Posts Tagged fiction

Exploring Loss, Choices, and Magic with Megan Reyes

Today on the blog, we’re excited to host Megan Reyes, author of several exciting fantasy series for kids, including Llama Quest and the Heroes of Havensong. I had the pleasure of reading the newest book in the Havensong world, the third installment in an epic fantasy that follows four unlikely heroes who are bound by the Fates to save their world—and magic itself—from being destroyed. Read on to get insight into this latest adventure from Megan Reyes.

Cover of The Fifth Mage by Megan Reyes

Thanks so much for joining us here at the Mixed-Up Files, Megan! This book was such a quintessential fantasy adventure, full of magic (or should I say Magics?), dragons, prophecies, and a band of dedicated friends who are also unlikely heroes. On your website, you mentioned that Ender’s Game is still one of your all-time favorite books, but do you have any other favorites that watered the seeds that would grow into the world and characters of Havensong?

Thank you so much for inviting me to chat today! When it comes to Heroes of Havensong, there were a few authors who inspired me greatly: Kelly Barnhill (The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The Witch’s Boy), Jonathan Auxier (Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes), and Shannon Messenger (Keeper of the Lost Cities series). Each of these authors are magical when it comes to crafting fantastical stories.

You mentioned that you’re an outliner, though you do allow your characters to take the story where they like. Were there any unexpected or surprising changes when River, Blue, Wren, Shenli, and the others started running around in the plot?

Absolutely! I do love a good outline, especially when I’m working with a series. But, like you said, even though I usually have an idea of the basic plot bullet points, my characters sometimes surprise me. This usually happens when I’m writing dialogue between characters. One example, off the top of my head, is Blue mentioning in Book 2 that wood carving used to be one of his hobbies, back in Gerbera. Honestly, I didn’t know this about him until I was writing the sentence! This hobby ends up tying into his love of music and certain musical instruments. I love when little surprising details like that make their way into the story.

Themes of loss, grief, and overcoming come through strongly in almost all of the storylines in this book, but there are many great reflections of what it means to be a hero or a villain, accepting all parts of yourself, and doing the right thing even when it’s the most difficult option. Are these threads ones you planned on for this point in the series, or did your characters reveal them to you?

I knew certain things would be happening to cause grief to each of the four Heroes. But honestly, I didn’t know how they would deal with their grief until I started writing. Particularly River, in Book 3, deals with what it means to walk through grief, feeling as though hope and joy are both a thing of the past. And poor Shenli! I have put him through some difficult situations throughout the series that have forced him to make impossible decisions. But I believe this is a reflection of all of us. We all have to make choices, and those choices will have consequences on others. The best we can do is be true to ourselves and follow what our gut is telling us is the right thing to do. But this is often easier said than done.

With so many fantastic plot threads being woven together with characters who all have their own motivations and goals, how do you balance the internal and external conflicts and make sure everyone has plenty of time to shine?

It is a lot to keep track of! This is where my outlining comes in handy! My outlines for each book include the main cast of characters (both major and minor) and what each of their internal and external conflicts will be. Then I’ll organize everything by chapter, making sure each character gets their turn to shine. Also, my incredible editor, Liesa Abrams, helps me find the very best nuggets of story for each of my Heroes. She asks great questions as we go through our rounds of edits.

In this book, the third of the series, we get to learn a lot more about the characters and their destinies. River in particular discovers a lot about herself in this installment, but so many of the kids seem to have a gift or ability that makes them profoundly unique. It seems like the book is saying that all kids have something special about them. Was that an intentional theme?

It was intentional, yes. And this has been a fun journey for me to see who each of the four Heroes have grown in self discovery. For example, River starts out in Book 1 fairly confident in who she is. But her fierce independence sometimes leads to stubbornness, so she has to learn to trust those around her to help. Later, when she learns more about her abilities, she has to learn that there are different ways to be strong. There is physical strength, sure. But more so, she learns what it means to be emotionally strong: to make space for her feelings and what it means to be true to herself. In a similar way, all four Heroes learn about their strengths and what it means to trust yourself and know your own worth.

Were there any aspects of the world you wish you could have spent more time with? I personally thought the sand sharks were fabulous (and so unexpectedly polite)!

