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Live Chat with Debut Author,
M. O. Walsh

Wednesday, January 21st, 2015

We had a great chat with Neal; he is as thoughtful as you would expect based on his book. Scroll down to see what you missed.

 Live Chat with M. O. Walsh, MY SUNSHINE AWAY(01/21/2015) 
5:02
M.O. Walsh: 
Please do support The Poser! Cheers!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:02 M.O. Walsh
5:02
[Comment From janet_schneiderjanet_schneider: ] 
Thanks Nora and Neal!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:02 janet_schneider
5:02
M.O. Walsh: 
I know Jake. I went to school with him I remember reading the first draft of that book. So awesome that y'all will be talking with him.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:02 M.O. Walsh
5:02
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Thanks Nora! Neal, it was great to "meet" you!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:02 VNesting
5:02
M.O. Walsh: 
Are you kidding? This was awesome. No need to thank me. Thank y'all!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:02 M.O. Walsh
5:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Sadly, we have to end now.


Our next book is The Poser by Jacob Rubin. We’ll chat with Jake on March 4th.

Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
M.O. Walsh: 
Ha. That would be great. I'd love to meet everybody.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:01 M.O. Walsh
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks, everyone for such a great chat.


Thanks, Neal for your thoughtful answers. We’re looking forward to February 10th, when librarians will be able to put MY SUNSHINE AWAY into readers hands

Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I am afraid I am out of that loop -- but librarians can contact you via your web site and slip you the password!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
M.O. Walsh: 
What I want to know is, will there be a secret party in Chicago for ALA where all the hip librarians go? And, if so, what is the password?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 5:00 M.O. Walsh
4:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 

NO!

I mean, OF COURSE!





Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:59 Nora - EarlyWord
4:59
M.O. Walsh: 
Can I ask a question?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:59 M.O. Walsh
4:59
M.O. Walsh: 
Sure. Read and write. Understand that the purpose of writing is to give people pleasure. Understand that the path to this is from sentence to sentence. And that the best books are those that effect the heart more than the mind. And don't let rejection get the best of you. Ha.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:59 M.O. Walsh
4:56
[Comment From James P.James P.: ] 
Any advice for young writers?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:56 James P.
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
As you said, it's all in interpretation -- that just went from sounding weird to really great!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
M.O. Walsh: 
Low Residency MFA programs are where most of the classes are online, but student all get together with faculty for a month or so out of the year for classes. SO, it is kind of like distance learning with 'low residency' requirements. Our residency is always abroad, though, This year we are going to Cork, Ireland!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:55 M.O. Walsh
4:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Your "day job" title is "Director, The Creative Writing Workshop, Traditional and Low Residency MFA Programs." I’m trying to figure out what the second part means!

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:54 Nora - EarlyWord
4:53
M.O. Walsh: 
Hi James!

Actually, I've not yet started on another novel. I have two half cooked ideas and several other little projects I'm working on but my main goal now is to enjoy this time of my life, spending time with my kids and doing things like this, talking to y'all, as this has been my dream since I was in the 8th grade or so.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:53 M.O. Walsh
4:51
[Comment From James P.James P.: ] 
Got another book up your sleeve?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:51 James P.
4:51
M.O. Walsh: 
I just think that everything is out of proportion during adolescence since teenagers have no frame of reference. Every love is the biggest, first love. Every rejection feels like the final one. So, negotiating those things is hard enough, but when you feel like the way people interpret your actions will define you forever, that makes it even harder.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:51 M.O. Walsh
4:49
M.O. Walsh: 
.....
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:49 M.O. Walsh
4:49
M.O. Walsh: 
Hi Pam-

Sure! Simply using the example of an adolescent boy, I think that there is a very fine line between being considered romantic and being considered creepy or a "stalker". You buy a girl flowers and you're romantic. You buy flowers one too many times and you're a stalker. This type of thing can crush you. The boy wants only for the girl to know of his affection. How people react to his actions can change the course of how people see him and, eventually, how he may see himself. ........
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:49 M.O. Walsh
4:47
[Comment From Pam, Public LibrarianPam, Public Librarian: ] 
In your video, you say you tried to capture what it is like to be an adolescent, which you did – and you add that it’s a time when interpretation is a big deal. I was fascinated by that. Can you expand on it?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:47 Pam, Public Librarian
4:47
M.O. Walsh: 
No. I'm really excited about that, though. The idea of anyone reading my book is weird enough to me, but to think of people in other countries reading it is just awesome. What a dream! I do know that Viking UK is really excited about it, though, and plan for it to be a lead title. Very cool. I also know that it took a long time to get a French publisher because most of the editors there though it was a bit 'too uplifting'. Ha. That seemed like a comment on the culture to me. My book wasn't dark enough. They like their existentialism over there!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:47 M.O. Walsh
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Ha! Maybe people in Britain will have the same reaction as Linda does from Maine.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
[Comment From LindaLinda: ] 
I grew up in Maine, which is like another world entirely, but some of the early scenes especially, really brought me back to my childhood. Just something about the descriptions of kids hanging out outside in the 80s. It was very nostalgic for me in some ways.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:45 Linda
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Just posted the British cover.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:44
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:44 
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The book has been picked up to be published in other countries. The British cover is quite different from the American. Any thoughts on how the Brits might react to it?

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:43
M.O. Walsh: 
Oh yeah. the heat is a real thing down here. I love this place and there are times that I wonder why any human can survive it. These are usually times when I am getting into my car on a black top parking lot in August at 3 p.m.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:43 M.O. Walsh
4:42
M.O. Walsh: 
Yes, there is a tour (11 cities, I think) from Feb 10-20th or so.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:42 M.O. Walsh
4:42
[Comment From janet_schneiderjanet_schneider: ] 
The sense of place (as LJ noted) comes through so clearly. The "earthiness" of the prose too, makes the reader almost feel the insects, humidity and stickiness... I grew up in South Texas and it reminded me of home so much. (And how we'd mostly stay inside in the air-conditioning in August.)
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:42 janet_schneider
4:41
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I think you have several events coming up, right Neal -- check his Web site -- http://www.mowalsh.com/CONTACT.html
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:41 Nora - EarlyWord
4:41
M.O. Walsh: 
That sounds great!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:41 M.O. Walsh
4:41
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Wish I could be at ALA Midwinter! Kind of funny to think of going all the way to Chicago to meet a Louisiana author though. Hope to see you somewhere in South Louisiana when the book is released. And maybe we can get you to come visit our library!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:41 VNesting
4:41
M.O. Walsh: 
I understand that the comparison is an honor, though, and I thank you for it.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:41 M.O. Walsh
4:40
M.O. Walsh: 
You know, in one of many moments of shame I'm sure you could pull from me, I've never actually read Pat Conroy. I know the name and the titles, obviously, but haven't actually read a book. In the way that y'all likely have way too many suggested books to read, my work as a teacher and writer provides me with a similar list. I actually spend way more time reading unpublished manuscripts that my students write than I do reading new published work. And, when I teach literature, I am often re-reading some of the classics. So, despite all the great things I've heard about Conroy, I've never gotten the chance to read him.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:40 M.O. Walsh
4:38
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Here is a question one of our participants sent in advance:

The tone and language of your book reminds me of the southern charm portrayed in Pat Conroy's novels. Is he an author you read and whose work you enjoyed?

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:38 Nora - EarlyWord
4:38
M.O. Walsh: 
I definitely think that there are misconceptions about Louisiana and the South, in general. But I am just as interested in some of the stereotypes that we embrace as I am the ones that make me cringe. I have found myself actually having to explain to people that I did not ride a boat to school before and chase alligators off the porch. That was kind of surreal to do. At the same time, though, if someone asks me if we eat alligator down here, I''ll be the first to say, Hell yeah! It's delicious! Let me get you the recipe for the dipping sauce."
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:38 M.O. Walsh
4:36
Nora - EarlyWord: 
No problem -- it's about having to explain it to outsiders, like LJ put it, the book “gives the reader an intimate understanding of the place as if it were a beloved but misunderstood grandmother.”
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:36 Nora - EarlyWord
4:35
M.O. Walsh: 
Awesome! OK, I missed a question about South Louisiana, I think.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:35 M.O. Walsh
4:35
[Comment From Sue D., St. Charles, MOSue D., St. Charles, MO: ] 
I plan to be first in line to get my ACR signed!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:35 Sue D., St. Charles, MO
4:34
M.O. Walsh: 
That will be great! I look forward to it.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:34 M.O. Walsh
4:34
M.O. Walsh: 
Y'all going to be at ALA?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:34 M.O. Walsh
4:34
[Comment From Sue D., St. Charles, MOSue D., St. Charles, MO: ] 
You are headed to Chicago in a few days, what do you think about meeting all of us?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:34 Sue D., St. Charles, MO
4:34
M.O. Walsh: 
Man, its really weird to hear your own voice on audio isn't it? I'm like, who is that person? I'd much prefer a deeper baritone. Ha.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:34 M.O. Walsh
4:33
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I like what the Library Journal reviewer said, that MY SUNSHINE AWAY “gives the reader an intimate understanding of the place as if it were a beloved but misunderstood grandmother.”

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:33 Nora - EarlyWord
4:33
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I will never again assume that all parts of Southern Louisiana are alike! Do you feel you have to explain that to outsiders a lot?

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:33 Nora - EarlyWord
4:32
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
That's wonderful! Thank you, Neal.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:32 VNesting
4:31
Neal Reading Hurricane Katrina section  Play
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:31 
4:31
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Looks like Neal didn't need the time!


The section I asked him to read is about what events after Hurricane Katrina, when many people took refuge in Baton Rouge, I enjoyed the section’s understated humor and insight into how humans can change from grateful to picky. it's a good example of his "voice" and in his real voice.

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:31 Nora - EarlyWord
4:30
M.O. Walsh: 
Good question! I don't know if it's an either or kind of thing. They kind of come to me together (character and voice, especially in 1st person POV). I know after I'd finished that opening chapter, I sent it to a good friend of mine who I trust (a really good writer named Sean Ennis) and he said, "Man, that's a great voice! Think you can keep it up?" So, I took that as a challenge.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:30 M.O. Walsh
4:29
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Vicki -- another great question. I'll give Neal a chance to catch his breath and answer it. Meanwhile, I asked him to read a section of the book, and I will post the audio.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:29 Nora - EarlyWord
4:28
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
I love your narrative voice (which you may have already guessed from my review that Nora posted earlier). Voice is such a challenge to do well. Do you focus more on developing the character and letting the voice flow from that, or did you actually focus on the voice to show the conflicting feelings and motivations of the teenage narrator?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:28 VNesting
4:28
M.O. Walsh: 
I once wrote 50 pages of a novel I was super psyched about. I went to the bar one night and told my professor at the time how great it was and how good I felt. he said,. "What page are you on?" I said, "page 50!" He said, "Talk to me when you get to page 60."

He was right. I crashed and burned after page 50 because I had to start dealing with stuff.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:28 M.O. Walsh
4:27
M.O. Walsh: 
one more anecdote about that...
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:27 M.O. Walsh
4:26
M.O. Walsh: 
The beginning of books are often really easy to write because you haven't yet dealt with any of the situations or conflicts you're creating in the opening chapter. You're basically just a machine gun spewing out cool ideas. It's when you have to actually make them hang together and be meaningful and engaging that things get tricky.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:26 M.O. Walsh
4:25
M.O. Walsh: 
But I should also say....
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:25 M.O. Walsh
4:25
M.O. Walsh: 
Hi Janet! Thanks. Well, I say it was easy meaning the first draft of the chapter came out really quickly. I probably revised it for another 3 months to get the language right before I moved on to chapter 2.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:25 M.O. Walsh
4:24
[Comment From janet_schneiderjanet_schneider: ] 
Hi Neal, What an opening chapter! The most gripping I have read in ages. How interesting for you to say that the first was easy to write, and the rest not so much...This book is absolutely un-put-downable, and perfect for so many different readers too.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:24 janet_schneider
4:23
M.O. Walsh: 
I'd always wanted to, and had tried a couple of other times, but never had an idea strong enough to carry me through. I'd write 150 pages or so, realize it was terrible, and trash it. This was the first idea I had that never left me. I never grew bored with it, never stopped thinking about it. It took me about 7 years, I had two kids in the process, moved cities, changed jobs, etc., and I never wanted to stop working on it.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:23 M.O. Walsh
4:21
[Comment From MD. LibrarianMD. Librarian: ] 
You’ve written short stories, why did you decide to do a novel?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:21 MD. Librarian
4:20
M.O. Walsh: 
I don't know if the reveal made it any more difficult than just the fact that it is a novel and I'd never written one before. I'd always written short stories, where you can always feel where you started and where you are going to end it. When you get into the middle of a novel, it's a new experience. Getting through that was more difficult than negotiating the POV, which felt pretty natural to me.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:20 M.O. Walsh
4:19
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Uh, I think ALL of us have said much worse in out time!The book’s point of view is fascinating and isn’t actually revealed until the end. How difficult was it to structure the book?

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:19 Nora - EarlyWord
4:18
M.O. Walsh: 
(sorry for saying crap)
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:18 M.O. Walsh
4:17
M.O. Walsh: 
It just kind of hit me at the dinner table one night. I looked at my wife and was like, "Oh crap. I think I know the title." I'd always had the lyrics as an epigraph but never knew the song would be the title. Which proves, I think, that writers aren't always so smart. Ha. But, I like the way that the phrase was enough to remind you of the song, but also point you in another direction. I like the phrase very much.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:17 M.O. Walsh
4:15
Nora - EarlyWord: 

How did you decide which part of the song to use for the title?

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:15 Nora - EarlyWord
4:15
M.O. Walsh: 
A happy chorus, filled with sad verses. I like the tension there.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:15 M.O. Walsh
4:15
M.O. Walsh: 
Oh, yeah. As I said in the video, that song is the state song of Louisiana. It's really important to people down here. In the same way Louisiana has multiple sides to it, I realized that the song did too. That youth does, that nostalgia does, etc. it felt like a good fit.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:15 M.O. Walsh
4:14
M.O. Walsh: 
I get more of a thrill out of being a LibraryReads pick than a mention in Entertainment Weekly, to be honest, because I know Librarians care about literature in the same way I do.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:14 M.O. Walsh
4:14
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I have heard "You Are My Sunshine" since I was a little girl (my father sang it to me) and never saw the dark side of it. You had me hooked with that alone.

Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:14 Nora - EarlyWord
4:13
M.O. Walsh: 
I know it makes my Mom happy, though!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:13 M.O. Walsh
4:13
M.O. Walsh: 
And I feel like the words between the covers are the only thing I control. The fact that it is being published is plenty enough for me. So, the good press and all that, it is all just extra good news.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:13 M.O. Walsh
4:12
M.O. Walsh: 
...
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:12 M.O. Walsh
4:12
M.O. Walsh: 
Well, it feels really good that people like the book. People like librarians and book reviewers, etc. That feels really good. All of the other stuff (hype, if you'd call it), I'm much more skeptical of. It doesn't really give me a feeling. Maybe dread is the feeling? I'm not sure. I try to only concern myself with the stuff I can control.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:12 M.O. Walsh
4:11
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Being in South Louisiana, it's easy to just tell people it's a coming of age tale set in Baton Rouge in the late 1980s. But I love the video and think it's a great tool to get people interested.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:11 VNesting
4:10
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Reviewers are using terms like “addictive” and, “"Suspenseful, compassionate" and “a page-turner you want to read slowly and a literary novel you can't look away from.” It’s been picked by booksellers as a favorite, as well as by librarians for LibraryReads. It’s on Entertainment Weekly s "20 Books We’ll Read in 2015" AND they called you someone to watch in 2015. How does it feel”
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:10 Nora - EarlyWord
4:10
M.O. Walsh: 
Yeah. Everyone at Putnam has done an incredible job with the book. I'm really lucky to have a crew like that on my side!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:10 M.O. Walsh
4:09
Nora - EarlyWord: 
MY SUNSHINE AWAY unfolds in a Baton Rouge neighborhood best known for cookouts on sweltering summer afternoons, cauldrons of spicy crawfish, and passionate football fandom. But in the summer of 1989, when fifteen-year-old Lindy Simpson—free spirit, track star, and belle of the block—experiences a horrible crime late one evening near her home, it becomes apparent that this idyllic stretch of Southern suburbia has a dark side, too.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:09 Nora - EarlyWord
4:09
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You've got a pretty good one -- I thought the publisher described the book very well:
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:09 Nora - EarlyWord
4:08
M.O. Walsh: 
Whoa! Can I hire y'all as my PR team?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:08 M.O. Walsh
4:08
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
Can’t wait to share this book with our library customers!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:08 Julie Wolf
4:08
[Comment From Laura, ProvidenceLaura, Providence: ] 
I’d say, “you’ll read it because you’ll want to know what happens, but you’ll love it even better for how it’s told. It will haunt you for weeks.”
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:08 Laura, Providence
4:08
[Comment From Fran B., ChicagoFran B., Chicago: ] 
I’d just say, “Trust me, you’ll love it.”
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:08 Fran B., Chicago
4:08
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Help Neal out -- how would the rest of you sell it?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:08 Nora - EarlyWord
4:07
M.O. Walsh: 
Thanks Vicki!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:07 M.O. Walsh
4:07
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:07 
4:07
Nora - EarlyWord: 
By the way, that review is from Vicki, who is with us today!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:07 Nora - EarlyWord
4:07
M.O. Walsh: 
See? Much better when other people do it than me!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:07 M.O. Walsh
4:06
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:06 
4:06
M.O. Walsh: 
Oh, thanks. I felt a little bad for subjecting y'all to that singing and guitar playing but thought it might be good to explain the title.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:06 M.O. Walsh
4:06
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Maybe we can help you. A couple of our participants posted reviews on Edelweiss that would certainly work. I’ll post them.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:06 Nora - EarlyWord
4:06
[Comment From Sue D., St. Charles, MOSue D., St. Charles, MO: ] 
What an awesome book. Liked the video introducing the title. Great little tidbit for getting patrons to pick it up.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:06 Sue D., St. Charles, MO
4:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I understand that.Sue D. says she'd use your video:
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:05 Nora - EarlyWord
4:05
M.O. Walsh: 
Its really hard to summarize something you've worked on for so long.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:05 M.O. Walsh
4:05
M.O. Walsh: 
Oh no! Not the elevator pitch! I seriously turn into a quivering ball of jelly when asked to do this. I was lucky enough to go on a pre-pub tour where me and some other writers were asked to pitch our books and I just did the verbal equivalent of .............
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:05 M.O. Walsh
4:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Librarians often have to come up with a quick, pithy way to get someone to want to read a book. Booksellers call this the “hand sell.” How would you hand sell MY SUNSHINE AWAY?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:04 Nora - EarlyWord
4:04
M.O. Walsh: 
Hi Anne. Glad you're here, too!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:04 M.O. Walsh
4:03
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
Hi - Looking forward to the discussion. Finished the book in the nick of time :)
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:03 Anne
4:03
M.O. Walsh: 
It just kept getting shorter and shorter, I guess.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:03 M.O. Walsh
4:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Wow, that sounds like " everyone knew her as Nancy.”
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:03 Nora - EarlyWord
4:03
M.O. Walsh: 
My grandfather went by Milton, my dad by O'Neal, and they called me Neal
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:03 M.O. Walsh
4:02
M.O. Walsh: 
Some people call me M.O.. My family and friends call me Neal. My name is Milton O'Neal Walsh.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:02 M.O. Walsh
4:02
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Hi Nora, Neal, everyone!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:02 VNesting
4:02
[Comment From Pam, Public LibrarianPam, Public Librarian: ] 
Wait, your name is M.O. Walsh, what do I call you?
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:02 Pam, Public Librarian
4:02
M.O. Walsh: 
Wow. Thank y'all so much for reading it. I imagine your reading stacks are pretty high.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:02 M.O. Walsh
4:01
[Comment From Book LoverBook Lover: ] 
Thanks for doing this,
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 Book Lover
4:01
[Comment From James P.James P.: ] 
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 James P.
4:01
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
I’m telling my customers that this a book they will be dying to talk to others about!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 Julie Wolf
4:01
M.O. Walsh: 
Very cool to get a chance to talk to librarians and to be a Library Reads pick! Who has better taste in books than librarians? NOBODY.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 M.O. Walsh
4:01
[Comment From MD. LibrarianMD. Librarian: ] 
I don’t have many questions, just want to say I love this book!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 MD. Librarian
4:01
[Comment From Laura, ProvidenceLaura, Providence: ] 
No longer lurking, I’m joining THIS chat!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 Laura, Providence
4:01
[Comment From Fran B., ChicagoFran B., Chicago: ] 
Ready to chat!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 Fran B., Chicago
4:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'll give our participants a chance to say hi...
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:01 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
M.O. Walsh: 
Hi everybody! I'm excited to be in the little chat box with you!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:00 M.O. Walsh
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hi, Neal, Welcome!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see Neal is here.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
3:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Don’t worry about typos – (and please forgive ours)
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:59 Nora - EarlyWord
3:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to the author before the end of the chat.
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:59 Nora - EarlyWord
3:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see chat participants gathering!
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:59 Nora - EarlyWord
3:51
Nora - EarlyWordNora - EarlyWord
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:51 
3:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Neal recorded the following video specifically for First Flight participants:
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:51 Nora - EarlyWord
3:35
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:35 
3:35
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of MY SUNSHINE AWAY, to be published by Penguin/Putnam on Feb. 10
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:35 Nora - EarlyWord
3:34
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with M.O. “Neal” Walsh at 4 p.m., EST
Wednesday January 21, 2015 3:34 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Live Chat with Debut Author,
M. O. Walsh

Live Chat with Caroline Rose

Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

The live chat is now a wrap — see what you missed, below.

 Live Chat with Caroline Starr Rose, BLUE BIRDS(01/14/2015) 
4:42
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We'll begin our chat in about fifteen minutes.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:42 Nora - EarlyWord
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We'll be chatting with Caroline Starr Rose, author of BLUE BIRDS.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:44
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:44 
4:49
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here's a quick plot summary:
Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:49 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Plot summary:

It’s 1587 and twelve-year-old Alis has made the long journey with her parents from England to help settle the New World, the land christened Virginia in honor of the Queen. And Alis couldn’t be happier. The streets of London are crowded and dirty. But this new land, with its trees and birds and sky calls to Alis. Here she feels free. But the land, the island Roanoke is also inhabited by the Roanoke tribe and tensions between them and the English are running high, quickly becoming deadly.

Amid the strife, Alis meets and befriends Kimi, a Roanoke girl about her age. Despite not even speaking the same language these girls form an impossible bond becoming as close as sisters, willing to risk everything for the other. Finally, Alis must make an impossible choice when her family resolves to leave the island and bloodshed behind.
With a beautiful, tender story of friendship and the meaning of family, Caroline Starr Rose delivers another historical gem.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Kirkus reviewed it earlier this month:

“Composed in varying formats, the descriptive and finely crafted poems reveal the similarities the two girls share, from loved ones lost to hatred between the English and the Roanoke to a desire for peace… Fans of Karen Hesse and the author's May B. (2012) will delight in this offering.”— Kirkus Reviews
Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see chat participants gathering! We'll begin chatting at 5:00, EST, but you can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Caroline before the end of the chat.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Our moderator is Lisa Von Drasek, curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota, one of the world’s largest collections of children’s literature manuscripts and original art.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Say hi to everyone, Lisa!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
lisa von drasek: 
Hi Everyone! Caroline are you here?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 lisa von drasek
5:02
Caroline: 
I am. Hello, all!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Caroline
5:02
[Comment From Pam, Public LibrarianPam, Public Librarian: ] 
Hi, Caroline, thanks for BOTH your beautiful books
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Pam, Public Librarian
 
Caroline: 
Thank you, Pam.
  Caroline
5:02
[Comment From Lila, NewportLila, Newport: ] 
I’ve lurked on many of these chats. Now I’m out of the shadows!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Lila, Newport
5:02
[Comment From Junie BJunie B: ] 
Ready to chat!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:02 Junie B
5:03
lisa von drasek: 
I have a great Question form Deborah
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:03 lisa von drasek
5:03
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Do you have any Teacher Guides or extension activities available for "Blue Birds?"
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:03 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
Not yet. But things are in the works!
  Caroline
5:03
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
Can’t wait to share this book with my kids!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:03 Julie Wolf
5:04
lisa von drasek: 
Julie, How old are your kids?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 lisa von drasek
5:04
[Comment From Reads for a livingReads for a living: ] 
Let’s get this party started!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 Reads for a living
5:04
[Comment From Janice P.Janice P.: ] 
Looking forward to the chat.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 Janice P.
5:04
lisa von drasek: 
Caroline , Can you talk a little about what inspired you to write this book?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:04 lisa von drasek
5:05
[Comment From Jonas P.Jonas P.: ] 
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us , Caroline
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:05 Jonas P.
 
Caroline: 
Happy to be here!
  Caroline
5:05
Caroline: 
Absolutely.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:05 Caroline
5:05
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
My kids are all ten year olds.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:05 Julie Wolf
5:06
Caroline: 
In 2008 I was teaching fifth-grade social studies. We’d gotten to those textbook paragraphs about England’s first colony in the Americas. Not Jamestown, the Virginia settlement started in 1607. Roanoke, the community established twenty years before…
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:06 Caroline
5:07
Caroline: 
… Reading about the Lost Colony along with my students, I remembered the fascination I’d felt the first time I’d encountered the story: 117 missing people. The word CROATOAN the only clue left behind.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:07 Caroline
5:07
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Where did you get the idea for the character names and spelling?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:07 Deborah Baldwin
5:08
lisa von drasek: 
were you at a reader as a kid?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:08 lisa von drasek
5:08
Caroline: 
In reading first-hand accounts from the 1500s, it didn't take long to notice nobody consistently spelled their names the same way...
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:08 Caroline
5:09
Caroline: 
...Sir Walter Raleigh ususally spelled his name Ralegh...
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:09 Caroline
5:09
Caroline: 
...Alis was one of many variations of Alice....
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:09 Caroline
5:10
Caroline: 
...So little is known about the Roanoke, I ended up taking both Kimi and Alawa's names from an Algonquin name list I found on-line!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:10 Caroline
5:10
[Comment From Jonas P.Jonas P.: ] 
This is your second book and both have been in verse form. Why do you like that form?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:10 Jonas P.
 
Caroline: 
Verse is as close to the bone as I can get.
  Caroline
5:10
[Comment From Jonas P.Jonas P.: ] 
Are there any drawbacks to the form?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:10 Jonas P.
 
Caroline: 
I see verse as a collection of snap shots and prose as a running movie. There isn't always a lot of room to work within a snap shot, but you can certainly evoke emotion and really focus on the moment.
  Caroline
5:13
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Verse form seems to really place an emphasis on choosing your words carefully and helps to get to the heart of the thought.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:13 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
Yes. Exactly. Drafting can be very slow work!
  Caroline
5:13
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Your book is spot on for fifth graders. It works well as a mentor text for creating "aged" journal entries.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:13 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
I love hearing this, especially because the book started for me when I was teaching fifth grade. A circle completed.
  Caroline
5:13
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
Did you come across any great discoveries in your research?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:13 Julie Wolf
 
Caroline: 
One thing that didn't make the book but I found to be both interesting and a cruel irony: The day Gov. White returned to Roanoke in 1590 was his granddaughter, Virigina Dare's, third birthday.
  Caroline
5:16
lisa von drasek: 
I noticed that you had a very specific sense of place. Did you think about including maps?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:16 lisa von drasek
5:17
Caroline: 
I hoped Putnam would choose to include a map. So happy they did...
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:17 Caroline
5:18
lisa von drasek: 
whoops I missed it
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 lisa von drasek
5:18
lisa von drasek: 
it is right in the front!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 lisa von drasek
5:18
Caroline: 
...It required a flurry of emails and conversations with rangers at Ft. Raleigh.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 Caroline
5:18
lisa von drasek: 
Can you tell us a little about your own childhood reading?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:18 lisa von drasek
5:19
lisa von drasek: 
Any authors who inspired you?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:19 lisa von drasek
5:19
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
The map is very helpful!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:19 Deborah Baldwin
5:21
Caroline: 
My computer froze! Sorry about that. Trying again.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:21 Caroline
5:21
Caroline: 
I was a voracious reader! Reading was a huge part of my life. I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder, LM Montgomery, Beverly Cleary, Mary Poppins, Doctor Dolittle, Cheaper by the Dozen, Ginger Pye, The Railway Children, Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles, the Shoe books (Ballet, Dancing, etc.) and so many more…
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:21 Caroline
5:22
Caroline: 
… My school librarian used to host a "kite contest" every year. She hung a kite on the ceiling and attached a long tail. When a child finished a book, a paper bow was added to the kite. This was magical to me. I read like crazy to get my bows added.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:22 Caroline
5:22
Caroline: 
Authors that inspire me: Katherine Paterson. I want to be her when I grow up. She writes with such compassion. I feel the same way about Beverly Cleary. Is there a more human character than Ramona Quimby in all of children's literature? Karen Cushman has taught me so much about historical fiction. Karen Hesse so much about verse...
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:22 Caroline
5:23
Caroline: 
...And here are the books that inspired me to write historical fiction:
Catherine, Called Birdy - Karen Cushman
Our Only May Amelia - Jennifer Holm
Fever 1793 - Laurie Halse Anderson
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:23 Caroline
5:23
[Comment From Josie, School LibrarianJosie, School Librarian: ] 
I'm SO stealing the kite idea!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:23 Josie, School Librarian
 
Caroline: 
Your kids will love your for life! I'll come be a student in your library.
  Caroline
5:23
[Comment From Reads for a livingReads for a living: ] 
I'm always curious about the editing process. What was it like for you? Do editors need any special skills to deal with books in verse?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:23 Reads for a living
 
Caroline: 
This was my editor's first verse novel and only my second. I am generally an under writer (not the insurance company type...the kind that needs to flesh things out). We talked a lot about things I would suspect would be true of any book: rising tension, believable character development.
  Caroline
5:26
 lisa von drasek
one map from the front of the book
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26 
5:26
[Comment From FranFran: ] 
You certainly seem drawn to young women who are living in difficult circumstances!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26 Fran
 
Caroline: 
It's kind of funny, actually. I'm a self-proclaimed wimp. I think that's why I'm fascinated with these strong girls living in challenging times.
  Caroline
5:26
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
I love the kite idea too!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26 Deborah Baldwin
5:26
[Comment From Blue StockingBlue Stocking: ] 
In both your books, the main characters are 12-year-old girls. Are you just a 12-year-old at hearts, or is there some other reason you pick this age?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:26 Blue Stocking
 
Caroline: 
Twelve feels like a middle grade sweet spot to me. I taught sixth and seventh grade for most of my teaching years. It just feels like a good fit for me.
  Caroline
5:28
[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ] 
The Roanoke story seems to be ones that kids are fascinated by, as you were. I wonder if it's because it's one of the few historical stories where text books just admit nobody now for sure what happened?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:28 Jane Doe
 
Caroline: 
I think that's a huge part of it. There are still debates now. No one really knows. Did they go inland, as a recent map seems to indicate? Did they go to the Chesapeake, as planned? Some surely went to Croatoan. Jamestown settlers spoke of possibly seeing white-skinned men working Native copper mines. It is fascinating!
  Caroline
5:28
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
How long did it take for you to write this book?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:28 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
The first niggling idea came in 2008. I sat down to research in 2010. Drafted 2011-2012. Sold it in 2013. Worked and reworked and reworked until last summer, 2014.
  Caroline
5:29
[Comment From Blue stockingBlue stocking: ] 
Good answer about 12-year olds -- I agree. It's old enough for middle graders to look up to, but not so old that they can't relate.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:29 Blue stocking
 
Caroline: 
Yes! Exactly.
  Caroline
5:32
[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ] 
Thanks for understanding my question -- ugh, typos!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:32 Jane Doe
 
Caroline: 
:) Didn't even notice.
  Caroline
5:32
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Do you do author visits or Skype with schools?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:32 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
I do both and absolutely love it...
  Caroline
5:33
Caroline: 
...I feel like I get to pretend for an hour that the students are mine. I also really love seeing kids get excited about reading and history all at once.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:33 Caroline
5:33
[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ] 
Have kids every asked you questions out of left field?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:33 Jane Doe
 
Caroline: 
Yes. And they're extra fun. If you've read May B., they're often about the fate of Mrs. Oblinger. Sometimes they get gruesome.
  Caroline
5:34
lisa von drasek: 
Have the kids made you think any differently about your writing?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:34 lisa von drasek
5:35
Caroline: 
Yes. I realize how different our world is today. Things like the responsibilities a young person might have. I want kids to really feel those differences. With May B., which is a frontier story, I have kids think about all the ways they've used water up to that point in the day…
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:35 Caroline
5:35
Caroline: 
...and all the ways they'll use it later. Then I tell students pioneers in the 1870s didn’t have running water. If they were really lucky, they had a well. It’s one of many ways to show how different life is now…
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:35 Caroline
5:37
Caroline: 
...But I also love talking about the similarities...
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:37 Caroline
5:38
Caroline: 
...Those come in an emotional connection. We have all felt anger, sadness, joy, or fear. These are the timeless things that connect us.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:38 Caroline
5:38
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Those different perspectives and life experiences are so important to have represented. Thank you!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:38 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
Yes! I remember once telling children to imagine no cars, TV, computers, etc. I asked how they might spend their time. One boy told me he'd play Monopoly. I had to tell him even that wasn't around during pioneer times!
  Caroline
5:38
lisa von drasek: 
You really captured Alis's loneliness . Was there really only one girl in Roanoke?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:38 lisa von drasek
5:39
Caroline: 
17 English women and 11 boys made the journey to Roanoke. No young girls were on the 1587 manifest. But with both the Dare and Harvie families having babies a few days apart, adding Alis to the Harvie family felt practical. She could serve as a nursemaid to both children.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:39 Caroline
5:40
[Comment From Jane DoeJane Doe: ] 
I loved your comments about spelling. I've read that it was actually PRINTERS who made us regulate spelling. I always say I prefer the creative approach, rather to the tyranny of printers!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:40 Jane Doe
 
Caroline: 
Preach it!
  Caroline
5:40
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
How difficult was it to get your first book published? And, BTW, congrats on the success of it. I loved it and this one will be received at least as well.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:40 Julie Wolf
 
Caroline: 
My goodness. Thank you! It took me a long time to sell a first book. May was novel number four (I also had written six picture books). Though I got some kind feedback from agents, most felt verse was a really hard sell, and literary historical MG was the trifecta of difficult.
  Caroline
5:42
[Comment From Junie B., ChicagoJunie B., Chicago: ] 
Do you have another book in the works, or do you need a break?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:42 Junie B., Chicago
 
Caroline: 
I'm working on a prose novel, which is a new challenge for me. It's about the Klondike gold rush with a Huck Finn-like character. My sons (sixth and eighth grade) have wanted me to write about a boy for years.
  Caroline
5:43
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Your writing lends itself to the reader to form "text to text" and "text to self" connections.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:43 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
Oh, I love this! One of my favorite moments is a small one: Alis talks about the "luxuries" of London. I wanted readers to really see and reflect on her concept of a luxury vs. their own.
  Caroline
5:44
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
Thanks for saying that about literary historical MG being a tough sell. I wondered about that!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:44 Julie Wolf
 
Caroline: 
It's too bad. BUT. I have to believe a good story will get its chance. My writing motto for years has been "maniacal optimism".
  Caroline
5:44
lisa von drasek: 
I was wondering what your writing day was like. Can you say a few words about that?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:44 lisa von drasek
 
Caroline: 
I'm not sure if there is a typical day. I do almost always start with a trip to the gym or am out the door for a run. Then I settle in. I try to hold to Roald Dahl's philosophy: At least two hours a day with your work, whether or not you have something to say. Of course, some days it's much longer. Other times life butts in.
  Caroline
5:46
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
But I haven't found it tough to sell to kids -- they open it and immediately see that it's easy to read (it doesn't hurt that there are fewer words on the page than in other books).
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:46 Julie Wolf
 
Caroline: 
I am SO happy to hear this. There is sometimes resistence to verse...but to me it seems to be coming almost exclusively from adults. I think kids are very, very open and accepting and curious.
  Caroline
5:46
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
My students enjoy reading verse as well!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:46 Deborah Baldwin
5:48
lisa von drasek: 
Is there any questions you had wished I had asked?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:48 lisa von drasek
5:48
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Our Third Graders loved May B. I've introduced our fifth Graders to Blue Birds. Our Fourth Graders will most likely enjoy the Gold Rush book. All of them fit our history studies nicely.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:48 Deborah Baldwin
5:49
Caroline: 
Let's talk about why I write children's books...
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline
5:49
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
Going back to the issue of an MG historical novel in verse -- what on earth made you decide to do that?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Julie Wolf
 
Caroline: 
What on earth indeed??? I didn't plan it at all. I had actually only read two verse novels before writing May. But as I started drafting, I was frustrated with the distance I felt between my ideas and the words on the page. I returned to my research and noticed the patterns frontier women used to communicate. Spare language. Everything contained. I realized if I could mirror this I could best show May's world and tell her story.
  Caroline
5:49
Caroline: 
These are the books I shared with my former students and the ones I read with my children. They're also the ones that have had a biggest impact on me in my reading life…
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline
5:49
Caroline: 
…I love the way children's books validate children's lives and experiences. My older boy went into the hospital with a staph infection when he was ten days old. As nurses poked around on him, I remember them telling me he wouldn't remember the pain. So what? I wanted to say. He's feeling it right now!…
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline
5:49
Caroline: 
… I think as well-meaning adults we do this sort of thing all the time -- downplay the moment for kids. The truth is those moments, all moments, are real. Children's literature provides an honest, safe place for kids to hear their big and small moments count.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:49 Caroline
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
Do you have contact information for school that would like author visits either real or skyped?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:51 lisa von drasek
 
Caroline: 
Yes! If you go to my website, click on the "author visits" option.
  Caroline
5:51
[Comment From Julie WolfJulie Wolf: ] 
You've just brought tears to my eyes! What a GREAT way of putting it!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:51 Julie Wolf
 
Caroline: 
Ramona Quimby and Anne Shirley taught me that.
  Caroline
5:54
lisa von drasek: 
Unbelievably the time has sped by and we must say thank you to Caroline.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 lisa von drasek
5:54
Caroline: 
www.carolinestarrrose.com
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 Caroline
5:54
lisa von drasek: 
Any last words from the peanut gallery?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 lisa von drasek
5:54
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Thank you!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 Deborah Baldwin
5:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Caroline just gave us the link to her Web site, where you can contact her for author visits.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:54 Nora - EarlyWord
5:55
Caroline: 
My absolute pleasure.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:55 Caroline
5:56
[Comment From Julie+WolfJulie+Wolf: ] 
This peanut loved the chat!!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:56 Julie+Wolf
5:56
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
What advice do you have for young writers?
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:56 Deborah Baldwin
5:57
Caroline: 
Two things: You have something unique to say. Your writing can only get better if you keep trying. These sustained me in the almost fourteen years it took me to see my first book on the shelves.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:57 Caroline
5:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
That's a great place to end -- Thanks, Lisa and Caroline and all the rest of you -- this was so much fun!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:57 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The next title in our program is Ms. Rapscott's Girls, by Elise Primavera, coming in March. Click here to read more about it:
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 

http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Happy reading, everyone and thanks for joining.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:59
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
So glad you persisted, Caroline!
Wednesday January 14, 2015 5:59 Deborah Baldwin
 
Caroline: 
Thank you. Me too.
  Caroline
 
 

Posted in Childrens and YA, EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Live Chat with Caroline Rose

Live Chat with Debut Author,
Brooke Davis

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with Brooke Davis, LOST & FOUND
 Live Chat with Brooke Davis, LOST & FOUND(12/03/2014) 
4:42
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Brooke Davis, author of LOST & FOUND, in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:42 Nora - EarlyWord
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of LOST & FOUND, to published in the U.S. by Penguin/Dutton in January.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:44
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:44 
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Brooke recorded a video intro. especially for First Flights members.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Nora - EarlyWordNora - EarlyWord
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:45 
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
One of our First Flights members, Kimberly McGee, posted a review of LOST & FOUND on Edelweiss and gave us permission to use it here:
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:46 
4:53
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see chat participants gathering!

