the popular podcast, Writers with Wrinkles. How do you juggle these different roles?

Lisa: I don’t think we had any idea how much time and effort goes into creating a podcast, but it’s been worth it.

The first three years, we ran four episodes a month. It was a lot of work between recording and promoting while still focusing on our individual projects. But we love serving the writing community and want everyone to succeed!

We switched to twice-monthly episodes, making our schedules slightly more manageable. We also changed our format. Once a month, we host an “Ask Beth & Lisa” segment in which listeners can send in questions. For our second episode, we interview editors or agents. I feel like we have found our groove and are making the most of our time while still packing in valuable tips for our listeners.

Our editor/agent chats are the best! I have learned so much about publishing and the querying process from our guests. Information I wish I had known when I started my publishing journey. I encourage querying writers to give them a listen.

Up Next…

Melissa: What are you working on now, Lisa? Can you give Mixed-Up Files readers a sneak peek?

Lisa: I am just finishing a middle-grade adventure. This book does not involve ghosts, but it does have ghost towns. It’s a time-traveling tale with some epic twists and turns. It’s been a challenge to write due to the different timelines. More than once, I’ve woken up in the middle of the night with the horrifying realization that I had a major plot hole. Fortunately, I believe I have plugged every last one. (Fingers crossed)

Lightning Round

Melissa: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Potato Chips

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Ghosts: Real or imaginary? Real

Superpower? Empathy

Favorite place on earth? Cotswolds

If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be? My pug, Lucy, for company; The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe to read; and a cozy blanket to keep us warm

Melissa: Many thanks for joining us today, Lisa! As always, it was a treat to have you here!

Lisa: Thank you so much! I had a blast. As usual . . . You always ask the best questions.

Bio

Lisa Schmid is an author, a stay-at-home-mom, and co-host of the podcast Writers With Wrinkles. When she’s not scaring up ghostly adventures, she’s most likely visiting schools to talk about writing and books. She lives in Northern California with her husband, son, two dogs, and one very sneaky hamster. Learn more about Lisa on her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Melissa Roske is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Before spending her days with imaginary people, she interviewed real ones as a journalist in Europe. In London she landed a job as an advice columnist for Just Seventeen magazine. Upon returning to her native New York, Melissa contributed to several books and magazines, selected jokes for Reader’s Digest, and received certification as a life coach from NYU. In addition to her debut novel Kat Greene Comes Clean (Charlesbridge), Melissa’s short story “Grandma Merle’s Last Wish” appears in the Jewish middle-grade anthology, Coming of Age: 13 B’Nai Mitzvah Stories (Albert Whitman). Learn more about Melissa on her Website and follow her on  Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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