Hah! I love the sand sharks too. I’d love to go dune surfing! In my mind, the world of Haven is so much bigger and more detailed than I could ever put on the page. If I could, I would love to explore the Mountain District and visit the Lands Across the Sea. There are so many more adventures to be had!

I loved this quote from Alma, the Fourth Mage: “There is a language to magic. It is communicating all the time, for those who know how to listen.” Do you think readers can find magic in our world this way, too?

Yes! I absolutely believe we can find magic in our world. To me, magic is a mix of joy, beauty, and wonder. Recently, I came across a term called “glimmers.” Glimmers are tiny moments of joy that are discovered in everyday, ordinary things: Looking up at the moon on a peaceful night, listening to the sound of rain on the roof, smelling freshly-cut grass, or feeling your cat purr happily as they sleep in your lap. All of these moments of joy–these “glimmers”–are glimpses of magic in the real world.

Of course, we have to talk about one of the most memorable lines from the book: “Friends make the best rainbows.” It’s so true! Could you share with us a little about the origin of this gem?

Aww, thank you. To me, a rainbow symbolizes hope and joy, after (or sometimes even during) a storm. And that’s what my friends have been to me, particularly these last few years. There was a season in my life where I had a rough go of things. It was a painful and difficult time and sometimes it seemed like hope was lost. But then a friend would call or send me flowers or show up at my door. They were my hope and joy during life’s storm. And in that way, my friends have always made the best rainbows.

It definitely seems like the four heroes have more dates with destiny in their future! Can you give us any clues as to what they might be up to in the next book?

This is a bit tricky to answer because the fate of any book series is left up to the powers that be at the publisher. At this moment, there are no hard plans for a fourth book, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be sometime in the future. I have all my fingers crossed that we’ll get to see Blue, River, Wren, and Shenli again someday!

You mentioned it took ten years to get a literary agent and hundreds of rejections before you broke into the industry. If you could give writers any advice on how to keep writing even in the face of rejection or overwhelming odds, what would it be?

It’s true! At the time I signed with my agent in 2020, I had written five different books, and received over 250 rejections from agents over the span of ten years. There were a lot of no’s before getting my first yes. As you can imagine, this was very dejecting at times!  My advice to writers is to always have something new to work on. And also: write the story you’re most excited to tell. If you’re feeling stuck on a particular manuscript, maybe play around with some ideas for a new story. You can always go back to the first one, but it helps me when I’m focusing on something I’m really excited about. Sometimes all it takes for the spark to happen is to dive into something new. And as long as creating stories is bringing you joy, keep writing! Do it for yourself. And you never know what “yes” might be around the corner.

Author Spotlight: Sydney Dunlap

Today, I’m thrilled to shine the Author Spotlight on children’s author and fellow MUF member Sydney Dunlap! Sydney’s latest MG novel, Racing the Clouds, praised by Kirkus as a “hopeful, heartfelt story of resilience… handled with a gentle touch,” is out February 18 from Jolly Fish Press.

Interview with Sydney 

Melissa: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Sydney! It’s always a pleasure to shine the Author Spotlight on a fellow MUF member, especially a new(ish) one.

Sydney: Thank you so much, Melissa! I’m very excited to be a part of MUF.

Melissa: Racing the Clouds, comes out in just FIVE days (!). What’s going through your mind right now? (I can only guess. 🙂)

Sydney: Honestly, that after working on this book for such a long time, it’s hard to believe it’s about to be out in the world. And I’m looking forward to my launch events. I’m very lucky to get to have an in-conversation event with Lynne Kelly (one of my blurbists) at a great independent bookstore called Buy the Book near my home in Texas, as well as one with Kate Albus (another of my blurbists) at the wonderful Scrawl Books in northern Virginia, close to where I lived for many years. I love going to my friends’ book launches as well as having my own. Gathering with friends and family to celebrate is so much fun!

About the Book

Melissa: Can you tell readers a bit about the novel? Also, what was the inspiration behind it?

Sydney: Racing the Clouds is the story of a 13-year-old girl named Sage who has a big secret involving her mom’s whereabouts. The story begins after she hears from her grandparents—her mom’s parents, who she’s never met—for the first time in her life. They invite her to visit, and she wants to fix what’s gone wrong in her family, so she flies to Ohio by herself as soon as school gets out for the summer. She feels an almost immediate connection with her grandfather, but her grandmother is so strict and formal that it doesn’t seem they’ll ever see eye-to-eye. Sage learns that family relationships—and people—can be much more complex than they appear on the surface. She also begins to understand more about the power of forgiveness and how to find her way forward during a difficult time.