You can send your questions through at any time (even now). They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Brooke before the end of the chat.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:53 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Please don’t worry about typos – we’ll make them too!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 4:55 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Brooke has joined us from Perth Australia, where it’s very early in the morning. Please say hi, Brooke!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Brooke Davis: 
Hello! Thanks so much for having me!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:00 Brooke Davis
5:01
[Comment From Julie P.Julie P.: ] 
Hi Brooke! Loved the book.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Julie P.
5:01
[Comment From Happy BookerHappy Booker: ] 
Thanks for doing this, Brooke! I must be early in Australia.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Happy Booker
5:01
[Comment From JaniceJanice: ] 
Hi! from Montana!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Janice
5:01
[Comment From Mike D.Mike D.: ] 
Ready for a fun chat!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Mike D.
5:01
[Comment From Galley HoundGalley Hound: ] 
Like Karl, I'm here!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Galley Hound
5:01
[Comment From Agatha & MillieAgatha & Millie: ] 
we're here, too!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Agatha & Millie
5:01
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Hi from Connecticut!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Guest
5:01
[Comment From LynneLynne: ] 
Loved the book so much that I am re-reading it.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Lynne
5:01
[Comment From BethMills2BethMills2: ] 
Hello from NY
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 BethMills2
5:01
Brooke Davis: 
Thank you all for joining me. So lovely to see you all here! It's a very early, sunny morning here in Perth.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:01 Brooke Davis
5:02
Brooke Davis: 
I'm trying to channel Karl the Touch Typist this morning.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:02 Brooke Davis
5:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We've got some questions holding in the queue, but I'm going to start with a few of my own.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Your bio says you’ve worked as a bookseller. Pretend LOST & FOUND was written by someone else (if you can). How would you handsell it?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord
5:03
Brooke Davis: 
Oh my gosh! That's a difficult one to start with. I'm so terrible at selling my own book. I still work as a bookseller, but don't have to handsell it at all because all my colleagues don't really let anyone leave the store without a copy of it! ...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:03 Brooke Davis
5:04
[Comment From Stephanie KrasnerStephanie Krasner: ] 
Great question Nora. I am a librarian and love to hear how someone would handsell or hand recommend a book.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:04 Stephanie Krasner
5:04
Brooke Davis: 
Having said that, whenever I’m at the hairdresser, or the doctors, or talking to a person on the bus, when they find out I’ve written a book and they ask me what it’s about, I say something like this: It’s a road trip story, set mainly in Western Australia, from the point of view of three different characters—a little girl, and two elderly people—all of whom have lost someone they’ve loved.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:04 Brooke Davis
5:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
That leads nicely into the following question …
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:05 Nora - EarlyWord
5:05
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
I'm interested in how you wrote from the perspective of a 7 year old female and an 87 year old male. Two completely different ages and voices. Can you tell me more about this?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:05 Andrea
5:06
Brooke Davis: 
That's a great question! ...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:06 Brooke Davis
5:07
Brooke Davis: 
The voice of 7 year-old Millie came so naturally to me--not sure if that's because I'm still a 7 year-old at heart!!--but it was the first voice that came to me after my mother died. That makes sense to me--I think we do get a bit childlike when we're grieving, and she allowed me to ask those really thorny questions that adults are sometimes as little afraid to ask...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:07 Brooke Davis
5:09
Brooke Davis: 
And the elderly voice seemed natural as well, in the end--if I was trying to ask questions about the Way Things Are, then perhaps it would be best suited to giving those questions to a position within the culture that is seen to be invisible, just like a child, really. I'm not sure if you feel that things are the same in the States, but I definitely feel that in Australia we don't listen to our elderly enough. I wanted to give them a voice, and it seemed perfect for the subject matter.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:09 Brooke Davis
5:10
[Comment From Mike D.Mike D.: ] 
One part I found so moving -- the list of things Karl , who is now old, wishes he could do. It’s like poetry.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:10 Mike D.
5:10
Brooke Davis: 
Thank you, Mike! That's such a lovely thing to say.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:10 Brooke Davis
5:10
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Thanks for mentioning that, Mike - it's one of my favorite bits, too, so I copied out the text …
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:10 Nora - EarlyWord
5:11
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Karl wanted to feel again. He want to walk onto a crowded bus and make eye contact with a woman with brown hair, blond hair, blue hair – just hair would be enough – and feel that flip in his stomach, that nice hurt. He wanted to laugh loudly, to lean over his knees with it, to throw grapes at someone, to sit in a mud puddle, to yell things anythings, it didn’t matter. He wanted to pull down a woman’s skirt, to sit on the bonnet of a moving car, to wear shorts, to eat which is mouth open. …
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:11 Nora - EarlyWord
5:11
Brooke Davis: 
I wonder if we all feel a bit like that sometimes, no matter how old we are, that feeling that time is passing us by, that we're always remembering instead of doing.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:11 Brooke Davis
5:12
[Comment From DawnDawn: ] 
I don’t have a question but wanted to share my initial experience reading Lost & Found. First let me preface this story with the fact that I am a parochial high school librarian. The morning that I received your book I happened to be in need of something to read. I took it with me to the cafeteria and began reading, and laughing. Finally a teacher sitting next to me asked what I was reading so I started reading it aloud to her. Soon she began to laugh too. The way the parents describes heaven, who goes where and why was absolutely hysterical. I finally had to go back to the library because I couldn’t contain my giggles. I wanted to adopt Millie.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:12 Dawn
5:12
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
The voice of each character was very authentic. I was amazed at some of the comments made by the older characters--I kept wondering how you were able to be so perceptive.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:12 bookclubreader
5:13
Brooke Davis: 
Dawn, that has made my morning!! I wish I was there! Thank you for sharing that with me.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:13 Brooke Davis
5:14
[Comment From Mike D.Mike D.: ] 
Good point, Brooke -- We shouldn't think of older people as being so different!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:14 Mike D.
5:15
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
The characters reminded that life is meant to be an adventure--it isn't perfect, and it's often messy..?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:15 bookclubreader
5:15
Brooke Davis: 
'bookclubreader'--thank you for saying that. I definitely have been very close to my grandparents. I haven't always been interested in what they have to say but as I've gotten older, I have listened more. And as I said earlier, I realise that we all need to listen more...

I have one grandparent 'left'--my 90 year-old Nan, who, of course isn't what she used to be, but when I look at her, and when I talk to her, I know that her and I are not that much different. I can also tell that she doesn't feel much different from me. She misses her mum, and feels like a small child sometimes, too, just like I do. And yet, she’s 90, and I’m 35. I'm just not sure that we change that much on the inside.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:15 Brooke Davis
5:15
Brooke Davis: 
Mike, you read my mind! :)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:15 Brooke Davis
5:16
[Comment From DawnDawn: ] 
I would handsell it by comparing to movies like Big Fish or mr magorium's magic emporium. M's imagination is like a road trip inside a road trip
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:16 Dawn
5:17
Brooke Davis: 
bookclubreader-- EXACTLY. I'm not sure when someone decided that sadness--and all the messiness--wasn't a part of life. I think it might be a bit dangerous and not good for us to be sold the story that we need to aspire to some sort of perfect, neverending happiness.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:17 Brooke Davis
5:18
Brooke Davis: 
Thanks, Dawn--I love that!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:18 Brooke Davis
5:18
[Comment From DawnDawn: ] 
You're welcome! Any plans to have book signings in New Zealand? I'll be there in July.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:18 Dawn
5:19
Brooke Davis: 
Oh, wow! How exciting for you. I hope so. I might actually be in Europe then, though! Hopefully one day. I will be coming to the States this January, though!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:19 Brooke Davis
5:19
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Is your U.S. tour set? Can we find the schedule online?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:19 Nora - EarlyWord
5:21
Brooke Davis: 
Not yet! I’ll be receiving my schedule sometime this week, so will know more soon. I’m heading to Vancouver in Canada for the Christmas holidays—my brother lives there, and I’m hoping so much to get a white Christmas! I’ve never had one—and then I’ll be touring Canada and the U.S. in January. I'll put it up on my facebook page as soon as I know it!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:21 Brooke Davis
5:21
[Comment From LilyLily: ] 
Was writing the book therapeutic - did it help you deal with your own grief?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:21 Lily
5:21
[Comment From Kimberly McGeeKimberly McGee: ] 
Having Technical issues but I can enjoy catching up
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:21 Kimberly McGee
 
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hey, Kimberly -- glad you made it!
  Nora - EarlyWord
5:22
Brooke Davis: 
Lovely question, Lily, thank you! It was the perfect avenue for me to be able to keep grieving/thinking about my mum in a way that was socially and culturally permissible...

Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:22 Brooke Davis
5:23
Brooke Davis: 
I was able to keep her close to me without anyone thinking I was too weird, or not 'moving on'. And that made me relax about the concept of 'moving on', and it also made me realise that I didn’t actually have to. It also gave me the chance to think deeply about what it means to grieve on a broader scale, which made me feel less alone. It was the most perfect thing for me to do at that time. I’m so grateful for it...

Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:23 Brooke Davis
5:23
Brooke Davis: 
I’ve always tried to be open, authentic and honest about my grief. I don’t want to hide it and I want to be kind to myself about it. If I’m having a ‘bad day’, I try to give myself the space and time to feel it. Those days remind me that my mum existed once, and they’re important for me.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:23 Brooke Davis
5:24
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Interesting, because your characters behave in many inappropriate ways -- is that your way of protesting the requirement to grieve "appropriately"?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:24 Nora - EarlyWord
5:24
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I particularly loved the part when Agatha threw all the food people brought after her husband died onto the lawn. So liberating!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:24 Nora - EarlyWord
5:25
[Comment From LilyLily: ] 
I think the book will help other people who are grieving find a way to deal with theirs in a way they might not have thought about.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:25 Lily
5:26
Brooke Davis: 
Definitely! I’ve thought really deeply about the way we as a society put silences on death and grief, and how we pretend it doesn’t happen, and how suggest that there are 'appropriate' and 'inappropriate' ways to do it...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:26 Brooke Davis
5:26
Brooke Davis: 
I think it makes us feel like grieving and sadness are abnormal states, and make us feel pressure to ‘move on’ and achieve ‘closure’. This is an important topic: if we’re on earth long enough, we will all experience the death of someone close, and we will all grieve. This is something that we all share. What we might not share is the way we work through this grief, and how we think about death. I don’t believe this is something that we should judge each other about. We all work through this stuff differently, and we need to take the time to understand this about one another...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:26 Brooke Davis
5:27
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
As Your characters evolved they also reminded me that it's important to acknowledge your feelings rather than remaining numb, to embrace the future, whatever it holds, and let go of the past..
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:27 bookclubreader
5:27
Brooke Davis: 
Ha, thank you, Nora!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:27 Brooke Davis
5:28
Brooke Davis: 
Lily-- thanks for saying that--you have no idea how much a comment like that means to me. :)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:28 Brooke Davis
5:28
Nora - EarlyWord: 
In your acknowledgments, you say the book was written as a PhD thesis on grief. We tend to think of PhD. theses as pretty dry. How did yours become a novel?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:28 Nora - EarlyWord
5:28
Brooke Davis: 
bookclubreader--I love that thought. Thank you.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:28 Brooke Davis
5:29
Brooke Davis: 
Yes I did write it as a PhD here in Perth at Curtin University...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:29 Brooke Davis
5:30
Brooke Davis: 
But it was a creative writing PhD, so essentially you have one research question (in my case, it was something about different representations of grief in literature), and you answer it in a creative way and a theoretical way...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:30 Brooke Davis
5:31
Brooke Davis: 
So I wrote a novel and a big essay to accompany it that explored all the psychology around grief, as well as some of contemporary representations of it...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:31 Brooke Davis
5:31
Nora - EarlyWord: 
What an interesting program -- kind of right brain, left brain.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:31 Nora - EarlyWord
5:32
Brooke Davis: 
It was actually a fantastic way to give myself permission to write a novel, as I was lucky enough to get a scholarship, and so could treat it like a job for a few years. Plus, I had mentors and immediate peers who were doing the same thing. It was a fantastic, structured way for me to do it.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:32 Brooke Davis
5:32
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
I'm interested in knowing a little more about the way you formatted the book with chapters titles and then so many sub-titles or sections. Why did you choose that format giving us a header for each section?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:32 Andrea
5:32
Brooke Davis: 
Yes, Nora! Exactly. Worked really well for me. Though I was a little weary of the academic language by the end of it all! Happy to be finished.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:32 Brooke Davis
5:34
Brooke Davis: 
Good question, Andrea, thank you. I think it started off as signposts I was doing for myself in the early drafting stage, and then I just never cut them out. I liked how they helped to guide the reader through the story, and the tone of it. So I kept them! :)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:34 Brooke Davis
5:35
[Comment From DawnDawn: ] 
I was thinking of recommending L&F to the psychology teacher at my school. How would you promote your book to a high school teacher to use in class or as a summer reading assignment?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:35 Dawn
5:38
Brooke Davis: 
Hmm. Good question, Dawn! I've actually been really surprised that here in Australia a lot of young teenage girls are reading it. I always ask them what they like about it, and some of them say 'the love story'! Which I'm amazed by, because I thought a love story between two elderly people wouldn't be high on the list for teenage girls!! And so many of the girls seem to really identify with Millie.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:38 Brooke Davis
5:39
Brooke Davis: 
I'm not sure that answers your question! If you come up with an idea, let me know! :)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:39 Brooke Davis
5:39
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
I especially liked that you could bring humor into the book. Having recently lost both my parents ( within 5 months of each other) this books was especially me meaningful and I appreciated the humor. Not only having to deal with their deaths, but all the legal work that goes with it, I loved it when someone made me laugh and see joy.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:39 Andrea
5:42
Brooke Davis: 
Andrea--I am so, so sorry to hear about your parents. Thank you so much for saying that about my book. It really is so ridiculous how difficult all that bureaucracy stuff makes a sad, difficult thing, much harder. They should be making it easier!! ...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:42 Brooke Davis
5:42
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
Adding to Andrea's comment, you've addressed many of life's big issues: love, loss, abandonment, death, and new beginnings in very touching ways. I think this will strike a chord with many readers.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:42 bookclubreader
5:43
Brooke Davis: 
I remember when my mum died, we were trying to do all the little things like get the electricity into her name, etc, and all these companies kept sending us forms that required her signature!!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:43 Brooke Davis
5:43
[Comment From Mike D.Mike D.: ] 
Why did the characters keep writing on things that they were there? Did they feel overlooked?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:43 Mike D.
5:43
Brooke Davis: 
bookclubreader--thank you! I hope so.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:43 Brooke Davis
5:43
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
Perfect book for book clubs.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:43 Andrea
5:44
Brooke Davis: 
Mike--I think so, definitely. I think both the very young and the very old often feel invisible in their position within society. But I also think that we all feel a bit that way, sometimes.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:44 Brooke Davis
5:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Gotta point out that LOST & FOUND was a #1 best seller list in Australia.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:45 Nora - EarlyWord
5:45
Brooke Davis: 
Andrea--thank you--I've been visiting a few here in Australia, and the conversations we've had have been incredible. I've felt very lucky.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:45 Brooke Davis
5:45
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:45 
5:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Take a look at the other books on the list.

Pretty impressive!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:46 Nora - EarlyWord
5:46
Brooke Davis: 
Oh, that was so exciting! I couldn't believe it. My publisher here was really good at getting it in to the hands of the indie booksellers before it went to print. They really got behind it over here, which I’m hugely grateful for.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:46 Brooke Davis
5:46
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
This will be a perfect book club discussion--provocative and timely. I enjoyed the structure.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:46 Janet S
5:46
[Comment From Kimberly McGeeKimberly McGee: ] 
I agree! I was thinking of suggesting it to two or three of our library book clubs. It promotes a lot of discussion points
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:46 Kimberly McGee
5:47
Brooke Davis: 
Thank you, Janet & Kimberly!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:47 Brooke Davis
5:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
It's also done well in other countries, right?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:47 Nora - EarlyWord
5:48
Brooke Davis: 
It's been picked up in about 25 other countries, but it's only come out in Australia so far! The US, Canada and the UK will be the first to release it outside of Australia. So, fingers crossed! :)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:48 Brooke Davis
5:48
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Were you surprised that it got picked up so widely?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:48 Nora - EarlyWord
5:49
Brooke Davis: 
Absolutely!! I've been so surprised that people in other countries understand it. When I was writing it, I thought it was this very weird little Australian book about topics no one wants to ever talk about! ...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:49 Brooke Davis
5:50
Brooke Davis: 
As I said before, I work in a bookshop here in Australia, and have done for about ten years. It’s been such a great way to get an insight into the industry—it’s helped me to understand how difficult it is not only to get published, but to also understand how difficult it is to get your book read even after it’s been published. There are so many books! I know that I need to keep my expectations about my own work in that world really, very low. ! It’s helpful, because any ‘win’ is a surprise.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:50 Brooke Davis
5:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 
That's so funny that you thought it was specifically Australian -- as you can tell by the reactions here, people think the themes are universal.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:51 Nora - EarlyWord
5:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I was only brought up short by a few specific references (what is Boron -- do I have that right? Agatha drinks it but then throws it down the sink)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:51 Nora - EarlyWord
5:52
Brooke Davis: 
Yeah--grief and death and joy are all things we share, for sure...
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:52 Brooke Davis
5:52
Brooke Davis: 
Haha, oh that's funny. It's actually 'Bonox', and is this terrible, awful drink that tastes like liquid Vegemite, that lots of people of my grandparents era drank during war time! You really don't want to try that stuff.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:52 Brooke Davis
5:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I just looked at the time -- we only have a few minutes left. Get your final question in, everyone!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:52 Nora - EarlyWord
5:53
[Comment From DawnDawn: ] 
Any plans for creating a book club reading guide for L&F?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:53 Dawn
5:53
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
You have all of us to promote it!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:53 Andrea
5:53
[Comment From Galley HoundGalley Hound: ] 
How did you come up with the title?
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:53 Galley Hound
5:54
Brooke Davis: 
Dawn, there is actually one at the back of the Australian version--I'm not sure if they are including it in the U.S. version? If not, you're welcome to get in touch with me (via facebook is probably the easiest way), and I can definitely send it to you. :)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:54 Brooke Davis
5:54
Brooke Davis: 
Andrea--thank you!!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:54 Brooke Davis
5:55
[Comment From PamelaPamela: ] 
Everyone -- be sure to read the acknowledgments -- they say so much about who Brooke is!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:55 Pamela
5:56
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
It's a lovely book and just a great read.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:56 Janet S
5:56
[Comment From StephanieStephanie: ] 
Just wanted to add that I can't wait to have a bookclub read and discussion. It would be extremely appropriate to our patrons.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:56 Stephanie
5:56
Brooke Davis: 
Galley Hound--It's funny, it was always going to be a working title. It was just the first title I thought of--it seemed to tie into the themes really well. I didn't love it, and fully expected the publishers to want to change it, but they liked it! So it just stuck. I like the simplicity of it, though--especially working as a bookseller, I know readers sometimes find it hard to remember the titles of books--it makes it easy to remember!!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:56 Brooke Davis
5:57
Brooke Davis: 
Pamela--thank you, I feel a bit embarrassed about how long they are!! :)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:57 Brooke Davis
5:57
Brooke Davis: 
Thank you Janet and Stephanie!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:57 Brooke Davis
5:57
Brooke Davis: 
And thanks everyone for joining me--had a ball. Hopefully get to meet you one day.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:57 Brooke Davis
5:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Wow, everyone, that’s nearly it for this chat. The hour flew by. Thanks, Brooke for all your insights. Amazing for so early in the morning your time (it’s tomorrow where she is, folks)
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:57 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Brooke Davis: 
Yes, I'm in the future!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:58 Brooke Davis
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
And thanks to the Penguin First Flights program members for joining us today. The chat will be posted in our archives.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Brooke Davis: 
Thanks again, everyone, and to Nora for facilitating.
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:58 Brooke Davis
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Our next chat, on Jan. 21, is with M.O. Walsh, author of My Sunshine Away – read about it here
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Goodbye, everyone! Keep on reading!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
5:59
Brooke Davis: 
Bye, everyone!
Wednesday December 3, 2014 5:59 Brooke Davis
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Live Chat with Debut Author,
Brooke Davis

LIVE CHAT with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and Lisa Von Drasek

Wednesday, November 19th, 2014

Below is our live chat the author of The War That Saved My Life, also archived on the Penguin Young Readers page. To join the program, sign up here.

Live Blog Live Chat with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE
 Live Chat with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE(11/19/2014) 
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Kim Bradley in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Meanwhile, here’s the cover of The War That Saved My Life…

Coming Jan, 8th, from Penguin/Dial

It will also be available in audio from Listening Library.

Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:45 
4:48
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Below is a spolier-free description of the plot:

World War II England is the setting for this moving follow-up to the acclaimed Jefferson’s Sons. Nine year-old Ada has never left her room because her abusive mother is so ashamed of her club foot. When Ada overhears that her little brother, Jamie is going to be evacuated out of London because of the approaching war, Ada sneaks out to join him.

Thus begins a new chance for Ada, as well as for Susan Smith, the reclusive woman who takes in the two children. Little by little, Ada opens up and starts to trust people, and Susan learns to nurture the kids and to love again after years of loneliness. As the story unfolds, Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, helps capture a German spy, and in a dramatic finale, saves herself and her brother once and for all from the tyranny of their mother.

Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:48 Nora - EarlyWord
4:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Here are some quotes from other authors about the book:

You are about to read an astounding novel. I was gobsmacked. Will you cry and rejoice and hold your breath? Absolutely. Will you find the book as exciting, touching, wise and profound as I did? Yes. Remarkable achievement, Kinberly Brubaker Bradley. Thank you. -- Karen Cushman, author of the Newbery Medal Winner, The Midwife’s Apprentice

I love Ada’s bold heart, keen wit and amazingly fresh point of view. Her story’s riveting. I was with her every step of the way. – Sheila Turnagh author of Newbery Medal book, Three Times Lucky

Not all wars are fought by nations. Some are fought in small rooms but for the same issues, justice, opportunity, respect. In Ada’s small war lies our large hope that love cannot, will not, be overcome. I read this novel in two big gulps. – Gary Schmidt, author of Newbery and Printz honor book, Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy



Wednesday November 19, 2014 4:54 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I see chat participants gathering!

Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to the author before the end of the chat.


Don’t worry about typos – we’ll make them too!

Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here’s our moderator Lisa Von Drasek. Say hi, Lisa!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Nora - EarlyWord
5:02
lisa von drasek: 
Hi, Nora! Hi, Readers!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 lisa von drasek
5:02
lisa von drasek: 
I am introducing Kim, our guest today who has published 16 books from picture books to YA, nonfiction and fiction.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 lisa von drasek
5:02
[Comment From Loves PoniesLoves Ponies: ] 
Hi Kim – looking forward to the chat
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Loves Ponies
5:02
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Happy to be here!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Deborah
5:02
[Comment From Sch. LibrarianSch. Librarian: ] 
Hi Kim. Loved the book!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:02 Sch. Librarian
5:03
Kim Bradley: 
Hi, everyone! Glad to be here too!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 Kim Bradley
5:03
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, Lets get started... where were you born and raised?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 lisa von drasek
5:03
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
Kim – thanks for a thoughtful, enthralling book
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 Sally
5:03
Kim Bradley: 
Fort Wayne, Indiana...very close to the place that was the setting for my first novel, Ruthie's Gift.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:03 Kim Bradley
5:04
Kim Bradley: 
Thanks, Sally!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Kim Bradley
5:04
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
Hello Kim – thanks for addressing so many important issues in this book.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Jo
5:04
Kim Bradley: 
Jo, you're welcome. What struck you as particularly important?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Kim Bradley
5:04
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, and now you live...?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 lisa von drasek
5:04
Kim Bradley: 
I live in Bristol, TN, a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:04 Kim Bradley
5:06
lisa von drasek: 
Jo hasn't chimed back in , so I will interrupt by asking about the setting...England during WWII. can you say a few words about that...Deborah also want to know..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 lisa von drasek
5:06
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 Deborah
5:06
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
So many things struck me as important -- how people try to put others down, how important community is to people and how bad it can be without it.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 Jo
5:06
Kim Bradley: 
Sure...Let's see, I love England, I always have...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:06 Kim Bradley
5:07
Kim Bradley: 
Researching the setting was a lot of fun for me because it required a trip to England...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:07 Kim Bradley
5:07
Kim Bradley: 
I'm trying to insert a photo here...Kent was so lovely, even though we were there in very early spring...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:07 Kim Bradley
5:08
Kim Bradley: 
Like most writers, I get ideas from everywhere, but this book seemed more organic than most...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:08 Kim Bradley
5:08
Kim Bradley: 
Looking at it now, I can see where all these little pieces came from, but writing it it seemed to come out of nowhere.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:08 Kim Bradley
5:09
Kim Bradley: 
Jo, I am a huge believer in community and relationships...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:09 Kim Bradley
5:10
Kim Bradley: 
and I really wanted that for Ada.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:10 Kim Bradley
5:10
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
Oh, poor you, having to go to England for :esearch!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:10 Sally
5:10
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
I liked the way you used relationships in Jefferson's sons, too!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:10 Deborah
5:11
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, I was struck by Ada's isolation. Can you tell us a little about writing that part?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek
5:11
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
You really showed what it was like when Ada DIDN'T have that community.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:11 Jo
5:12
Kim Bradley: 
Ada's isolation was the hardest part to get right...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:12 Kim Bradley
5:12
 Kim Bradley
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:12 
5:12
Kim Bradley: 
You walk a fine line between creating a sympathetic character and making a situation so bleak it's unreadable..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:12 Kim Bradley
5:13
Kim Bradley: 
Finally got a photo! That's Ada's Kent!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Kim Bradley
5:13
[Comment From JoJo: ] 
Agree with Lisa about the isolation -- one thing I never thought about -- how someone like Ada, who grew up with only limited contact with people, wouldn’t understand a lot of words, and would feel isolated and exhausted when she had to talk to people. How did you come up with that?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Jo
5:13
Kim Bradley: 
I think that without Jamie, and without her father who I conceive of as having been loving, she would have been a lot worse off...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Kim Bradley
5:13
Kim Bradley: 
Remember that although he's not in the book except as a faint memory, she had her father until he was 4 years old...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:13 Kim Bradley
5:14
Kim Bradley: 
That's how she learned the songs she sings to Jamie...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:14 Kim Bradley
5:14
Kim Bradley: 
I once met a profound deaf young boy whose speech sounded completely normal. It was because he didn't lose his hearing until he was 18 months old.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:14 Kim Bradley
5:15
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Was this book inspired by someone's life experience?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Deborah
5:15
Kim Bradley: 
How did I come up with all Ada doesn't know?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Kim Bradley
5:15
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
Were you worried about opening the book on such a bleak note? That it might put off readers (it didn't me, however!)
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Kathy
5:15
Kim Bradley: 
Honestly, lots and lots and lots of revision...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:15 Kim Bradley
5:16
Kim Bradley: 
Kathy, yes, especially after my editor's comments on the first 70 pages of the first draft...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 Kim Bradley
5:16
Kim Bradley: 
She said, "This isn't REALLY going to be your next novel, is it?"
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 Kim Bradley
5:16
lisa von drasek: 
oh my
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 lisa von drasek
5:16
 Kim Bradley
Here's another photo. They're taking awhile to download
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:16 
5:17
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
Ha! That's funny about the editor. You needed that set up, however.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kathy
5:17
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Ouch! Glad you stuck with it.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Deborah
5:17
Kim Bradley: 
Yeah, that wasn't good. :) But six revisions later I found Ada's voice..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kim Bradley
5:17
Kim Bradley: 
The thing is that Ada doesn't know all she's missing...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kim Bradley
5:17
Kim Bradley: 
She's frustrated, but she's not as angry (yet) as she should be...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:17 Kim Bradley
5:18
Kim Bradley: 
It's a characteristic of childhood that we accept whatever our life is as "normal." Ada's not based on a real person....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:18 Kim Bradley
5:18
Kim Bradley: 
...but she reflects some real experiences of abuse, neglect, and disability that I'm familiar with.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:18 Kim Bradley
5:19
Kim Bradley: 
I had to stick with this novel, Deborah. Ada wasn't going to leave me alone.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:19 Kim Bradley
5:19
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
I like what you say about Ada not knowing what she's missing -- explains her reactions later in the story.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:19 Sally
5:19
[Comment From SallySally: ] 
Are there stories of actual children with a club feet who lived the way Ada did – hidden away, crawling from one place to another?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:19 Sally
5:20
Kim Bradley: 
Sally, yes and no. Club feet have been successfully treated in most Western countries since the 1920s...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:20 Kim Bradley
5:21
 Kim Bradley
This is the smallest boat known to have been part of the Dunkirk evacuations. I think it's 17 feet long
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 
5:21
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Could you talk a little about how your writing and research process worked with this book?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 Deborah
5:21
Kim Bradley: 
But there are still lots of children in developing countries whose club feet aren't treated, or are treated quite late, surgically, like Ada...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 Kim Bradley
5:21
Kim Bradley: 
and lots of places where disabled children are shunned. Present-day Haiti would be a good example.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:21 Kim Bradley
5:22
Kim Bradley: 
The Dunkirk boat, by the way, is on exhibit at the Imperial War Museum in London, a great place for first-person research.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:22 Kim Bradley
5:23
Kim Bradley: 
I researched this book primarily by reading first-person accounts of wartime England...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Kim Bradley
5:23
Kim Bradley: 
due to an organization called Mass Observation, there are literally hundreds of those...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Kim Bradley
5:23
[Comment From Judith, MarylandJudith, Maryland: ] 
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Judith, Maryland
5:23
Kim Bradley: 
There are also many published memoirs of children who were evacuated...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:23 Kim Bradley
5:24
Kim Bradley: 
Seeing everything first-hand in London and Kent was important but not as much as all the reading, which took months...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 Kim Bradley
5:24
Kim Bradley: 
amazon.uk is my friend.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 Kim Bradley
5:24
Kim Bradley: 
Susan Smith is probably my favorite character ever...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 Kim Bradley
5:24
lisa von drasek: 
Loved Susan Smith, a “not nice” person who actually is. Did you base her on someone you know?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:24 lisa von drasek
5:25
lisa von drasek: 
That was from Judith
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:25 lisa von drasek
5:25
Kim Bradley: 
She's fictional--this whole book is--but some attributes are certainly based on friends of mine...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:25 Kim Bradley
5:25
Kim Bradley: 
especially those who weren't cuddly but whom my daughter instinctively loved and trusted, from an early age...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:25 Kim Bradley
5:26
Kim Bradley: 
Susan is trustworthy. That's her core.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:26 Kim Bradley
5:26
[Comment From Sch. LibrarianSch. Librarian: ] 
Is it possible for someone to teach herself to ride a horse?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:26 Sch. Librarian
5:27
Kim Bradley: 
Sort of. I did...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:27 Kim Bradley
5:27
Kim Bradley: 
The basics are very straightforward. The scene where she jumps Maggie's brother's horse--that would work because she's not thinking, she's just letting her body go with him...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:27 Kim Bradley
5:27
Kim Bradley: 
But then she gets real instruction from Fred...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:27 Kim Bradley
5:28
[Comment From Loves PoniesLoves Ponies: ] 
WHAT? Tell us more! How did you do that?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:28 Loves Ponies
5:28
Kim Bradley: 
without that she'd end up getting hurt, or hurting Butter.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:28 Kim Bradley
5:28
Kim Bradley: 
I was just nuts for horses, growing up, but had very very few chances to ride them....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:28 Kim Bradley
5:29
Kim Bradley: 
but when I did I wasn't going to waste them! Everyone else would be poking along, I'd be kicking and galloping....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:29 Kim Bradley
5:29
Kim Bradley: 
I would have jumped the wall. Too stupid to be scared!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:29 Kim Bradley
5:30
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
I have heard of the evacuations of kids from London during the war, but did they really just pack kids into trains to get them out of London, with no food, or bathrooms?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 JoBeth
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
Eventually I did learn to ride, in college, but even then I lied and told them I had experience so I wouldn't be stuck with beginners....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:30
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
What make you interested in this period of history?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 JoBeth
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
Had my first flat lesson on Tuesday, my first jumping lesson on Wednesday!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
JoBeth, yes, the evacuation pretty much when exactly as described...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:30
Kim Bradley: 
Some of the trains had toilets, but they were using every train, and buses, that they could get...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:30 Kim Bradley
5:31
Kim Bradley: 
Typical of something organized by men, all the thought to the transportation and nothing to what would happen after they got there.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:31 Kim Bradley
5:31
Kim Bradley: 
I think the social implications of evacuation are fascinating! Talk about stories...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:31 Kim Bradley
5:31
Kim Bradley: 
Everything that could happen to those children, did.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:31 Kim Bradley
5:32
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
How did you research about the evacuation?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:32 Guest
5:32
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
How did most of the evacuated kids do later in life?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:32 JoBeth
5:32
Kim Bradley: 
So many of those evacuees grew up and wrote about their experiences...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:32 Kim Bradley
5:33
Kim Bradley: 
You don't copy any one person's experiences, but when you read a number of them you start to understand the possibilities...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 Kim Bradley
5:33
Kim Bradley: 
Some of them were abused as evacuees, sadly, but many did well.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 Kim Bradley
5:33
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
Is the book being published in the U.K.?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 Judith
5:33
[Comment From JoBethJoBeth: ] 
Did any of the evacuees write books? Can you recommend some?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:33 JoBeth
5:34
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
That had to make for difficult reading.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 Deborah
5:34
 Kim Bradley
This is a recent photo of me and my horse Sarah
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 
5:34
lisa von drasek: 
ohh lovely
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 lisa von drasek
5:34
Kim Bradley: 
Tons of evacuees have written books. They're mostly published in England, not here...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 Kim Bradley
5:34
Kim Bradley: 
but if you go to amazon.uk, you can search for them....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:34 Kim Bradley
5:35
Kim Bradley: 
I'm sorry I can't remember titles offhand. Nella Last's War, though not about evacuation, is really good...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:35 Kim Bradley
5:35
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
Did you begin by wanted to write about the evacuees, or did you have themes and characters in search of a story?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:35 Kathy
5:35
Kim Bradley: 
I don't know if TWTSML is being published in the UK.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:35 Kim Bradley
5:36
Kim Bradley: 
Kathy, with this book I mostly had Ada to start with..not even themes, just her, and then her and Jamie, and then her, Jamie, and Susan...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:36 Kim Bradley
5:36
Kim Bradley: 
I had gotten interested in WW2 in England, and was reading all about it, but then I always start with a character...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:36 Kim Bradley
5:36
Kim Bradley: 
...and a problem, to keep things interesting, and we go from there....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:36 Kim Bradley
5:37
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Do you have some references you'd recommend for students who want to follow up after reading or hearing your book?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:37 Deborah
5:38
lisa von drasek: 
Kim...Websites that you would recommend for further information?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:38 lisa von drasek
5:38
Kim Bradley: 
Deborah, that's a great question....the best place for kids to start would be at the Imperial War Museum's website...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:38 Kim Bradley
5:38
Kim Bradley: 
They have lots of modules just for teaching children about the war, particularly its effects in England itself...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:38 Kim Bradley
5:39
lisa von drasek: 
http://www.iwm.org.uk

Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 lisa von drasek
5:39
Kim Bradley: 
...I really should make a list and put it up on my website...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 Kim Bradley
5:39
Kim Bradley: 
many of my sources aren't great for kids, but there is some really cool stuff online...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 Kim Bradley
5:39
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
A list of resources would be awesome!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:39 NM Librarian
5:40
Kim Bradley: 
For Jefferson's Sons I posted sources online on my website, simply because I didn't have room in the printed book. I can do that again for this one.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Kim Bradley
5:40
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
I have a Third Grade student who is devouring anything and everything in my library he can get his hands on. (I'm a School Librarian)
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Deborah
5:40
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
What was the best lesson you’ve learned from your editor?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Judith
5:40
Kim Bradley: 
I'd be glad to do that.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Kim Bradley
5:40
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
A list would be awesome!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Deborah
5:40
Kim Bradley: 
AHHH..my editor loves me, and she never lets me quit until she thinks I'm done.,,,
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:40 Kim Bradley
5:41
Kim Bradley: 
I guess the main thing she's taught me is to not be afraid of going back and working on the very small details...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:41 Kim Bradley
5:41
Kim Bradley: 
It's wonderful to have a really educated, smart, editor, and I've been lucky in Liz Wasnieski and Jessica Garrison, who edited this.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:41 Kim Bradley
5:41
[Comment From BenBen: ] 
My favorite line -- "there are worse things than bombs' -- this story proves that.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:41 Ben
5:42
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
How did you find your fabulous editors?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:42 Deborah
5:42
Kim Bradley: 
Yes, Ben. I'm reminded of Andy Rooney's book My War, in which is says he came to realize that some wars were better than some forms of peace.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:42 Kim Bradley
5:42
Kim Bradley: 
My publishers hire my editors, so it's all luck, Deborah....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:42 Kim Bradley
5:43
Kim Bradley: 
My first novel by chance was given to Lauri Hornik, then a junior editor at Random House, now publisher of Dial...Lauri's passed me into very capable hands.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:43 Kim Bradley
5:44
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
Really loved the feeling of hope. Even though Ada's life is so bleak, there's so much hope for something better!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 NM Librarian
5:44
[Comment From BenBen: ] 
What a good comment -- as great as peace and tranquility may be, they don't test you.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Ben
5:44
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Have you worked with the same editors for your other books?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Deborah
5:44
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
Argh! I find working on the details so hard -- at some point, I just get sick of the whole thing. Does that happen to you?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Judith
5:44
Kim Bradley: 
Again, NM, in the beginning Ada doesn't realize what she's missing..and to Jamie she's always been important and in charge...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:44 Kim Bradley
5:45
Kim Bradley: 
If you reread the first chapter, she's actually quite capable, making tea, helping her brother...she never thinks she's helpless.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Kim Bradley
5:45
[Comment From BenBen: ] 
The title is perfect. How did you come up with that?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Ben
5:45
Kim Bradley: 
Deborah, no, because I've been, for complicated reasons, published by several different houses.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Kim Bradley
5:45
Kim Bradley: 
Judith, I don't really get sick of going over it. I actually love revision.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:45 Kim Bradley
5:46
Kim Bradley: 
Ben, I wish I could take credit for the title. My editor came up with that. I'm notoriously bad at titles; for the longest time, I called this my England Book, and my editor called it my Ada Book.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:46 Kim Bradley
5:46
Kim Bradley: 
I'd love to know what you all think of the cover. Will it have kid appeal?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:46 Kim Bradley
5:47
Kim Bradley: 
There is a sequel in the works. It does have a tentative title that I like: The War I Finally Won.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:47 Kim Bradley
5:47
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
I think the cover is beautiful.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:47 NM Librarian
5:47
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Yeah, a sequel!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:47 Deborah
5:48
[Comment From KathyKathy: ] 
I can't say for kids -- I loved the subtle way the club foot is indicated.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:48 Kathy
5:48
Kim Bradley: 
I've never done a true sequel, but this story seemed to call for one.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:48 Kim Bradley
5:48
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
Looking forward to discovering more about Ada!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:48 NM Librarian
5:49
Kim Bradley: 
Kathy, I liked that too. You may know that authors don't get much say over covers. I wanted it to be clear that there was something wrong with her foot, but I didn't want photo-realism.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:49 Kim Bradley
5:49
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, have you had any book discussions with kids about TWTSML?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:49 lisa von drasek
5:50
Kim Bradley: 
Not yet,
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:50 Kim Bradley
5:50
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Haven't had a chance to show the cover to kids..
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:50 Deborah
5:50
Kim Bradley: 
Not enough children have actually read it...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:50 Kim Bradley
5:51
Kim Bradley: 
I did give out some ARCs to teens at a recent conference, and they promised to blog about it, but I don't think they have yet...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 Kim Bradley
5:51
Kim Bradley: 
Cassandra Clare was at the conference and they were much more impressed with her....
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 Kim Bradley
5:51
Kim Bradley: 
let me look for a pony picture...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 Kim Bradley
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, do you have a picture of a pony for those of us who are urban and have not a clue?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek
5:51
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
What age group do you see this appealing to?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:51 NM Librarian
5:52
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
digital ARC doesn't show cover :(
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:52 Deborah
5:52
Kim Bradley: 
I hope it will appeal to ages 8-14. Not sure about the upper age limit because she's younger, but I'm still hopeful.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:52 Kim Bradley
5:53
 Kim Bradley
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:53 
5:53
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
I wanted to ask about the themes of neglect vs giving kids freedom to discover themselves. Can't [phrase it right, though. Somehow, to me, it's tied in with the pony -- neglecting his hooves was terrible, but letting him run free with Ada was great.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:53 Judith
5:53
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Great Historical Fiction for Middle Grades
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:53 Deborah
5:54
 Kim Bradley
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 
5:54
lisa von drasek: 
oh my
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 lisa von drasek
5:54
Kim Bradley: 
I do do classroom visits, though not tons of them. I like them but my schedule fills quickly. I haven't done Skype visits yet. I'd love to know what other experiences with this have been.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 Kim Bradley
5:54
[Comment From JudithJudith: ] 
And, a dumb question -- how do ponies survive in the wild if their hooves aren't tended to?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:54 Judith
5:55
Kim Bradley: 
The ponies are British--smaller than butter, but same idea--tried to bite me, the stinker!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:55 Kim Bradley
5:55
lisa von drasek: 
like the chincoteague ponies, Judith?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:55 lisa von drasek
5:55
Kim Bradley: 
In the wild ponies' hooves wear down when they're on hard surfaces, or the ponies are born that way and their hooves adjust, or, to be honest...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:55 Kim Bradley
5:56
Kim Bradley: 
if they can't adapt, they die...
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:56 Kim Bradley
5:56
lisa von drasek: 
Kim, we are almost out of time. Is there anything you would like to say about the book that we haven;t touched on?
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:56 lisa von drasek
5:56
Kim Bradley: 
In the modern world, many domesticated horses and ponies can go without shoes, but very few can go without having their feet trimmed.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:56 Kim Bradley
5:57
Kim Bradley: 
Nora, I'd just like to say thanks for this opportunity. I love this book and I'm thrilled to be able to chat with readers.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Kim Bradley
5:57
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Thank you!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Deborah
5:57
lisa von drasek: 
Its is time to say good bye . Thank you Kim
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 lisa von drasek
5:57
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
Thank you so much! Loved your book and can't wait to introduce it to readers!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 NM Librarian
5:57
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
Would love to try a Skype visit.
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Deborah
5:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Kim -- we loved every minute of it. Can't believe how fast the hour flew by!



Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:57 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Kim Bradley: 
Contact me through my website if you have further questions. www.kimberlybrubakerbradley.... Thanks!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:58 Kim Bradley
5:58
[Comment From DeborahDeborah: ] 
This program rocks!
Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:58 Deborah
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks to you, Lisa, for moderating and thanks to all our great program members for their thought-provoking questions!





Wednesday November 19, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
6:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The next title in our program is Blue Birds by Caroline Starr Rose, coming in March. Click here to read more about it.

Wednesday November 19, 2014 6:00 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on LIVE CHAT with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and Lisa Von Drasek

LIVE CHAT with Michelle Cuevas
and Lisa Von Drasek

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with Michelle Cuevas, BEYOND THE LAUGHING SKY
 Live Chat with Michelle Cuevas, BEYOND THE LAUGHING SKY(10/29/2014) 
4:42
Nora - EarlyWord: 

We will begin our live online chat with Michelle Cuevas, author of the middle grade novel, Beyond the Laughing Sky, in about 15 minutes

Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:42 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here's the cover of the book:
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:46 
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Beyond the Laughing Sky has also been released in audio by Listening Library. Here’s a clip:

Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:47
Laughing Sky Audio Clip  Play
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:47 
4:49
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The prepub reviews have been very strong. Below is the one from Kirkus:

Nashville, who has qualities both human and birdlike, feels compelled to follow his avian destiny. The storytelling is folksy, poetic and seductive, beginning, "Nashville and his family lived in a house perched in the branches of the largest pecan tree in the village of Goosepimple." Little by little, readers learn how Nashville, unlike his adoring younger sister, Junebug, was hatched from an egg. He has a beak and feathers but, alas, no wings. Morstad's illustrations support the funnier details, including the dinner-table "perch swings" that Nashville's mother has installed "to make Nashville more comfortable" as he eats his seeds while his family eats typical human fare. The deadpan humor of Flat Stanley is invoked when Nashville's parents take him for his annual physical examination--at the veterinarian's office. In added playfulness, said vet is Dr. Larkin; the village teacher is Miss Starling. This allegory of growing up and finding one's figurative wings is told sweetly and without great angst, despite inclusions of such subjects as school bullying and Nashville's empathetic but highly illegal pet-store shenanigans. Yet there is an underlying melancholy throughout, somewhat mitigated by the possibility of future communications from the appealing bird-boy. "There's things you've seen and things you may not have, but there ain't nothing that's impossible, sugar," says a village widow; readers will end the book with a new sense of possible. (Magical realism. 8-11)
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:49 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see chat participants gathering.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Michelle before the end of the chat
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 

A MAJOR ground rule – no need to apologize for typos!

Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:53
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Signing in from the north country!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:53 Sally, Mich.
4:53
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
Hi! Looking forward to the chat.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:53 Kathy C.
4:53
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
Hi, Michelle. Thanks for doing this!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:53 Andrea
4:58
[Comment From Judy P.Judy P.: ] 
I may just be lurking (I’ve got desk duty), but wanted to say hi and thanks for the book
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:58 Judy P.
4:58
[Comment From Sarah G.Sarah G.: ] 
Looking forward to chatting.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 4:58 Sarah G.
5:00
Michelle Cuevas: 
Hi everyone, thanks for having me! I’m Michelle, author and member of the 2014 “Books about Birds” Club!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:00 Michelle Cuevas
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Hi Michelle. And our moderator is Lisa Von Drasek, head of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries (and EarlyWord kids Correspondent). Chat participants -- you can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and she’ll submit as many of them as we can to Michelle before the end of the chat.

Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Say hi, Lisa!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
lisa von drasek: 
Hi Michelle,
Its good to hear direct from the author about the book
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:01 lisa von drasek
5:01
lisa von drasek: 
Lets get started....
Michelle can you say a few words about the genesis of this book? Nashvile's origin story?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:01 lisa von drasek
5:02
Michelle Cuevas: 
The genesis of this book… it actually started as a short story I wrote, which is now Chapter Five, The Welcome Cake…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:02 Michelle Cuevas
5:02
Michelle Cuevas: 
…The story ended with a man and wife finding a baby in an egg. I found myself wondering, “Well, who did he become?”
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:02 Michelle Cuevas
5:02
Michelle Cuevas: 
...and of course he became Nashville.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:02 Michelle Cuevas
5:03
[Comment From Jackie M.Jackie M.: ] 
Hi, Michelle -- Love Nashville!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:03 Jackie M.
 
Michelle Cuevas: 
Thanks Jackie!
  Michelle Cuevas
5:03
lisa von drasek: 
Can you say a something about that magical realism element?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:03 lisa von drasek
5:04
Michelle Cuevas: 
I think magical realism was a way for me to explore the idea of being a misfit…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:04 Michelle Cuevas
5:04
Michelle Cuevas: 
… a reader may be experiencing bullying, but not for being part bird. I think it’s a way to emotionally explore those feelings without it being a technical match to the reader’s experience.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:04 Michelle Cuevas
5:05
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
The illustrations are great. What was it like working with an illustrator?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:05 Kathy C.
5:05
Michelle Cuevas: 
Also I just plain love magical realism!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:05 Michelle Cuevas
5:05
[Comment From Sarah G.Sarah G.: ] 
I gota say -- just looking at your photo -- I can't imagine you were EVER a misfit!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:05 Sarah G.
5:06
 Michelle Cuevas
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:06 
5:06
Michelle Cuevas: 
That band photo was to the misfit question...haha
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:06 Michelle Cuevas
5:06
lisa von drasek: 
Band nerd?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:06 lisa von drasek
5:06
Michelle Cuevas: 
Only for nine or ten years...
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:06 Michelle Cuevas
5:07
lisa von drasek: 
I admire the relationship between Nashville and Junebug. Do you have siblings?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:07 lisa von drasek
5:07
[Comment From YolandaYolanda: ] 
Was the short story you mention for adutls or kids? and why do you write for kids?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:07 Yolanda
 
Michelle Cuevas: 
Yolanda, t was in graduate school and for adults, strangely enough.
  Michelle Cuevas
5:08
Michelle Cuevas: 
I do have siblings… three brothers -- one older and two younger half brothers. They’re great, looked out for me while also teasing, ha.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:08 Michelle Cuevas
5:08
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
This may sound stupid, but thanks for a short book – I can’t tell you how often kids (and, yes, their parents) ask for short books! Were you conscious of that?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:08 Andrea
5:10
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle, on that not- the rich juicy language and lyrical sentences produced sentences that are a joy to read aloud. Do you read aloud your work as you revise?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:10 lisa von drasek
5:11
Michelle Cuevas: 
I do. During graduate school I lived in a cabin in the woods and I'd sit on the porch and read aloud to whatever critters were lurking. Sometimes when I need extra confidence I read in a cheesy British accent. Everything sounds much more polished that way.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:11 Michelle Cuevas
5:12
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
I so agree with you, Lisa, about the "rich juicy language"!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:12 Andrea
5:12
lisa von drasek: 
What does your typical writing day look like?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:12 lisa von drasek
5:13
Michelle Cuevas: 
A typical writing day… I wake up and listen to music and dance while making the bed, make tea, and work for at least two hours…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:13 Michelle Cuevas
5:13
Michelle Cuevas: 
…I write longhand in notebooks early on, drawing a lot, then move to the computer when I’m ready to shape chapters….
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:13 Michelle Cuevas
5:13
Michelle Cuevas: 
…after lunch I’ll work on any edits. I like to edit almost exclusively outdoors, and always hope it will turn into a Disney movie and the birds will come do the work for me.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:13 Michelle Cuevas
5:14
lisa von drasek: 
Disney?... this would make a lovely film...any bites?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:14 lisa von drasek
5:15
Michelle Cuevas: 
Yes, Laughing Sky has been optioned by producer Jane Startz who is GREAT. My favorite movie of all time is Edward Scissorhands…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:15 Michelle Cuevas
5:15
Michelle Cuevas: 
… Tim Burton, if you’re reading, call me, let's discuss.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:15 Michelle Cuevas
5:15
lisa von drasek: 
There were many Disney references... Peter Pan for one... are there others?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:15 lisa von drasek
5:15
Michelle Cuevas: 
Actually, fun fact about the title...
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:15 Michelle Cuevas
5:16
Michelle Cuevas: 
The title BEYOND THE LAUGHING SKY was a song that was cut from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. They ended up throwing out the lyrics but using the music later for the Peter Pan song Second Star to the Right.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:16 Michelle Cuevas
5:17
lisa von drasek: 
I was thinking about how gentle this story is... can you talk about finding the balance between what Kirkus called the underlying melancholy?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:17 lisa von drasek
5:17
[Comment From Sarah G.Sarah G.: ] 
How on earth did you know that story?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:17 Sarah G.
5:19
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle-
are there writers who in inspire you?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:19 lisa von drasek
5:19
Michelle Cuevas: 
Great question, Lisa. I think I've always been drawn to stories that make me laugh and then, eventually, make me cry, so I suppose it's finding the humor mixed with sadness.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:19 Michelle Cuevas
5:20
Michelle Cuevas: 
So many writers! in graduate school we wrote for adults, but I always found myself writing crazy stories about talking plants, things like that. I wanted to have more fun…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:20 Michelle Cuevas
5:20
Michelle Cuevas: 
...my mom, on a whim, mailed me a Kate DiCamillo book...
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:20 Michelle Cuevas
5:20
Michelle Cuevas: 
and I thought "Oh, I want to do this."
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:20 Michelle Cuevas
5:21
Michelle Cuevas: 
Other than Kate, I love E.B. White dearly. I have a photo of him on my desk.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:21 Michelle Cuevas
5:21
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle- yes, there was plenty of humor. Especially in the names! Places and people!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:21 lisa von drasek
5:22
lisa von drasek: 
The town is unique.... did you draw a map?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:22 lisa von drasek
5:22
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Was it a thrill to get a blurb from Katherine Applegate?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:22 Sally, Mich.
 
Michelle Cuevas: 
Agreed! Ivan made me laugh and cry...many times.
  Michelle Cuevas
5:22
Michelle Cuevas: 
A map of Goosepimple… I haven’t tried my hand at that one!...

I do draw a lot of maps. Here’s one I sketched out in a notebook when I was planning my next novel (drawn by the eight year old main character, of course).
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:22 Michelle Cuevas
5:22
 Michelle Cuevas
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:22 
5:23
lisa von drasek: 
ohhhh I love it!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:23 lisa von drasek
5:23
lisa von drasek: 
Now I NEED to know ...next book? You had me at "this is where I lost you"
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:23 lisa von drasek
5:24
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
Looks like you could illustrate your own books!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:24 Kathy C.
5:24
Michelle Cuevas: 
I’m working on lots of things! I just handed in edits for my 2015 novel Confessions of an Imaginary Friend…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:24 Michelle Cuevas
5:24
Michelle Cuevas: 
…also Erin Stead is working on illustrations for my first picture book out in 2016 called The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles. (swoon)
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:24 Michelle Cuevas
5:25
Michelle Cuevas: 
Kathy C., I do sketch and paint watercolors, and I’m VERY excited to be illustrating my 2015 novel…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:25 Michelle Cuevas
5:25
Michelle Cuevas: 
…the drawings are supposed to be done by the main character who is eight, so it was a perfect match with my level of artistic training!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:25 Michelle Cuevas
5:25
lisa von drasek: 
Being a writer is an amazing job. If you weren't a writer what would you be?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:25 lisa von drasek
5:26
[Comment From Sally, MichSally, Mich: ] 
It sounds like you live a life very close to nature. Is that by accident or design?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:26 Sally, Mich
 
Michelle Cuevas: 
Design. Cities can be fun, but I'm a total country mouse.
  Michelle Cuevas
5:26
Michelle Cuevas: 
Paleontologist. Easy.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:26 Michelle Cuevas
5:27
lisa von drasek: 
Back to Beyond the Laughing Sky... did you do research about birds?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:27 lisa von drasek
5:28
Michelle Cuevas: 
I did (and do) spend time with lots of birds. I did research for this book with some local ornithologists at the Audubon Society who took me bird banding. I’ve also done some falconry.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:28 Michelle Cuevas
5:28
 Michelle Cuevas
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:28 
5:28
lisa von drasek: 
now thats really cool
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:28 lisa von drasek
5:28
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
Hoe do kids react to your book? Do they ask any crazy questions?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:28 School Librarian
 
Michelle Cuevas: 
So far every kid has said "Goosepimple!" at some point and started laughing.
  Michelle Cuevas
5:30
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Ha! I figured you were an outdoors person! Is that how you grew up?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:30 Sally, Mich.
5:30
[Comment From AndreaAndrea: ] 
Is Junebug based on anyone you know?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:30 Andrea
5:31
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle, Lets talk cakes...do you bake?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:31 lisa von drasek
5:32
Michelle Cuevas: 
Ooh, good question. I DO. Though I admit my favorite part is decorating them. I've made cowboy boot cakes and Canadian maple leaf cakes....
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:32 Michelle Cuevas
5:33
[Comment From YolandaYolanda: ] 
Just as I suspected!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:33 Yolanda
5:33
Michelle Cuevas: 
I once made a cake out of fried chicken for a friend who loved fried chicken. It even had mashed potato frosting!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:33 Michelle Cuevas
5:33
lisa von drasek: 
I came away from this book....of difficult issues ....with a memory of great joy ....I loved spending time with this family
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:33 lisa von drasek
5:34
lisa von drasek: 
It is a familiar trope of children's books to get rid of the parents...did you have any inclination to do that?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:34 lisa von drasek
5:35
Michelle Cuevas: 
My first book featured an orphan. This time I wanted to explore the idea of someone feeling isolated and like they don't fit, even in a sea of familial love.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:35 Michelle Cuevas
5:36
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle, do you have a pet?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:36 lisa von drasek
5:37
Michelle Cuevas: 
I don't currently. Though I did recently raise a butterfly in my home from caterpillar through adulthood. It was actually really beautiful and amazing!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:37 Michelle Cuevas
5:37
 Nora - EarlyWord
Michelle with butterfly
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:37 
5:38
[Comment From BrendaBrenda: ] 
That's a Monarch! Their caterpillars are amazing!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:38 Brenda
5:39
lisa von drasek: 
I accidentally deleted a question....Michelle- from the peanut gallery...a reader had a little trouble with the magical realism...have you had any other responses to the book like that?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:39 lisa von drasek
5:39
[Comment From JoyceJoyce: ] 
What do you hope kids take from your books?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:39 Joyce
5:40
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle- Is there a question that you wish I would ask?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:40 lisa von drasek
5:41
Michelle Cuevas: 
I haven't had the trouble with magical realism response yet, but it just came out recently! From kids I have had a few "it's so weird that he's a bird/hatched" responses, which I think is the same general idea.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:41 Michelle Cuevas
5:42
[Comment From ConsuelaConsuela: ] 
Got any advice for first-time authors?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:42 Consuela
5:43
Michelle Cuevas: 
Lisa, I got out a picture of my Halloween costume because I was sure you would ask, ha
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:43 Michelle Cuevas
5:43
lisa von drasek: 
This year's Halloween costume???
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:43 lisa von drasek
5:43
lisa von drasek: 
I DO want to see this!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:43 lisa von drasek
5:44
Michelle Cuevas: 
I was a deer. I know those branches look store bought, but I actually made this myself.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:44 Michelle Cuevas
5:44
lisa von drasek: 
Can you tell me about your museum education work before your publishing career?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:44 lisa von drasek
5:44
 Michelle Cuevas
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:44 
5:44
 Michelle Cuevas
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:44 
5:44
Michelle Cuevas: 
Museum education, yes...
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:44 Michelle Cuevas
5:45
Michelle Cuevas: 
I worked in museum education at the Whitney in New York and a museum in Massachusetts before going back to school…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:45 Michelle Cuevas
5:45
Michelle Cuevas: 
…at the Whitney the program was called Youth Insights and we would train inner-city teens to give tours to classmates in their own words…
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:45 Michelle Cuevas
5:45
Michelle Cuevas: 
It's a GREAT program...
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:45 Michelle Cuevas
5:46
Michelle Cuevas: 
…I love helping kids find a connection to art – and getting them excited to share work they love.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:46 Michelle Cuevas
5:47
lisa von drasek: 
Did you have teachers that influenced work?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:47 lisa von drasek
5:47
lisa von drasek: 
Did I recall that you had interest in animation?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:47 lisa von drasek
5:48
Michelle Cuevas: 
Definitely. In writing it was mostly professors later on, though I once convinced my 9th grade math teacher let me hand in extra credit in the form of a story I wrote about parabolas. It was a real page-turner.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:48 Michelle Cuevas
5:49
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Do you do school visits?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:49 School librarian
5:49
 Nora - EarlyWord
Michelle on a school visit
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:49 
5:49
Michelle Cuevas: 
Also shout out to my small hometown library/librarians where I grew up. I admit I took a photo the first time I saw my book on the shelf there. I may have cried a little too.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:49 Michelle Cuevas
5:49
Michelle Cuevas: 
A photo answer to the school visit question, nice.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:49 Michelle Cuevas
5:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Plus this -- To arrange a school visit, you can find Michelle's contact info. on her Web site.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:50 Nora - EarlyWord
5:50
Michelle Cuevas: 
I love visiting schools. I haven’t tried Skype visits yet, but I’m sure I could figure it out. I can wear pajamas during those, right?
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:50 Michelle Cuevas
5:50
lisa von drasek: 
To the peanut gallery....we are at that time for last call for questions.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:50 lisa von drasek
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle- this is an opportunity to share something that no one would find out about you just Googling your name
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek
5:52
Michelle Cuevas: 
I just got a banjo for my last birthday. I want to write an album and perform it with muppets. That definitely isn't in my google search (yet)
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:52 Michelle Cuevas
5:53
Michelle Cuevas: 
Jim Henson, my hero.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:53 Michelle Cuevas
5:53
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
I'm surpsied you lived in NYC -- I thought you were a country girl!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:53 Sally, Mich.
 
Michelle Cuevas: 
I also live part of the year in LA, but I escape whenever I can!
  Michelle Cuevas
5:55
lisa von drasek: 
Michelle- Thank you so much for spending this time with us
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:55 lisa von drasek
5:55
[Comment From YolandYoland: ] 
Thanks for the shout out to your home town library. the librarian there must have been excited!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:55 Yoland
5:56
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Thanks so much!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:56 Sally, Mich.
5:56
Michelle Cuevas: 
Thank you so much for having me and for your questions. And THANK YOU for all you do (from book lovers like me).
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:56 Michelle Cuevas
5:56
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
You make me want to be a writer.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:56 Kathy C.
5:56
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Thanks! Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:56 Sally, Mich.
5:56
[Comment From NMLibrarianNMLibrarian: ] 
Thanks!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:56 NMLibrarian
5:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks, Michelle and Lisa for a fascinating discussion.

And thanks to the Penguin Young Readers program members for joining us today.

Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:57 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Our next chat, on Nov. 19, is with Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author of The War That Saved My Life, (Penguin/Dial Young Readers, 1/8/15) – More about it here,

Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 

If you’re not part of the program, you can sign up here.

Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Bye for now!
Wednesday October 29, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on LIVE CHAT with Michelle Cuevas
and Lisa Von Drasek

Live Chat with Debut Author
Rebecca Scherm

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2014

Special Time 6:00-7:00 PM EDT!

Live Blog Live Chat with Rebecca Scherm, UNBECOMING
 Live Chat with Rebecca Scherm, UNBECOMING(10/22/2014) 
5:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 

We will begin our live online chat with Rebecca Scherm, author of the the psychological thriller, Unbecoming, in about 15 minutes
Wednesday October 22, 2014 5:45 Nora - EarlyWord
5:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of Unbecoming, to published by Penguin/ Viking on January 17
Wednesday October 22, 2014 5:46 Nora - EarlyWord
5:46
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday October 22, 2014 5:46 
5:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 

And here is a special video that Rebecca made for First Flights members.

Wednesday October 22, 2014 5:46 Nora - EarlyWord
5:46
Nora - EarlyWordNora - EarlyWord
Wednesday October 22, 2014 5:46 
5:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I see chat participants gathering!

You can send your questions through at any time (even now). They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Rebecca before the end of the chat.

Wednesday October 22, 2014 5:54 Nora - EarlyWord
5:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 
And, please don’t worry about typos – we’ll make them too!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 5:55 Nora - EarlyWord
6:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Rebecca has joined us from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she lives, teaches (and writes). Say Hi, Rebecca.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:00 Nora - EarlyWord
6:00
Rebecca Scherm: 
Hello, everyone! Thanks for coming!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:00 Rebecca Scherm
6:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We've got some questions holding in the queue, but I'm going to start with a few of my own.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:01 Nora - EarlyWord
6:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 

UNBECOMING has so many twists and turns. We’ll try to avoid spoilers for anyone who may not have finished it yet, but I wanted to know how you were able to structure the book so the reader would be surprised, but not get lost. I imagine a room full of post it notes, or storyboards!

Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:02 Nora - EarlyWord
6:02
[Comment From PDReaderPDReader: ] 
Hi Rebecca
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:02 PDReader
6:02
Rebecca Scherm: 
Oh, it was a tortuous road. All I knew in the beginning was that I wanted to write about the making of an unlikely "femme fatale" and that she would have a part in a failed heist...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:02 Rebecca Scherm
6:03
Rebecca Scherm: 
I had many disorganized outlines, but before my second draft, I made an enormous one on a poster. The twists and new questions were marked and even color-coded by theme ("family," "sex," "ego," etc.). I needed that map, but I changed it constantly as I wrote. And I only used the map until the ¾ mark. After that, I just knew.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:03 Rebecca Scherm
6:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How much was completed before you showed it to an agent?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:03 Nora - EarlyWord
6:04
Rebecca Scherm: 
The version I sent out to agents was my fourth or fifth finished draft...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:04 Rebecca Scherm
6:04
Rebecca Scherm: 
My agent is a very shrewd reader, and I revised quite a bit with her guidance. Right away, I liked that she didn’t tell me what she thought I ought to do. She would ask me questions like “I wondered why…” and leave them hanging there until I figured out how I wanted it to be!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:04 Rebecca Scherm
6:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Did you show it to other people before your agent and editor?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:05 Nora - EarlyWord
6:05
Rebecca Scherm: 
Oh, yes. Each time I finished a draft, I would set the manuscript aside for two months and not look at it at all. This was so hard, but it helped me see it clearly every time. Each of those times, I'd have different friends lined up to read, some who knew what I was "going for" and some who were reading it cold...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:05 Rebecca Scherm
6:06
Rebecca Scherm: 
The only person who read it more than once was my dear friend Katie, to whom the book is dedicated. She was with me the whole way.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:06 Rebecca Scherm
6:07
Nora - EarlyWord: 

You also dedicate the book to your husband (or at least I think it's your husband). Did he also get to look at it?

Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:07 Nora - EarlyWord
6:08
Rebecca Scherm: 
Yes, and he's read it too. But really, he let me talk through it with him all the time. Every day, every scene-- he had heroic patience for listening to me work out these characters' problems. Eventually, you just talk abut them like they're people you know!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:08 Rebecca Scherm
6:09
[Comment From Mary C.Mary C.: ] 
How did you pick that title?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:09 Mary C.
6:11
Rebecca Scherm: 
My husband thought of it! My titles were all dreadful. One night we were talking about the title, and I said that it should be alluring but mysterious, and have a bit a warning bell to it-- it shouldn't sound like a sweet story! And Jon sat up in his chair and said "Unbecoming!" I thought it was perfect: it's both who Grace is and what she does.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:11 Rebecca Scherm
6:11
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Hello from the Midwest, sorry I'm late, hope I didn't miss too much.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:11 Lucy
6:11
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hey, Lucy -- thanks for joining!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:11 Nora - EarlyWord
6:11
Rebecca Scherm: 
Hello, Lucy!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:11 Rebecca Scherm
6:12
[Comment From JuneJune: ] 
The title has lots of possible meanings.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:12 June
6:14
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I agree, June. I kept thinking about how the art pieces Grace works on were unbecoming. Was Grace also unbecoming?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:14 Nora - EarlyWord
6:14
Rebecca Scherm: 
Yes-- I thought of the expression "behavior unbecoming to a young lady," which was how we were disciplined as kids for being too loud, too raucous, too anything. And then, of course, Grace un-becomes and becomes and un-becomes several people.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:14 Rebecca Scherm
6:14
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Don't want to jump ahead but will submit a question - did you have any input into the graphic for the cover?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:14 Lucy
6:15
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Of course, the crux of the book is the character of Grace. We got this advance question from one of the First Flights members about her:
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:15 Nora - EarlyWord
6:15
Rebecca Scherm: 
Yes, Lucy, and I was surprised that I had as much of a voice as I did! We went through many possible covers, but we wanted a mood that was hard to capture. I LOVE my cover!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:15 Rebecca Scherm
6:16
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Oops -- posted the last too quickly -- here's the advance question:
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:16 Nora - EarlyWord
6:16
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Hi Rebecca,

I was fascinated by the development of Grace's character, and how the physical and metaphorical journeys she went on added layer after layer to her complexity--all the way from TJ Maxx to the world of international antiques. What an amazing heroine--not easy to like, but absolutely riveting! Was it challenging to keep her on track? Did she go through many evolutions and changes during your writing process?

Janet Schneider

The Bryant Library, Roslyn, NY

Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:16 Nora - EarlyWord
6:16
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
Hi from Long Island, Rebecca. Sorry I am late.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:16 Janet S
6:16
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Yes, the unfocused face and all those lined up dots ... Great cover!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:16 Lucy
6:17
Rebecca Scherm: 
Hi Janet, I'm just answering your question! In my first draft, Grace was not nearly so badly behaved, but friends who read that draft thought Grace felt far too guilty for what (at that point) she’d actually done. It became clear that if I really wanted to write about the making of a femme fatale, she was going to have to be much worse...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:17 Rebecca Scherm
6:17
Rebecca Scherm: 
Sometimes, it was very hard for me! The last scene with Mrs. Graham and Grace alone together—I won’t say more and spoil it—was the most difficult scene I’ve ever written. I was heartbroken for Grace then, even as I was furious with her. I was shaken up all day about it. So she became "worse" with each draft, but also more complex.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:17 Rebecca Scherm
6:18
[Comment From MirandaMiranda: ] 
I’ve heard someone say that there’s a trend towards more complex thrillers. Do you agree?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:18 Miranda
6:20
Rebecca Scherm: 
I hope so! To be honest, I had no idea I was writing a thriller-- that's something your publisher decides after the fact! I knew I was writing something psychologically suspenseful, though, and I love that kind of complexity in suspenseful fiction that I read. Tana French, Kate Atkinson-- they don't shy away from complication.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:20 Rebecca Scherm
6:21
[Comment From PubLibPubLib: ] 
What about the debate about likable characters? Are they for “small-minded readers” as one author asserted?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:21 PubLib
6:22
Rebecca Scherm: 
I wouldn't put it that way, but I do read different book for different feelings that I want. Sometimes you want a book to be your companion, and sometimes you want something to startle you, to shake you up...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:22 Rebecca Scherm
6:22
Rebecca Scherm: 
I knew that I was writing the second kind of book.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:22 Rebecca Scherm
6:22
[Comment From Femme FataleFemme Fatale: ] 
You said in your video that you like Dashiell Hammett, Ruth Rendell (hurrah!) and Rex Stout, as well as Hitchcock movies. What are your favorite contemporaty books?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:22 Femme Fatale
6:24
Rebecca Scherm: 
Ah! Most recently, I've loved Emily St. John Mandel's STATION ELEVEN, Roxane Gaye's UNTAMED STATE, and DAYS OF ABANDONMENT by Elena Ferrante. Knocked me off my feet.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:24 Rebecca Scherm
6:24
Rebecca Scherm: 
And Kate Atkinson's Life After Life! What a stunner.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:24 Rebecca Scherm
6:25
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You mentioned you were influenced by seeing the movie TO CATCH A THIEF with Grace Kelly. How does it strke you now?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:25 Nora - EarlyWord
6:25
Rebecca Scherm: 
I thought that I was heavily influenced by To Catch a Thief, but it turns out I was only partially right…
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:25 Rebecca Scherm
6:25
Rebecca Scherm: 
As a child, I was infatuated with Grace Kelly, particularly the three films she made with Alfred Hitchcock. I watched To Catch a Thief many times in my childhood. Midway through my final draft, I watched it for the first time in about twenty years. I was horrified!...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:25 Rebecca Scherm
6:26
Rebecca Scherm: 
I thought that Francie and Robie run away and become cat burglars at the end. That's not what happens at all. They settle down and live lawfully ever after-- Francie's mother even moves in. I had rewritten an ending I liked better, and then the novel I wrote was influenced by this not-real version of the movie.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:26 Rebecca Scherm
6:26
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Love that you named your character after her.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:26 Nora - EarlyWord
6:27
Rebecca Scherm: 
I knew she had that transfixing "golden" quality. That thing that puts people under a spell.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:27 Rebecca Scherm
6:27
Rebecca Scherm: 
Just like Grace Kelly.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:27 Rebecca Scherm
6:27
Nora - EarlyWord: 
And she is the crux of the book. I'm curious what our participants though of her.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:27 Nora - EarlyWord
6:27
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
Right. Is that the femme fatale/Grace Kelly angle?--you mentioned that in the video. Nice how you played with making someone beautiful outside and (somewhat) ugly inside.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:27 Janet S
6:28
[Comment From JuneJune: ] 
I found myself always giving her the benefit of the doubt,
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:28 June
6:28
[Comment From MirandaMiranda: ] 
It felt like something was missing from her heart.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:28 Miranda
6:28
[Comment From LyndaLynda: ] 
I thought it was weird that she loved Mrs. Graham, but she basically screwed over her son.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:28 Lynda
6:28
Rebecca Scherm: 
Yes, Janet, for me that was the central motivation.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:28 Rebecca Scherm
6:29
Rebecca Scherm: 
And Miranda, I completely agree!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:29 Rebecca Scherm
6:29
[Comment From JulieJulie: ] 
She was maddeningly unknowable, but fascinating!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:29 Julie
6:30
[Comment From MirandaMiranda: ] 
I could see why she chose Alls -- his background was troubled, too.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:30 Miranda
6:30
Rebecca Scherm: 
I'm happy to talk about your question, Lynda, I just don't want to give too much away! Let me know if I should continue there!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:30 Rebecca Scherm
6:31
[Comment From CathyCathy: ] 
She wasn't really an :unlikeable" character -- somehow, she never made me hate her.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:31 Cathy
6:31
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
No spoilers, please, pretty please ...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:31 Lucy
6:32
Rebecca Scherm: 
ok!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:32 Rebecca Scherm
6:32
Rebecca Scherm: 
As a writer, there's a sense of readerly discomfort that I want. One of the things I find so incredible about Patricia Highsmith's Tom Ripley novels is that I am rooting for him and against him at the same time.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:32 Rebecca Scherm
6:32
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Lucy, you're killing me. I wanted to know what Rebecca would say. Guess that will have to be off line!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:32 Nora - EarlyWord
6:33
Rebecca Scherm: 
Well, I can say this...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:33 Rebecca Scherm
6:33
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'm so glas you mentioned Ripley -- I often though of him while reading Unbecoming.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:33 Nora - EarlyWord
6:33
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Can turn my eyes away until the chat scroll gets past the comments ... :-)
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:33 Lucy
6:33
Rebecca Scherm: 
I believe that Grace did what she did in some part-- unconsciously-- because she loved Mrs. Graham so much and was so angry about what had happened.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:33 Rebecca Scherm
6:34
[Comment From JuneJune: ] 
Why did you have Grace and Riley get married?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:34 June
6:35
Rebecca Scherm: 
They had very different reasons for wanting to "seal" their decision to be together...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:35 Rebecca Scherm
6:36
Rebecca Scherm: 
But these two people are so determined, in a way, to be who they think they want/deserve to be, right now. They would make such a momentous decision very young.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:36 Rebecca Scherm
6:36
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
Was there a lot of research involved into the process of restoring antiques/jewelry? Is this something you knew about before?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:36 Janet S
6:37
[Comment From JuneJune: ] 
Right! Sometimes I forgot how young they were.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:37 June
6:37
Rebecca Scherm: 
Janet, I just read and read and read some more. I read books about jewelry making, talked to gemologists...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:37 Rebecca Scherm
6:38
Rebecca Scherm: 
And on one memorably embarrassing occasion, I went to gem dealer in the diamond district to have a Fassi-like experience. It was a disaster! I was trying to sound educated and get educated at the same time-- a terrible combination.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:38 Rebecca Scherm
6:38
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I enjoyed your descriptions of the pieces Grace worked on, particulary that intricate centerpiece. Is it based on a real object?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:38 Nora - EarlyWord
6:38
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
Your descriptions of the process were visceral and seemed very authentic.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:38 Janet S
6:39
Rebecca Scherm: 
Well, all the pieces-- jewelry and antiques-- are real pieces. The centerpiece is a based on an incredible piece I saw in Prague, at the Decorative Arts Museum there...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:39 Rebecca Scherm
6:40
Rebecca Scherm: 
They wouldn't let me take pictures of it, so I could only make notes of the materials and the restoration process. Actually, the museum's placard on the centerpiece inspired Hanna's voice as a character. I was very taken with the tone-- very clipped and authoritative, but clearly full of love for the object.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:40 Rebecca Scherm
6:40
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
Also, now I want to do some serious Paris Flea Market-ing...:)
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:40 Janet S
6:40
Nora - EarlyWord: 

A character’s voice influenced by a museum placard? That’s a first. Your mind must be like a sponge, absorbing all kinds of things. Can you tell us about any other unusual details you picked up for the book?

Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:40 Nora - EarlyWord
6:41
Rebecca Scherm: 
Ha, yes, I soak up everything. Sometimes it’s overwhelming! I like to populate the fictional world with real life: real objects, real artwork, real news stories. I think my editor thought the pink diamond teardrop watch was a little farfetched-- then she googled it!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:41 Rebecca Scherm
6:42
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I am SO glad to know that is real. Will google it right after this chat!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:42 Nora - EarlyWord
6:42
[Comment From JuneJune: ] 
You interweave today’s technology easily. Some of our debut authors have said it presents a problem to them because the speed of technology can make it difficult to set up tension. Did you have any trouble with that?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:42 June
6:43
Rebecca Scherm: 
June, I decided that I needed technology to work to create suspense instead of resolve it. Grace does this antiquated work, doesn't text anyone, certainly doesn't skype--for someone her age, it's like she lives in another time! So it was fitting that the internet would be this threat to her...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:43 Rebecca Scherm
6:44
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Peeking back in now ... :-)
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:44 Lucy
6:44
Rebecca Scherm: 
...both as a way for her to be tracked or found, and as a way for her to seek information she shouldn't really have or doesn't want.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:44 Rebecca Scherm
6:44
[Comment From PubLibPubLib: ] 
Do you have more books in the works?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:44 PubLib
6:45
[Comment From N.C. LibrarianN.C. Librarian: ] 
Will you stick to thrillers? Are you finished with the femme fatale?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:45 N.C. Librarian
6:45
[Comment From MirandaMiranda: ] 
I just can't get enough of Grace -- will you write more about her?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:45 Miranda
6:46
Rebecca Scherm: 
Yes, I'm working on my second, novel, Beta. It's also a psychological suspense novel with a crime-- "You and your liars," my husband says-- but it's otherwise very different. It's about an American family on a private space station, testing it out for the rich...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:46 Rebecca Scherm
6:47
Rebecca Scherm: 
Some themes I can't quit just yet!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:47 Rebecca Scherm
6:48
Rebecca Scherm: 
Miranda, I do fantasize about writing about Grace again. But we'll have to see.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:48 Rebecca Scherm
6:48
[Comment From MirandaMiranda: ] 
There's something unknowable about her and I want more!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:48 Miranda
6:49
Rebecca Scherm: 
Good luck getting the truth out of her now, Miranda! I think she will become less and less knowable with time.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:49 Rebecca Scherm
6:50
[Comment From MirandaMiranda: ] 
Ha! So true.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:50 Miranda
6:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We touched on the debate about "unlikeable" characters earlier -- any more you want to add to that?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:50 Nora - EarlyWord
6:51
Rebecca Scherm: 
Well, to me, Grace is a fascinating criminal. I didn't intend for her to be liked-- I just wanted to know what made her tick! We’ve all known people who did awful things to us, felt bad about it, and then did them again. Those people are infuriating, so hard to understand, and that’s what motivated me as a writer...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:51 Rebecca Scherm
6:52
Rebecca Scherm: 
There are great novels about good people and great novels about sociopaths, but I think Grace is complex because she does have a conscience but often ignores it…
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:52 Rebecca Scherm
6:52
Rebecca Scherm: 
In the end, I feel both invested in her and wary of her. I wrote about someone who would be the villain in any other book. In mine, I would call her an anti-heroine. I don't want her to be my friend--or near any of my friends or family!-- but I am compelled by her-- and I hope you are too!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:52 Rebecca Scherm
6:53
[Comment From JuneJune: ] 
I love how, in the beginning, she claims to not enjoy lying.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:53 June
6:53
[Comment From JuneJune: ] 
As Nora said, it's fun to go back and re-read the beginning.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:53 June
6:54
Rebecca Scherm: 
I read that pathological liars, as we call them, don't even know they're lying. It seemed important to establish that she knows right from wrong-- she just doesn't heed those signals very well.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:54 Rebecca Scherm
6:54
[Comment From JinnyJinny: ] 
My son is debating whether to go to school for creative writing. Do you think it can be taught?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:54 Jinny
6:55
Rebecca Scherm: 
I think that the impulse and the desire can be nurtured. At least, they were in me!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:55 Rebecca Scherm
6:55
[Comment From MirandaMiranda: ] 
What's your best piece of advice for an aspiring writer?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:55 Miranda
6:57
Rebecca Scherm: 
Read widely. Don't just read things you know you're going to like, things that are like the things you already love. Challenge yourself. Read different styles, genders, races, and nationalities, looking for stories that are unfamiliar to you. That's what literature is for, and that's how you find a voice that's only yours...
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:57 Rebecca Scherm
6:58
Rebecca Scherm: 
And write even when the writing is awful, when you fear you have nothing to say. You have to already be at work when the moment hits-- you can't wait for it to come to you.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:58 Rebecca Scherm
6:58
[Comment From JenJen: ] 
Just gotta say, your idea for the next book sounds SO different!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:58 Jen
6:58
[Comment From JenJen: ] 
How does it involve "your liars"?
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:58 Jen
6:59
Rebecca Scherm: 
Well, I don't want to spoil the next book, Jen! But one of the character's-- a biochemist-- has embellished his accomplishments, and that's going to be hard for him to undo.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 6:59 Rebecca Scherm
7:00
[Comment From JenJen: ] 
Sounds like fun!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:00 Jen
7:00
Rebecca Scherm: 
Characters, pardon me! Don't tell my freshman I did that-- they'll never let me hear the end of it!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:00 Rebecca Scherm
7:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Wow, everyone, that’s it for this chat. The hour flew by.Thanks, Rebecca for a fascinating discussion.

Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:00 Nora - EarlyWord
7:00
Rebecca Scherm: 
Yes it's a pleasure to work on something new!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:00 Rebecca Scherm
7:00
Rebecca Scherm: 
Thank you all! These were great questions.
Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:00 Rebecca Scherm
7:01
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Thank You Rebecca and Thanks to Nora for hosting!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:01 Lucy
7:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

And thanks to the Penguin First Flights program members for joining us today. The chat will be posted in our archives,

Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:01 Nora - EarlyWord
7:01
[Comment From Janet SJanet S: ] 
Thank you Rebecca and Nora!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:01 Janet S
7:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Our next chat, on Dec 4, is with Brooke Davis, author of Lost & Found – read more about it here,

If you’re not part of the First Flights program, you can sign up here

Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:03 Nora - EarlyWord
7:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Goodbye, everyone! Keep on reading!
Wednesday October 22, 2014 7:03 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Live Chat with Debut Author
Rebecca Scherm

LIVE CHAT – Kristin Levine and
Lisa Von Drasek

Wednesday, October 1st, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with Kristin Levine, THE PAPER COWBOY
Krisitn LOVE to do school visits, whether in person or by SKYPE. To set up a visit, go to her Web site.
 Live Chat with Kristin Levine, THE PAPER COWBOY(10/01/2014) 
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Kristin Levine, author of the middle grade novel, Paper Cowboy, in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here’s the cover of the book, published by Penguin/ Putnam Juvenile last month …
Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:47
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:47 
4:48
Nora - EarlyWord: 
It's also been released in audio by Listening Library. Here is a clip:
Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:48 Nora - EarlyWord
4:48
The Paper Cowboy  Play
Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:48 
4:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Below is an excerpt from the starred Kirkus review:

KIRKUS REVIEW

A family crisis pushes a 12-year-old wannabe cowboy living outside Chicago in 1953 to resort to bullying and damaging pranks.

Since his baby sister’s birth, Tommy’s normally moody mother’s been like a “sky full of dark clouds.” When his older sister’s seriously burned, Tommy’s left to cope with her daily newspaper route, his increasingly abusive mother, his overwhelmed father and his younger sisters …Speaking in the first person, Tommy reveals himself as a good-hearted, responsible kid who’s temporarily lost his moral compass. … Period detail and historical references effectively capture the anti-communist paranoia of the McCarthy era.

A winningly authentic, realistic and heartwarming family drama.

Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:51 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The narrator, Lincoln Hoppe gave Kristin props for the book on Twitter (the clip from the audio is above):

Aug 31

"The Paper Cowboy" is fantastic! Just finished narrating the audiobook. you are an absolutely amazing writer!

Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:55 Nora - EarlyWord
4:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I see chat participants gathering!

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Kristin before the end of the chat.

Typos are welcomed!

Wednesday October 1, 2014 4:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Our moderator is Lisa Von Drasek, head of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries (and EarlyWord kids Correspondent).

Say hi, Lisa!

Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
lisa von drasek: 
Hello! Everyone.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:00 lisa von drasek
5:01
JoAnn Jonas: 
Hi Lisa!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:01 JoAnn Jonas
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
And, here is our author, Kristin Levine...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Kristin Levine: 
Hi, everyone! I'm thrilled to be here!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:01 Kristin Levine
5:02
lisa von drasek: 
That was JoAnn Jonas who is a children's librarian now residing in New Mexico
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:02 lisa von drasek
5:02
JoAnn Jonas: 
Hi Kristin!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:02 JoAnn Jonas
5:02
Kristin Levine: 
Hi JoAnn! So who's got the first question?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:02 Kristin Levine
5:03
lisa von drasek: 
Kristine- we are dying to know- this book is set during the communist scare of the '50's...can you say a few words about the inspiration?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:03 lisa von drasek
5:03
lisa von drasek: 
Yikes! Kristin!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:03 lisa von drasek
5:03
Kristin Levine: 
I grew up in the 1980s and I remember being really afraid that there was going to be a nuclear war....
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:03 Kristin Levine
5:03
[Comment From Michelle K.Michelle K.: ] 
Hi Kristin -- love the book!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:03 Michelle K.
5:03
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
So fun to read about bomb shelters!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:03 Kathy C.
5:04
Kristin Levine: 
...then when I was 18 I was an au pair in Austria. This was right after the end of the Soviet Union and met all these people who had lived in communist countries...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:04 Kristin Levine
5:04
Kristin Levine: 
...and of course they seemed just like you and me. So that got be interested in the communist angle.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:04 Kristin Levine
5:05
Kristin Levine: 
Kathy, aren't bomb shelters fascinating?! That was a game I used to play as a kid. What we would take to a bomb shelter
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:05 Kristin Levine
5:05
lisa von drasek: 
We’ve received some advance questions from the Penguin Young Readers program participants, Here’s the first one: "I personally loved the 'Authors Note' where you wrote about who the characters were based on and actually published their photos. It kind of breaks the wall between fiction and reality however. How have readers responded?"
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:05 lisa von drasek
5:05
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Lisa -- love your interviews!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:05 Sally, Mich.
5:05
JoAnn Jonas: 
Kristin--Did your family have a bomb shelter...or your dad's?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:05 JoAnn Jonas
5:05
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
Can't with to hear more about the inspirations for the book.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:05 Linda P.
5:06
Kristin Levine: 
I haven't heard from any readers about it yet. But I had a relative who (I thought) I had the okay from on it who ended up very upset. I felt really terrible about it!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:06 Kristin Levine
5:06
lisa von drasek: 
can you say what upset them?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:06 lisa von drasek
5:06
Kristin Levine: 
Linda, a lot of the inspiration came from stories my dad told me about his childhood.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:06 Kristin Levine
5:07
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
I hope to be an author and want to draw on my family's history -- how do you cover your bases with permissions?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:07 Linda P.
5:07
Kristin Levine: 
Lisa, I think my relative felt that I was sharing family secrets.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:07 Kristin Levine
5:07
Kristin Levine: 
Linda, this is my third book loosely based on family history...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:07 Kristin Levine
5:08
Kristin Levine: 
...I think it's important to talk to everyone involved. But no one has ever had a problem before. Changing names is good too!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:08 Kristin Levine
5:08
lisa von drasek: 
and this advance question relates...
"How brave to show an unsaintly mother! Have you gotten any push-back on that?"

Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:08 lisa von drasek
5:09
Kristin Levine: 
Back to inspirations, my dad and I went to Downers Grove to look at a bunch of stuff. I'll post a few pics.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:09 Kristin Levine
5:09
lisa von drasek: 
Do you have a map of the neighbor hood. It was very real to me.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:09 lisa von drasek
5:10
Kristin Levine: 
Re unsaintly mother: It felt like something that might really happen...something that has happened to many kids. I guess I just thought it was a story that needed to be told.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:10 Kristin Levine
5:10
Kristin Levine: 
Lisa, I couldn't find the map my dad drew for me. But we did walk his paper route!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:10 Kristin Levine
5:10
JoAnn Jonas: 
I'm sure many readers will be able to relate...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:10 JoAnn Jonas
5:11
 Kristin Levine
And here's where Tommy saw his movies!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:11 
5:11
lisa von drasek: 
ohhh
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek
5:11
lisa von drasek: 
The sense of place and the community of immigrants is palpable…can you say a few words about that?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek
5:11
Kristin Levine: 
Sure. My dad talked a lot about how he loved growing up in such a diverse immigrant community...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:11 Kristin Levine
5:12
Kristin Levine: 
...my understanding is, that their church bought a lot of land and offered cheap loans to immigrant families...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:12 Kristin Levine
5:12
Kristin Levine: 
...he also talked a lot about all the delicious food. And how kind people were to him when doing his paper route on cold winter mornings.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:12 Kristin Levine
5:13
 Kristin Levine
The pond where they went ice skating was a real place too
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:13 
5:13
lisa von drasek: 
Can we talk about Tommy?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:13 lisa von drasek
5:13
Kristin Levine: 
Of course! He was an interesting character to write....
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:13 Kristin Levine
5:13
Kristin Levine: 
...cause he does so many unlikable things. But I (at least) still really liked him.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:13 Kristin Levine
5:14
Kristin Levine: 
I thought it would be interesting to write about a bully from a bully's POV. And when my dad said that looking back he considered himself a bully, I thought it might be interesting to figure out why that happened.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:14 Kristin Levine
5:14
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
Love what you said in the author's note about your dad realizing he had been a bully. Did the book give him a sense of relief about that?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:14 School Librarian
5:14
Kristin Levine: 
School librarian, what an interesting question!! Yeah, I think it did....
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:14 Kristin Levine
5:14
[Comment From Sarah Q.Sarah Q.: ] 
I loved how you made Tommy basically likable, but showed he made bad choices. How did you manage that>
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:14 Sarah Q.
5:15
JoAnn Jonas: 
That did strike me as a reader, he was almost too good to be true but then also a bully and often unkind, making him a more complex character
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:15 JoAnn Jonas
5:15
Kristin Levine: 
...he also said it was really interesting going back to his school reunion because no one else remembered all the bad things he had done. But he did.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:15 Kristin Levine
5:16
Kristin Levine: 
Sarah, how did I make Tommy likable? Oh that is so hard to strike the right balance. Truthfully, my editor helped a lot.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:16 Kristin Levine
5:16
Kristin Levine: 
My editor is the amazing Stacey Barney.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:16 Kristin Levine
5:16
lisa von drasek: 
JoAnn,
I have to disagree with you... Tommy had to be perfect at home taking care of the younger siblings, doing the dishes, running the household because the consequences were so devastating if he failed
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:16 lisa von drasek
5:16
[Comment From Four EyesFour Eyes: ] 
Oddly, I had more sympathy for Tommy than his victims.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:16 Four Eyes
5:16
 Kristin Levine
Here we are on the Ferris wheel at ALA in Las Vegas this past summer
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:16 
5:17
Kristin Levine: 
Lisa, yes, I think Tommy did feel like had to be perfect at home or it would all fall apart.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:17 Kristin Levine
5:18
Kristin Levine: 
Four Eyes, what an interesting observation! The POV you tell a story from determines so much about how you feel about what happens, I guess.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:18 Kristin Levine
5:19
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
Dying to know how kids react to McCarthyism. Does it seem weird to them?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:19 School Librarian
5:19
Kristin Levine: 
School librarian, I haven't talked to a lot of kids about the book yet, but this is the way I see it...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:19 Kristin Levine
5:20
lisa von drasek: 
an advance question that relates to the one from School Librarian

You didn’t live through the period of the book. Do you think things are similar today – are we as ready to hate based on suspicions?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:20 lisa von drasek
5:20
Kristin Levine: 
... McCarthyism was kind of grownups bullying each other. Kids understand bullying. So I guess I think (hope) they will be able to relate...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:20 Kristin Levine
5:21
Kristin Levine: 
... and I guess I do see some similarities to things today, especially how rumors are sometimes reported as "news"
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:21 Kristin Levine
5:21
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
I love that point -- so true. Looking forward to using this with my kids.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:21 School Librarian
5:21
Kristin Levine: 
The school in the book was also a real place. The head of the school was so nice about letting us look around.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:21 Kristin Levine
5:22
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
And am trying to come up with similar issue today.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:22 School Librarian
5:22
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
Tell us about the editing process -- was it difficult?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:22 Linda P.
5:22
 Kristin Levine
Saint Joseph School
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:22 
5:22
Kristin Levine: 
Linda, I love the editing process...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:22 Kristin Levine
5:22
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
Fox News might be a good example!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:22 School Librarian
5:23
Kristin Levine: 
... but I always say I'm not a good writer, just a pretty good rewriter, so I go through a lot of drafts. Will post some examples...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:23 Kristin Levine
5:23
JoAnn Jonas: 
how fun! thanks Kristin
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:23 JoAnn Jonas
5:23
 Kristin Levine
Most of my pages look like this...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:23 
5:23
lisa von drasek: 
Historic fiction requires a level of accuracy….can you say something about your research? Anything that surprised you?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:23 lisa von drasek
5:24
 Kristin Levine
... or this. (Sorry it's sideways!!)
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:24 
5:25
Kristin Levine: 
I had so much fun researching. There was this little museum in Downers Grover where I found notes from a League of Women's Voters meeting where they discussed McCarthyism in 1953. Will post a copy...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:25 Kristin Levine
5:25
 Kristin Levine
Copy of League Notes
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:25 
5:26
[Comment From Four EyesFour Eyes: ] 
Tommy’s dad seems just overwhelmed. What did you think of him?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:26 Four Eyes
5:26
 Kristin Levine
League notes.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:26 
5:26
[Comment From Four EyesFour Eyes: ] 
I said that wrong -- as the author, did you like him?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:26 Four Eyes
5:27
Kristin Levine: 
Four Eyes, yeah, Tommy's dad. I think men's roles were really different in the 1950s. He needed to step up and I don't think he could quite wrap his mind around what he needed to do.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:27 Kristin Levine
5:28
Kristin Levine: 
Did I like Tommy's dad? Yeah, I did. I think he was doing the best he could. Was he as brave or as helpful as he should have been? No...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:28 Kristin Levine
5:28
Kristin Levine: 
...but I guess I think peoples imperfects make them interesting, especially in a book.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:28 Kristin Levine
5:28
JoAnn Jonas: 
The Dad seemed to be in denial about the mothers mental illness, and how it effected the family I felt sorry for them all
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:28 JoAnn Jonas
5:28
lisa von drasek: 
Kristin,

Are there historic novels for kids that you really admire?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:28 lisa von drasek
5:28
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
It's chilling to think what that time was like. That doc. makes it real -- would love to use it with kids -- is it on your web site?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:28 School Librarian
5:29
Kristin Levine: 
JoAnn, I think he was in denial because there really wasn't a lot of treatment for mental illness at the time. He really didn't know what to do.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:29 Kristin Levine
5:29
lisa von drasek: 
School librarian- you can download it to your picture file from this app.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:29 lisa von drasek
5:29
[Comment From Sarah Q.Sarah Q.: ] 
Good for the League of Women Voters -- didn't realize that they stood up to McCarthy.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:29 Sarah Q.
5:29
Kristin Levine: 
School librarian, I don't have it on my website right now, but that's a great idea. I'll post a copy of it. Or feel free to email me from my website and I can send you a copy.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:29 Kristin Levine
5:30
Kristin Levine: 
Sarah, yeah I was so excited when I found out people really had been talking about this issue in Downers Grove...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:30 Kristin Levine
5:30
JoAnn Jonas: 
Kristin, what historical fiction do you like?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:30 JoAnn Jonas
5:31
Kristin Levine: 
...in a previous draft there was a lot more about the League, Tommy went to a meeting with his mom, but for various reasons that thread was mainly cut.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:31 Kristin Levine
5:31
lisa von drasek: 
School Librarian et all....if you reproduce the League of Women Voters picture please credit the museum in Downer's Grove- Kristin what is the name of it?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:31 lisa von drasek
5:31
Kristin Levine: 
JoAnn, re. historical fiction... I love Christopher Paul Curtis. His book, The Watson Go to Birmingham, 1963, was such an inspiration to me.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:31 Kristin Levine
5:32
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
Love looking at your pages, but am surprised that the markings are in pencil. I thought this was all word processed these days!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:32 Linda P.
5:32
Kristin Levine: 
Lisa, I think it was the Downers Grove Historical Society. Will be sure to check with them before I post anything on my site.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:32 Kristin Levine
5:32
[Comment From Sally, MichSally, Mich: ] 
Hurrah! Love THE WATSONS!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:32 Sally, Mich
5:33
Kristin Levine: 
Linda, oh that is too funny!! Sometimes I write on the computer...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:33 Kristin Levine
5:33
Kristin Levine: 
...but I feel like I think differently with a pen in my hand. So I'm afraid I'm killing a bunch of trees...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:33 Kristin Levine
5:33
Kristin Levine: 
...truthfully, I find track changes so hard to use!! But in later drafts I do.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:33 Kristin Levine
5:33
lisa von drasek: 
Kristin- what are you reading now?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:33 lisa von drasek
5:34
Kristin Levine: 
Sally, isn't Watsons a great book? So funny. and I love how it makes the history personal.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:34 Kristin Levine
5:34
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
Was there a specific event that inspired the story about the store owner who lost business because of a silly rumor?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:34 Linda P.
5:34
Kristin Levine: 
Lisa, I just finished Counting by 7s by Holly Goldbery Sloan. I thought it was great.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:34 Kristin Levine
5:35
Kristin Levine: 
Linda, as far as I know, nothing like that happened in Downers Grove...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:35 Kristin Levine
5:35
Kristin Levine: 
... but I felt like it could have happened, so I went with it for the story.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:35 Kristin Levine
5:35
lisa von drasek: 
Kristin- It was also interesting all the different livelihoods of the people in the community- in the old country, in the United States.. what was the worst job that you ever had to do.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:35 lisa von drasek
5:36
lisa von drasek: 
I will say mine- its a tie between selling hot dogs off a cart on the street and selling dictionaries door-to-door
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:36 lisa von drasek
5:36
Kristin Levine: 
Hmmm... the worst job... I'm lucky I guess I've liked most of mine...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:36 Kristin Levine
5:37
Kristin Levine: 
... though I will say I taught elementary school for a year and it was the HARDEST JOB EVER!!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:37 Kristin Levine
5:37
Kristin Levine: 
I liked the idea of being a teacher much more than the reality. That's why I love school visits...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:37 Kristin Levine
5:37
 lisa von drasek
Krisitn LOVES to do school visits, whether in person or by SKYPE. To set up a visit, go to her Web site.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:37 
5:38
Kristin Levine: 
...I get all the fun of interacting with the kids, but no tests, grading or meetings!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:38 Kristin Levine
5:38
Kristin Levine: 
I do really love school visits!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:38 Kristin Levine
5:38
JoAnn Jonas: 
Have you done any school visits with PAPER COWBOY yet? how have they been
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:38 JoAnn Jonas
5:38
Kristin Levine: 
JoAnn, I'm got a few on my calendar this month! Will let you know how they go.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:38 Kristin Levine
5:39
lisa von drasek: 
what is the most interesting question that a kid has asked you?

Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:39 lisa von drasek
5:39
Kristin Levine: 
Lisa, I love it when a kid asks me about a part of the book I don't even remember writing...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:39 Kristin Levine
5:40
JoAnn Jonas: 
Kristin--the book has such a happy ending...did you have any thoughts about making it otherwise?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:40 JoAnn Jonas
5:40
Kristin Levine: 
...I always say, "Oh yeah. Tell me more about what you thought about that part" (while I'm trying to remember what they are talking about) and they always come up with the most interest interpretation.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:40 Kristin Levine
5:41
[Comment From Former BullyFormer Bully: ] 
It's interesting that Tommy can have such compassion for his sister -- iIMHO, t's the key to him becoming a real human being.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:41 Former Bully
5:41
Kristin Levine: 
Re ending: well, I didn't want the book to have a depressing ending. But I didn't feel it would be realistic to have a totally happy ending either...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:41 Kristin Levine
5:41
Kristin Levine: 
...my hope it that is comes off as hopeful, that everyone will eventually be okay.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:41 Kristin Levine
5:42
Kristin Levine: 
Yes, former bully, Tommy's relationship with his sister was super important to him.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:42 Kristin Levine
5:42
lisa von drasek: 
yes- I would say we have hope for Tommy and his family but are not totally convinced all will be well.

Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:42 lisa von drasek
5:42
Kristin Levine: 
My dad's sister really was burned in an accident like that. I'll post a pic of the hospital.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:42 Kristin Levine
5:43
 Kristin Levine
Hospital (closed now)
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:43 
5:43
Kristin Levine: 
Re research - we found the most interesting info about this hospital at the local library. Have some photos...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:43 Kristin Levine
5:43
JoAnn Jonas: 
I loved your hospital scenes...very real and upsetting for a kid to see a sibling there
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:43 JoAnn Jonas
5:44
lisa von drasek: 
Peanut gallery- this is your ten minute warning...any questions before we wrap up?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:44 lisa von drasek
5:44
 Kristin Levine
There was a souvenir booklet from the hospital's opening...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:44 
5:45
 Kristin Levine
A room like the one Mary Lou might have stayed in...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:45 
5:45
JoAnn Jonas: 
So glad you have such a good public library in Downer's Grove! What a great spot for research. Did you interview any other people for your story?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:45 JoAnn Jonas
5:46
 Kristin Levine
The lobby. My dad said he remembered this space.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:46 
5:46
Kristin Levine: 
JoAnn, the public library in Downers Grove is amazing!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:46 Kristin Levine
5:46
lisa von drasek: 
Kristin- we have talked about the time and place but I would you to address the reciprocal relationship with his next door neighbor- who in the beginning of the novel he sees in a very stereotypical way
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:46 lisa von drasek
5:46
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
JoAnn -- I so agree about the hospital settings. Took me back to my childhood -- I was in a ward with a kid who was in an iron lung!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:46 Sally, Mich.
5:46
[Comment From Kelly, CTKelly, CT: ] 
You inspire me to want to ask my parents more questions -- how did you get your father to open up?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:46 Kelly, CT
5:47
Kristin Levine: 
I also interviewed a lot of my dad's classmates. They had such funny stories!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:47 Kristin Levine
5:48
Kristin Levine: 
Kelly, my dad wanted to talk. And talk. Sometimes he had too much detail. Like, I had a WWII surplus army tent that was olive green and had 20 poles and took 17 minutes to set up...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:48 Kristin Levine
5:48
Kristin Levine: 
... and at first, we had a few disagreements where he was like, "But that's not what happened." And I was like, "I know, because this is FICTION!!"
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:48 Kristin Levine
5:49
Kristin Levine: 
... but we worked it out. Being in the actual place, taking a trip to Downers Grover was amazing...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:49 Kristin Levine
5:49
[Comment From Kelly, CTKelly, CT: ] 
How did you get him to talk about emotions?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:49 Kelly, CT
5:49
Kristin Levine: 
...I think that really helped him to open up.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:49 Kristin Levine
5:49
JoAnn Jonas: 
good question Kelly!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:49 JoAnn Jonas
5:49
Kristin Levine: 
Re emotions... I did a lot of listening. Also he really wanted to talk...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:49 Kristin Levine
5:50
Kristin Levine: 
... this was my third book "based on family history" so he had a few years prior to think about what it would be like...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:50 Kristin Levine
5:50
[Comment From Kelly, CTKelly, CT: ] 
That's a good point -- going back to places can bring back feelings.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:50 Kelly, CT
5:50
Kristin Levine: 
... sometimes it was hard, but I think it was a great experience for both of us.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:50 Kristin Levine
5:51
Kristin Levine: 
Kelly, food was a really big trigger for my dad too. So going back to Downers Grove and eating similar food brought up a lot of memories.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:51 Kristin Levine
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
Kristin,
Is there another piece of family history for the next book that you would like to share????
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek
5:51
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
how did you get your first book published?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:51 Linda P.
5:52
Kristin Levine: 
Oh, I think I'm tired of family history for now. Might do something present day next!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:52 Kristin Levine
5:52
JoAnn Jonas: 
Yes Kristin, my question too, what is coming next?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:52 JoAnn Jonas
5:52
Kristin Levine: 
Linda, my first book actually started as a screenplay. I got lots of people in Hollywood to read it, and everyone said it was a great story, but...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:52 Kristin Levine
5:53
Kristin Levine: 
...it had kids as the main characters and was a period piece. They didn't want that. So I decided to change it to a novel...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:53 Kristin Levine
5:53
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
Wait! Hoe did you get people in Hollywood to read it?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:53 Linda P.
5:53
Kristin Levine: 
...it took eight years from start to finish for that book!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:53 Kristin Levine
5:53
lisa von drasek: 
I am looking at the time... any final thoughts Kristin that you want to leave with us?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:53 lisa von drasek
5:54
Kristin Levine: 
The script actually did well in this contest called Slamdance. It tied with "Maria, Full of Grace" which was made into a movie.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:54 Kristin Levine
5:54
Kristin Levine: 
Final thoughts... maybe I'll just say something about how I became a writer...
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:54 Kristin Levine
5:55
Kristin Levine: 
...because when I was in elementary school I hated writing. It was just too hard, I could never come up with good ideas, my writing never turned out how I wanted, and to top it all off, I was a bad speller.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:55 Kristin Levine
5:55
Kristin Levine: 
But then the summer after 7th grade I attended a program run by John Hopkins University called CTY (Center for Talented Youth.) At CTY, students get a chance to live on a college campus for three weeks, take a class, live in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria and basically pretend they are college students. I decided to take a writing class because I hoped it would help me not dread writing assignments so much.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:55 Kristin Levine
5:56
Kristin Levine: 
What I discovered at CTY was that I was good at writing. In fact, I really enjoyed it. From the writing workshop I took there, I learned that writing is not about getting it right the first time. It's about revising and making things better as you go along. When you're writing, your first draft can be absolutely horrible; all that counts is your final draft. I realized that I enjoy revising, and I am stubborn enough to keep at it, working and rewriting and changing things, until I feel like I’ve gotten it right.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:56 Kristin Levine
5:56
Kristin Levine: 
After that experience at CTY, I loved writing and wrote a lot. Even though my first drafts are still terrible. And I still can't spell.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:56 Kristin Levine
5:56
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
Thanks, Kristin. Gearing up to use the book with my kids.
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:56 School Librarian
5:56
Kristin Levine: 
But I love to tell kids that story when I do school visits, because there are always some who just hate to write!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:56 Kristin Levine
5:57
Kristin Levine: 
Thanks, School Librarian. Feel free to email me if you think up any other questions!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:57 Kristin Levine
5:57
JoAnn Jonas: 
Yes, they need to hear other's challenges and successes! Gret story Kristin!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:57 JoAnn Jonas
5:57
Kristin Levine: 
This was so much fun. Thanks everyone for taking the time to chat with me!!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:57 Kristin Levine
5:57
lisa von drasek: 
Thank you Kristin!
Nora- what book is next?
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:57 lisa von drasek
5:58
[Comment From Four EyesFour Eyes: ] 
This was GREAT!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:58 Four Eyes
5:58
Kristin Levine: 
Aww, thanks, Four Eyes!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:58 Kristin Levine
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks, Kristin and Lisa for a fascinating discussion.

And thanks to the Penguin Young Readers program members for joining us today.

Our next chat, on Oct. 29, is with Michelle Cuevas & Julie Morstad, author and illustrator of Beyond the Laughing Sky, (Penguin/Dial, 10/2/14)

If you’re not part of the program, you can sign up here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Goodbye, everyone!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Kristin Levine: 
Bye!
Wednesday October 1, 2014 5:58 Kristin Levine
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on LIVE CHAT – Kristin Levine and
Lisa Von Drasek

LIVE CHAT – Heather Mackey and Lisa Von Drasek

Thursday, September 11th, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with Heather Mackey, DREAMWOOD
 Live Chat with Heather Mackey, DREAMWOOD(09/11/2014) 
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Heather Mackey, author of the middle grade novel, Dreamwood, in about 15 minutes.
Thursday September 11, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book, published by Penguin/ Putnam Juvenile in June …
Thursday September 11, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
 Nora - EarlyWord
Thursday September 11, 2014 4:45 
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Reviews have been strong. This one from Kirkus does a good job of outlining the story elements:

An original fantasy for middle-grade readers plaits together science, the supernatural and deep ecology.

Lucy Darrington, 12 1/2, is a spunky girl who has escaped the stultifying atmosphere of a San Francisco finishing school to reunite with her beloved father, a scientist whose livelihood as a ghost clearer has diminished with the spreading, turn-of-the-20th-century popularity of electricity. Lucy arrives at the fictional city of Pentland—in an alternate Pacific Northwest where American settlements are embedded within lands still owned by indigenous peoples—only to find her father gone from his rooming house. Is his disappearance related to Rust, which is killing off kodok trees, source of income for many settlers and First Peoples? How does mythical, elusive dreamwood fit into the picture? Determined to find her father, Lucy embarks on a series of adventures, most of which include Pete Knightly, a slightly older boy whose parents were housing Lucy’s father. The latter part of the book takes them deep into the Devil’s Thumb peninsula, where gripping, even terrifying, moments are seasoned with humor and a slowly blossoming friendship. The carefully plotted twists and turns will keep readers absorbed to the end.

A stunning debut with equal parts originality and heart. (Fantasy. 8-13)
Thursday September 11, 2014 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see chat participants gathering!

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Heather before the end of the chat.

Thursday September 11, 2014 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The magic hour has struck and we're ready to begin our chat.

Our moderator is Lisa Von Drasek, head of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries (and EarlyWord kids Correspondent).

