I want my books to be a conversation with another person.
When I write, I imagine the characters and their world. I also imagine what a reader will think or feel. When they will laugh. Or gasp. Or maybe even cry.
When I write, I imagine the characters and their world. I also imagine what a reader will think or feel. When they will laugh. Or gasp. Or maybe even cry.
Sometimes I'm lucky enough to find out. When I began writing Nature Girl, my first novel for kids, I
lived with a young reader--my ten-year-old daughter Sofia. She happened to
pick up the notebook in which I had begun the story of a girl named Megan. I could
see by Sofia’s enthusiasm that she loved Megan’s journey. And I also knew when Sofia lost
interest! Fortunately she could pinpoint exactly where my story had gotten off track, so I could fix
it.
Now that my novels are published, I have conversations with more readers. Sometimes I get to meet them at school appearances. Sometimes they
write to me to tell me what they like or didn’t like about a book. I love any kind of feedback.
I got a very special email the other day. My second novel,
The Girl Behind the Glass, inspired Olivia in Biloxi, Mississippi, to create
this fantastic display for a book fair.
 |
| Olivia stands in front of her prize winning display. |
There’s the house, creepier than I envisioned. I love how it
looks like it’s screaming. There are the hemlock trees. There are the twins at
the closet door. Olivia even remembered to put in the bats.
Congratulations, Olivia! Your hard work and imagination is
amazing. I’m so proud that my book inspired you.