As for the inspiration, I like writing about topics that are very real and part of a lot of people’s lives but aren’t always discussed that much, like drug addiction, which is a component of the story. I also thought it would be interesting to explore what might happen when a person hears from relatives they’ve never met and never heard anything good about, and to find out their perspective.

Hiding in Plain Sight

Melissa: Sage, the protagonist, is hiding more than she’s telling—especially when it comes to her mom. (I’ll avoid spoilers, so I won’t say more.) What was it like to get into the head of such a guarded character? Carrying a secret is such a heavy burden to bear.

Sydney: I used to be involved in theater when I was growing up, and I think that acting gave me a chance to feel like I really was the character. When I write, I have that same kind of experience, so I only revealed what it felt like Sage would be okay revealing at different points along the story. It was a huge relief when Sage could finally tell her friend Marla the whole story. I felt a burden off my chest, the same as Sage did, after writing the scene where she reveals what really happened.

Exploring Real-Life Issues

Melissa: Your previous novel, It Happened on Saturday, is also a contemporary novel that deals with real-life issues, namely human trafficking. What compels you to write about difficult issues for young readers? I know this is something you’re passionate about.

Sydney: As a child, I loved to read books about real things that could happen to kids in real life, and I especially enjoyed books written by Katherine Paterson and Judy Blume, because they wrote so honestly about all kinds of difficult topics. My experiences volunteering with child trafficking survivors and my realization that I couldn’t find any middle grade books with that subject matter – even though kids ages 11-14 are an especially vulnerable group — led me to write It Happened on Saturday. As for Racing the Clouds, I feel that there is room for more books for young readers dealing with addiction in the family, as it is a huge part of life for many children.

It’s a Dog’s Life

Melissa: Another passion of yours is animals, which is evident in your sympathetic portrayal of Nicky, a stray dog Sage rescues while visiting her estranged grandparents in Ohio. Can you tell us more about Sage’s bond with Nicky, and how it helps Sage to connect with her prickly grandmother?

Sydney: The Philadelphia apartment where Sage and her family lived until their recent move didn’t allow dogs, so Sage has never had a pet. When she meets Nicky, she is drawn to him because he seems so lost and like he could really use a friend. Sage is utterly flabbergasted to discover that her strict, formal grandmother has a soft spot for dogs. Taking care of Nicky together gives them a common purpose and something they can be in complete agreement about. Dogs bring such positive energy wherever they go, and I’ve seen people in my own extended family who disagree on pretty much everything else find common ground in their love for dogs.

Drummer Girl

Melissa: Like her dad, a once-almost-famous musician, Sage is a talented drummer. Is this a common interest, or did you have to do extensive research on how to play the drums?

Sydney: My son used to play the drums when he was in elementary and middle school, and I got to sit in on lots of drum lessons and of course see many concerts. We still have his old drum set in our house and my husband likes to play around on it, so drums are pretty familiar to me.

Path to Publication

Melissa: Switching gears, can you tell MUF readers about your path to publication? I know you were an elementary school teacher for many years. What led you to writing for kids?

Sydney: I’ve always loved books and writing, and ever since elementary school, I’ve had the idea that one day I wanted to be an author. I took creative writing classes in high school and college, then became a member and also a conference organizer for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, where I studied the craft and business aspects of writing for a long time. I drafted some manuscripts and sent them out here and there, but it wasn’t until I had the idea for It Happened on Saturday that I got really serious about pursuing traditional publication. Once I started working on that manuscript, I began writing almost every day and eventually signed with my agent, Ann Rose.

Writing Is Rewriting

Melissa: As a follow-up, your debut MG novel, Jeremy Norbeck: Animal Whiz Kid, came out in 2014. What have you learned about the publishing industry—and about writing—since then?

