Interview with Angie Smibert

Hi Angie, so happy that you could stop by Middle Grade Minded! Welcome! 

First, can you tell us a little bit about the Ghosts of Ordinary Objects series and your latest book, Lingering Echoes?

Certainly! The Ghosts’ series is a bit history, a bit mystery, and a bit fantasy. It’s set in a small coal mining camp in the Southwest Virginia at the beginning of World War II. Bone Phillips (12) discovers she has a Gift, that in fact several members of her family have the Reed Gifts as her grandmother calls them. Bone’s Gift is the ability to see the ‘ghosts’ inside ordinary objects. People leave imprints on objects, particularly in emotionally charged moments of their lives. With a touch, Bone can see that moment—whether it’s good or bad. And she’s not terribly happy with her Gift. In fact, she loves stories that are not real!

In the first book—aptly called Bone’s Gift—she has to use her Gift to find out what really happened when her mother died. Meanwhile, he father gets drafted, a WPA worker comes to collect folktales in the area, and Bone has to go live with her dreaded Aunt Mattie. The latter does not end well.

In this new book, Bone’s best friend, Silent Will Kincaid, brings her a jelly jar to read. It was in his father’s dinner bucket, which Will inherited when he went to work in the mines. The jar has a peculiar power of its own: it can catch sounds. Bone has to figure out its mystery—and whether or not it has something to do with Will losing his voice after his father died.

Lingering Echoes is set around Halloween, so it also involves pranks, ghost stories, graveyards, jack o’lanterns, and, of course, Appalachian folktales. Did I mention that the series has many App folktales interwoven into it?

This series mixes history and fantasy in an intriguing way. What drew you to this type of story?

First of all, I love stories that mix genres, particularly history and fantasy. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, for instance, is one of my favorite books (so far) of this century. The Night Circus. The Golem and the Jinni. The Diviners. I could go on… They all mix history and fantasy in really interesting ways.

Mostly, though, the Ghosts’ series begged to be a mix of history and magic/magical realism. I started out exploring the place and its history. (Big Vein is loosely based a real place where my grandfather and his brothers were miners!) Then I came to realize our region (Appalachia) has its own magic born out of its history, people, nature, folktales, and so forth.  And I wanted the stories to have fairytale / folklore feel to them.

I didn’t realize that you teach young adult and speculative fiction for Southern New Hampshire University’s creative writing M.F.A. program. How cool is that? Regale us with your knowledge, pretty please. What’s your top tip for aspiring YA or MG speculative fiction writers?

The program is fairly new, so I have only been teaching YA fiction for a couple of terms. So far, I’ve noticed aspiring writers—whether in the program or elsewhere—have trouble grasping the idea of “show-don’t-tell.” And it’s actually a really tricky thing to learn and even trickier to explain or teach. How do you sink your readers into the POV character’s head so that you’re showing them the story rather than telling it? Nalo Hopkinson has a fantastic TED Ed lesson about it—and it’s probably the best explanation of ‘show-don’t-tell’ (although she doesn’t call it that) that I’ve seen yet. I defer to her for my top writing tip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSoRzTtwgP4

Another tip? Read a lot—in your genre and outside of it. You never know what might inspire you.

Now on to the most important topic of all: tell me about your dog. I hear he’s named after a telescope? (photo please :)

Yes, he is. Hubble is a nearly three-year-old black-lab mix. Oh, and a foster fail. ;) I fostered (and adopted ) him the summer I attended Launch Pad astronomy camp for writers. Even before the camp and even before I worked at NASA’s Kennedy Space, I was a space nut. And the Hubble Space Telescope—once the problem with its mirror was fixed on orbit—has been one of the most fantastic telescopes ever. It has produced some of the most exciting and breath-taking glimpses of our truly awe-inspiring universe so far. Hubble the dog, though, is a goofy, sweet boy who loves playing fetch, walking the neighborhood, and going to Starbucks for a pup cup.  My nicknames for him are Hubblepuff (yes, he would be a Hufflepuff if sorted) and Big Tasty (because he reminds me of Barry from the Goldbergs). 

Thanks so much to Angie Smibert for stopping by Middle Grade Minded! To find out more about Angie, visit her at http://www.angiesmibert.com/blog/.

