1. What initially drew you to write for upper elementary/middle school readers?
I’ve always thought this was such a complicated age. In some ways, these readers are sophisticated and savvy, plugged into the world (literally!) in a way we adults weren’t. They’re bombarded with all kinds of information—but they’re processing this information in a kidlike way. I think this tension between what kids know and what they feel makes writing for them a fascinating challenge.
2. What message(s) do you intend to share in your work?
I never write a book with the intention of conveying a specific message. My main goal is to connect with readers, to help them see that they’re not alone, and to promote empathy. Of course, I also aim to entertain. But if there’s any underlying message in my work it’s probably this: people are more complex than you may realize, so it’s important not to be judgmental.
3. Please tell us about your creative process.
I don’t have a default process; I reinvent my process with every book. For some books, I’m a seat-of-the-pantser. Other books are fully plotted ahead of time. Also, some books (for example, VIOLETS ARE BLUE and my next novel, HAVEN JACOBS SAVES THE PLANET) require much research and consultation with experts. For a book like my 2023 MG, UNSTUCK, about a kid coping with writer’s block, my only preparation was reading middle-grade fantasy novels.
I think being an author is a bit like being a parent: you can’t have rigid, preconceived notions of the “right” way to proceed. You always want to be responsive to the characters and the topic, so you need to stay flexible in your approach.
4. Please tell us about VIOLETS ARE BLUE (and any other future work you'd like to share about).
VIOLETS ARE BLUE is about a seventh-grader named Wren who’s so obsessed with special effects makeup videos that she doesn’t process the fact that her mom is struggling with an opioid addiction. HAVEN JACOBS SAVES THE PLANET (September 27, 2022) is about a seventh grader who channels her eco-anxiety—anxiety about climate change—into a mission to save a local river. I guess what these books have in common, besides a sensitive, intelligent protagonist struggling to make sense of the world, is a focus on mental health and an awareness of the power of the internet.
5. Any advice for young authors?
First, keep reading. You can’t be a writer unless you’re a reader, so read constantly. Read what you love, but also try to read widely in all genres.
Second, get used to sharing your work. It’s hard to grow as an author if you keep your writing locked in a desk drawer. When you do share your work, try to listen to reader reactions without being defensive. Try to see feedback as a gift.
And third, fall in love with revision. If you write professionally, you’ll spend way more time rewriting than writing. I often tell kids that I’m not a writer—I’m a re-writer!
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