Sydney: I wrote that story while I was an elementary school teacher, and I used to read it out loud to my students while I was working on it. I wanted to use it right away in my classroom because it fit right in with our unit on animal adaptations, so I published it through CreateSpace (now Kindle Direct Publishing) to have it available immediately. I had already learned a lot about the publishing industry through my experiences with SCBWI, but I learned much more once I signed with my agent and then got a publishing contract for It Happened on Saturday.

My biggest takeaway is that writing is really rewriting over and over, and that you are almost never done, because there will always be something to edit or improve, up until your last look before a book goes to the printer. You work as hard as you can (with help from your critique group if that’s part of your process) to have a story be its very best before your agent sees it, and then you do the same thing with their assistance until it goes to your editor, and then you do the same thing with their expertise and guidance. And when you compare what you started with to the finished product, you realize how amazing it is that the spark of an idea could turn into a finished story, and that you are incredibly lucky to have had so many wonderful helpers along the way.

Confessions of a Pantser

Melissa: While we’re on the subject of writing, what does your writing routine look like? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

Sydney: My writing routine varies a lot, depending on what else I have going on. I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately, and I’m trying to learn to work while on the go, such as editing a manuscript while on a flight. At home, I sandwich writing in between my other responsibilities, my part-time work tutoring students, and my activities, and I find I’m always better able to write if I get some exercise first, usually walking my dog, going running, or doing yoga. I am a pantser through and through; I have to start writing a story to figure out who my characters are, what they want, and what obstacles will be in their way.

Sydney’s Writing Advice

Melissa: What advice would you give to fledgling MG authors?

Sydney: I’d say to read a lot of books in your chosen genre and try to think of them as texts showing examples of different ways to start/end a story, describe settings, keep up your pacing between action and dialogue, reveal character, etc. And I’d highly recommend joining a critique group. Writing friends are the BEST. You can provide each other an amazing listening ear, as well as sharing and getting helpful feedback on your work. And you all speak the same language. Non-writer friends might have no idea what you mean when you talk about queries or MG, YA, plotting vs. pantsing, etc.

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

Sydney: I’ve been working on a story told from two points of view that involves themes of freedom and standing up for yourself, both within one’s own family and within society.

Lightning Round!

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

Preferred writing snack? Granola bar

Coffee or tea? Tea

Superpower? Flying. I would LOVE to fly, not just to get places quickly, which would be amazing, but also for the experience of soaring through the air with the birds.

Favorite travel destination? Anywhere with a beautiful mountain view

If you were stranded on a desert island with only three things, what would they be? I’m not sure about the rules, but if allowed, I’d bring my dog, my cat, and a horse from the stable where I ride! Exploring a desert island on horseback with my furry pals running along beside me could be kind of fun! 😊

Melissa: Many thanks for joining us today, Sydney, and congratulations on the forthcoming publication of Racing the Clouds. It’s an engaging and heartfelt book, and I’m sure MUF readers will agree!

Sydney: Thank you again for your kind words and thoughtful questions, Melissa! I’m very grateful for the opportunity to share this behind-the-scenes look at Sage’s story with the MUF audience!

Bio

Sydney Dunlap is an award-winning author and former elementary school teacher. She enjoys reading and writing heartfelt, hopeful books that explore tough topics that aren’t often addressed in middle-grade literature. Her 2023 debut novel, It Happened on Saturday, has received several medals and was named a 2025 OLA Masterlist selection and Utah Beehive Award nominee, as well as a Crystal Kite Honor Book. A lifelong animal lover, Sydney lives with her family in a home where the dogs and cats outnumber the people. You can find her online at www.sydneydunlap.com.

The Liberation of Lefties

Lefty book cover

I grew up as the youngest of five very ordinary children. Well, we each had our individual personalities, preferences, and idiosyncrasies, but we were mainstream in the obvious ways — like being right-handed.

 

So, when my niece’s son turned out to be left-handed, it was a source of great curiosity and excitement in the family. This trait was viewed as unique. Cool. Special. And then his sister turned out to be left-handed as well. Then two of my three grandchildren turned out to be lefties. The excitement was almost too much to handle!

 

A Book Called Lefty

With love for so many lefties, you can imagine my delight when I learned about the book Lefty: A Story That is Not All Right (Union Square Kids, 2024), with words by Mo Willems and pictures by Dan Santat. Oh, how I smiled. Well, the work of these two creators often makes me smile, but this was different. This book evoked images of some children who are very dear to me, so I smiled for a really long time. In fact, I’m still smiling.