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
lisa von drasek: 
Hello, Everybody!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:01 lisa von drasek
5:02
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Hi, Lisa -- love these chats!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:02 Sally, Mich.
5:03
[Comment From Michelle K.Michelle K.: ] 
Hi, Everyone! Looking forward to the chat. Love the book!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Michelle K.
5:03
Heather Mackey: 
Hi everyone! Thrilled to be here with you!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Heather Mackey
5:03
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
Hi Heather. Love how the book helped me look at today in new ways.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Kathy C.
5:03
[Comment From Linda.P.Linda.P.: ] 
I've been reading it to kids. They love the fantasy elements.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Linda.P.
5:04
lisa von drasek: 
Heather, first things first..... tell me a little bit about yourself
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:04 lisa von drasek
5:04
Heather Mackey: 
Thank you Kathy! Big reason alternative past is so interesting :)
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:04 Heather Mackey
5:04
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
Hope you're ready for tons of Q's!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:04 Melissa
5:05
Heather Mackey: 
Hi Lisa, so I live in Berkeley, Mom, 2 wonderful kids. Um... have an MFA from University of Arizona, Grew up in the Southwest. Studied Greek and Latin and French -- typing as fast as I can!!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:05 Heather Mackey
5:06
lisa von drasek: 
Can you say a little something about your own reading?
As a kid?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:06 lisa von drasek
5:06
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
An MFA? As in visual arts? If so, how/ why did you tansition to writing?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:06 Melissa
5:06
Heather Mackey: 
Sure I was a huge reader as a kid. Loved fantasy adventure. If I could LIVE in Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising, I'd be there
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:06 Heather Mackey
5:07
lisa von drasek: 
Melissa wanted to know about your MFA....
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:07 lisa von drasek
5:07
Heather Mackey: 
Melissa, in creative writing. Always knew I wanted to write - was a journalist, but not so clearr on the fiction thing
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:07 Heather Mackey
5:08
Heather Mackey: 
My husband was getting an MFA in writing and I thought, maybe I should do that. We are a writing household! He runs National Novel Writing Month
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:08 Heather Mackey
5:08
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
What changed?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:08 Melissa
5:09
lisa von drasek: 
Can you say a few words about your writing life? do you write everyday?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:09 lisa von drasek
5:09
Heather Mackey: 
An MFA was useful in learning how to finish stories and look at my work objectively. I learned how to give and accept critique
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:09 Heather Mackey
5:09
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, I try to write every day. I am a grump if I don't.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:09 Heather Mackey
5:10
Heather Mackey: 
I try even if it's just a couple sentences -
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:10 Heather Mackey
5:10
lisa von drasek: 
As you recall, my job is as the curator of a children's literature manuscript collection. I hope that you are saving your drafts for our researchers...
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:10 lisa von drasek
5:11
Heather Mackey: 
So I am - of course a lot is electronic. But I do a lot of brainstorming or "noodling" on paper. I dug out my very first noodles for you!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 Heather Mackey
5:11
lisa von drasek: 
May we see it please?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek
5:11
 Heather Mackey
The very first Dreamwood notes!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 
5:11
lisa von drasek: 
ooohhh!!!!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek
5:11
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
What made you interested in the 20th C. technology? Did you do research on it?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 Kathy C.
5:12
Heather Mackey: 
So I was at day job, and found this wonderful reference book on place names, I started noting them down because I had an idea for story, and you see Pentland there...
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:12 Heather Mackey
5:12
Heather Mackey: 
Kathy, I was interested in history of science. And I work in tech, so always fascinating to see the evolution
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:12 Heather Mackey
5:13
lisa von drasek: 
I see the date 3-21-01 is that right?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:13 lisa von drasek
5:13
Heather Mackey: 
Oh yeah we are talking ancient history!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:13 Heather Mackey
5:14
lisa von drasek: 
so how long from beginning to publication? was that surprising?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:14 lisa von drasek
5:15
[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ] 
Lisa -- is technology making curation more difficult these days? Is there less to curate?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:15 Sally, Mich.
 
lisa von drasek: 
Sally , makes it a little crazy. I am now receiving manuscripts on thumb drives with track changes.
  lisa von drasek
5:15
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, I was working on other things, just playing around with an idea I thought would be fun for myself. No big intentions. I sold the MS in 2007, and from there had a very long road to publication - 2 different editors, multiple agonizing revisions
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:15 Heather Mackey
5:15
lisa von drasek: 
How many drafts did you go through?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:15 lisa von drasek
5:17
Heather Mackey: 
It was about 3 MAJOR rewrites, then multiple drafts
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:17 Heather Mackey
5:18
lisa von drasek: 
I was wandering about Lucy and Pete's survival wilderness survival skills. Do you camp? Have you eaten wild foods?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:18 lisa von drasek
5:18
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
How did the 2 different editors affect things? Did they have different ideas?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:18 Melissa
5:19
Heather Mackey: 
I have been weirdly fascinated by wilderness survival narratives. Growing up in the Southwest, I know how to make a solar still - in case I'm stranded!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:19 Heather Mackey
5:20
lisa von drasek: 
fYI A solar still is a simple way of distilling water, using the heat of the Sun to drive evaporation from humid soil, and ambient air to cool a condenser film.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 lisa von drasek
5:20
[Comment From Kathy CKathy C: ] 
Solar still! i want to camp with you!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 Kathy C
5:20
[Comment From Susan, OhioSusan, Ohio: ] 
Loved Lucy’s character – I'm always on the lookout for imaginative, strong female characters. did you model her on anyone?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 Susan, Ohio
5:20
Heather Mackey: 
Melissa, they had very different ideas! A major reason it took so long. So my first editor got laid off midway, and my second editor Ari Lewin loved the book but had a very different approach
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 Heather Mackey
5:21
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
Wasn't that confusing?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:21 Melissa
5:21
Heather Mackey: 
Thanks Susan! Lucy has some of my qualities in her (probably all her worst ones). But she also is close to my daughter.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:21 Heather Mackey
5:22
Heather Mackey: 
Melissa, so this is a bit New Agey, but I had to do some visualization exercises to make myself believe I could do it!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:22 Heather Mackey
5:22
lisa von drasek: 
And I believe I was promised a pet picture...
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:22 lisa von drasek
5:23
Heather Mackey: 
Of course Lisa! I cannot leave my phone around without coming back to find it full of pictures of our dog. Kids usually like to pose him under a lot of covers. But here's one where you can see him
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:23 Heather Mackey
5:23
 Heather Mackey
Buster
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:23 
5:24
lisa von drasek: 
oohh , now I am happy
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:24 lisa von drasek
5:24
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
I'm so curious about how editing works. Did the second editor just start over with the original MS?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:24 Melissa
5:25
Heather Mackey: 
Great question Melissa. She looked at my 3rd draft, and we started from a story level. So I did a major overhaul. Her kind words to me were "You just don't have a story." Oops. So I worked on story, then another draft on character. Then another draft on everything else that wasn't working :)
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:25 Heather Mackey
5:26
lisa von drasek: 
To the peanut gallery... if you have read the book... towards the end I was dreading then I was so, so happy and satisfied with the ending. Any thoughts about that?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:26 lisa von drasek
5:26
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
I can see why you needed the visualization!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:26 Melissa
5:26
Heather Mackey: 
Melissa, I am big on that! Seriously
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:26 Heather Mackey
5:27
lisa von drasek: 
Heather...What are you reading and loving right now?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:27 lisa von drasek
5:27
[Comment From Peanut GalleryPeanut Gallery: ] 
I am totally with you, Lisa.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:27 Peanut Gallery
 
lisa von drasek: 
Quite the drama, huh?
  lisa von drasek
5:29
Heather Mackey: 
Ah, I'm reading a ton of books! I read a mix of adult, YA, middle grade. I just finished re-reading Donna Tartt's The Secret History, finishing E Lockhart's We Were Liars, looking forward to Rick Yancey's The Infinite Sea. And kids and I can't wait for R Riordan's Blood of Olympus
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:29 Heather Mackey
5:29
lisa von drasek: 
Who do you consider the perfect reader for Dreamwood?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:29 lisa von drasek
5:29
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
How do you feel about the term Steampunk?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:29 Kathy C.
5:30
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
As I said, love the reflections of today -- technology, but also environmental issue. Did you want to get a message across?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:30 Kathy C.
5:31
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, I've hear from girls and boys - so ideal is not a gender, but maybe an attitude: curious, involved readers
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:31 Heather Mackey
5:31
lisa von drasek: 
I am thinking it hit the sweet spot of middle grade...what do you think?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:31 lisa von drasek
5:32
Heather Mackey: 
Kathy, steampunk can mean a lot of different things. There are a couple elements - the instruments and the alternative tech. ...
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:32 Heather Mackey
5:33
Heather Mackey: 
And to answer Kathy's second question - I didn't want to write some militantly environmental book. But of course I hope people think about our place in the natural world, so the story is an avenue to that
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:33 Heather Mackey
5:34
Heather Mackey: 
Question for you all - would you describe it as steampunk??
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:34 Heather Mackey
5:34
lisa von drasek: 
I see that the story would be a great start for science related discussions.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:34 lisa von drasek
5:35
lisa von drasek: 
Heather, I assumed that all of the science in the novel is fact based, yes?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:35 lisa von drasek
5:35
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
Back to the editor telling you it didn't have a story -- you sure bounced back from that -- wish someone had told that to the author of THE NIGHT CIRCUS -- all atmosphere and no plot!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:35 Melissa
5:35
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, I hope so! I think there are a lot of ways to talk about science from it
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:35 Heather Mackey
5:36
Heather Mackey: 
I have to admit Lisa, I did make up some ghost physics!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:36 Heather Mackey
5:36
lisa von drasek: 
Can you give an example of some of the research that informed the plot?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:36 lisa von drasek
5:37
lisa von drasek: 
You also created an imaginary American Indian people. Can you say something about that?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:37 lisa von drasek
5:37
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
I don't think I'd really call it Steampunk. Ir's just the trendy term of the moment.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:37 Kathy C.
5:38
Heather Mackey: 
Oh boy... I researched geography of Pacific Northwest. Read a LOT about timber, timber industry, meaning of trees. GREAT book called The Golden Spruce about a culturally important tree - true story. Made up my own scientific names. Researched energy studies.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:38 Heather Mackey
5:40
lisa von drasek: 

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed 2006
by John Vaillant

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:40 lisa von drasek
5:41
Heather Mackey: 
So Lisa, I could not imagine this time or region without reference to indigenous peoples/culture. And I grew up surrounded by several American Indian cultures. Next door to the Tohono O'odham Nation. Always been interested in the idea of what would US look like if there had been a different outcome to the "Indian Wars" of late 19th C. Especially relating to coastal peoples, who didn't retain large territory
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:41 Heather Mackey
5:42
 Nora - EarlyWord
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:42 
5:43
lisa von drasek: 
I was thinking about how Lucy grows in her own emotional life and judgement. Was this part of your plan from when you started writing this novel?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:43 lisa von drasek
5:43
lisa von drasek: 
thanks Nora
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:43 lisa von drasek
5:43
Heather Mackey: 
Dispossession of the American Indian by Janet McDonnell interesting here. And of course Howard Zinn. Empire of the SummerMoon by SC Gwynne. Not necessarily kids books, but hopefully something to think about. What if you had to pay tolls to cross Indian lands. Or what if Am Indians controlled NW timber?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:43 Heather Mackey
5:45
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, I do credit Ari Lewin my editor with such great advice re: Lucy's emotional growth. If that's there it's because she pushed me to it
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:45 Heather Mackey
5:45
[Comment From Michelle K.Michelle K.: ] 
Tell me more about the research! Did you find any great libraries (and librarians)?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:45 Michelle K.
5:46
Heather Mackey: 
Michelle, I used some of my own books, which I've been collecting as well as online sources. As you can probably tell from this chat I've got way more material than made it into the book!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:46 Heather Mackey
5:47
lisa von drasek: 
huh. which brings me to ask....will there be another book set in this world?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:47 lisa von drasek
5:47
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, no plans at the moment. Though I'm happy to imagine that Lucy gets off the train and onto another fabulous story!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:47 Heather Mackey
5:49
lisa von drasek: 
We are in the final few minutes... Peanut gallery...last call!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:49 lisa von drasek
5:49
lisa von drasek: 
Heather, librarians often want to know if you are available for school or library visits?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:49 lisa von drasek
5:49
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
What are your thoughts on today's technology? Are people too in to their device?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:49 Melissa
5:50
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, so I am doing some school visits - day trips from Berkeley. And am open to skype.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:50 Heather Mackey
5:50
lisa von drasek: 
how would teachers and librarians contact you? Do you have a website?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:50 lisa von drasek
5:51
Heather Mackey: 
Melissa, it's something I struggle with. I personally LOVE gadgets. But I recognize they're addictive and not the best for my concentration, or even my mood. It is harder to read long, or difficult as a result
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:51 Heather Mackey
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
oh so do you have a game or site that you can't pull yourself away from?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek
5:51
Heather Mackey: 
Sure, my website is www.heathermackey.com. I am on Twitter, etc. And there is a contact form there.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:51 Heather Mackey
5:52
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
Do you have online exchanges with kids? What are their concerns about technology?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:52 Melissa
5:52
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, I've gotten stuck on a few things. It's mainly incessantly checking email or social media!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:52 Heather Mackey
5:53
lisa von drasek: 
what is the craziest question that you have gotten about Dreamwood?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:53 lisa von drasek
5:53
Heather Mackey: 
Melissa, I haven't had many online exchanges with kids - website comments, emails. My kids are constantly on Instagram - so until I can take a good selfie, I think I'm hampered there ;)
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:53 Heather Mackey
5:54
[Comment From Peanut GalleryPeanut Gallery: ] 
Would love to know what kinds of questions kids ask.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:54 Peanut Gallery
5:54
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, I have been asked why I didn't just blow off my editor - to me that was crazy!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:54 Heather Mackey
5:55
lisa von drasek: 
who wanted big changes?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 lisa von drasek
5:55
[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ] 
Gotta run, but wanted to thank you SO much for taking my questions! Makes me like the book even more.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 Kathy C.
5:55
Heather Mackey: 
Peanut Gallery, so good to see you ;) My son has asked about more battle
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 Heather Mackey
5:55
Heather Mackey: 
Kathy, thanks so much! Wonderful questions
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 Heather Mackey
5:56
Heather Mackey: 
Lisa, yes. When I would tell people what was going on, I'd often here that.
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:56 Heather Mackey
5:56
lisa von drasek: 
Heather, here is a chance for a final word. Is there anything you want to share that we haven't touched on yet?
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:56 lisa von drasek
5:58
[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ] 
Love the bit about blowing off the editor! you're both great -- thanks so much!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Melissa
5:58
Heather Mackey: 
Hmm... I do want to say I've been touched by kids' astute readings. I was joking with someone about how I wrote a book with a "bad" tree. And this girl said, "that tree is more complicated than that"
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Heather Mackey
5:58
Heather Mackey: 
Thanks Melissa, appreciate all your questions!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Heather Mackey
5:58
[Comment From Peanut GalleryPeanut Gallery: ] 
LOVE that!
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Peanut Gallery
5:59
Heather Mackey: 
Peanut Gallery, isn't that great! I could have hugged her
Thursday September 11, 2014 5:59 Heather Mackey
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks, Heather and Lisa for a fun discussion.

And thanks to the Penguin Young Readers program members for joining us today.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
6:00
[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ] 
Bye and thanks!
Thursday September 11, 2014 6:00 Linda P.
6:00
Heather Mackey: 
Thanks all of you!
Thursday September 11, 2014 6:00 Heather Mackey
6:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Our next chat, is with Kristin Levine, author of Paper Cowboy.

If you’re not part of the program, you can sign up here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

Thursday September 11, 2014 6:00 Nora - EarlyWord
6:01
lisa von drasek: 
Thank you everyone. Looking forward to the next one.

Thursday September 11, 2014 6:01 lisa von drasek
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on LIVE CHAT – Heather Mackey and Lisa Von Drasek

Live Chat with Debut Author
Julie Lawson Timmer

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with Julie Lawson Timmer, FIVE DAYS LEFT
 Live Chat with Julie Lawson Timmer, FIVE DAYS LEFT(09/10/2014) 
3:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Julie Lawson Timmer, author of FIVE DAYS LEFT in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 3:47 Nora - EarlyWord
3:49
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book, just published by Amy Einhorn Books (a division of Penguin/Putnam) yesterday.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 3:49 Nora - EarlyWord
3:49
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday September 10, 2014 3:49 
3:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Julie a special video for First Flights participants:
Wednesday September 10, 2014 3:50 Nora - EarlyWord
3:50
Nora - EarlyWordNora - EarlyWord
Wednesday September 10, 2014 3:50 
3:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see chat some participants gathering!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 3:54 Nora - EarlyWord
3:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Julie before the end of the chat.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 3:54 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Julie has joined us -- say hi to the group, Julie.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:01
Julie Timmer: 
Hi everyone! Thrilled to be here.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:01 Julie Timmer
4:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
If any of you out there want to say hi, now's the time. Otherwise, i'll just start asking questions.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:01 Nora - EarlyWord
4:01
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
Hi Julie!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:01 Dominique
4:01
Julie Timmer: 
Hi Dominique!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:01 Julie Timmer
4:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Julie, your novel is about a woman named Mara, who has Huntington’s disease (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). She is planning to spare her family the devastation of having to deal with her slow decline by committing suicide. That’s her five days left.

In addition, there is another character, Scott, who has his own five-day countdown. She and Scott are connected through an online forum. What made you decide to include that character?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:02 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
[Comment From LilyLily: ] 
Hi Julie! Loved the book.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:02 Lily
4:03
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Hi, Julie. Hi, Nora.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:03 Guest
4:03
Julie Timmer: 
Just a note - Lou Gehrigs is ALS
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:03 Julie Timmer
4:03
Julie Timmer: 
Hi Lily! Thanks!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:03 Julie Timmer
4:03
Julie Timmer: 
I added Scott because I wanted Mara to have an online community ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:03 Julie Timmer
4:04
Julie Timmer: 
... and when I conceived of the online group, Scott's character sort of "appeared" to me and I loved him.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:04 Julie Timmer
4:04
[Comment From RebeccaRebecca: ] 
I am the "guest" who said hi.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:04 Rebecca
4:04
[Comment From MishyFishMishyFish: ] 
Hi from a fellow Michignite (NOT gander)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:04 MishyFish
4:04
Julie Timmer: 
Hi Rebecca!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:04 Julie Timmer
4:04
Julie Timmer: 
Hi Mishy!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:04 Julie Timmer
4:05
Julie Timmer: 
Michignite is a good name. Sounds powerful. :)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:05 Julie Timmer
4:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Tell us more about you're wanting to develop an online community for our character.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:05 Nora - EarlyWord
4:05
Julie Timmer: 
I'm actually a member of an online group myself ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:05 Julie Timmer
4:05
Julie Timmer: 
And have been for several years.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:05 Julie Timmer
4:05
Julie Timmer: 
And it's really amazing how we consider each other to be "friends" although we haven't met or exchanged names ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:05 Julie Timmer
4:06
Julie Timmer: 
I am so intrigued by online relationships, and wanted to explore that in a book...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:06 Julie Timmer
4:06
Julie Timmer: 
... and an online group is a good place to HIDE that you have HD.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:06 Julie Timmer
4:06
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
do you use this group for therapy as well as to vent about life in general?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:06 Dominique
4:06
Julie Timmer: 
Not really therapy -- more venting, trading work/family balance tips, etc
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:06 Julie Timmer
4:07
Julie Timmer: 
Yesterday we discussed (in our group) car buying, housing and racial profiling.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:07 Julie Timmer
4:07
Julie Timmer: 
We get off topic a lot!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:07 Julie Timmer
4:08
Julie Timmer: 
It's intriguing to me that some of us in the online group might be presenting a different "self" than exists IRL (in real life).
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:08 Julie Timmer
4:08
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here's a question we got in advance:

You said your character is a tribute to your friend who died of cancer and that she handled it with immense grace. One of the things I loved about Mara’s character was that she didn’t handle her disease with grace. She felt very human and believable.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:08 Nora - EarlyWord
4:08
Julie Timmer: 
Thanks for the comment about liking Mara ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:08 Julie Timmer
4:08
Julie Timmer: 
I didn't want her to be too peaceful about her fate ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:08 Julie Timmer
4:09
Julie Timmer: 
... because I sure wouldn't be, if that were my fate. I'd be livid.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:09 Julie Timmer
4:09
[Comment From TracyTracy: ] 
Julie and I emailed a few weeks ago (Hi Julie!) about Laurie, Scott's wife. She was pretty strong in her feelings about not adopting Little Man, only to change her mind later. I'd come to respect her decision, and I worried for their marriage if she did it just to please him! Julie, do you mind sharing some of what you told me about why she did that? I found her an extremely interesting character.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:09 Tracy
4:09
Julie Timmer: 
Hi Tracy!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:09 Julie Timmer
4:10
Julie Timmer: 
I thought Laurie would never feel truly peaceful, knowing Scott was so miserable ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:10 Julie Timmer
4:10
Julie Timmer: 
I'm a stepmom and often make decisions that I feel are best for my husband and his kids, even if I have to catch up emotionally later ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:10 Julie Timmer
4:10
Julie Timmer: 
In my head, I know I should agree to what he wants. I thought Laurie would have the same feelings ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:10 Julie Timmer
4:11
Julie Timmer: 
... about wanting her husband to be happy, and feel complete, even if she would have to catch up emotionally later. Sometimes we do this for ppl we love.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:11 Julie Timmer
4:11
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
did you initially mean for scott and mara to only meet online or for them to become friends in real life?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:11 Dominique
4:12
Julie Timmer: 
Dominique - in an early draft, they did meet online ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:12 Julie Timmer
4:12
Julie Timmer: 
But Amy (my editor) believed--and I agreed--that the reality of online groups is that most of the members don't meet ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:12 Julie Timmer
4:12
Julie Timmer: 
... and that it would paint a more realistic picture if they never met, and Scott couldn't locate her later
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:12 Julie Timmer
4:13
Julie Timmer: 
In my online group, members drop off sometimes and we have no idea why
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:13 Julie Timmer
4:13
[Comment From Rebecca (Narrator)Rebecca (Narrator): ] 
(Just in case any more Rebeccas show up.)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:13 Rebecca (Narrator)
4:13
Julie Timmer: 
Hi Rebecca! LOVED your reading of the book!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:13 Julie Timmer
4:13
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
that makes sense. thank you! if they did meet makes it more realistic!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:13 Dominique
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hi Rebecca -- you probably know the book as well as anyone does!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:14
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Hi Julie-I can't decide: was Mara brave & noble hiding from her husband how progressive her disease had become & making the decision to end her life on her own or was it a selfish decision that wasn't hers alone to make?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:14 Jennifer W.
4:14
[Comment From Rebecca (Narrator)Rebecca (Narrator): ] 
Thanks, Julie! That means a lot. I hoped I got the tone. (I just went with how I felt it.)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:14 Rebecca (Narrator)
4:14
Julie Timmer: 
Jennifer W - such a great question. Not sure there's an answer!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:14 Julie Timmer
4:14
Julie Timmer: 
Rebecca - you and Kirby both nailed it. Sooooo good.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:14 Julie Timmer
4:15
Julie Timmer: 
Rebecca - I particularly liked how you did Neerja. I loved her even more after hearing you read.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:15 Julie Timmer
4:15
[Comment From Rebecca (Narrator)Rebecca (Narrator): ] 
Narrators do have an intense relationship with the books we do, Nora. And Julie, I can't wait to hear it. Kirby is one of my favorites and always so hooked in.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:15 Rebecca (Narrator)
4:15
[Comment From Kirby (The Narrator that is not Rebecca)Kirby (The Narrator that is not Rebecca): ] 
Thanks, Julie.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:15 Kirby (The Narrator that is not Rebecca)
4:15
Julie Timmer: 
Kirby - so glad you're here!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:15 Julie Timmer
4:15
[Comment From Rebecca (Narrator)Rebecca (Narrator): ] 
I love Neerja, too!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:15 Rebecca (Narrator)
4:15
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You touched on the editing process earlier. What was that like? Did you go back and forth often? Did the book change substantially?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:15 Nora - EarlyWord
4:16
Julie Timmer: 
Editing: I sold the book on a Tuesday night ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:16 Julie Timmer
4:16
Julie Timmer: 
... and by Thurs AM, I had a 7-page, single spaced letter from Amy re: changes!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:16 Julie Timmer
4:16
Julie Timmer: 
The general plot didn't change but I added characters, etc.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:16 Julie Timmer
4:16
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Wow! And some people say editors don't really edit anymore!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:16 Nora - EarlyWord
4:17
Julie Timmer: 
I've heard Amy Einhorn is "the last real editor in NYC." Not sure if she's the last, but she definitely edits!!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:17 Julie Timmer
4:17
Julie Timmer: 
Kirby - I want to say how much I loved how you read. Thanks so much to both of you. Terrific!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:17 Julie Timmer
4:17
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Did you know her reputation in advance?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:17 Nora - EarlyWord
4:18
Julie Timmer: 
I did know Amy's rep in advance and was thrilled when she was interested in the book.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:18 Julie Timmer
4:18
Julie Timmer: 
For weeks after it sold, my husband and I would shriek, "AMY EINHORN!" at each other at random times.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:18 Julie Timmer
4:18
[Comment From KirbyKirby: ] 
Thanks. Was it hard to accept editing suggestions? Do you have to let part of your ego go?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:18 Kirby
4:18
Julie Timmer: 
Kirby - as a lawyer, I've had my writing ripped to shreds for 2 decades!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:18 Julie Timmer
4:19
[Comment From MishyFishMishyFish: ] 
What made you want to write a novel?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:19 MishyFish
4:19
Julie Timmer: 
So for me, it wasn't hard to hear when something didn't work. I've been hearing that for years.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:19 Julie Timmer
4:19
Julie Timmer: 
Mishy - I've always wanted to write a novel ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:19 Julie Timmer
4:19
Julie Timmer: 
... and decided I didn't want to look back one day and regret that I'd never tried it.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:19 Julie Timmer
4:20
Julie Timmer: 
So I made a promise to myself that I'd have a draft done by my next birthday, 3 mos away.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:20 Julie Timmer
4:20
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did you go about starting the novel? Did you join a writing group?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:20 Nora - EarlyWord
4:20
Julie Timmer: 
On the way to my bday dinner w/ my family, we stopped at Kinko's to print off the draft.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:20 Julie Timmer
4:20
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - no writing group for me ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:20 Julie Timmer
4:20
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
Wow! That's incredibe.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:20 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:20
Julie Timmer: 
I wrote FDL from 4-6am each morning
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:20 Julie Timmer
4:21
Julie Timmer: 
... and no one else is up at that time!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:21 Julie Timmer
4:21
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did you go about finding an agent (and, did you know that needed to be the first step?)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:21 Nora - EarlyWord
4:21
Julie Timmer: 
Agent finding: lots of queries. LOTS. As in, over 100.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:21 Julie Timmer
4:22
Julie Timmer: 
I used a great site called Query Tracker that lists agents
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:22 Julie Timmer
4:22
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Sounds like the lesson is not to give up!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:22 Nora - EarlyWord
4:22
[Comment From KirbyKirby: ] 
How were you able to tap into Scott so well? You really captured the feelings and insecurities of a young husband/father. And I know you are niether.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:22 Kirby
4:22
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - yes! I thought the lesson to my kids would be that I tried, and failed, but failed graciously. No bitterness, no blaming others ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:22 Julie Timmer
4:22
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
This is incredibly inspiring.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:22 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:22
Julie Timmer: 
When I finally got an agent, I couldn't believe it.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:22 Julie Timmer
4:23
Julie Timmer: 
Thanks Rebecca Who Is Not Kirby!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:23 Julie Timmer
4:23
Nora - EarlyWord: 
There's so many important issues to discuss in your book. One I am particularly fascinated with is that kids have a stronger bond to their biological parents.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:23 Nora - EarlyWord
4:23
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - yes. This is a tough one for me b/c I'm a mom and a stepmom ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:23 Julie Timmer
4:23
Julie Timmer: 
I'm not an adoptive mom and I realize there's a difference...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:23 Julie Timmer
4:24
Julie Timmer: 
I'm not sure if I agree w/ Mara's assessment ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:24 Julie Timmer
4:24
Julie Timmer: 
... but I think she was rationalizing, as she needed to do.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:24 Julie Timmer
4:24
Julie Timmer: 
Kirby - the launch party was last night ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:24 Julie Timmer
4:25
Julie Timmer: 
... and the biggest laugh was when I told them that when you came across ;) in the book, you said, "Winking smiling face." They loved that!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:25 Julie Timmer
4:25
Julie Timmer: 
So you have many fans in Ann Arbor!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:25 Julie Timmer
4:25
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
In the end, Little Man ending up with Scott and Laurie is a counterpoint to that idea, yes?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:25 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:25
Julie Timmer: 
Rebecca - yes, it sure is.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:25 Julie Timmer
4:25
[Comment From KirbyKirby: ] 
;)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:25 Kirby
4:25
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
Kirby's good for a laugh, even in absentia.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:25 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:26
Julie Timmer: 
Haha.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:26 Julie Timmer
4:26
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Did writing the novel help you deal with the death of your friend?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:26 Nora - EarlyWord
4:26
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - you know what? It did NOT...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:26 Julie Timmer
4:26
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I suspected that!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:26 Nora - EarlyWord
4:26
Julie Timmer: 
I am just as enraged as I was back then. About her, and about another friend who, at the same time, was diagnosed w/ ALS.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:26 Julie Timmer
4:27
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did you go about picking HD as the disease for your character?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:27 Nora - EarlyWord
4:27
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - b/c of those friends of mine, I didn't want to write about cancer or ALS ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:27 Julie Timmer
4:28
Julie Timmer: 
... so I Googled something stupid like, "Incurable, fatal diseases that aren't cancer or ALS." And got an answer: HD. Which I knew nothing about.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:28 Julie Timmer
4:28
[Comment From TracyTracy: ] 
I'm curious about the choice for Mara and her family to be Indian. Was there a deliberate message there, or just an interest in a diverse protagonist and family.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:28 Tracy
4:28
Julie Timmer: 
Tracy - it's weird, but when I started writing notes about Mara, she just appeared to me as Indian ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:28 Julie Timmer
4:29
Julie Timmer: 
... and I saw her being adopted from there, and going over to adopt her own baby ....
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:29 Julie Timmer
4:29
Julie Timmer: 
I couldn't have changed her culture if I'd wanted to.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:29 Julie Timmer
4:29
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Did anything about Scott or Mara surprise you?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:29 Jennifer W.
4:29
Julie Timmer: 
Jennifer W - interesting question! ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:29 Julie Timmer
4:29
Julie Timmer: 
I guess Mara's being Indian surprised me, now that I think of it. It just happened.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:29 Julie Timmer
4:30
Julie Timmer: 
And Scott appeared as a middle school teacher, which was surprising I think. I thought at first he'd be a lawyer.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:30 Julie Timmer
4:30
Julie Timmer: 
But I guess he had more sense than that. Winking smiling face.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:30 Julie Timmer
4:31
[Comment From KirbyKirby: ] 
haha!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:31 Kirby
4:31
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The book has sold into several other countries. Did you pop a champagne cork for each (hope you had caviar when you heard about the Russian).
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:31 Nora - EarlyWord
4:31
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - no, but I should have!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:31 Julie Timmer
4:31
Julie Timmer: 
It's not too late, I guess.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:31 Julie Timmer
4:32
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'm fascinated by different cover treatments. the U.K. cove is quite different (coming up) ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:32 Nora - EarlyWord
4:32
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - true about different covers.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:32 Julie Timmer
4:32
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:32 
4:32
Julie Timmer: 
In the UK, they love those "call out phrases" - here, it's "Is it enough time to say goodbye?"
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:32 Julie Timmer
4:32
Julie Timmer: 
All the books have those, and authors have little say.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:32 Julie Timmer
4:33
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Makes it a bit more sentimental.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:33 Nora - EarlyWord
4:33
Julie Timmer: 
But I like that UK cover. Love little Lakshmi.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:33 Julie Timmer
4:33
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - yes, but I feel bad for Scott!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:33 Julie Timmer
4:33
Nora - EarlyWord: 
What does the blue ribbon on the U.S. cover symbolize?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:33 Nora - EarlyWord
4:34
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
the UK cover is so moving!!!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:34 Dominique
4:34
Julie Timmer: 
HD has a blue ribbon
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:34 Julie Timmer
4:34
Julie Timmer: 
I like it too, Dominique!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:34 Julie Timmer
4:34
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Speaking of the U.K. cover -- you and your family were featured in the Daily Mail!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:34 Nora - EarlyWord
4:34
Julie Timmer: 
US cover - I see the blue ribbon as an artistic rendering of a DNA coil. Fitting, since HD is a stutter in DNA.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:34 Julie Timmer
4:34
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - that was a fun thing for the kids, to see themselves in the paper.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:34 Julie Timmer
4:35
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Gives you creed as a celebrity!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:35 Nora - EarlyWord
4:35
Julie Timmer: 
Ha, Nora - not sure about that!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:35 Julie Timmer
4:35
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see that the Penguin Field reps picked it – what does that mean?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:35 Nora - EarlyWord
4:35
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - what an honor to have the field reps pick it!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:35 Julie Timmer
4:36
Julie Timmer: 
It means it'll get some nice placement in stores.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:36 Julie Timmer
4:36
[Comment From Reads Books for a LivingReads Books for a Living: ] 
I read that Daily Mail piece -- I thought you gave great step parenting advice!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:36 Reads Books for a Living
4:37
Julie Timmer: 
Reads Books - thank you!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:37 Julie Timmer
4:37
Julie Timmer: 
We have made plenty of mistakes, too
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:37 Julie Timmer
4:37
Julie Timmer: 
But hopefully more good decisions than bad.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:37 Julie Timmer
4:37
Julie Timmer: 
Maybe the kids will write an article one day ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:37 Julie Timmer
4:38
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I want to go back to Kirby's comment about how you created the relationship between Curtis & Scott. Love how you incorporated sports; made it seem very real.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:38 Nora - EarlyWord
4:39
Julie Timmer: 
Thanks, Nora. I live with some bleed-maize-and-blue Michigan fans ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:39 Julie Timmer
4:39
Julie Timmer: 
... and they had PLENTY to say about those sections of the book!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:39 Julie Timmer
4:39
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I know the type!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:39 Nora - EarlyWord
4:39
Julie Timmer: 
Talking about my husband and son here.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:39 Julie Timmer
4:39
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Did you share the book with your family as you wrote it?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:39 Nora - EarlyWord
4:39
Julie Timmer: 
I actually had a friend's husband try to convince me to send Bray to Michigan State instead of MIchigan ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:39 Julie Timmer
4:40
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - I did not.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:40 Julie Timmer
4:40
Julie Timmer: 
My poor husband - I'd ask him all these questions about the characters and the plot but wouldn't let him read it.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:40 Julie Timmer
4:41
Nora - EarlyWord: 
What strength of character!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:41 Nora - EarlyWord
4:41
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
Have you practiced family law? Is that part of your connection to the foster/guardianship story?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:41 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:41
Julie Timmer: 
When I was finished, I had him read it, but not while I was writing
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:41 Julie Timmer
4:41
Julie Timmer: 
We call my husband The Plot Doctor b/c he's so good at advising about character motivation, plot, etc
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:41 Julie Timmer
4:41
Julie Timmer: 
... whether he's read the book or not.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:41 Julie Timmer
4:42
[Comment From Reads Books for a LivingReads Books for a Living: ] 
How does it feel to read reviews of the book?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:42 Reads Books for a Living
4:42
Julie Timmer: 
Reads Books - it's been so nice to see some of the reviews.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:42 Julie Timmer
4:43
Julie Timmer: 
But I avoid many -- not sure I want to hear ALL of the opinions at this point ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:43 Julie Timmer
4:43
Julie Timmer: 
Some of them can be snarky.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:43 Julie Timmer
4:43
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Rebecca -- my apologies -- I tried to post your last comment, but it disappeared. Please try it again.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:43 Nora - EarlyWord
4:43
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You mentioned in your bio that you are at work on another book. Guess you really have the writing bug!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:43 Nora - EarlyWord
4:43
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - I appear to!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:43 Julie Timmer
4:44
Julie Timmer: 
But 4am isn't as attractive anymore!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:44 Julie Timmer
4:44
Julie Timmer: 
I'm trying to figure out how to write at more "normal" times.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:44 Julie Timmer
4:44
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
Have you practiced family law? Is that your connection to the guardianship story?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:44 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:44
Julie Timmer: 
I want to say that in our family, we talk about Rebecca and Kirby as though they're family members. We are big fans!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:44 Julie Timmer
4:45
Julie Timmer: 
Rebecca - no, I was a litigator and am now in house, so a lot of contracts etc
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:45 Julie Timmer
4:45
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
Blushy smiley face.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:45 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I like how you incorporated today's technology into the book. Many of the authors in this program set their books in an earlier period because they wanted to avoid that – thinking it’s difficult to create tension when someone can just Google something, or get an instant response to an email.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Julie Timmer: 
I had to call some family lawyer pals for advice on those sections
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:45 Julie Timmer
4:45
Julie Timmer: 
Rebecca - ha!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:45 Julie Timmer
4:45
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - tech is such a part of my life ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:45 Julie Timmer
4:46
Julie Timmer: 
I text my kids, I communicate w/ my husband via Outlook calendar, we are all on FB and Twitter etc
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:46 Julie Timmer
4:46
[Comment From KirbyKirby: ] 
What an honor!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:46 Kirby
4:47
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - couldn't imagine my life w/o tech, and since I write contemporary stories, I can't avoid it (and don't want to).
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:47 Julie Timmer
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Since we've heard so much about the audio, you can listen to a sample here -- http://www.booksontape.com/...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:47
Julie Timmer: 
Oh, yes -- listen to Rebecca and Kirby!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:47 Julie Timmer
4:48
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Are you now using social media to promote the book (I mean, besides here)?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:48 Nora - EarlyWord
4:48
Julie Timmer: 
Like Neerja (who I love more now b/c of Rebecca), I love Scott more now b/c of Kirby.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:48 Julie Timmer
4:48
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - I'm not much into promoting my book...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:48 Julie Timmer
4:49
Julie Timmer: 
... but I chat w/ ppl on Twitter, etc and have made great friends that way ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:49 Julie Timmer
4:49
Julie Timmer: 
... I leave the selling up to my publisher though ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:49 Julie Timmer
4:49
Julie Timmer: 
I get a little cringe-y thinking about the "Buy my book!" tweets. Can't do it.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:49 Julie Timmer
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We should tell people, however, that you are willing to talk with reading groups via SKYPE.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:51
Julie Timmer: 
Oh, absolutely, Nora. Love talking to people, just not yelling at them via Twitter. :)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:51 Julie Timmer
4:51
Julie Timmer: 
I'd be thrilled to chat to book groups via Skype or phone.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:51 Julie Timmer
4:51
Julie Timmer: 
And ppl can contact me via my website to line that up. www.julielawsontimmer.com
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:51 Julie Timmer
4:52
[Comment From Boston LibrarianBoston Librarian: ] 
Are you doing any touring for the book?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:52 Boston Librarian
4:52
Julie Timmer: 
Boston - a little ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:52 Julie Timmer
4:52
Julie Timmer: 
My editor doesn't "tour" debut authors but ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:52 Julie Timmer
4:52
Julie Timmer: 
... if bookstores or other groups request, my publisher will send me
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:52 Julie Timmer
4:53
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did it feel to say good bye to your characters? Was that difficult?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:53 Nora - EarlyWord
4:53
Julie Timmer: 
... I'm going to a few more stores in Michigan (maybe about 5) and one in LA
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:53 Julie Timmer
4:53
Julie Timmer: 
Nora - yes, it was tough to stop thinking about Scott and Mara all the time. And Tom and Harry.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:53 Julie Timmer
4:53
[Comment From MishyFishMishyFish: ] 
Michigan has some great indies. Which ones will you be going to?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:53 MishyFish
4:53
Julie Timmer: 
Also, initially, flightpath, who's a minor character, was going to be bigger ...
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:53 Julie Timmer
4:54
Julie Timmer: 
Mishy - Nicola's last night; Literati; Saturn; Horizon. Hopefully more. Love indies.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:54 Julie Timmer
4:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 
And don't forget Bray -- loved that guy!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:54 Nora - EarlyWord
4:54
Julie Timmer: 
I really did love Bray.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:54 Julie Timmer
4:54
Julie Timmer: 
Such a great guy.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:54 Julie Timmer
4:54
Julie Timmer: 
Another character Kirby totally brought to life.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:54 Julie Timmer
4:54
[Comment From MishyFishMishyFish: ] 
Hope to catch you at one of those stores!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:54 MishyFish
4:54
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
Perhaps we can all meet in person in LA?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:54 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:55
Julie Timmer: 
Mishy - would love it!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:55 Julie Timmer
4:55
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Was it a hard to resist the impulse to write Mara's daughter into the last scene, maybe finding, reading or reacting the letter and just leave it as a letter left behind?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:55 Jennifer W.
4:55
Julie Timmer: 
Rebecca - would love to! 9/18
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:55 Julie Timmer
4:55
Julie Timmer: 
Jen W - I didn't think about that. Guess I knew it'd be too tough on such a young girl.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:55 Julie Timmer
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
So sorry to say, our time is almost over. Any final questions for Julie?
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
4:56
Julie Timmer: 
Thanks sooooo much for having me!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:56 Julie Timmer
4:56
Julie Timmer: 
So nice to chat with all of you today.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:56 Julie Timmer
4:57
Julie Timmer: 
(will still answer - just wanted to get that in while I could)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Julie Timmer
4:57
[Comment From KirbyKirby: ] 
Great job! I look forward to many more great books from you!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Kirby
4:57
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Thanks for taking out the time to answer our questions; thanks as always, Nora, for hosting. Best of luck with the book, Julie.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Jennifer W.
4:57
Julie Timmer: 
Kirby - thanks! I'll write 'em and you two read 'em!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Julie Timmer
4:57
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
thank you for such an amazing book, Julie!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Dominique
4:57
Julie Timmer: 
Thanks for the great questions, and for taking the time to chat w/ me.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Julie Timmer
4:57
[Comment From Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby): ] 
Yes! Looking forward to what comes next, and congratulations on this one! I'll try to make it on 9/18. :)
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Rebecca (The Narrator that is not Kirby)
4:57
[Comment From LilyLily: ] 
This is a great book for book groups. So much to discuss!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:57 Lily
4:58
Julie Timmer: 
Thanks Lily!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:58 Julie Timmer
4:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
By the way, Julie, Dominique has told everyone in the known universe that they have to read your book.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:58 Nora - EarlyWord
4:58
Julie Timmer: 
Reb - the event is 9/19, actually. Sorry.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:58 Julie Timmer
4:58
Julie Timmer: 
Dominique is THE marketing guru
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:58 Julie Timmer
4:58
Julie Timmer: 
She's awesome
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:58 Julie Timmer
4:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
That's it for today's chat. Thanks, everyone, for joining. And thanks, especially to you, Julie.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:59 Nora - EarlyWord
4:59
Julie Timmer: 
Thanks Nora, and everyone else!
Wednesday September 10, 2014 4:59 Julie Timmer
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
First Flights members -- our next book is Unbecoming by Rebecca Scherm. You will be getting it shortly.

And if you are not a member, you can sign up on EarlyWord.
Wednesday September 10, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Live Chat with Debut Author
Julie Lawson Timmer

LIVE CHAT TODAY – With Tracy Holczer

Wednesday, August 6th, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with Tracy Holczer, THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY
 Live Chat with Tracy Holczer, THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY(08/06/2014) 
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Tracy Holczar in about 15 minutes
Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of The Secret Hum of a Daisy, published
May 1 by Penguin/ Putnam …
Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:46 
4:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 

The Secret Hum of a Daisy received some pretty great prepub reviews --

School Library Journal Starred Review: "The undercurrent theme of loss is balanced well with humor and an authentic protagonist. More than simply a book about grief and the death of a parent, Grace’s story is about the search for identity. An essential purchase for middle-grade collections."