Interview with Historical Fiction Author Anna Myers

Today, I'm super excited to welcome award-winning author Anna Myers to Middle Grade Minded. She is the author of nineteen novels, all for middle-grade or young-adult readers, and her first picture book, Tumbleweed Baby, was published in 2014 by Abrams Books. Myers is a four-time winner of the Oklahoma Book Award and has been honored by the Oklahoma Center for the Book with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Her books have received a wide range of honors, including New York Public Library Best Books for the Teen Age, American Book Seller’s Pick of the List, New York Public Library's 100 Books to Read and Share, Children’s Crown Award honor book, Society of School Librarians International Book Award, Parents’ Choice Award, ALA Quick Pick List, Junior Library Guild selection and more.


Hi, Anna! Welcome to Middle Grade Minded. Can you describe your process when starting a new MG historical fiction? Do you begin with researching the time period, creating a character or something else?


I am not an organized, methodical type. No two of my historical novels were likely to have been begun exactly alike. At some point, I always do a lot of reading about the time period. For most projects, I had a character in mind before I began, but not always. I remember ordering a book of court records from the Salem Witch Trials and reading it all before my character Drucilla from Time of the Witches began to come to me.


Immersing readers in a different time period seems like it would be overwhelming. What advice do you have for readers who might be too intimidated to approach historical fiction?

My advice is don't. In my experience, writers of historical fiction are lovers of history, those who find it easy to identify with the past. While historical fiction does sell in today's market, it is not the first choice of most publishers. There are too many other things to write to force yourself to try something about which you have misgivings. I'll go even further and say, don't write historical fiction unless you feel compelled to do so, unless you have fallen for a story that can't be set in today's world.


On a similar topic, do you have any advice for capturing a period voice while still making the language relatable to modern day readers?


Watch movies set during the period about which you are writing. Read novels that present the time. Make a list of words or phrases that were popular. Not many words need to be old fashioned or obsolete. Scatter the words and phrase among your sentences to help establish a time gone by. On the first page of my book, Assassin, I used the phrase, "When I was but little..." Those words would never come from the mouth of a modern teenager.


Describe your research process (type of sources, depth, how much of the research makes it into the text).


I like to do broad reading about a time period, and probably because I didn't grow up with computers, I like to do prolonged reading from books. I do, of course, use the internet for looking up the multitude of questions that arise while writing. I constantly need to know things such as when tree frogs make noise or what cotton looks like in the field. Thank heavens for Google. Not much of the information gleaned from the early reading makes it into the story. I am not looking for facts during that early reading, but rather I am seeking a feeling for the era.


Of all of your MG historical novels, which was the most difficult to write and why? Do you have a favorite?


Actually, some of my historical fiction stories are young adult, and it was one of those, When the Bough Breaks, that was the most difficult to write. It is a story set in two time periods, modern and historical. It is also the darkest book I ever wrote. In addition, it was the first book I ever wrote without the help of my husband, who had died a few months before.


I also remember struggling with my middle grade, Stolen by the Sea, because the kids were in the flood water so long. I found myself tempted to drown them and get it over.


As to a favorite, I have several different favorites for different reasons. For instance, my favorite to research was Time of the Witches. I believe Tulsa Burning is my most important novel and the one I most want kids to read.


What is the important lesson, from either the writing or the business side, that you would like to pass on to new writers?


I urge writers to take time to dwell inside your character. Make yourself very small and become the character. Coleridge said a reader has to be willing to suspend disbelief, but first the writer must suspend his or her own disbelief. Your character is out there, and it is your job to find that character.


Wow! What awesome advice! Thanks to Anna Myers for stopping by, and here's a link to her website for those interested in learning more about her books, writing academy and mentorship program: http://www.annamyersauthor.com/.

Summer Inspiration for Writers

The lazy days of summer are now upon us, complete with ice-cold lemonade and hours spent lounging in the hammock, reading for pleasure and writerly research, of course. No deadlines, no screaming children, no pressure or stress of any kind.

Well, we can always dream. Our summers are typically packed with ball games, lake trips, family activities, reunions. Tons of fun where we meet ourselves coming and going. On top of all this, we writers work other jobs. We raise our families. We volunteer in the community. We seek out adventure. We live. Because if all we did was hide in our writing holes and dream, we'd end up small-minded with nothing real to write about. Unless of course, we're Thoreau and are exploring philosophy.

Fortunately, the hectic moments of summer provide unique and energizing writing inspiration. Here's a few focus points to help you capture those fleeting moments when genius strikes (or can be finessed into existence with just the right touch):

1. Relationships: In summer, we make extra time for friends and family. That means there's more opportunities for laughter, conflict, and exploring new ideas. Take note of the things that build connections in your relationships. What weakens them? How can laughter strengthen a relationship? When can it damage it? Are there people you interact with who tend to speak less than others? Or to dominate attention, either purposefully or by nature of their personality? Why? Are there simmering resentments that should be addressed or joys and gratitude that should be expressed? As you explore these issues, you will find your deepened understanding will enhance your relationships as well as your writing. 
   