Lefty book cover

 

The book opens with a question: “Did you know there was a time when you could get into trouble…really, really big trouble…for being left-handed?” The question is being asked by a left hand, held puppet-style, who happens to be speaking to a right hand.

 

The right hand is incredulous, as many young readers might be. But the book goes on to explain that left-handedness was once feared, maligned, and viewed as something sinister…because it was a variation from the norm.

 

While that might sound crazy to children who are free to use the hand that feels naturally dominant, it wasn’t that long ago when people were still forcing children into right-handedness. I remember this happening to a few friends from my childhood. The rationale was that life would be easier for them as a right-handed person. 

 

To my horror, I later discovered that in some communities, left-handedness was interpreted to be a sign that the child had been “touched by the devil.” When I first started teaching, I actually had students who referred to a left-handed classmate as “evil-handed.”

 

According to a 2015 Time magazine article entitled “How Lefties First Gained Acceptance,” the association of evil with left-handedness goes back to the Middle Ages. (Believe me, I did NOT start teaching in the Middle Ages. These attitudes hung around for a LONG time.) The article goes on to identify some very famous and highly-regarded southpaws, including Leonardo da Vinci, Marie Curie, Bill Gates, and Barack Obama.

 

A book like Lefty can be very powerful in helping us normalize a trait that, according to the National Institute of Health, has belonged to 10% of the population dating back to the time of Neanderthals. This made me wonder….Are there middle grade books that celebrate left-handedness? Yes, there are! Here’s a sample of some literary lefties middle grade readers can enjoy.

 

Middle Grade Books Featuring Left-Handedness

 

The Left-Handed Shortstop cover

The Left-Handed Shortstop (Yearling, 1989) by Patricia Reilly Giff

When fourth-grader Walter Moles is assigned the role of shortstop in the big rivalry game, he’s overcome with the fear of failure. After all, there hasn’t been a left-handed shortstop since 1892! This book was published just a couple of years after one of my students was referred to as “evil-handed.” I hope that in its time, it found its way into the hands of some kids who needed it.

 

Choosing Up Sides cover

Choosing Up Sides (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2000) by John Ritter

Lefty Luke Bledsoe discovers that he has a talent for pitching. It’s the first time he’s felt good about being left-handed. That’s because Luke’s dad is a pastor who believes that the left hand is the side of Satan. This award-winning book evokes empathy for lefties as well as for those who struggle to balance family expectations with personal passions.

 

The Clue of the Left-Handed Envelope cover

The Clue of the Left-Handed Envelope (Simon and Schuster, 2004) by George E. Stanley

Left-handedness is right there in the title. It’s a clue to solving the mystery of who sent Amber Lee Johnson an anonymous letter. This chapter book is the first in a mystery series that will delight young readers while building a bridge to longer texts.

 

Little Lefty cover

Little Lefty (Bella Rosa, 2009) by Matt Christopher

Despite his small size, Bill Bailey can throw harder than anyone else on the team. He’s encouraged when he hears stories about “Little Lefty,” a small pitcher who made it into the big leagues. However, a freak accident puts Bill Bailey’s dream in jeopardy. Matt Christopher has pulled many reluctant readers into the world of books with his sports stories, and it’s great to know that this one features a left-handed protagonist.

 

The Left-Handed Fate cover

 

The Left-Handed Fate (Henry Holt & Co., 2016) by Kate Milford

Lucy and Max try to end the war between their home country of England and Napoleon Bonaparte’s France. But then the plot thickens when their ship, The Left-Handed Fate, is taken by the Americans. Some exciting historical fiction with a twist of left-handedness makes for a highly engaging story. (And for some added trivia, Napoleon Bonaparte happened to be a lefty.)

 

Literary Liberation

How lovely to live in a time when lefties are liberated! And how wonderful to know that literature can build a sense of belonging by featuring characters and situations that help us become comfortable with our differences. In a world that finds solace in sameness and order in the ordinary, may we continually look to literature as a means of dispelling fear and building empathy.

Do you know of other middle grade books that feature left-handedness? Please share them in the comments! And remember to share all of these books with young readers who might identify with the characters, grow in empathy, or just simply enjoy a good book.