Booklist: "Readers who appreciate the quiet confidence and maturity of Cynthia Rylant's, Patricia MacLachlan's, and Katherine Paterson's protagonists will find a new author to enjoy."

Kirkus Reviews: "Grace's surprising discoveries about herself, her family, and her friends, and her struggles with sorrow and forgiveness, are engrossing."

Publishers Weekly Starred Review: "A lovely and captivating debut...nuanced characters engage from beginning to end."

Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I see chat participants gathering. Welcome!

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Tracy before the end of the chat.

Don’t worry about typos – we’ll make them too!

Wednesday August 6, 2014 4:55 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

As moderator today, sitting in for Lisa Von Drasek, is JoAnn Jonas.

JoAnn is the Youth Literature Specialist Librarian, book reviewer for Shelf Awareness and SLJ, former San Diego County Library Youth Materials Specialist, and Librarian at The New York Public Library - Central Children's Room


Say hi, JoAnn!

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Oh, no -- just got word from BOTH Tracy and JoAnn that their internet connections are giving them trouble.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
JoAnn Jonas: 
Hi Everyone
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 JoAnn Jonas
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Phew!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
JoAnn Jonas: 
So glad to be here today...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:01 JoAnn Jonas
5:02
JoAnn Jonas: 

We are going to have a wonderful chat...



Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:02 JoAnn Jonas
5:02
JoAnn Jonas: 

We are waiting for some technical issues to clear up...



Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:02 JoAnn Jonas
5:03
JoAnn Jonas: 
So please hang in there with us for a minute!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:03 JoAnn Jonas
5:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Tracy is with us now -- say hi to everyone!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:04 Nora - EarlyWord
5:04
Tracy Holczer: 
Hello everyone!! I'm so excited to be here!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:04 Tracy Holczer
5:05
JoAnn Jonas: 
Where are people out there from today? I am here in Las Cruces NM.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:05 JoAnn Jonas
5:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I accidentally cut off the librarian from St. Charles -- please say hi again!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:05 Nora - EarlyWord
5:06
Tracy Holczer: 
I am usually from Los Angeles - but I'm up in the Northern California mountains visiting my mom. I'm in Grass Valley, where the book is set!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:06 Tracy Holczer
5:06
JoAnn Jonas: 
How wonderful is that?!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:06 JoAnn Jonas
5:06
Tracy Holczer: 
Full circle.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:06 Tracy Holczer
5:07
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
I suspected that you knew the area well!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 School librarian
5:07
[Comment From ShanaeShanae: ] 
Hello
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Shanae
5:07
[Comment From MD LibrarianMD Librarian: ] 
Looking forward to the chat. Loved the book.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 MD Librarian
5:07
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Granger, IN
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Guest
5:07
[Comment From Sue D.Sue D.: ] 
I am in St. Charles, MO. Born in Albuquerque though
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Sue D.
5:07
[Comment From ShanaeShanae: ] 
Hi
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Shanae
5:07
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Grass Valley is real?? Did you live there?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:07 Guest
5:08
Tracy Holczer: 
Thank you, MD!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:08 Tracy Holczer
5:08
Tracy Holczer: 
Guest - Grass Valley is indeed real! But I played a bit with the geography and town size. I'll see if I can dig up a picture.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:08 Tracy Holczer
5:08
JoAnn Jonas: 
Yes indeed...a perfect intro to the book Tracy--do you want to tell us about the inspiration for THE SECRET HUM?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:08 JoAnn Jonas
5:09
Tracy Holczer: 
So many inspirations! Loss as a kid...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:09 Tracy Holczer
5:09
Tracy Holczer: 
Art and books helped me through so much.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:09 Tracy Holczer
5:10
Tracy Holczer: 
At some later point, I explained the whole shebang here...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:10 Tracy Holczer
5:10
Tracy Holczer: 
http://nerdybookclub.wordpr...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:10 Tracy Holczer
5:11
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, thanks for the link...can you tell us how you came up withif the title
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:11 JoAnn Jonas
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
"The Secret Hum of a Daisy" is a line from a poem in the book. It just fit the story so well. But I went through about three titles before that.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
JoAnn Jonas: 
Can you share the others?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 JoAnn Jonas
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
Runaway Grace
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
Junkyard Birds
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
Tracy Holczer: 
Some Kind of Normal
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 Tracy Holczer
5:12
JoAnn Jonas: 
Good, but HUM OF DAISY"S is best
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:12 JoAnn Jonas
5:13
Tracy Holczer: 
:)
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:13 Tracy Holczer
5:13
JoAnn Jonas: 

SSO tell us some writer's who have influenced you Tracy!



Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:13 JoAnn Jonas
5:13
Tracy Holczer: 
So many. For adult, I love Harper Lee, Steinbeck and Stephen King. Barbara Kingsolver. For children it’s Sharon Creech, Katherine Paterson, Cynthia Rylant.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:13 Tracy Holczer
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
I know, Stephen King!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
I just love dystopian and fell in love with The Stand when I was a teen.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:14
JoAnn Jonas: 
who is one of your favorite characters in a kid's book
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 JoAnn Jonas
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
The Great Gilly Hopkins.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:14
Tracy Holczer: 
Hands down.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:14 Tracy Holczer
5:15
Tracy Holczer: 
Gilly was inspiration for HUM...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:15 Tracy Holczer
5:15
Tracy Holczer: 
I wondered what would have happened if Gilly came to Grandma before she found Trotter.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:15 Tracy Holczer
5:15
JoAnn Jonas: 
Ah yes, Katherine Paterson's writing is such an inspiration!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:15 JoAnn Jonas
5:16
JoAnn Jonas: 
So what inspired this story Tracy?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 JoAnn Jonas
5:16
Tracy Holczer: 
Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons as well.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 Tracy Holczer
5:16
Tracy Holczer: 
I had a statue when I was a kid...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 Tracy Holczer
5:16
Tracy Holczer: 
I thought it was magic...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:16 Tracy Holczer
5:17
Tracy Holczer: 
It absorbed all my loss and I thought it was watching over me...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:17 Tracy Holczer
5:17
Tracy Holczer: 
So I brought it to school for show and tell...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:17 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
wrapped in several layers of newspaper. There was a girl, Darlene, who thought it was really dumb. So I told her it was magic...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
She said, "Prove it."
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
I lifted it above my head - and...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:18
Tracy Holczer: 
You see where this is going...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:18 Tracy Holczer
5:19
Tracy Holczer: 
I threw it down and it shattered. And so did I.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 Tracy Holczer
5:19
JoAnn Jonas: 
Wow...what a story, so then what?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 JoAnn Jonas
5:19
Tracy Holczer: 
I wrote Grace's story as a salve. Mostly to my eight-year old self.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 Tracy Holczer
5:19
JoAnn Jonas: 
Beautiful. You use poetry throught the story. Can you talk about that?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:19 JoAnn Jonas
5:20
Tracy Holczer: 
I love Robert Frost...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 Tracy Holczer
5:20
Tracy Holczer: 
I was the kid in class who never really understood "theme"
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 Tracy Holczer
5:20
[Comment From MishyFishMishyFish: ] 
The kids were so real. How were you able to channel your childhood so well?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 MishyFish
5:20
Tracy Holczer: 
I always thought stories were about so many different things! I could never pick just one.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:20 Tracy Holczer
5:21
JoAnn Jonas: 
Did you always want to be a writer?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:21 JoAnn Jonas
5:21
Tracy Holczer: 
Frost was accessible. I understood him.

Mishyfish - I am really close to those memories and feelings of being a kid. I can tap into them.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:21 Tracy Holczer
5:22
Tracy Holczer: 
JoAnn - I didn't! I thought writing was too hard.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 Tracy Holczer
5:22
JoAnn Jonas: 
Amazing!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 JoAnn Jonas
5:22
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
Why do birds mean so much to you?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 Reads for a Living
5:22
[Comment From StacyStacy: ] 
I'm wondering if you've ever seen bird sculptures like the ones that Grace's mother made? Have you tried to make one yourself?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:22 Stacy
5:23
Tracy Holczer: 
Reads for a Living - birds are just so...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:23 Tracy Holczer
5:23
Tracy Holczer: 
I don't know...heavenly? I just love them.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:23 Tracy Holczer
5:23
Tracy Holczer: 
Stacy - I am very artistically challenged...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:23 Tracy Holczer
5:24
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, have you been surprised by the positive response to the Book? Starred reviews in PW and SLJ?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:24 JoAnn Jonas
5:24
Tracy Holczer: 
I saw one of the birds on a blog one day and just shrieked, "It's Mama's birds!!"
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:24 Tracy Holczer
5:24
JoAnn Jonas: 

and this Good Reads review:

Goodreads Reviews…

My heart is full from reading this beautifully crafted story of loss, friendship, family, and finding your way when the world seems to have been turned upside down. The plot captures you from the very first line, the characters envelop your heart, and the setting makes you feel like you've found home. When I reached the last page, I returned to the start, not wanting to say goodbye to Grace. Beautiful from beginning to end... The "secret hum" of this lyrical prose will stay with me for a long time.

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:24 JoAnn Jonas
5:25
Tracy Holczer: 
Sniff.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 Tracy Holczer
5:25
 Tracy Holczer
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 
5:25
Tracy Holczer: 
I hope the image shows up!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 Tracy Holczer
5:25
JoAnn Jonas: 
LOVE THIS...saw it on your web site!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:25 JoAnn Jonas
5:26
Tracy Holczer: 
I have been so pleasantly surprised by the support of the book...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 Tracy Holczer
5:26
Tracy Holczer: 
I have been worried that adults might think it was too sad for kids...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 Tracy Holczer
5:26
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
It was interesting that you made it so the characters couldn't email each other. Why did you do that?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 School librarian
5:26
Tracy Holczer: 
School Librarian - that is a great question...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:26 Tracy Holczer
5:27
Tracy Holczer: 
I just wanted there to be old fashioned letters...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:27 Tracy Holczer
5:27
Tracy Holczer: 
plus this area is so uneven in terms of where you can get an internet connection that it made sense.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:27 Tracy Holczer
5:27
Tracy Holczer: 
forget cell phones - we can't really use them here.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:27 Tracy Holczer
5:28
Tracy Holczer: 
Plus I felt that Grace needed to be isolated.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:28 Tracy Holczer
5:28
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, can you talk a bit about the characters? THey are so rich...

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:28 JoAnn Jonas
5:29
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Excellent point -- loved the letters. it did add an old-fashioned element, without putting the story in a different era.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 School librarian
5:29
Tracy Holczer: 
I have to know every character inside and out before I can really get them onto the page in a scene.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 Tracy Holczer
5:29
Tracy Holczer: 
Thanks School Librarian! I was worried. I'm glad you felt it worked.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 Tracy Holczer
5:29
Tracy Holczer: 
They have to be real people to me or they don't whisper in my ear :)
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:29 Tracy Holczer
5:30
Tracy Holczer: 
Plus I have three kids, so I've been surrounded by kid-ness.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:30 Tracy Holczer
5:30
JoAnn Jonas: 
Love that...they really do engage us from the start, and keep us so involved right to the last page
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:30 JoAnn Jonas
5:31
Tracy Holczer: 
Hooray!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 Tracy Holczer
5:31
JoAnn Jonas: 
SO Tracy I know Lisa always asks, do you have a pet?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 JoAnn Jonas
5:31
Tracy Holczer: 
I do!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 Tracy Holczer
5:31
JoAnn Jonas: 
And she likes pictures, if you have one!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:31 JoAnn Jonas
5:32
Tracy Holczer: 
I found a silly one. It's downloading.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:32 Tracy Holczer
5:32
Tracy Holczer: 
It takes a minute...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:32 Tracy Holczer
5:32
JoAnn Jonas: 
Chatters, you have had some great questions...any others you would like to ask Tracy?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:32 JoAnn Jonas
5:33
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, how hard was it getting your debut book published?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:33 JoAnn Jonas
5:33
Tracy Holczer: 
I was lucky to have a relatively smooth ride...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:33 Tracy Holczer
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
I queried agents in late December and had a deal in May.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
Sorry - dog pic isn't loading :(
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
For two books!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
JoAnn Jonas: 
And was it for several books? I know you have another coming out in 2016
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 JoAnn Jonas
5:34
Tracy Holczer: 
My second book is due to my publisher next month.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 Tracy Holczer
5:34
JoAnn Jonas: 
What can you tell us about that?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:34 JoAnn Jonas
5:35
Tracy Holczer: 
It's the story about a girl named Samantha Rossi...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:35 Tracy Holczer
5:35
Tracy Holczer: 
She's eleven and her dad has come home from Vietnam changed...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:35 Tracy Holczer
5:36
Tracy Holczer: 
So she turns to her science books to see if she can reverse evolution.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Tracy Holczer
5:36
Tracy Holczer: 
She's Italian American, so I'm leaning heavily on my childhood again.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Tracy Holczer
5:36
JoAnn Jonas: 
Sounds like an interesting one! I look forward to it already!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 JoAnn Jonas
5:36
[Comment From MD librarianMD librarian: ] 
Why did you choose to write this in the first person?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 MD librarian
5:36
Tracy Holczer: 
She's a pistol.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Tracy Holczer
5:36
[Comment From DaynaDayna: ] 
I'd love to know more about the beautiful cover artwork. Who designed it? Did you go through many versions before choosing this design?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:36 Dayna
5:37
Tracy Holczer: 
MD - I tried third, but it just didn't work...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:37 Tracy Holczer
5:37
Tracy Holczer: 
I needed to be in her skin.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:37 Tracy Holczer
5:37
[Comment From Sue D.Sue D.: ] 
So do any of the characters want to have a sequel? Is someone still talking?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:37 Sue D.
5:38
Tracy Holczer: 
Maybe because I needed to be in my own skin.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:38 Tracy Holczer
5:38
[Comment From StacyStacy: ] 
Have you ever imagined a movie? Do you have a dream cast?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:38 Stacy
5:38
JoAnn Jonas: 
I wondered this too Tracy...do you see this as a movie?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:38 JoAnn Jonas
5:39
Tracy Holczer: 
Dayna - the cover was done by Annie Ericcson and it was the third cover.

Due - Max may have a companion story...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:39 Tracy Holczer
5:39
Tracy Holczer: 
I'm a very visual writer. I have to SEE everything so I'd love to see I as a movie!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:39 Tracy Holczer
5:40
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy--here is a question that we touched on...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 JoAnn Jonas
5:40
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Did you always want to write novels? I have a feeling you are also interested in the visual arts and poetry, of course.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 School librarian
5:40
Tracy Holczer: 
I am a terrible artist, sadly. I like to paint with words.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 Tracy Holczer
5:40
Tracy Holczer: 
But I do love poetry.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 Tracy Holczer
5:40
JoAnn Jonas: 
Have you written much poetry?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:40 JoAnn Jonas
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
Sometimes I think it's a bit too fancy, though.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
This book was my first attempt at poetry...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:41
JoAnn Jonas: 
It really was a strong element in this story...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 JoAnn Jonas
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
Other than the sad poems I wrote as a teen.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:41
Tracy Holczer: 
Does a teen write any other kind??
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:41 Tracy Holczer
5:42
Tracy Holczer: 
My agent suggested the poetry...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:42 Tracy Holczer
5:42
Tracy Holczer: 
as a stronger connection to the father she never knew.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:42 Tracy Holczer
5:43
Tracy Holczer: 
She said, "write more in the vein of Robert Frost"...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:43 Tracy Holczer
5:43
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tell us more about about the relationships between Grace and herfather
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:43 JoAnn Jonas
5:43
Tracy Holczer: 
And I said, HAHAHA! Them's pretty big boots to fill.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:43 Tracy Holczer
5:44
Tracy Holczer: 
I feel like now that she's in Auburn Valley with Grandma, she'll be able to think more about her dad and who he was...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 Tracy Holczer
5:44
Tracy Holczer: 
I see her having dinners with Margery and going for walks and looking through his things.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 Tracy Holczer
5:44
JoAnn Jonas: 
Agreed, Tracy Robertt Frost icasts a big shadow...ha!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 JoAnn Jonas
5:44
Tracy Holczer: 
But he wasn't clear to her before the story.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:44 Tracy Holczer
5:45
JoAnn Jonas: 
Do you have a favorite character in the book Tracy?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:45 JoAnn Jonas
5:46
Tracy Holczer: 
I don't know - that's like picking a favorite child! You love them differently for different reasons...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:46 Tracy Holczer
5:47
Tracy Holczer: 
I love Grandma's cleverly disguised toughness. And Grace is such a fighter.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Tracy Holczer
5:47
[Comment From Boston Blue StockingBoston Blue Stocking: ] 
What made you want to become an author?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Boston Blue Stocking
5:47
Tracy Holczer: 
I really have come to love writing...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Tracy Holczer
5:47
Tracy Holczer: 
Then next step seemed to be writing a novel.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:47 Tracy Holczer
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
I did a post here: http://www.unleashingreader...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
That explains it a bit better.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:48
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, can I post the link to your web site too...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 JoAnn Jonas
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
Sure!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:48
Tracy Holczer: 
It's not on the website yet, but I do free Skype visits for classes who have read the book and want to discuss.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:48 Tracy Holczer
5:49
Tracy Holczer: 
And there's a great teacher's guide on there, too.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 Tracy Holczer
5:49
JoAnn Jonas: 

Tracy's webiste is:

http://tracyholczer.com

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 JoAnn Jonas
5:49
Tracy Holczer: 
I should say this, too...
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 Tracy Holczer
5:49
Tracy Holczer: 
I am a reader and a writer because of librarians.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:49 Tracy Holczer
5:50
JoAnn Jonas: 
So Tracy have you visited many schools or libraries yet? To promote the book
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:50 JoAnn Jonas
5:50
Tracy Holczer: 
We moved across the street from the Cupertino Public Library when I was twelve.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:50 Tracy Holczer
5:50
Tracy Holczer: 
I've visited a couple of schools, but no libraries yet. I'm still getting my act together!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:50 Tracy Holczer
5:51
JoAnn Jonas: 
I know we always ask, do you Skype?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:51 JoAnn Jonas
5:51
Tracy Holczer: 
Yes!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:51 Tracy Holczer
5:51
JoAnn Jonas: 
Great, can you let us know how to contact you for a school or library visit, or to Skype?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:51 JoAnn Jonas
5:52
Tracy Holczer: 
tholczer@earthlink.net
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 Tracy Holczer
5:52
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Are you willing to speak to library groups? How about SKYPE?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 School librarian
5:52
JoAnn Jonas: 
Just ten minutes left, so get your final questions in. Some of your questions overlapped, so we didn't post them all, but we think we got most of them addressed. Let us know if you have a burning question that wasn't addressed!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 JoAnn Jonas
5:52
Tracy Holczer: 
Any time, School Librarian! I look forward to this very much.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:52 Tracy Holczer
5:53
[Comment From MD librarianMD librarian: ] 
Gorgeous library -- it would inspire anyone.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:53 MD librarian
5:53
[Comment From Boston Blue StockingBoston Blue Stocking: ] 
Are you worried about the movie that is being made of Gilly Hopkins?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:53 Boston Blue Stocking
5:54
Tracy Holczer: 
Well, I'm worried kids will see the movie instead of read the book.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:54 Tracy Holczer
5:54
JoAnn Jonas: 
There are so many book - movie tie ins now, I hope it increases interest in the books!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:54 JoAnn Jonas
5:55
Tracy Holczer: 
It's hard to get that kind of feeling onto the screen, I think.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 Tracy Holczer
5:55
Tracy Holczer: 
Sometimes. Sometimes it works beautifully.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 Tracy Holczer
5:55
JoAnn Jonas: 
And with Gilly Hopkins being a favorite we have our own images in our heads..
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 JoAnn Jonas
5:55
[Comment From StacyStacy: ] 
Oooo, The Great Gilly Hopkins is the first book I bought with my own money when I was 11!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:55 Stacy
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
I read that book to each of my daughters, so it's special to me.

Yay, Stacy!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
I bought a book called Nantucket Summer.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
Weirdly, my parents weren't supportive of reading.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:56
JoAnn Jonas: 
Tracy, are there any last things you would like to share with the chatters today?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 JoAnn Jonas
5:56
Tracy Holczer: 
They thought I was already too shy.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:56 Tracy Holczer
5:57
Tracy Holczer: 
I just want to thank everyone for spending their Wednesday evening with me!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:57 Tracy Holczer
5:57
JoAnn Jonas: 
So wonderful to have you with us Tracy....
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:57 JoAnn Jonas
5:57
Tracy Holczer: 
And thank you for all you do for kids. I don't know where I'd be without the certain teachers and librarians I had in my life.
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:57 Tracy Holczer
5:58
JoAnn Jonas: 
We look forward to seeing a lot more great books coming from you!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 JoAnn Jonas
5:58
Tracy Holczer: 
Thanks for having me, JoAnn! I look forward to writing more books!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 Tracy Holczer
5:58
JoAnn Jonas: 
And thank you so much for giving us more insight into Secret Hum of a Daisy!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 JoAnn Jonas
5:58
Tracy Holczer: 
:)
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:58 Tracy Holczer
5:59
JoAnn Jonas: 
Any other comments from our Chatters?
Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:59 JoAnn Jonas
5:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks, Tracy and JoAnn for a fascinating discussion.

And thanks to the Penguin Young Readers program members for joining us today.

Our next chat, is with Heather Mackey, author of Dreamwod, a fantasy adventure for fans of Philip Pullman. More here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

If you’re not part of the program, you can sign up here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

Wednesday August 6, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord
6:00
Tracy Holczer: 
Thanks, everyone!
Wednesday August 6, 2014 6:00 Tracy Holczer
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on LIVE CHAT TODAY – With Tracy Holczer

Live Chat with Debut Author
Siobhan Adcock

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with Siobhan Adcock, THE BARTER
 Live Chat with Siobhan Adcock, THE BARTER(07/30/2014) 
3:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Siobhan Adcock, author of The Barter in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:46 Nora - EarlyWord
3:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book…

Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:47 Nora - EarlyWord
3:47
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:47 
3:47
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Siobhan recorded an introductory video that gives a good overview of the book.

Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:47 Nora - EarlyWord
3:48
Nora - EarlyWordNora - EarlyWord
Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:48 
3:55
[Comment From Michy FishMichy Fish: ] 
Can I ask a question now?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:55 Michy Fish
3:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll try to submit them in an orderly fashion (!) to Siobhan before the end of the chat. Don’t worry about typos – and please forgive ours.

Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:55 Nora - EarlyWord
3:59
Siobhan Adcock: 
Hi there! I'm an EarlyWord earlybird I think...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:59 Siobhan Adcock
3:59
Nora - EarlyWord: 
No problem at all -- better early than late!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:59 Nora - EarlyWord
3:59
Siobhan Adcock: 
I wish I could say I'm always this on time...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 3:59 Siobhan Adcock
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see some folks gathering -- say hi to Siobhan everyone.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
Hi Siobhan! Loved your book!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:00 Dominique
4:00
[Comment From Michy FishMichy Fish: ] 
Hi Siobhan -- Love your book.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:00 Michy Fish
4:00
[Comment From S.S.: ] 
Hi
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:00 S.
4:01
Siobhan Adcock: 
Dominique, Michy Fish, thank you so much! And thanks to all of you for being here too.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:01 Siobhan Adcock
4:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

We received some questions in advance – here is one that seems to be a good place to start :

This is billed as a ghost story, which I have to admit, put me off. But when I got in to it, I realized that there’s so much more to it, about how women struggle over work and family, how husbands and wives relate. How do you describe it?

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:01 Nora - EarlyWord
4:01
Siobhan Adcock: 
This is such a good question...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:01 Siobhan Adcock
4:02
Siobhan Adcock: 
To whoever wrote it, thanks for sticking with me! It's my hope that women and readers in general will find something to relate to in the book whether they believe in ghosts or not...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:02 Siobhan Adcock
4:02
Siobhan Adcock: 
I've been working on my "one-sentence" elevator pitch—and for a lot of writers I think that feels sort of like stuffing an elephant into a hatbox...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:02 Siobhan Adcock
4:02
Siobhan Adcock: 
But I usually describe it as a ghost story and a love story, set in historical and contemporary Texas, about marriage and motherhood and work.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:02 Siobhan Adcock
4:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I like what you said in the video about it being a combo of Stephen King and Lean In!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:03 Nora - EarlyWord
4:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 

How did you come up with the idea of the ghost?

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:04 Nora - EarlyWord
4:04
Siobhan Adcock: 
Ha! Yes, that came from a friend of mine and I admit I've been using that line pretty shamelessly.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:04 Siobhan Adcock
4:05
Siobhan Adcock: 
This is kind of a long answer, but ...There's an Alice Munro short story (in Friends of My Youth) in which a character is described as being willing to give up an hour of her child's life for something she really wants. (Spoiler alert: it's related to an affair she's having.) I first read that story more than ten years ago, but ever since then the idea has been percolating: What kind of woman is that? What kind of choice is that?...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:05 Siobhan Adcock
4:05
Siobhan Adcock: 
I ended up writing two stories about that question, Bridget's and Rebecca's, and the ghost came out of, I guess, how spooky that question seems to me, how full of loss and regret in the way of the classic old-school ghost story. The ghost was also what helped me see a way to tie those two women's stories together...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:05 Siobhan Adcock
4:05
Siobhan Adcock: 
I wanted to write something scary—an old-fashioned ghost story—that people could actually see themselves in, and that might move them emotionally even while it scared their pants off.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:05 Siobhan Adcock
4:06
Nora - EarlyWord: 

So the idea of two womens stories came first, with the ghost as a way to connect them?

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:06 Nora - EarlyWord
4:06
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yes, the ghost came in later, through a side door
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:06 Siobhan Adcock
4:07
Siobhan Adcock: 
I was trying to figure out how to connect these two stories and one night it just kind of hit me, why not try it as a ghost story.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:07 Siobhan Adcock
4:07
[Comment From Boston LibBoston Lib: ] 
BTW, that ghost WAS scary. Something about it not talking.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:07 Boston Lib
4:08
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yeah, those faceless voiceless ghosts are the scariest! Thanks Boston Lib
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:08 Siobhan Adcock
4:08
[Comment From S.S.: ] 
What was your inspiration
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:08 S.
4:08
Siobhan Adcock: 
S., it was really that line in that Alice Munro story that just stuck in my head for years, believe it or not...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:08 Siobhan Adcock
4:09
Siobhan Adcock: 
And as a full-time working mother, the choices that mothers face now (and have always faced) started to take on a new urgency for me once my daughter was born. I wanted to write about a mother faced with some of those choices and more terrible ones besides.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:09 Siobhan Adcock
4:10
[Comment From Boston LibBoston Lib: ] 
Which is why this is such a great reading group book -- so much to discuss!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:10 Boston Lib
4:10
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Let's talk about those two women -- the chapters altyernate between them, both living in the same area, near Austin, TX, but at different periods of time.

I was fascinated by the specifics of daily life at the turn of the century (I heard that the term “blue Monday” refers to the drudgery of doing laundry on Mondays – you make that real!) How did you research daily life?

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:10 Nora - EarlyWord
4:10
Siobhan Adcock: 
Thanks so much! I really hope so. Both the main characters face choices that I hope will resonate with other working women and mothers, and this is probably where the more compelling talking points are to be found. I'm thinking in particular of the recent story in the New York Times about how the "opt-out generation wants back in"— and the resulting flood of pieces, online and in print, weighing in for and against. The characters in this book participate in that highly-charged cultural conversation about women, motherhood, and work, and how a woman's identity is valued.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:10 Siobhan Adcock
4:11
Siobhan Adcock: 
Nora, thanks for that question about the daily life aspect of the historical sections--I was so fascinated by that when I was researching!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:11 Siobhan Adcock
4:12
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did you do the research? So much written history is about events, but not about daily life.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:12 Nora - EarlyWord
4:12
Siobhan Adcock: 
I researched the (many! amazing! history-altering!) changes taking place in American homes around the turn of the last century; and I read a lot of personal writings by women farmers in different parts of the country.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:12 Siobhan Adcock
4:13
Siobhan Adcock: 
I REALLY recommend Never Done: A History of American Housework by Susan Strasser—a great read. And I discovered a midwestern writer named Rachel Peden who wrote some wonderful, graceful books about life on a farm.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:13 Siobhan Adcock
4:13
Siobhan Adcock: 
And anyone who wants to chat about Texas land grants in the 1850s or how and when plumbing and electricity were rolled out to middle class Americans, I'm your gal. Ha.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:13 Siobhan Adcock
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did you get access to the personal writings -- I assume diaries and letters?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:15
Siobhan Adcock: 
There is a wonderful series published by the University of Indiana press that presents the oral histories of women and homemakers in the early twentieth century--I'll see if I can find a link.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:15 Siobhan Adcock
4:16
Siobhan Adcock: 
And there are also some really super-detailed historical documents that open up a window into that era, when the technology of the home was rapidly changing. Stoves, water sources, telegraphs and telephones, railroads, electricity, indoor plumbing, all those technologies were in a state of development that really reached a peak around Rebecca's time. I spent a lot of time researching that.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:16 Siobhan Adcock
4:16
[Comment From S.S.: ] 
Are you going to write more books in the future?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:16 S.
4:16
Siobhan Adcock: 
But someone told me that only about 10% of what you research ever makes it into the book, and that certainly felt true to me!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:16 Siobhan Adcock
4:17
Siobhan Adcock: 
S., yes, I'm working on another book now, but so far it's pretty different. No ghosts.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:17 Siobhan Adcock
4:17
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yet.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:17 Siobhan Adcock
4:17
Nora - EarlyWord: 
To me, and I am sure most of this audience, the research is the part that sounds fun -- the writing would be hard!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:17 Nora - EarlyWord
4:18
Siobhan Adcock: 
Oh yeah, I definitely went into a rabbit hole with the research. A very nice cozy comfy rabbit hole that I didn't want to crawl out of...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:18 Siobhan Adcock
4:18
Siobhan Adcock: 
I think you're totally right!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:18 Siobhan Adcock
4:18
[Comment From Kristine HallKristine Hall: ] 
How did you stay focused/get yourself back to the plot with all the interesting research? Were you specific in what you researched? Seems like it would take a lot of discipline to be historically accurate.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:18 Kristine Hall
4:19
Siobhan Adcock: 
I think I was fortunate in that I was researching a couple of really super-specific things: German folkways and culture in Texas, and American home technology at the turn of the century. You look at an achievement like Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel, where she takes in a whole era, and it's a whole other level of discipline
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:19 Siobhan Adcock
4:20
[Comment From Boston LibBoston Lib: ] 
I've heard loneliness was a big issue for farm women at that time. But in the modern time, your character Bridget suffers from her own kind of loneliness.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:20 Boston Lib
4:20
Siobhan Adcock: 
Thanks for that point--I think that loneliness is something a lot of mothers and women who work in the home face, and it's a real thing.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:20 Siobhan Adcock
4:21
Siobhan Adcock: 
Bridget's loneliness has a particularly modern quality too, in that she's connected through her smartphone to her husband and her mother and all her friends, but she still feels utterly isolated
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:21 Siobhan Adcock
4:21
[Comment From Boston LibBoston Lib: ] 
Curious how that carries through to today -- live those similarities between the two women. We think the time periods were SO different.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:21 Boston Lib
4:22
Siobhan Adcock: 
They were, I think you're right...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:22 Siobhan Adcock
4:23
Siobhan Adcock: 
But the early 1900s are an exciting time to write about, because it was a period of huge change in America, and in particular, in the everyday lives of women in America...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:23 Siobhan Adcock
4:23
Siobhan Adcock: 
The technology of the home was making huge strides. Professional and educational opportunities for women were changing, and it was also a period that saw a kind of revolution in the philosophy of rearing children. The parallels between that time and the turn of the twenty-first century inspired me...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:23 Siobhan Adcock
4:24
Nora - EarlyWord: 

That's funny -- we think that all the tech changes are happening today.

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:24 Nora - EarlyWord
4:24
Siobhan Adcock: 
—because right now we're also living in a period in which technology is changing motherhood and everyday life. And right now, the way Americans raise their children is also a subject of intense cultural debate....
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:24 Siobhan Adcock
4:25
Siobhan Adcock: 
And women's expectations for their lives are still being scrutinized under some really old, traditional lenses. Like for instance, why is it even still an issue that some women choose to work?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:25 Siobhan Adcock
4:26
Siobhan Adcock: 
So the parallels for me were in the changes they were both witnessing...and also the way things frustratingly stayed the same, for both of them.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:26 Siobhan Adcock
4:27
[Comment From Boston LibBoston Lib: ] 
As you point out, the issue keeps rearing its head -- with some women today thinking it's revolutionary to choose NOT to work!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:27 Boston Lib
4:27
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Rebecca reads the book Practical Housekeeping — is that a real book? How did you discover it?

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:27 Nora - EarlyWord
4:28
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yes! It's a real book, dating from the post Civil War/Reconstruction era, and it's available as a Google book here if you want quick access to prowl through it, although some special collections, like the Schaumburg library, might have the real thing:

http://books.google.ca/book...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:28 Siobhan Adcock
4:29
Siobhan Adcock: 
(Sorry took me a second to find the link)
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:29 Siobhan Adcock
4:29
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Ha! Was that book a way to keep women in their place, tending the home?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:29 Nora - EarlyWord
4:29
Siobhan Adcock: 
It's packed with all this highly technical, scientific information as well as recipes and etiquette. This was published during a time when some early-feminist writers and thinkers were trying to professionalize women's work, elevating what women did in the home all day long to a science and an art.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:29 Siobhan Adcock
4:30
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Amazing -- so it's the opposite of what one might think.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:30 Nora - EarlyWord
4:30
Siobhan Adcock: 
So I think Practical Housekeeping really sort of tried to do both--making women feel comfortable and competent in their homemaking skills, but also pointing out that it took SKILL
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:30 Siobhan Adcock
4:31
Siobhan Adcock: 
I mean, this book, it's crazy. Harvest times for 50 varieties of garden vegetables. Hundreds of recipes. Super technical information about kitchen ventilation.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:31 Siobhan Adcock
4:31
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Melville Dewey said that women would make good librarians because they were good housekeepers, which I always thought was horribly sexist until I realized that he was actually trying to promote the idea of women as professionals.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:31 Nora - EarlyWord
4:31
Siobhan Adcock: 
The American home was changing into a place where there were all these devices, gadgets, things to learn how to do.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:31 Siobhan Adcock
4:32
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yeah, I think what's perhaps ironic about Rebecca's situation is that she becomes a farm wife, but she's also a businesswoman, all of a sudden. That's the part of her new life that she loves: the responsibility, the new learning.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:32 Siobhan Adcock
4:32
[Comment From Michy FishMichy Fish: ] 
One thing that troubles me, but also seemed very real, was how, in both marriages, the partners, well, particularly the women, tended to say hurtful things to each other.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:32 Michy Fish
4:33
Siobhan Adcock: 
Thanks so much for that point Michy--such a big issue...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:33 Siobhan Adcock
4:33
Siobhan Adcock: 
In my day job I work on a lot of women's community websites, and one of the things I always see is women calling each other selfish--or worse--because of differences in their philosophy about work or raising kids or family size...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:33 Siobhan Adcock
4:34
[Comment From Michy FishMichy Fish: ] 
Ugh -- we can be our own worst enemies!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:34 Michy Fish
4:34
Siobhan Adcock: 
It's the first accusation we seem to level at each other--it's like selfishness is the worst thing you can accuse a woman of, the biggest nuclear bomb you can drop.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:34 Siobhan Adcock
4:35
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Bridget refers to the Grimm stories — did they influence you? Why do you think they have such staying power?