2. Emotions: Summer is often a time when we clean house, literally and figuratively. We shake off the dust and stillness of winter, throw off our coats, and seek out a little freedom. Consider how you feel in the transition time between winter doldrums and summer liberty. How does the hot sun on your skin or the cool wind through your hair make you feel? Are you emotionally affected by increased or decreased social interaction? What about your family and friends? What changes do you note in their moods? Do you see anyone becoming "hangry" when the BBQ is taking longer than expected (darn slow charcoal!)? How can you capture similar emotions in your writing? Take a few minutes at the end of the day and write a feeling, something you've felt that day or some emotion you've witnessed. How could your characters deal with feelings that push them a bit too far?
   
3. Sensations: Summer is a wonderful time to contemplate and explore sensations. The weather has changed. We spend more time outside. What do you hear when you are out at the lake or on a morning run? Even sitting at home inside, the sounds can be different. Do you hear the drone of lawnmowers or the revving engines of motorcyclists? What about the birds chirping outside your window? Or the overpowering buzz of cicadas or songs of crickets? Depending on where you story takes place, some of these sounds may be absent or their could be other noises, like the call of children playing in the streets. Are the sounds in your stories sinister or commonplace? The tastes of summer again provide astonishing variety - the sweet tang of smoothies, the hot spices of salsa, or the flaky warmth of pastries at a bistro. Notice what stands out to you as the summer days pass, taking care to explore all five senses and incorporate them in your writing.
   
4. Physical Movement: Summer is a time of movement. We hop on the bicycle a little more often or take wandering walks through the woods, dips in the pool, or hikes to and from various picnic places and ballfields. Being active makes our bodies feel different and, usually, work a little better. Note the soreness of your muscles as you become more active. Note the scrapes and bumps that we collect over the course of the summer. How long do they take to heal? How much does a sprain or a bruise actually limit activity? What does it feel like to ice a sore joint? How does it feel when our bodies are strong and healthy? All of these insights will making your writing more realistic and compelling to readers.
   
5. Try Something New: This is some of the best advice writers can take. Try something new. Step out of your comfort zone and pick up a dance class. Or go parasailing. Or try walking across a fallen log. Opportunities to experience something new are all around us, if we are looking, and if we choose to be brave. They don't have to cost money or take a ton of time. It could be something as simple as cooking a new meal. Notice how you feel when trying new things. Nervous? Frustrated? Excited? How could this new experience fit into your current work-in-progress? If it doesn't, write a vignette or even a summary of what you did, how you felt, and what you thought. Then save it for later.
   
   Whatever your situation, summertime can be a springboard for your creativity. Enjoy!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

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Sowing Seeds of Greatness

We all long for a simple recipe for the perfect story. Unfortunately, creativity doesn’t usually work that way. Writing is a messy, exciting, mind-blowing adventure, which is exactly why we love it and why it sometimes kicks our trash. 

Writing

The seeds for a great tale can be found just about anywhere—floating on the wind like dandelion clocks, at the breakfast table sprinkled on a bagel, spinning through a movie like maple tree helicopters, or in a squishy pile in your very own backyard. 

The problem is these seeds often sprout stories far different from what we’d expect. This is one instance where the apple really might fall far from the tree. It might even roll down the hill and morph into a carriage. But that is part of the joy of writing. 

If you’re prepping for a new story, seek inspiration in real life. Take a walk. Watch a movie. Just don’t zone out. Keep your notebook handy and jot down ideas, however commonplace or strange. You never know where they’ll take you once you start writing.

Exercises

Here’s a couple prompts to get those creative juices flowing.

Pick whatever color first comes to mind. Think of an emotion. Then look around the room (or alternatively, out the window), noticing the first item/person/animal you see that has your chosen color on it. 

Spend ten second visualizing that person or object. How is the emotion you considered connected to that person or object? Are they feeling that way? Did they provoke that emotion in someone else? Why? How? Now take what you’ve got and develop it into a 500-word piece answering the question—“What happens next?” 

Remember, keep it active!

Now, take this piece or another short piece you’ve written and twist it. For instance, you could change an element of the story, rewriting it with a fantasy or sci-fi overlay. 

Or add a new character who is vastly different from the others you’ve included and see how things play out. Change the POV or gender of the main characters. Choose a minor character and rewrite the scene from their perspective. 

There are tons of ways to do this. Whatever you do, you will find your story becomes something else altogether. Sometimes it will spawn several stories. You may stumble upon a compelling theme and really make it shine.