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:35 Nora - EarlyWord
4:35
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yes, Bridget and Rebecca are both kind of in the thrall of these eerie storytellers, and storytelling has a unique power in their lives. Grimms' stories are sort of the original domestic terror stories—patricide, matricide, infanticide, incest, child abuse, violence...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:35 Siobhan Adcock
4:35
Siobhan Adcock: 
The scariest thing I ever read, I think, is Grimms' tale The Juniper Tree, which is just so rich with messed-up scary family dynamics. Because I love sharing it, here's a version that inspired the magician's story toward the end of the Rebecca plotline:

http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/g...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:35 Siobhan Adcock
4:36
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Let's talk about the publishing process. Before THE BARTER, you had already published two nonfiction titles (Hipster Haiku and 30 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do Before Turning 30) and several short stories. You also worked in publishing. Did that make it easier for you to get the novel published?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:36 Nora - EarlyWord
4:37
Siobhan Adcock: 
Those were published a few years back, and since pop-culture/humor titles tend to have a pretty short shelf life, I'm not sure they're in print anymore! I started my career as an editor in book publishing, though, and I did make really valuable personal and professional connections that definitely helped me get this novel published...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:37 Siobhan Adcock
4:37
Siobhan Adcock: 
My agent, Betsy Lerner, was a senior editor at Doubleday when I was a lowly editorial assistant, and when she left to become an agent, there was this goodbye party, and she came over to where all the assistants were clustered in a group, just drinking the free wine as fast as we could, and she said, "I know every single one of you is working on a novel, and when you're finished, you'd better send it to me or else." And years later, I took her up on that. Of course she denies ever having said it. Ha.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:37 Siobhan Adcock
4:38
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Did she like it instantly?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:38 Nora - EarlyWord
4:38
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yes, she did, fortunately for me. She was reading chapters as I went, and three weeks after I finished the first draft she sold it.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:38 Siobhan Adcock
4:39
Siobhan Adcock: 
So she's clearly some kind of super agent ninja from outer space.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:39 Siobhan Adcock
4:39
Nora - EarlyWord: 
That is amazing. Did she help you to shape it? Was the ghost in it when she first saw the ms?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:39 Nora - EarlyWord
4:40
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yes, I think one thing that really characterizes the author-agent relationship now, and a lot of people say this, is that the agent takes such an active role in shaping the ms.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:40 Siobhan Adcock
4:41
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Does that mean the editor has less to do?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:41 Nora - EarlyWord
4:41
Siobhan Adcock: 
Both Betsy and my editor Denise Roy at Dutton were great with giving actionable, tactical, strategic feedback--totally my style! And sorry, to answer your q, the ghost was in there from the beginning...They both encouraged me to make it even scarier.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:41 Siobhan Adcock
4:42
Siobhan Adcock: 
I think the editor has the hardest job...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:42 Siobhan Adcock
4:42
Siobhan Adcock: 
Not just loving the book, but then making a case for buying it, and then making a business plan for helping it succeed, and then building buzz and excitement in house to help it succeed...all while editing, shaping the creative direction for the cover, creating the marketing language...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:42 Siobhan Adcock
4:43
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Great perspective. You don't think about these things going on at once -- she's selling a product that's not fully fleshed yet!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:43 Nora - EarlyWord
4:44
Siobhan Adcock: 
Absolutely--it's really on the editor to be a sort of in-house PR agency for all her titles.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:44 Siobhan Adcock
4:44
[Comment From MD LibMD Lib: ] 
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:44 MD Lib
4:45
Siobhan Adcock: 
I wanted to be a writer from when I was pretty young. I was joking with somebody yesterday that I realized I wanted to be a writer when I realized there was no such thing as a professional band-aid waster.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:45 Siobhan Adcock
4:45
Siobhan Adcock: 
I was the kid in the neighborhood who was always pretending to be a doctor and trying to fix people.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:45 Siobhan Adcock
4:45
[Comment From Bartle B.Bartle B.: ] 
You mentioned having worked in editorial -- do you think that has inflected how you write, as well?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:45 Bartle B.
4:46
Siobhan Adcock: 
Hi Bartle B.--yes, I really think it has...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:46 Siobhan Adcock
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Also, I'd like to add -- Did your experience working on several Web sites (including one of my favorites, Epicurious — one of my favorites) influence your writing?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
Siobhan Adcock: 
Some of the writers I respect most started out as journalists, and many more writers that I love write reviews, criticism, op-ed, humor...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:46 Siobhan Adcock
4:47
Siobhan Adcock: 
And of course many of them are editors, too, working with other writers to help shape their work. And lots of writers teach creative writing, which is much the same thing...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:47 Siobhan Adcock
4:48
Siobhan Adcock: 
Personally I'm not sure I'd recommend to any writer that they ONLY ever write fiction. You've gotta get more stuff coming out of your brain than that, just to keep the stove warm. And anyway it might get boring just writing one kind of thing all the time.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:48 Siobhan Adcock
4:48
Siobhan Adcock: 
But that's just me--I bet there are other amazing fiction writers who are focused and disciplined and all those good things...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:48 Siobhan Adcock
4:48
[Comment From MD LibMD Lib: ] 
What was it about Texas that made you want to set your book there?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:48 MD Lib
4:49
Siobhan Adcock: 
Hi MD Lib. I lived in Texas from when I was in my teens until I went to college, and I first heard about the Germans in Texas when I was in high school, while on a road trip that took me through New Braunfels, one of the historical centers of Germans in the state...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:49 Siobhan Adcock
4:49
Siobhan Adcock: 
The Hill Country is just so unbelievably beautiful, too, what writer wouldn't want to immerse herself in that.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:49 Siobhan Adcock
4:49
[Comment From Prison Lib.Prison Lib.: ] 
Please tell us about teaching creative writing in prisons.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:49 Prison Lib.
4:49
Siobhan Adcock: 
Prison Lib., my "students" in the prison creative writing classes taught me more than I ever taught them.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:49 Siobhan Adcock
4:50
Siobhan Adcock: 
I participated in the Cornell Prison Education program as a graduate student, and I was one of a group of teachers who facilitated a weekly creative writing workshop for men in the maximum security prison at Auburn
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:50 Siobhan Adcock
4:51
[Comment From Prison Lib.Prison Lib.: ] 
Can you elaborate on what they taught you (by the way, I completely agree).
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:51 Prison Lib.
4:51
Siobhan Adcock: 
The classroom environment was incredible. I've never met a more committed group of writers in my life. And most of them were great writers just by any yardstick--that is, not "great prison writers" but "great writers," period.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:51 Siobhan Adcock
4:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Amazingly, we only have ten more minutes with Siobhan -- so get your final questions in.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:51 Nora - EarlyWord
4:52
Siobhan Adcock: 
They taught me to write even when you are scared. Write because you are scared. Write around the scared. Write to the scared.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:52 Siobhan Adcock
4:52
Siobhan Adcock: 
Write to make fear into something like belief in yourself.'
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:52 Siobhan Adcock
4:52
Siobhan Adcock: 
That's not very specific but it's probably the best I can say.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:52 Siobhan Adcock
4:53
Siobhan Adcock: 
And obviously they were much better at that way of writing than me, because they had to be.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:53 Siobhan Adcock
4:53
[Comment From Prison Lib.Prison Lib.: ] 
That's beautiful, thanks.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:53 Prison Lib.
4:53
[Comment From MD librarianMD librarian: ] 
Are you willing to speak at libraries? Can we SKYPE you in to one of our reading groups? How do we contact you?
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:53 MD librarian
4:54
Siobhan Adcock: 
Yeah! I would love to skype with you.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:54 Siobhan Adcock
4:55
Siobhan Adcock: 
I can also do a Google Hangout. My Skype handle is siobhan.adcock73
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:55 Siobhan Adcock
4:56
Siobhan Adcock: 
And please feel free to email me: siobhanadcock@gmail.com
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:56 Siobhan Adcock
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We'll be wrapping up in a few minutes.

Just wanted to remind everyone that THE BARTER is coming will be published on Sept 4 and if you haven't read it, you can request advance digital readers copies on NetGalley and Edelweiss.

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
4:57
Siobhan Adcock: 
This has been amazing. Thanks so much everybody.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:57 Siobhan Adcock
4:57
Siobhan Adcock: 
Oh, I almost forgot. I took a picture of some of the books I read while researching. I just grabbed a handful that were lying around.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:57 Siobhan Adcock
4:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thank you, Siobhan -- so much to think about!


This chat will be archived on the Penguin [Debut Authors page on EarlyWord:

http://penguindebutauthors.earlyword.com/

Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:57 Nora - EarlyWord
4:57
[Comment From Kristine HallKristine Hall: ] 
I cannot wait to read this and am so glad we just had teasers today and no spoilers!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:57 Kristine Hall
4:57
 Siobhan Adcock
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:57 
4:57
Siobhan Adcock: 
In case it's interesting...
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:57 Siobhan Adcock
4:58
Siobhan Adcock: 
Thanks Kristine!!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:58 Siobhan Adcock
4:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Believe me, Kristine, it's hard to do!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:58 Nora - EarlyWord
4:58
[Comment From Bartle B.Bartle B.: ] 
Thank you!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:58 Bartle B.
4:58
 Siobhan Adcock
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:58 
4:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Wow -- German Seed in Texas Soil sounds racy!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:58 Nora - EarlyWord
4:58
Siobhan Adcock: 
HAHAHA
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:58 Siobhan Adcock
4:59
Siobhan Adcock: 
It's a historical romance novel, actually.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:59 Siobhan Adcock
4:59
Siobhan Adcock: 
"She was an innocent cowgirl. He was a dashing German shipping baron. GERMAN SEED IN TEXAS SOIL."
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:59 Siobhan Adcock
4:59
Siobhan Adcock: 
OK I'll stop.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 4:59 Siobhan Adcock
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
By the way, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your use of similes and metaphors -- never cliched, even in the sex scenes (which I recommend).
Wednesday July 30, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Siobhan Adcock: 
Thanks! Those kinds of scenes are really tough to do.
Wednesday July 30, 2014 5:00 Siobhan Adcock
5:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 

It's the witching hour -- time to sign off. Thanks, again, everyone.


The next book in our program is FIVE DAYS LEFT BY Julie Lawson Timmer . If you are not already a member of the Penguin Debut Authors program, you can sign up on the EarlyWord site.

Wednesday July 30, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
Siobhan Adcock: 
Thanks again, it was such a pleasure to be here!
Wednesday July 30, 2014 5:01 Siobhan Adcock
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Live Chat with Debut Author
Siobhan Adcock

LIVE CHAT TODAY – With S. E. Grove and Lisa Von Drasek

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014
Live Blog Live Chat with S. E. Grove, THE GLASS SENTENCE
 Live Chat with S. E. Grove, THE GLASS SENTENCE(07/16/2014) 
4:48
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with S.E. Grove in about 15 minutes
Wednesday July 16, 2014 4:48 Nora - EarlyWord
4:49
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of her book, The Glass Sentence…
Wednesday July 16, 2014 4:49 Nora - EarlyWord
4:49
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday July 16, 2014 4:49 
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Since we announced that the book was part of our program, it’s become a NYT bestseller. Nancy Pearl raved about it on NPR and it’s received critical praise in a number of places.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
A few excerpts from praise in the consumer press:

“It's filled with these fabulous, interesting ideas about the nature of maps, about the nature of time…The Glass Sentence is so wonderful. This author's imagination is just amazing.” – Nancy Pearl on NPR



“Refreshing…refulgent with nervy invention…I am in no doubt about the energy of S.E. Grove as a full-fledged, pathfinding fantasist. I look forward to the next installment to place upon the pile. Intensely.” – Gregory Maguire, The New York Times Book Review

“[A] page-turner…thoughtful, intelligent.” – The Wall Street Journal


“The next children's book you'll be hearing about.” – Christian Science Monitor
Wednesday July 16, 2014 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 

I see chat participants gathering!

We'll begin at the top of the hour.

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can before the end of the chat.

Don’t worry about typos – and please forgive the ones we will inevitably make.

Wednesday July 16, 2014 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Here’s our moderator Lisa Von Drasek.


Say hi, Lisa!

Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:01
lisa von drasek: 
hi, Everyone! Could you chime in say hi to the Sylvia and say where you are from?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:01 lisa von drasek
5:01
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Hi Sylvia! Chiming in from Eastern New Mexico!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:01 Guest
5:01
[Comment From MD LibrarianMD Librarian: ] 
Thanks for doing this! You can see where I'm from!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:01 MD Librarian
5:02
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Hi From Kansas
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:02 School librarian
5:02
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
hi from penguin! this is kathryn from marketing
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:02 Guest
5:02
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
I Love Maps!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:02 Reads for a Living
5:02
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Thanks! Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:02 Deborah Baldwin
5:02
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Hi! I'm from Fircrest, Washington.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:02 Deborah Baldwin
5:03
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
Hi from Penguin also! This is Sylvia's editor, Sharyn November.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:03 sdn
5:03
[Comment From BookWoman, FloridaBookWoman, Florida: ] 
Looking forward to chatting
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:03 BookWoman, Florida
5:04
[Comment From JennaJenna: ] 
Hello from Illinois! I LOVED this book!!!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:04 Jenna
5:04
lisa von drasek: 
Sylvia,

Let's start with the terrific reviews that Nora posted at the top. Gregory Maguire !!! For those who had to look it up REFULGENT shining brightly; radiant; gleaming:

I agree, this book gleams from my pile of new fantasy titles.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:04 lisa von drasek
5:04
SE Grove: 
Thanks, Lisa. And thanks to all of you for joining and for your enthusiasm about the book!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:04 SE Grove
5:05
lisa von drasek: 
Sylvia- say hi and tell us. what was the genesis of the move?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:05 lisa von drasek
5:05
lisa von drasek: 
genesis of this novel...oy
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:05 lisa von drasek
5:05
SE Grove: 
I was wondering… But then I figured it out!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:05 SE Grove
5:05
SE Grove: 
“The Glass Sentence” was largely inspired by my love of history and my wish to travel to other time periods. (Who doesn’t have that wish?!) But I’ve always found the mechanics of time machines scary and forbidding. As best I can remember, the premise of the Great Disruption emerged from the desire to travel to other places without having to use an unreliable time machine!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:05 SE Grove
5:07
lisa von drasek: 
Lets start with Sophie , can you say how you arrived at her character?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:07 lisa von drasek
5:07
SE Grove: 
Sure…
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:07 SE Grove
5:07
SE Grove: 
Sophia is someone I certainly relate to, though I don’t have a broken internal clock. (I think my sense of time is pretty average – not great, not terrible. Sometimes I do lose track of time, mainly while writing!) ...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:07 SE Grove
5:08
SE Grove: 
I relate to her sense of uncertainty about what and whom to trust, I relate to her wish – not always fulfilled – to do the right thing, and I certainly relate to her curiosity about the world. Primarily, though, in writing Sophia I was less focused on channeling myself into the character and more concerned with creating a young person who could realistically inhabit this world…
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:08 SE Grove
5:08
SE Grove: 
Many heroines these days are what I've heard called the “butt-kicking” variety, and while that can be fun, I’m not sure it’s accurate for many times and places. The nineteenth century, even an alternate 19th century, is not one that would very easily cultivate a butt-kicking thirteen-year old girl! I wanted Sophia to be someone who could truly live in this world and who could still be interesting and hopefully likable to present-day readers.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:08 SE Grove
5:09
lisa von drasek: 
and she is being raised by her uncle the cartographer. Her struggles seem relatable and real to me in this fantasy setting
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:09 lisa von drasek
5:09
[Comment From BookWoman, FloridaBookWoman, Florida: ] 
Actually, butt-kicking isn't that relevant to today, either. Few kids are in that position!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:09 BookWoman, Florida
5:10
SE Grove: 
BookWoman, I'm glad to hear you think so! I certainly wasn't a butt-kicker as a 13-year old. (Nor am I now!)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:10 SE Grove
5:10
lisa von drasek: 
I was thinking about all of the details of the time periods, plants and objects. How did you go about the research /
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:10 lisa von drasek
5:11
SE Grove: 
I did a lot of research! This was fun for me...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:11 SE Grove
5:11
SE Grove: 
A lot of it was in libraries! And some of it was reaching into the past - travels I've done in various places...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:11 SE Grove
5:11
SE Grove: 
I was intrigued by all the possibilities and limitations of these new places. Would Boston be able to get coffee? Sugar? How would slavery exist if there were no more colonial powers? And so on.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:11 SE Grove
5:11
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
What got you interested in maps?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:11 Reads for a Living
5:12
SE Grove: 
Reads for a Living, I also love maps!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:12 SE Grove
5:12
SE Grove: 
Obviously...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:12 SE Grove
5:12
SE Grove: 
Maps have always fascinated me, but I think they initially fascinated me as aesthetic objects. In later years, they’ve intrigued me because of how they distort – sometimes unwittingly, sometimes deliberately, the present the world in a particular light. It’s always a skewed light, because maps are interpretive. They make arguments about the world, even when they are attempting to represent it “accurately.”
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:12 SE Grove
5:12
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
I never asked you if you made your own chocolate pottery.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:12 sdn
5:13
SE Grove: 
Ha! I wish. That is on my perhaps-to-do list.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:13 SE Grove
5:13
lisa von drasek: 
Sylvia:
Do you have a map you can share with us?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:13 lisa von drasek
5:14
SE Grove: 
Sure! Here's an interesting one that may back up what I was saying about accuracy and arguments...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:14 SE Grove
5:14
 SE Grove
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:14 
5:14
SE Grove: 
It's an early Christian T-O map.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:14 SE Grove
5:14
SE Grove: 
To us this probably doesn't look "accurate," but at the time this was understood to represent the known world...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:14 SE Grove
5:15
lisa von drasek: 
What is Christian T-O?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:15 lisa von drasek
5:15
SE Grove: 
Asia at the top, Europe on bottom left and Africa the bottom right.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:15 SE Grove
5:15
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
Love that map! Where does it come from?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:15 Reads for a Living
5:15
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
T-O?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:15 sdn
5:15
SE Grove: 
These are called T-O because of the T shape in the middle and the "O" around it...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:15 SE Grove
5:15
SE Grove: 
The T and O are oceans...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:15 SE Grove
5:16
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
So that means T-O maps are so common that they actually have a name?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:16 Reads for a Living
5:16
SE Grove: 
Though to us they don't represent topography "correctly," at the time and place in question (medieval Europe) they were thought to perfectly summarize the state of the world...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:16 SE Grove
5:16
SE Grove: 
Yes, reads for a living! They are very common...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:16 SE Grove
5:16
SE Grove: 
Well, they are a known form - that's probably the better way to put it.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:16 SE Grove
5:17
lisa von drasek: 
Where would someone see a map like that now?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:17 lisa von drasek
5:17
SE Grove: 
Here's a quick link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:17 SE Grove
5:18
lisa von drasek: 
do you have favorite map websites
websites?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:18 lisa von drasek
5:18
SE Grove: 
Lisa, I think most originals are now in museums!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:18 SE Grove
5:18
lisa von drasek: 
should have been reading when I was typing!!!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:18 lisa von drasek
5:18
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
How did you decide on the title of the book?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:18 The Brain Lair
5:18
SE Grove: 
I do! The David Rumsey map collection.http://www.david...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:18 SE Grove
5:18
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
What made you want to write for kids?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:18 School librarian
5:19
SE Grove: 
School Librarian, I really began this book for myself! (You can decide what that says about my inner age…)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:19 SE Grove
5:19
SE Grove: 
What emerged was a book for 10 and up, but really I think I was writing this for the reader I was when I was 11!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:19 SE Grove
5:19
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
But Sylvia, those are the best books!!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:19 sdn
5:19
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Have you always been an avid reader?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:19 The Brain Lair
5:20
SE Grove: 
Thanks, Sharyn! I'm glad you think so. ;)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:20 SE Grove
5:20
lisa von drasek: 
was there an AHA moment book or one that you felt was life changing when you were a kid?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:20 lisa von drasek
5:20
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Do you have any resources, websites you would suggest for kids who find they're interested in maps after reading your book?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:20 Deborah Baldwin
5:20
SE Grove: 
Brain Lair, yes - I have been. It began with picture books. Seduced by the pictures! But it's gone on since then...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:20 SE Grove
5:21
SE Grove: 
Lisa, I think there were several such books. Definitely A Wrinkle in Time and then perhaps the Earthsea trilogy.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:21 SE Grove
5:21
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Do you mean that you started writing it when you were eleven?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:21 School librarian
5:22
lisa von drasek: 
Can you pin point what they had in common that drew you to them?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:22 lisa von drasek
5:22
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
How did you come up with the idea for the different types of maps? Especially love the water map and the tracing glass.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:22 The Brain Lair
5:22
SE Grove: 
Deborah, I think I'd recommend starting with history books rather than cartography books. My sense about cartography is that it's represented in a rather narrow way in many instructional books these days. One marvelous exception is a book called "You are Here" which is perhaps for an older audience but a young reader would certainly get it!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:22 SE Grove
5:22
SE Grove: 
School librarian - No! I started writing it in my 30s… I just mean that I was writing for my inner 11 year old.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:22 SE Grove
5:23
SE Grove: 
Brain Lair, I'm glad you like them! Here again I think I was imagining the way maps were used in other times and places for other purposes - not just for navigation...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:23 SE Grove
5:24
[Comment From BookWomanBookWoman: ] 
You must be aware of how unusual it is to have a best seller right off the bat. How did that happen (and how did you celebrate/)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:24 BookWoman
5:24
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
And please comment on the different ways to read maps! Love that too!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:24 The Brain Lair
5:25
SE Grove: 
Brain Lair, continuing there on the maps, the historian's ultimate wish (at least for me) is to really _know_ the minds of people in the past. I think the memory maps emerged from that wish. I wanted a full immersion!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:25 SE Grove
5:25
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Thank you. I can think of some readers who would find the example map you gave interesting, and want to know more.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:25 Deborah Baldwin
5:25
lisa von drasek: 
There is a strong sense of morality in the Glass Sentence yet you do portray the most cruel character in a human frailty way. How were you able to balance those sometimes opposing thoughts?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:25 lisa von drasek
5:26
SE Grove: 
BookWoman, I am VERY aware of how unusual it is! I really think it is due to the fact that so many people, from within Viking and Penguin to small bookstores in remote places, embraced the book early. I can't think of another explanation because this seems to me a very unlikely (nerdy?!) book...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:26 SE Grove
5:27
[Comment From SusanSusan: ] 
Hi Sylvia. Chiming in from Williamsburg, VA
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:27 Susan
5:27
SE Grove: 
Lisa, the sense of morality is important to me, though I hope the book doesn't come across as moralizing… When I read fiction I am most moved by worlds in which good and evil are not simply or starkly drawn. I feel that ambiguity and contradictory tendencies more accurately reflect the way of the world. In creating the villain, Blanca, I wanted to elaborate the idea that people who do bad things can also do good; they wish for good as much as anyone, and they have suffered as much as anyone (sometimes more). Ultimately, drawing evil too starkly as something unequivocal makes it too easy to brush off.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:27 SE Grove
5:27
lisa von drasek: 
I am often curious about the editorial process. Would you mind sharing about the evolution of the manuscript. Were there any big / significant changes or challenges from the original draft?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:27 lisa von drasek
5:27
SE Grove: 
Welcome, Susan.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:27 SE Grove
5:27
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
I could "feel" the immersion! The details created a very vivid picture.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:27 The Brain Lair
5:27
SE Grove: 
Lisa, oh yes! Were there every big revisions...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:27 SE Grove
5:27
[Comment From BookWomanBookWoman: ] 
We like to think that librarian Nancy Pearl had a lot to do with it becoming a best seller (and all the librarians in this program!)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:27 BookWoman
5:28
SE Grove: 
BookWoman, I have no doubt!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:28 SE Grove
5:28
[Comment From Kathryn @ PenguinKathryn @ Penguin: ] 
how many drafts did you and sharyn go through, do you remember?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:28 Kathryn @ Penguin
5:29
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
I know there were a number before it even got to me!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:29 sdn
5:29
SE Grove: 
The revisions started with my agent. As I said, I really wrote the book for me at the start. Then we went through four revisions with her to make the book something presentable to editors!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:29 SE Grove
5:29
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Please share a little about your writing process. Are you part of a Writers' Group? What kind of support helped most?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:29 Deborah Baldwin
5:29
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Some of the names aren't commonly found in children's lit. How did you come up with them? Especially Shadrack and the Calixta (hope I'm spelling it correctly, going from memory.)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:29 The Brain Lair
5:29
SE Grove: 
Then Sharyn and I worked on it more for… a year?f
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:29 SE Grove
5:30
lisa von drasek: 
the sdn- is Sharon November- editor
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:30 lisa von drasek
5:30
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
At least.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:30 sdn
5:30
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
It was a total immersion process.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:30 sdn
5:31
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
So, the book was revised four times before you even gave it to the editor????
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:31 The Brain Lair
5:31
SE Grove: 
Deborah, I'm not part of a writer's group, but I do share my drafts with readers. And I get all kinds of input. But mostly what helps me is a long time percolating in between rewrites.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:31 SE Grove
5:31
SE Grove: 
Brain lair, yes to the four revisions!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:31 SE Grove
5:31
lisa von drasek: 
do you just "give it to an editor" how did that work?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:31 lisa von drasek
5:32
SE Grove: 
About the names, a few questions up: I researched those, too. I love unusual names! Shadrack is, funnily enough, a family name that I also thought was quirky.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:32 SE Grove
5:33
lisa von drasek: 
In more than one place I read that you are a "world traveler" what was the most unusual place that you have been?

Where do you long to return to and why?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:33 lisa von drasek
5:33
SE Grove: 
Lisa, the process was more complicated and only partly revealed to me. ;) My agent works in mysterious and marvelous ways. But she shared it with many editors. At some point in the process I had a conversation with Sharyn November and we very much connected! It seemed the perfect fit.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:33 SE Grove
5:33
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
That makes me wonder about your name. Why do you use initials?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:33 Reads for a Living
5:33
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
What prompted you to start writing books? Have you always wanted to write?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:33 Deborah Baldwin
5:34
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Do you have a routine or place that helps you create and get into the creativity/writer's flow?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:34 Deborah Baldwin
5:34
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Do you use pen/paper, dictate, computer to write?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:34 Deborah Baldwin
5:34
SE Grove: 
Deborah, I have always wanted to write, and there are many book cadavers in my bottom drawer...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:34 SE Grove
5:35
SE Grove: 
Oh, that kind of process! I use the computer, and I use a fantastic program called Scrivener.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:35 SE Grove
5:35
[Comment From Reads for a LivingReads for a Living: ] 
"Book cadavers" is my new favorite phrase!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:35 Reads for a Living
5:35
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
What will be the series title?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:35 The Brain Lair
5:35
SE Grove: 
haha...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:35 SE Grove
5:36
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Do you make school visits?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:36 Deborah Baldwin
5:36
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
What will happen to the Tracing glass? Will Theo and Sophia go looking for her parents?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:36 The Brain Lair
5:36
SE Grove: 
The horror series set in the world of the Great Disruption… That one might not be a best seller.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:36 SE Grove
5:36
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
YIKES NO
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:36 sdn
5:37
SE Grove: 
Deborah, I haven't made any school visits as yet, but I'm open to it!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:37 SE Grove
5:37
SE Grove: 
Brain Lair, Sophia will definitely go in search of her parents in book 2. But Theo and Sophia have separate story lines in this next book - each pursuing a different kind of search.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:37 SE Grove
5:37
lisa von drasek: 
I'm thinking SKYPE as way to get your feet wet in our world
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:37 lisa von drasek
5:37
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Is this a standalone? Please say no.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:37 The Brain Lair
5:37
[Comment From MD LibrarianMD Librarian: ] 
How can people reach you for school visits?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:37 MD Librarian
5:37
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Is this book part of the Mapmaker's triology?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:37 Deborah Baldwin
5:38
SE Grove: 
It's not a standalone, and it is part of the Mapmakers trilogy!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:38 SE Grove
5:38
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
It is Book One!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:38 sdn
5:39
lisa von drasek: 
thank you Sharon. Sharon, what was the most surprising aspect of this book for you?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:39 lisa von drasek
5:39
SE Grove: 
I think the person to contact (right Sharyn?) is in PYRG publicity.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:39 SE Grove
5:39
[Comment From Kathryn @ PenguinKathryn @ Penguin: ] 
if you want her for school visits, you can email us! pyrgvisits@gmail.com - name the school, timeframe, class or school size and we'll take it from there!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:39 Kathryn @ Penguin
5:39
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Will you be posting any educational resources at your website?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:39 Deborah Baldwin
5:39
SE Grove: 
Perfect! Thanks, Kathryn.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:39 SE Grove
5:39
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
And Lisa -- how coincidental that you mention Skype. We have a Skype in the Classroom program that I was just talking about tday!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:39 sdn
5:40
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Oh! I love the premise! Have you titled it yet?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:40 The Brain Lair
5:40
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
Lisa -- Hard to say! It's so inventive. The images just stayed in my head and wouldn't leave!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:40 sdn
5:40
SE Grove: 
I have, Brain Lair - The Golden Specific!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:40 SE Grove
5:41
lisa von drasek: 
Can we talk about design? Sylvia- how did you feel when you first held the finished book?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:41 lisa von drasek
5:41
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
GS again, hmmmm
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:41 The Brain Lair
5:41
SE Grove: 
Coincidence, Brain Lair!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:41 SE Grove
5:41
SE Grove: 
Lisa, I was amazed!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:41 SE Grove
5:42
SE Grove: 
It's such a beautiful object. It really reminds you of why books are supposed to be on paper! Don't you all think?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:42 SE Grove
5:42
[Comment From School LibrarianSchool Librarian: ] 
Tsdn -- Please tell us more about Skype in the Classroom program -- sounds interesting.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:42 School Librarian
5:42
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Ha! Now you have to have GS for the final book. Also, did you draw the maps that were included?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:42 The Brain Lair
5:42
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
I agree with Sharon. The images are very vivid!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:42 The Brain Lair
5:43
SE Grove: 
The maps were made by the wonderful Dave Stevenson. I had made very sketchy and barely readable maps. He made wonderful maps that seemed drawn by Shadrack Elli!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:43 SE Grove
5:43
lisa von drasek: 
As a librarian, I am looking forward to book talking this one in the fall. Anyone out there have a sentence or two that you would book talk this book with?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:43 lisa von drasek
5:43
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
I love how the maps became more specific so that I could hone in on particular places. Extremely helpful.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:43 The Brain Lair
5:43
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Great collaboration between you and Dave!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:43 Deborah Baldwin
5:43
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
Dave's maps are based upon Sylvia's maps.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:43 sdn
5:44
lisa von drasek: 
Sylvia- do you have one of your maps that you drew to post?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:44 lisa von drasek
5:44
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
There's a link here: https://education.skype.com...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:44 sdn
5:44
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
I love the cover design also. How much say did you have?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:44 The Brain Lair
5:44
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
What's the sentence repeated on the glass map? I would use that as part of my talk.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:44 The Brain Lair
5:44
SE Grove: 
Sure, here's a map!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:44 SE Grove
5:45
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Thanks sdn!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:45 Guest
5:45
[Comment From BookWomanBookWoman: ] 
Did I miss your answer to Lisa's Q about your favorite travel destinations! I love travel, too.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:45 BookWoman
5:45
 SE Grove
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:45 
5:45
lisa von drasek: 
oohhh thanks
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:45 lisa von drasek
5:46
SE Grove: 
You didn't miss my answer, BookWoman, I didn't get to it! One of the most wonderful places I've been is San Pedro de Atacama in the north of Chile - a desert oasis town that is absolutely transporting. Like stepping into another Age!!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:46 SE Grove
5:46
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
How did you come up with the idea of the glass map not only being a map for people but for other maps?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:46 The Brain Lair
5:47
[Comment From BookWomanBookWoman: ] 
Thanks for that -- will have to look in to it!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:47 BookWoman
5:47
SE Grove: 
And someone asked a while back about posting educational materials on my website. That is SUCH a good idea and I feel foolish for not doing it so far. I will! I have about a thousand books I'd like to recommend. (and I often wonder what to post other than about the book… You've given me the answer!)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:47 SE Grove
5:48
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
And map resources!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:48 sdn
5:48
SE Grove: 
Brain Lair, I wish I could remember the moment I thought of that, but I can't! A lot of my favorite ideas occur while in the midst of writing, and then I can never recover the thought process that got me there.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:48 SE Grove
5:48
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
And books you like!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:48 sdn
5:48
lisa von drasek: 
... and recipes...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:48 lisa von drasek
5:48
lisa von drasek: 
...just kidding...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:48 lisa von drasek
5:49
SE Grove: 
Thanks, all. ;) great suggestions. I assumed you meant recipes for chocolate, Lisa! That would be very appropriate.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:49 SE Grove
5:49
lisa von drasek: 
really what's your favorite recipe?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:49 lisa von drasek
5:49
SE Grove: 
I'm part central american (Guatemalan), thus the interest in that part of the world, and I have to say that arroz en leche is what always springs to mind...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:49 SE Grove
5:49
SE Grove: 
rice, milk, sugar, and cinnamon. A kind of runny rice pudding.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:49 SE Grove
5:50
lisa von drasek: 
hmmm. now I am hungry.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:50 lisa von drasek
5:51
SE Grove: 
Someone asked me about cover design. Brain Lair? I had a lot of input once the design group had selected artists. And I love what they came up with! Maybe Sharyn can say more there.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:51 SE Grove
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
My, time has flown as if we had a deficit. We are in the last minutes...any burning questions from the peanut gallery?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek
5:51
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
When will book 2 arrive? What else are you writing?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:51 The Brain Lair
5:51
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
http://www.thenakedscientis...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:51 sdn
5:51
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
This was a difficult cover to do, because we had to come at it from a new angle, something organic, reflecting the book ...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:51 sdn
5:52
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
It looks like a map itself
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:52 The Brain Lair
5:52
SE Grove: 
Book two is being written as we speak! Well… it's being revised. It is supposed to come out the same time next year - June. And it will, right Sharyn? ;)
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:52 SE Grove
5:52
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
We did a few rounds before we got it right. More trial and error than most covers, because of the layering.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:52 sdn
5:52
SE Grove: 
As for what else I'm writing… whew. Book 3? I'm pretty swamped, honestly.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:52 SE Grove
5:53
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Please consider adding a bibliography and biography to your website as well.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:53 Deborah Baldwin
5:53
SE Grove: 
That's a great idea, Deborah. I'll definitely put up a bibliography...
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:53 SE Grove
5:54
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
I have found my students enjoy getting to know the authors. It's fun to find out about their interests and hobbies.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:54 Deborah Baldwin
5:54
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Gah! I wish I had it here with me. Now I want to examine it more! Next book, foldout maps!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:54 The Brain Lair
5:54
[Comment From School librarianSchool librarian: ] 
Yes! I wouldn't have guessed your Guatemalan background.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:54 School librarian
5:54
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
I second Deborah's suggestion!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:54 Guest
5:54
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
I want to see the maps as I'm reading! Sharyn, can you make that happen?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:54 The Brain Lair
5:54
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
And don't forget our website, which we will be updating and adding to: www.theglasssentence.com
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:54 sdn
5:54
SE Grove: 
Yes, I am a little internet shy with personal details. ;) I will try to put up things that are interesting and informative (like travels, etc.) without oversharing!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:54 SE Grove
5:55
lisa von drasek: 
regretfully it is time to say goodbye. Last thoughts, Sylvia?
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:55 lisa von drasek
5:55
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
Brain Lair -- ha!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:55 sdn
5:55
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Oh, the website is cool looking!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:55 The Brain Lair
5:55
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
Sylvia, we will have fun discussing all of this. I have some ideas, too. As for THE GOLDEN SPECIFIC -- Summer 2015!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:55 sdn
5:56
[Comment From Kathryn @ PenguinKathryn @ Penguin: ] 
thank you everyone!!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:56 Kathryn @ Penguin
5:56
[Comment From NM LibrarianNM Librarian: ] 
Thanks for such an interesting and original book. Looking forward to the next in the series!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:56 NM Librarian
5:56
[Comment From Deborah BaldwinDeborah Baldwin: ] 
Thank you!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:56 Deborah Baldwin
5:56
SE Grove: 
Thank you all so much for your invigorating questions and wonderful suggestions! I've really enjoyed the chat!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:56 SE Grove
5:56
[Comment From SusanSusan: ] 
Thanks.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:56 Susan
5:56
[Comment From The Brain LairThe Brain Lair: ] 
Thank you for another awesome chat! Thanks, Sylvia, Lisa and Sharyn too!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:56 The Brain Lair
5:57
[Comment From sdnsdn: ] 
Thank you, everyone. And thanks, Sylvia, for writing this book.
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:57 sdn
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 

Thanks, Lisa and Sylvia for a fascinating discussion. And thanks to all of you for your great questions.

Our next chat, coming up in three weeks, is with Tracy Holczer, author of The Secret Hum of a Daisy. If you’re not part of the program, you can sign up here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
lisa von drasek: 
Thank you Sharon November and Sylvia for giving us insight in what is one of the best novels of the year!
Wednesday July 16, 2014 5:58 lisa von drasek
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on LIVE CHAT TODAY – With S. E. Grove and Lisa Von Drasek

Penguin Debut Authors Live Chat Wednesday, June 18

Wednesday, June 18th, 2014
 Live Chat with Laura Lane McNeal, DOLLBABY(06/18/2014) 
3:48
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Laura Lane McNeal, author of DOLLBABY in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:48 Nora - EarlyWord
3:49
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book …
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:49 Nora - EarlyWord
3:50
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:50 
3:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Good news, we learned last week that DOLLBABY is a LibraryReads pick:

LibraryReads: “In this coming-of-age story set in the Civil Rights era, Ibby is dropped off at the home of her eccentric grandmother in New Orleans after the death of her beloved father. Filled with colorful characters, family secrets and lots of New Orleans tidbits, this book will appeal to fans of Saving Ceecee Honeycutt.” Vicki Nesting, St. Charles Parish Library, Destrehan, LA
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:52 Nora - EarlyWord
3:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Laura recoded a video message for First Flights members.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:52 Nora - EarlyWord
3:52
Nora - EarlyWordNora - EarlyWord
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:52 
3:55
Nora - EarlyWord: 
LIBRARY JOURNAL gave it a starred review, saying,

"...it's hard to believe that it's a debut. A vivid portrayal of post-war New Orleans, lush and evocative in its descriptions, McNeal's unique voice shines through surprising and pleasing the reader. Fans of Pat Conroy and Sue Monk Kidd will enjoy this new Southern talent."
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:55 Nora - EarlyWord
3:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You may also want to explore Laura's interactive map of New Orleans during the time the book is set -
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:57 Nora - EarlyWord
3:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Laura's Interactive Map of New Orleans in 1964
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:57 Nora - EarlyWord
3:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Here's what it looks like:
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:57 Nora - EarlyWord
3:58
 Nora - EarlyWord
Wednesday June 18, 2014 3:58 
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see several chat participants gathering. You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Laura before the end of the chat. Don’t worry about typos – and please forgive ours!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Laura is here, too -- say hello, Laura!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:01
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Hi Nora! So happy to be here with you. I look forward to chatting with everyone and answering their questions. Hello everyone!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:01 Laura Lane McNeal
4:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'll let everyone out there say hello --
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:02 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Hi Laura!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:02 VNesting
4:03
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hey, Vicki -- thanks for joining. You wrote the LibraryReads annotation for Laura's book.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:03 Nora - EarlyWord
4:03
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Hi Vicki! Glad you joined us! Thanl you for all your wonderful comments.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:03 Laura Lane McNeal
4:03
[Comment From Kelly CKelly C: ] 
Hi Laura! New Orleans is such a fabulous setting for a book. A very complicated place to describe, isn't it?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:03 Kelly C
4:03
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Very complicated!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:03 Laura Lane McNeal
4:04
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
HI Laura! it is a pleasure to meet you.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:04 Dominique
4:04
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
So happy to be joining the chat.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:04 bookclubreader
4:04
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Hello Dominique!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:04 Laura Lane McNeal
4:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hey, BookClubReader -- great to see you again.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:04 Nora - EarlyWord
4:04
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
You're welcome, Laura! I'm looking forward to chatting with you about the book.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:04 VNesting
4:04
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
Thanks, Nora.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:04 bookclubreader
4:04
Laura Lane McNeal: 
And welcome bookclubreader!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:04 Laura Lane McNeal
4:05
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
Hi Laura - So enjoyed the book - especially since I recently was in NO for 2 weeks.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:05 Anne
4:05
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Oh great!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:05 Laura Lane McNeal
4:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'd like to start with a question we got in advance...

You’re too young to have grown up during that time in New Orleans, how were you able to create such a feel for the time?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:05 Nora - EarlyWord
4:05
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora, I'm sure that is a question I will be getting a lot...
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:05 Laura Lane McNeal
4:06
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
Such a great story, Laura. Can you tell us what inspired you to write it?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:06 bookclubreader
4:06
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I was a small child in the early 60’s, but I do have some recollection of the time. These memories were added to, or reinforced, by traditional research as well as oral histories from older generations that were able to give me a feel for the different attitudes that existed back then. While I may have been around to witness many of these things, I was to young to understand them. That was the kind of perspective I gave Ibby in the beginning of the novel, a perspective that changes as she grows older and becomes accustomed to the ways of the South.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:06 Laura Lane McNeal
4:07
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I had always wanted to write a novel but one life changing event did it -- Hurricane Katrina! I felt I needed to recapture a time and place, my way of 'saving' memories.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:07 Laura Lane McNeal
4:07
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Did people really talk about the "Holy Trinity" of New Orleans cooking back in the 60s? I thought that expression was contemporary.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:07 VNesting
4:07
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Lord no. That has been around a long time. Frank Davis made it popular recently..
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:07 Laura Lane McNeal
4:08
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
"Holy Trinity" reminds us that everything old is new again :-)
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:08 bookclubreader
4:08
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I heard it from my grandmother's cook.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:08 Laura Lane McNeal
4:08
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
the choice you made about Ibby's mom was painful. i felt like she left Ibby with Fannie because she knew she was dying and to be malicious. Why did you choose to write her this way?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:08 Dominique
4:08
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Exactly right… what goes around
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:08 Laura Lane McNeal
4:09
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Vidrine was complicated. She hated Fannie because she knew Fannie hated her. She didn't knw she was dying when she left Ibby. She was distraught.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:09 Laura Lane McNeal
4:10
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I think she felt Ibby would be better off with Fannie in the long run, given her predicament.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:10 Laura Lane McNeal
4:11
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Did Vidrine intend to come back for Ibby once she mourned her husband?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:11 Jennifer W.
4:11
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
some moms (mine included) understood both sides -my mom said she understood Vidrine's grief, but as a mother, she could not see her abandoning her child.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:11 Dominique
4:12
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Vidrine didn't know what she wanted when she dropped Ibby off. She went off to find herself. Then she found she was ill. She had hard choices to make.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:12 Laura Lane McNeal
4:12
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hey, Dominique, sounds like you did a mother/daughter book club for the book.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:12 Nora - EarlyWord
4:12
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
One of the things that struck me about the story and characters were the issues of sadness and strength. This made for a very relate-able story.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:12 bookclubreader
4:12
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
You did a great job with character development. I thought the characters reflected the City itself -- rich, interesting, complex, and multi-layered.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:12 VNesting
4:13
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
Nora, my mom and I talked about it a lot- she really loved the book, Laura.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:13 Dominique
4:13
Laura Lane McNeal: 
One of the things I try to stress it "you got to dance even when their ain't no music", kind of the theme.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:13 Laura Lane McNeal
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Speaking of Vidrine -- here's another advance question:

Fannie has distain for her daughter-in-law as a possible gold digger, but the same might have been thought of Fannie. Why was she so quick to be judge?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:14
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora, that's a good question.Fannie started from nothing. She made her own way in the world and ended up being pretty good at it, carving out a name for herself in certain circles of the city. The last thing she wanted was for her son to marry ‘someone like her’. She wanted him to marry someone better, and Vidrine, in her view, was not the caliber person she intended for her son to end up with. Their similarities were the very reason these two never got along. Fannie had a good heart. We are never sure where Vidrine’ s heart lies.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:14 Laura Lane McNeal
4:15
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Another advance question:

There’s several strong women characters in the book – why is it titled for just one of them?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:15 Nora - EarlyWord
4:15
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Thank you Dominique. I hope it's a book that will translate well to several generations.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:15 Laura Lane McNeal
4:16
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora, another good question… I named the novel Dollbaby because it tells the story of Dollbaby. Her very existence touches each character’s life in a different way, so in a sense, she is the common thread that inextricably binds each of the characters. Having said that, Dollbaby allows each of the other characters to have their own story. While it is certainly a coming of age story for Ibby, it’s a novel of self-discovery on many levels -- each character is on her own quest to find out who she is and how she fits into this world. It’s a question everyone asks of themselves at some point in their lives.

Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:16 Laura Lane McNeal
4:16
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
I think it's an excellent choice for book clubs.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:16 bookclubreader
4:16
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I like to hear the bookclubreader!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:16 Laura Lane McNeal
4:17
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You mentioned talking to people who lived during that time while doing your research -- What was most surprising thing you learned?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:17 Nora - EarlyWord
4:17
Laura Lane McNeal: 
To answer Vicki above..
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:17 Laura Lane McNeal
4:17
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I think New Orleans is as much a character as any
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:17 Laura Lane McNeal
4:18
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora,I was surprised at how strongly people of all walks of life felt about this era in New Orleans, about a way of life that had existed, both good and bad, unchanged for so long. I try to draw these differing attitudes out in the novel, particularly among the three generations of black women (Queenie, Dollbaby and Birdelia) who have differing ideas as to what civil rights may mean to them. I also incorporate Fannie’s view, which may seem to be indifferent at times but as we find out further into the novel, she is very aware of what is going on. And Ibby, a newcomer to the city who has had very little exposure to racism or prejudice, finds out first hand how differently people can be treated, whether it’s due to ignorance or bias or both.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:18 Laura Lane McNeal
4:20
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Did any of your characters surprise you as you were writing and not react to something as you had planned for them to react or do something they were supposed to do?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:20 Jennifer W.
4:20
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Jennifer, good question..
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:20 Laura Lane McNeal
4:21
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I don't do an outline. I know the story in my head as I write so sometimes the characters lead me to where I'm going… like Doll talking to herself in Fannie's bedroom when Vidrine shows up. That's the fun part of writing!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:21 Laura Lane McNeal
4:21
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
I thought a lot of the book could be summed up in what Doll told Liberty - You can't choose the day or time when you will fully bloom. It happens when you least expect it. - I thought all of these wonderful characters expressed this sentiment.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:21 Anne
4:22
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
The novel poignantly captures the human experience--which I think is the reason we read.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:22 bookclubreader
4:22
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Yes, I found it fascinating to read the different characters' responses to the Civil Rights protests and the President's announcement about the Civil Rights Act.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:22 VNesting
4:22
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Thank you Anne. I guess that's why I put that at the end of the book. It did sum up everything. You can't plan it, it happens when you least expect it. Haven't we all felt that?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:22 Laura Lane McNeal
4:23
[Comment From Kelly CKelly C: ] 
Hard to believe the Civil Rights Act is 50 years old. Perfect time to publish this book!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:23 Kelly C
4:23
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Thank you bookclubreader! Human experience… there is a lot of that here.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:23 Laura Lane McNeal
4:23
[Comment From Kelly CKelly C: ] 
How much time did you spend writing everyday?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:23 Kelly C
4:23
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Yes, 50 years old Kelly. There will be a lot written about it soon
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:23 Laura Lane McNeal
4:24
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
Laura, did your grandparents take part in the civil rights movement at all?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:24 Dominique
4:25
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Kelly, I researched the novel for two years and decided to sit down the day my son went back to school and write every day until I finished. Eight hours a day. It took me three months for the first draft. I think everyone thought I was crazy!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:25 Laura Lane McNeal
4:25
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How difficult was it to get it published?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:25 Nora - EarlyWord
4:25
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
That's an impressive writing schedule, Laura!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:25 bookclubreader
4:26
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Dominique
The first newspaper I started reading from 1964, which by happen chance was the day the Civil Rights Acts was signed, there was an ad with my dad's name on it asking for calm. I almost felt like it was an omen
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:26 Laura Lane McNeal
4:26
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
wow! that is an omen.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:26 Dominique
4:27
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Wow! That is amazing -- leads to a question we got in advance --

There seems to be fear about what might happen “now that the President has signed the bill” in other words, what would happen after Johnson signed the Civil Rights Bill, What were they worried about?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:27 Nora - EarlyWord
4:27
[Comment From Kelly CKelly C: ] 
Wow is right! You must have felt very inspired at that point!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:27 Kelly C
4:27
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora
I am among the fortunate ones. I submitted 25 pages to be critiqued at a literary festival and a publishing house said they wanted it right then and there. I already had an agent so we tweaked and sent i out a few months later where we got a handful of offers!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:27 Laura Lane McNeal
4:28
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora, let me just say tis..The months leading up to the President signing the Civil Rights Act were fraught with civil unrest, and tensions were high. Known as the Freedom Summer when the Freedom Riders tried to register Negroes to vote In Mississippi, many of these busses carrying the riders were bombed or burned. At this point in time, several of the Freedom Riders were missing and feared dead. People were afraid that the signing of the bill might cause more violence, and people were justifiably scared. The president, as well as the mayor of the city, asked for calm after the signing of the bill, but people were fearing the worst.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:28 Laura Lane McNeal
4:29
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Let's go back to getting the book published -- was this your very first book?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:29 Nora - EarlyWord
4:29
[Comment From Kelly CKelly C: ] 
Laura, you are too humble. I'm sure your talent had a great deal to do with it!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:29 Kelly C
4:29
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Thanks Kelly :)
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:29 Laura Lane McNeal
4:30
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora
This was my first book to be published. I had written an earlier one, a thriller, which is how I got my agent.. but then the ebook market made the publishing world sit back. It was then that I decided I needed to go ahead and write DOLLBABY
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:30 Laura Lane McNeal
4:31
Nora - EarlyWord: 
A thriller? I wouldn't have guessed that. What made you change genres?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:31 Nora - EarlyWord
4:32
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora I never intended to write a thriller but it incorporated a lot of personal experiences I wanted to get out after dealing with our corrupt governor on some issues when I handled the advertising for the Lottery account. I had this story, DOLLBABY, already to go, just had to get that one out first!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:32 Laura Lane McNeal
4:33
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
will you consider publishing the thriller now that Dollbaby has published?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:33 Dominique
4:34
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Dominique
My agent keeps saying its a great book and that it will be published however because it is a different genre I'd have to use a different name. AND now that ebooks are out readers expect thriller writers to write about a book a year. For literary it's about every 5 years. Who knows. Maybe I'll do both!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:34 Laura Lane McNeal
4:35
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Did you decide on the title DOLLBABY while you were writing or did it come to you later?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:35 VNesting
4:36
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Vicki
I was taking a writing class, a workshop, and they decided that it should be called that. They were pretty adamant. Then my agent loved it. My editor, she wasn't so sure until she came down to NO for SIBA as realized how common those nicknames are! Everyone calls you BABY!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:36 Laura Lane McNeal
4:37
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You chose to make the Civil Rights movement the backdrop, but not the centerpiece of the story -- which seems to be behind this advance question:


Dollbaby joins a civil rights protest, but doesn’t seem to get any further involved in the movement. Why is that?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:37 Nora - EarlyWord
4:38
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora
If I'd made the book all about Civil Rights it would have taken over the whole book..Queenie feared for her daughter and made no bones about telling her so. The summer of 1964 was called Freedom Summer because there was so much civil unrest. At that point in time, several Freedom Riders were missing in Mississippi, feared dead. Businesses that catered to Negroes were being bombed, churches burned. Queenie alludes to some of these things in her talks with Doll, including the vandalism that was taking place in their neighborhoods. People were scared. Dollbaby wanted to join in the protest, but she too was scared. As Queenie says to Doll, she had a daughter to think about. Doll continued to participate in the movement when possible, but it had to be without her mother’s knowledge, but always carrying the fear that she might be ‘the next’ to go.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:38 Laura Lane McNeal
4:39
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How difficult was it to write dialect?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:39 Nora - EarlyWord
4:39
Laura Lane McNeal: 
New Orleans is a cultural gumbo, and just about as many dialects exist as ingredients in this famous dish, which is one reason it’s really hard for outsiders to pin the dialect down. Having grown up here, in a city that is majority black with a mix of just about everything else, I live and breathe it every day, attuned to the nuances and cadence of the voices. While I was hesitant at first to do the black dialect, once I got into the characters, it flowed easily. I tried to make the voices as authentic as possible without bogging down the dialogue. As a writer, I believe you should be able to write from any perspective, if you really know the character.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:39 Laura Lane McNeal
4:40
[Comment From Sue D.Sue D.: ] 
do you think your novel could be recommended to the young adult market?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:40 Sue D.
4:41
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
Laura, growing up in a household 'of color', i completely understood that Doll was doing things without Queenie knowing, but also had to weigh the pros and cons of continuing to participate. thank you for capturing that.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:41 Dominique
4:41
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Sue Yes, the novel has a bit of YA to it. But there is a rape seen so it would have to be age appropriate. I think the YA market would like it and I like the feeling of giving them a glimpse of a world they don't know about.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:41 Laura Lane McNeal
4:41
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Having lived in New Orleans for 22 years and just outside of it for another 12, I think you did a great job with the accents, Laura.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:41 VNesting
4:42
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Domonique
Thank you. I tried really hard to balance how each of these characters might feel
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:42 Laura Lane McNeal
4:42
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Even though in the end, your book is very different, did you have any fear of being compared to THE HELP?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:42 Jennifer W.
4:42
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Vicki
Thank you . Coming from someone who lives here that means a lot!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:42 Laura Lane McNeal
4:43
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Jennifer
I knew because the book contained domestics and takes place in the early 60's that there would be comparisons, which on one level is good, however, I feel my novel is something comepletly different.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:43 Laura Lane McNeal
4:43
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did you feel when you found out your book is one of just ten books librarians picked as their favorites for the month of July?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:43 Nora - EarlyWord
4:44
Laura Lane McNeal: 
I was truly blown away and overwhelmed! To have my novel chosen as a top read by this marvelous group gave me some real validation on several levels – that it’s a story people will take to their hearts, and that it has universal appeal.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:44 Laura Lane McNeal
4:45
Nora - EarlyWord: 
For those of you going to ALA -- Laura will be signing at the Penguin group booth #449 on Friday, June 27th during the opening of the ALA conference (5:30 – 7).
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Yes please come see me! I'll have king cake babies!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:45 Laura Lane McNeal
4:45
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Speaking of accents, did I read somewhere that there will be an audiobook of DOLLBABY? If so, who is doing the narrating and are you happy with it?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:45 VNesting
4:45
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
woo hoo! King Cake babies!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:45 Dominique
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You have to tell this Northerner what King Cake babies are!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Vicki
I was so pleased that they let me choose the talent. January LaVoy read the book for the audio and is AMAZING! We had several dialect phone calls, which were really a hoot for me but very necessary! They did a great job with it.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:46 Laura Lane McNeal
4:47
[Comment From Sue D.Sue D.: ] 
Are you planning a tour, like coming to the St. Louis/Charles area?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:47 Sue D.
4:48
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
That's great, Laura! Wish I was going to be at ALA to meet you in person.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:48 VNesting
4:48
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Dollbaby got her name because her mother thought she looked like a little king cake doll. King cakes are something we have during the Mardi Gras Season. They have a small doll hidden in them. Whoever gets the doll is King (or Queen) for the day
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:48 Laura Lane McNeal
4:49
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
ALA attendees have a real treat waiting for them. Wish I could be there, too.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:49 bookclubreader
4:49
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Sue
Viking has planned an initial Southern Tour. I hope to have another after this initial one. If you want me to come to your area just have one of the reps request it. I'd love to come see all of you!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:49 Laura Lane McNeal
4:49
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Thank you bookclubreader!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:49 Laura Lane McNeal
4:49
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Also my tour schedule is on my website
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:49 Laura Lane McNeal
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
If libraries want to book you for a program, how can they do that?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Vicki
Perhaps you could come to my first book signing on July 10!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:50 Laura Lane McNeal
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We're getting close to the end, so get your questions in.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Laura, you got a great blurb from Walter Isaacson – we think of him as the writer of big, deeply research, serious bios., so it might be suprising that he reads, let alone appreciates fiction:

"This flavorful and enthralling novel brilliantly captures New Orleans during the civil rights era. It's a deeply personal tale about growing up and searching for family as well as a provocative exploration of race and kinship. I found it both thrilling and poignant."
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:51 Nora - EarlyWord
4:51
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora
I'd love to visit librariesFeel free to contact my publicist with any inquiries:

Kristin Matzen, Publicist
Viking/ Penguin
212-366-2226
Kristin.Matzen@us.penguingroup.com
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:51 Laura Lane McNeal
4:52
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora
He liked my book because he said it brought back great memories of growing up in New Orleans! I didn't ask for the blurb. He offered it. I was humbled!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:52 Laura Lane McNeal
4:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
That must have been VERY gratifying!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord
4:52
Laura Lane McNeal: 
To say the least!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:52 Laura Lane McNeal
4:53
Nora - EarlyWord: 
On your site, you mention you're working on another book -- can you tell us anything about it?
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:53 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora. yes, it's somewhat about my family. It takes place during the Depression on an old plantation on River Road outside of Baton Rouge. No one has a job, and people keep showing up to stay at the home. There is no electricity, no running water, and a lot of spare time and uncertainty. It will bring in a lot of history at that time, like when big oil was first making an appearance and Huey Long became governor. I see it as a cross between Downton abbey and Gone with the Wind some 60 years later
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:55 Laura Lane McNeal
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Great references!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
4:56
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Thanks so much, Laura and Nora! It's been a pleasure chatting with you all.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:56 VNesting
4:56
[Comment From Jennifer W.Jennifer W.: ] 
Thank you for taking time with us this afternoon. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:56 Jennifer W.
4:56
[Comment From Kelly CKelly C: ] 
Thanks Laura and Nora!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:56 Kelly C
4:56
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Nora and everyone.. it has been a pleasure for sure!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:56 Laura Lane McNeal
4:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Yes; thank you so much, Laura. We're so please your book is a LibraryReads pick and are looking forward to great things for it.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:57 Nora - EarlyWord
4:57
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
Thank you for talking with you. Good luck on your book tour and I look forward to reading your next novel - sounds really interesting.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:57 Anne
4:57
[Comment From bookclubreaderbookclubreader: ] 
I'll be recommending Dollbaby to readers and look forward to your next novel, Laura. It sounds like another great read!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:57 bookclubreader
4:57
[Comment From VNestingVNesting: ] 
Ooooo, can't wait to read the next one!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:57 VNesting
4:57
[Comment From DominiqueDominique: ] 
that sounds very intriguing! thank you for chatting with us, and look forward to seeing you at ALA.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:57 Dominique
4:57
Laura Lane McNeal: 
Thank you everyone! It was a real treat!
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:57 Laura Lane McNeal
4:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Bye everyone -- thanks for making this so lively.
Wednesday June 18, 2014 4:58 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Penguin Debut Authors Live Chat Wednesday, June 18

Thursday, June 12th, 2014

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Posted in EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on

Live Chat with Nikki Loftin, NIGHTINGALE’S NEST

Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

This chat has now ended. To sign up for the program and join future chats, go to the Penguin Young Readers Program.

 Live Chat with Nikki Loftin NIGHTINGALE'S NEST(03/25/2014) 
4:28
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We'll begin our chat with Nikki Loftin, author of NIGHTINGALE'S NEST at 5 p.m.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 4:28 Nora - EarlyWord
4:30
 Nora - EarlyWord
Click on the cover to view a larger version.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 4:30 
4:33
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Nightingale's Nest has received some great reviews. The following from School Library Journal serves as a good beginning:

"Pulling readers in from the very first page, Loftin's novel shares the enchanting quality of the Andersen fairy tale that inspired it. Packed with serious subjects, ... it is also the story of forgiveness, healing, and friendship ... The lyrical, descriptive prose and the hopeful ending will linger long after the final chapter."
Tuesday March 25, 2014 4:33 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You can enter your questions below. We will try to get as many in as time allows. Don't worry about typos (and forgive us for any we commit!)
Tuesday March 25, 2014 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:55
lisa von drasek: 
just checking in
Tuesday March 25, 2014 4:55 lisa von drasek
4:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hi Lisa -- looking forward to our chat today. I see some folks gathering. We will being in just a few minutes.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 4:56 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Welcome, Nikki -- say hello to the group.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:00 Nora - EarlyWord
5:00
Nikki Loftin: 
Hi! I'm Nikki Loftin, author, and terrible typist. This should be exciting!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:00 Nikki Loftin
5:01
lisa von drasek: 
Lisa, former children's librarian pre-k - 8th grade and now curator of the Kerlan Collections at the Universty of Minnesota?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:01 lisa von drasek
5:01
lisa von drasek: 
there are some others on line for the chat would you like to say hello?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:01 lisa von drasek
5:02
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Hi Nikki! This is Akiko and I'm not the fastest typeset either.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:02 Guest
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Thanks for stopping in! Let's type slowly together.
  Nikki Loftin
5:02
[Comment From ChelseaChelsea: ] 
Hi Nikki and Lisa! This is Chelsea from Sacramento.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:02 Chelsea
5:02
[Comment From GuestGuest: ] 
Hello! Erin, Children's Librarian Henrico VA. Just finished the book last night. Perfect timing :)
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:02 Guest
5:02
[Comment From JennaJenna: ] 
I'm Jenna, a youth services librarian in a northern Chicago suburb. Hi everyone!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:02 Jenna
5:02
lisa von drasek: 
while people say hello, Nikki, can you tell us something about yourself Can you tell me a little about where your grew up?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:02 lisa von drasek
5:03
[Comment From UnLibrarian, Palm DesertUnLibrarian, Palm Desert: ] 
Hi Nikki!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:03 UnLibrarian, Palm Desert
5:03
Nikki Loftin: 
Sure, Lisa! I grew up in Central Texas, not far from where I live now. Austin is my hometown - there's a lot to love about it!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:03 Nikki Loftin
5:04
lisa von drasek: 
your new book is set in a small town in texas. is it a real town?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:04 lisa von drasek
5:05
Nikki Loftin: 
Hi, y'all! Lisa, well sort of. It is based on a real town in Mills County, but I changed the name since I'd changed quite a few things about the stores/buildings there. I re-named it Hilsaback, Texas, after my amazing Sr. High English teacher.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:05 Nikki Loftin
5:05
Nikki Loftin: 
I figured it might bug the residents of the real town since I switched all their landmarks around. :)
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:05 Nikki Loftin
5:06
Nikki Loftin: 
(And thank you all for coming today!)
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:06 Nikki Loftin
5:06
lisa von drasek: 
Can you tell me a little about the protagonist? He is a twelve year old boy who?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:06 lisa von drasek
5:07
Nikki Loftin: 
Little John Fisher is a boy who grew as tall as a man in the last year - the year after his little sister died falling from a tree. He blames himself for her death, and blames trees, too. So he's glad to be working for his dad's tree-trimming service for the summer, cutting down every tree he can. He's a broken-hearted kid when we meet him... until he meets a little girl with the voice of a nightingale, singing in a tree near where he's working.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:07 Nikki Loftin
5:08
lisa von drasek: 
Nightengales Nest is very real and magical at the same time… Can you say a little about why you chose this style of story telling?

Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:08 lisa von drasek
5:10
Nikki Loftin: 
I love magical realism - ever since a professor in my graduate writing program turned me onto Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende. It just felt right in this story - a re-imagining of Hans Christian Andersen's The Nightingale - to make the magic... approachable. And it was important to me to have a realistic setting – in this case, a very poor, rural Texas town – as a backdrop for the magical friendship between Gayle and Little John.
I think the harsh reality of the story makes a good contrast with the magic.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:10 Nikki Loftin
5:11
lisa von drasek: 
When I read it I could imagine a 5th grade teacher reading it aloud in class. Do you read aloud when you write?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek
5:12
Nikki Loftin: 
All the time! I have two sons who beg me to read my works in progress to them as I write. So I hear it, over and over, reading it to them, my husband, my dogs, myself... I think the cadence of the words matters. (I also write poetry, so maybe that has something to do with this habit? Hmm. Don't know.)
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:12 Nikki Loftin
5:12
lisa von drasek: 
Names are very important in the book, Little John, Tree, Gayle, Susie, nightingale. is Nikki a nick name? short for? do you have any names your family used to call you growing up?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:12 lisa von drasek
5:13
Nikki Loftin: 
Nikki is short for Nicole, my middle name! My mom named me for a soap opera star, Nikki Belle... I can't remember which soap...
My mom used to call me Nikki Picky. Totally undeserved, I assure you.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:13 Nikki Loftin
5:14
Nikki Loftin: 
By the way, I'd LOVE to hear a fifth grade teacher read this...
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:14 Nikki Loftin
5:14
lisa von drasek: 
Reading this book I had a strong sense of someone who really "got" book for kids. Are there some children's book authors that you love that you would like to share with us?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:14 lisa von drasek
5:14
Nikki Loftin: 
... and here's a bit of inside scoop: when I read it aloud, I use a really thick Texas drawl, which I do NOT do on my other stories! It's Little John's accent.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:14 Nikki Loftin
5:15
lisa von drasek: 
hey, I heard you on the phone - you DO not have an accent. why not?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:15 lisa von drasek
 
Nikki Loftin: 
I'm not sure. I was trained as an opera singer... maybe that ironed it out?
  Nikki Loftin
5:15
Nikki Loftin: 
Yes! I read voraciously as a child, but the books I remember best are the ones that made me think – and, sometimes, cry. Bridge to Terabithia, and Old Yeller, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – these books helped me understand a childhood world that to me was inexplicable and magical and frightening. But more recently, I have fallen in love with Natalie Lloyd's A Snicker of Magic...
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:15 Nikki Loftin
5:16
lisa von drasek: 
This book literally sings- do you have a musical background?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:16 lisa von drasek
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Yes - see above. I was also born into a family of musicians. I started voice and violin lessons when I was three. I think music permeates all my stories in some way.
  Nikki Loftin
5:16
Nikki Loftin: 
... and Lynda Mullaly Hunt's One For the Murphy's, as well as Kate diCamillo's Flora and Ulysses (my current read!).
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:16 Nikki Loftin
5:16
[Comment From Lindsey LibrarianLindsey Librarian: ] 
I didn't know about the Hans Christian Anderson story until I read the reviews -- why did you choose it?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:16 Lindsey Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
I was a fairy tale nerd when I was little. I obsessed over them - and The Nightingale was one of my favorites. I loved the idea of a bird that could heal with its voice.
  Nikki Loftin
5:18
lisa von drasek: 
What does your writing day look like?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:18 lisa von drasek
 
Nikki Loftin: 
I get up, get the kids on the bus, and as soon as I'm alone... and pry myself off facebook/email - I start writing. I'll write for a few hours, take a break, then get back to it until the buses come home! Sometimes I even manage to change out of my pajamas. :)
  Nikki Loftin
5:19
[Comment From Jody, school librarianJody, school librarian: ] 
The tenderness that Little John shows toward Gayle/Susie is so amazing. Love the detail about her hair, for instance. Sounds so true. Is it based on something?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:19 Jody, school librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Thank you. Ah, the painful questions. Yes, someone I love very dearly had a condition where she pulled her hair out unconsciously. Her hair was so, so soft, I loved it, loved brushing it. And then it was gone, and she couldn't help it. (She got better, in case you're worried.)
  Nikki Loftin
5:22
[Comment From Lindsey LibrarianLindsey Librarian: ] 
You mention books that make your cry -- yours made me choke up many times!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:22 Lindsey Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Is it okay if I say "good?" :) I hope it left you feeling hopeful, though. My sons like to make me read them sad books – I think they enjoy watching me cry. ☺ On their favorite sad books list: Roxaboxen, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
  Nikki Loftin
5:23
[Comment From Jody, School LibrarianJody, School Librarian: ] 
Thanks for answering that -- gives even more depth to the story! (and thanks for telling us she got better).
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:23 Jody, School Librarian
5:23
lisa von drasek: 
kids often ask for a a sad book. grown ups don't
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:23 lisa von drasek
 
Nikki Loftin: 
That's interesting! I love sad books. Just finished crying through The Dogs of Winter by Bobbie Pyron, and A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness? SOBFEST, but the best cry ever.
  Nikki Loftin
5:24
lisa von drasek: 
on a lighter note- was it easy to get published?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:24 lisa von drasek
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Yes, Lisa. I just wished on my magic dandelion... haha. No. I took years of self-doubt and writing truly terrible manuscripts, then more years of not selling fairly good ones, to get to the ones that did sell. I ate a LOT of chocolate on the road to publication.
  Nikki Loftin
5:24
[Comment From Lindsey LibrarianLindsey Librarian: ] 
Yes; that emotional connection WAS good, even if it made me cry -- you reminded me of times in my own youth.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:24 Lindsey Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Thank you.
  Nikki Loftin
5:25
lisa von drasek: 
to the people out there....are there books that you would compare this one to to book talk like

if you read "When you reach me"
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:25 lisa von drasek
5:27
lisa von drasek: 
Nikki- did I hear you had a lot pets? where's my picture of a goat?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:27 lisa von drasek
5:27
[Comment From ChelseaChelsea: ] 
I read this around the same time as Crystal Chan's "Bird," and I think the two make for an interesting pair. And I do think Nikki's captured the melancholy hopefulness of "Tuck Everlasting" and "Bridge to Terabithia."
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:27 Chelsea
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Oh, thank you. I'm all melty inside.
  Nikki Loftin
5:28
 Nikki Loftin
Abitha the Fabulous
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:28 
 
lisa von drasek: 
really really fabulous!
  lisa von drasek
5:28
lisa von drasek: 
oh Chelsea, thank you me too!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:28 lisa von drasek
5:29
[Comment From JennaJenna: ] 
I'll be recommending this one alongside another new tween title, The Riverman- both are based in the real world but with magic elements and deal with darker themes.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:29 Jenna
5:29
Nikki Loftin: 
I also have two rescue dogs, but they won't hold still for pictures...

Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:29 Nikki Loftin
5:29
lisa von drasek: 
I was wondering if there was a compassionate adult in your life when you were a kid?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:29 lisa von drasek
 
Nikki Loftin: 
So many! My grandma raised me during the summers, and at school I had a librarian who filled my life with books and love. Her name was Mrs. Crabb.
  Nikki Loftin
5:29
Nikki Loftin: 
We are also getting chickens next week, as soon as the chicken coop is made 100% possum and skunk-proof. Since we live in the country, we have to keep our animals safe from varmints. (I love that word.)
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:29 Nikki Loftin
5:30
[Comment From ChelseaChelsea: ] 
I love the way you describe Gale's singing in this book, but it made me wonder if there are plans for an audiobook? I almost want to leave that sound to my imagination. But I would also be very interested to hear the result.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:30 Chelsea
 
Nikki Loftin: 
No plans yet, or not that I know of, but I'd love to hear it, too! They'd need to use that Texas twang, though.
  Nikki Loftin
5:31
lisa von drasek: 
oh, I was wondering about that too
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:31 lisa von drasek
5:32
Nikki Loftin: 
I have a picture of Mrs. Crabb! Let me see... this was from last year, when I gave her a copy of my debut novel. Being able to thank her, adn tell ehr how she changed my life? I am so grateful for that day.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:32 Nikki Loftin
5:32
 Nikki Loftin
Mrs. Crabb, Amazing Librarian
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:32 
5:33
lisa von drasek: 
Nikki,
who is Mrs. Crabb?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:33 lisa von drasek
5:34
[Comment From Lindsey LibrarianLindsey Librarian: ] 
Love hearing about your real life; almost as exotic to me as the life in the book -- both sound real, but truly outside my more urban world.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:34 Lindsey Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Thanks! I find big cities utterly fascinating. But hard to sleep in - I can sleep through owls and coyotes, but not garbage truck noise!
  Nikki Loftin
5:34
Nikki Loftin: 
Ah, I replied above - she was my elementary school librarian form 2nd-5th grade. For some reason, my teacher sent me out of class ALL THE TIME to go to the library. I can't imagine why. I'm sure I was perfectly well-behaved. LOL Mrs. Crabb took me in, and raised me on books.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:34 Nikki Loftin
5:34
[Comment From Jody, School LibrarianJody, School Librarian: ] 
Hurrah for school librarians! Were you ever tempted to become one?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:34 Jody, School Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
My sister wanted to be one! She even pasted little slips into the back of MY OWN books for me to check out! And charged me fines if I was late turning them in. I never wanted to be one. Honestly, I always wanted to be an author. Also, I'm a disorganized soul.
  Nikki Loftin
5:36
[Comment From Jody, School LibrarianJody, School Librarian: ] 
I want to go back to what Lisa said about kids asking for sad books, but not adults. Wonder why that is? Why do kids want sad books?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:36 Jody, School Librarian
5:37
lisa von drasek: 
Nikki,
Although this book has deeply sad moments, it is ultimately about hope and forgiveness and community. can you say something about that?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:37 lisa von drasek
5:37
Nikki Loftin: 
I'm not sure. I know, being a kid is hard, or at least it can be. Kids have so little power over their own lives, and yet their days are as filled with difficulty as any adult.
When I read books as a child, I *became* the character I read about. I think giving a young reader – who may have a terribly difficult real life -- a story to lose herself or himself in, where the main character triumphs over exterior bad guys and interior weakness, and who learns to forgive her/himself and others… I think there’s a sort of healing that can take place through story.
If I can do that, if I can help one reader to learn that s/he can triumph? That’s my writer’s dream come true.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:37 Nikki Loftin
5:38
Nikki Loftin: 
Lisa - sure. I think books for kids need to be ultimately hopeful, even if they're difficult/sad...
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:38 Nikki Loftin
5:39
[Comment From Jody, School LibrarianJody, School Librarian: ] 
And it may be that kids know that even though a book may be sad, the characters generally do triumph -- so maybe that is actually what they are looking for.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:39 Jody, School Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Exactly!
  Nikki Loftin
5:40
Nikki Loftin: 
So that kids can feel that possibility of a happy ending, even in difficult times. And I'm glad you saw the importance of the community coming together - that's a real fact of life in small, poor communities and towns...
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:40 Nikki Loftin
5:40
[Comment From ChelseaChelsea: ] 
I really appreciate how honest your depiction of Little John's poverty is. I don't think we see families with real money troubles enough in children's fiction - it's something kids are definitely aware of, particularly if it weighs on their parents. Was that something you set out to do, or did it come later?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:40 Chelsea
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Thank you! I think some authors are doing this very well - How to Steal a Dog, comes to mind, and Jacqueline Woodson's utterly amazing middle grade books - Feathers, Locomotion, so many. She's a marvel. I hope every library buys all her books - she does so much in a short space. But, yes, I set out to make the setting very stark, on purpose.
  Nikki Loftin
5:41
[Comment From Jody, School LibrarianJody, School Librarian: ] 
...even though they may not be able to articulate it.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:41 Jody, School Librarian
5:41
Nikki Loftin: 
Lisa - I have seen it hundreds of times (from my career of working in churches) - the casseroles start baking all over town minutes after the bad news hits.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:41 Nikki Loftin
5:42
[Comment From Lindsey LibrarianLindsey Librarian: ] 
Love the comment from Chelsea. I worked as a lifeguard at a pool surrounded by poor families -- Little John reminded me of those kids.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:42 Lindsey Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
I grew up in a family that was, at times, financially on the edge. We never went without food, but we came very close a lot. That leaves a mark, I think. I remember the feeling - there's nothing romantic about poverty. I hope I got that across in Nest.
  Nikki Loftin
5:44
[Comment From Lindsey LibrarianLindsey Librarian: ] 
They were so honest about their daily lives -- no hiding -- heartbreaking while being admirable.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:44 Lindsey Librarian
5:45
lisa von drasek: 
I was concerned about the how alone Little John was in his grief and found that so real. Have you experiences that kind of sorrow ?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:45 lisa von drasek
 
Nikki Loftin: 
My five siblings are all still alive, so no. But I think anyone who's lived a while, and loved family and friends deeply, gets to know deep sorrow, like it or not. And my childhood was difficult. I remember.
  Nikki Loftin
5:45
[Comment From Jody, School LibrarianJody, School Librarian: ] 
Do you ever worry that some situations may be too much for a middle grader to read about?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:45 Jody, School Librarian
 
Nikki Loftin: 
There's a famous quotation, form Madeline L'Engle, I believe Something about if a topic is too hard to write about for adults, write it for children. I'm not sure how far down that road to go, but I think kids can handle a lot more than some think. Kids are already handling a lot more - their lives are as full as anyone's. I think they need to be treated with respect and dignity - in life and in their literature. (That said, I also LOVE funny books for kids. And write them. Someday, they'll be out there, too, I hope.)
  Nikki Loftin
5:47
[Comment From ChelseaChelsea: ] 
I think you struck a good balance. Poverty never came across as romantic, but it wasn't everything about their lives either, which I think is important. It was just the way it was. Thank you for that!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:47 Chelsea
 
Nikki Loftin: 
Thank you!!
  Nikki Loftin
5:48
lisa von drasek: 
Nikki,
You mentioned that you have done SKYPED visits. how have those gone for you?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:48 lisa von drasek
5:50
lisa von drasek: 
If someone wanted to schedule one what would they do?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:50 lisa von drasek
5:50
Nikki Loftin: 
Ah, Skype! I love these visits! And if a class has read the book, and a teacher emails me, it's very likely I will do a free short one. I love talking to kids about books! :) That's the gravy, y'all - getting to interact with the reader. So energizing!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:50 Nikki Loftin
5:51
lisa von drasek: 
what's the craziest thing a kid has ever asked you?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek
5:51
Nikki Loftin: 
All they need to do is email me via my contact form on my website www.nikkiloftin.com or here: nikki@nikkiloftin.com. Thanks, Lisa!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:51 Nikki Loftin
5:52
Nikki Loftin: 
The craziest thing... The WORST thing. One student asked if I had to give up one of them forever, would I give up chocolate or writing? Sobbing, I answered her "Chocolate. But I'd never be really happy again."
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:52 Nikki Loftin
5:53
lisa von drasek: 
do you like dark or milk? Is there a special celebration chocolate that you eat when a book is finished?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:53 lisa von drasek
5:53
Nikki Loftin: 
Lisa, I am eating chocolate RIGHT NOW.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:53 Nikki Loftin
5:54
lisa von drasek: 
from the peanut gallery- any last questions? comments?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:54 lisa von drasek
5:54
Nikki Loftin: 
I celebrate with Lindt Extra Dark with oranges and almonds.
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:54 Nikki Loftin
5:54
lisa von drasek: 
Nikki,

Next book in the pipeline? what? when?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:54 lisa von drasek
5:55
[Comment From CaraCara: ] 
I've just joined the discussion so I may have missed it, but what do you think of the cover?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:55 Cara
5:57
Nikki Loftin: 
Yes, my next one is called WISH GIRL! It should be out about this time next year. I'm so excited - to answer Cara's question, too - I get the same cover artist, and I'm over the moon happy! I adore my NEST cover, and I know WISH GIRL will be amazing.
WISH GIRL is also magical realism, and I'm almost done editing it... it's about a misunderstood boy and a very sick girl and a magical valley where wishes may come true... I hope you like it!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:57 Nikki Loftin
5:57
lisa von drasek: 
oh I DO like wishes that come true
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:57 lisa von drasek
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Thanks, Lisa and Nikki for a great chat.

And thanks to all of you who for joining us and for your great comments and questions.

When we finish, this chat will be archived on the Penguin Young Readers Author Program site -- penguinyrauthors.earlyword.com

The next title in the program is UNDER THE EGG by Laura Marx Fitzgerald.

Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Final comments, Lisa and Nikki?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:58 Nora - EarlyWord
5:58
lisa von drasek: 
What is the date?
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:58 lisa von drasek
5:59
lisa von drasek: 
Thank you Nikki, this was a pleasure
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:59 lisa von drasek
5:59
Nikki Loftin: 
Thank you so much, Lisa, and Nora, and all of you who came and asked questions! And thank you for the work you do with young readers - you make an incredible difference in the lives of kids. I'm delighted to have the chance to chat!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 5:59 Nikki Loftin
6:00
Nikki Loftin: 
(And I can't wait for Under the Egg! What a perfect follow-up to NEST. haha)
Tuesday March 25, 2014 6:00 Nikki Loftin
6:00
[Comment From JennaJenna: ] 
Thanks, Nikki! And thanks for writing a wonderful book!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 6:00 Jenna
 
Nikki Loftin: 
You are too kind. Thank you for reading!
  Nikki Loftin
6:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Signing off with a big smile -- thanks, everyone!
Tuesday March 25, 2014 6:00 Nora - EarlyWord
 
 

Posted in Childrens and YA, EarlyWord Sponsor | Comments Off on Live Chat with Nikki Loftin, NIGHTINGALE’S NEST

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