For more prompts, try http://boredmuse.com

Editing

As always, write in genius mode. You know what I mean. Write in a frenzy of brilliance, not worrying too much about perfect wording or stellar spelling. Just let the story spill out in all its ugly glory. 

Once you’re done (and the story has rested for awhile, days even), go back and see what you’ve got. This is when you put on your ruthless editing hat, rip out your blood-red pen and scribble away. 

Better yet, try a strategic approach. Go through your piece with a critical eye, searching for the true story hiding within. Sometimes the skeleton of an intriguing tale is already there, waiting to be fleshed out with similes, metaphors, powerful themes, and enhancing detail. 

Sometimes the skeleton is too jumbled up to put together into anything meaningful. But in that case, there’s almost always some glimmer of inspiration there, some new seed to plant and nurture into something beautiful (or scary, whatever your preference).

The point is, the seed is just the beginning, just a way to get your creative juices flowing. Don’t feel constrained by the start of the story or even its inspiration. In the end, you are the artist. You determine where the story takes us. Unless, of course, you happen upon a really headstrong character, who has a mind of their own and takes you on an adventure you’d never dreamed could come from your own mind.

Either way, you’re writing, you’re loving it, and at the same time, sowing seeds of greatness in your readers. In any genre, this is important, but especially in middle grade fiction. 

Our readers are clamoring for entertainment and encouragement, they’re on the cusp of defining themselves and are hungry for inspiration. They need to witness characters wrestle with problems and rise above themselves. As do we all.

What are some of your recent sources of creativity?

Interview with Author Patricia Bailey

Patricia Bailey stopped by to answer some of my burning questions about her new book, the writing process and more! Patricia is the author of THE TRAGICALLY TRUE ADVENTURES OF KIT DONOVAN, an historical middle grade novel coming out with Albert Whitman & Company on April 25, 2017. Kit is a plucky thirteen-year-old heroine who takes on an evil mine owner and his cronies. Welcome Patricia!

KIT is set in 1905 in the real gold rush town of Goldfield, Nevada. What attracted you to this wild setting?

I’ve always loved stories set in the old west, and when I discovered Goldfield, Nevada I just knew I had to set a story there. The fact that Goldfield was booming at the turn of the century made it even better. I did a lot of research and was amazed at how it almost seemed like it was two towns at times. It was both this rough-and-tumble boomtown with tent houses, horse-drawn stagecoaches, and gunfights in the street and this fancy, modern place with fine hotels, automobiles, and gourmet restaurants. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to be a kid in the middle of all that change and possibility.

What do you hope readers will take away from KIT?

First off, I hope they are entertained. After that I hope they see a bit of themselves in Kit and in her struggle to do the right thing when everyone around her is just looking out for themselves. There’s a line in the book spoken by one of my favorite supporting characters. He says, “It’s amazing what can be done when folks pull together.” I hope that idea sticks with people – the way lines in books I read as a child have stuck with me.

Why write for middle grade?

For the same reason I love middle-grade kids. They’re the best. Wild and funny, heartfelt and serious. Plus there’s so much growth – physical, emotional, social. The middle-grade years are all about stepping up to new challenges – challenges that take you just beyond what you know to be safe and secure and sure. New schools, new friendships, new insights on parents and the world – it’s all there in middle-grade stories. The voices are always clear and rich; the struggles are real and meaningful; and in the end there is always a glimmer of hope. Triumph and tears. Heartbreak and hope. How can you not love all of that?

What part of the publishing process has surprised you most?

I went into this thing pretty unaware of how the whole process works, so it’s pretty much been one surprise after another. I think the most pleasant surprise has been just how kind and generous the writing and publishing community is. I’ve met so many great and talented people this year – and everyone is so open with advice and encouragement. It’s been a real treat.

KIT comes out tomorrow (April 25th)!!! How will you celebrate? What are you most excited about?

I still can’t believe it’s really going to be out in the world! I live in a town with no bookstores (tragic, right?) so my plan is to take a drive over the hill and visit some bookstores, have a nice lunch – with cake! – and generally just take the day to appreciate the fact that something I have written has been published. I think I’m most excited about seeing my book on a store shelf right now. After that, I think it’s going to be getting that first piece of feedback from a kid who read it and loved it.

What can readers expect next from Patricia Bailey?

Right now, I’m working on a middle grade contemporary (with a touch of fantasy) and researching a new middle grade historical.

Thanks Patricia! Great interview! I love Kit for her courage, grit and determination, and I know readers all over the world will fall in love with her, too!