Q&A with Diana Harmon Asher

 

 

 

 

Diana Harmon Asher is the author of the new middle grade novel Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz. Her other books include Upstaged. She lives in Westchester, New York. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz, and how did you create your character Evie?

 

A: I started this book with two story ideas, and I threw both at 12-year-old Evie in the opening chapters. First, she has to deal with the humiliating prospect of her mom going on a date with her school’s assistant principal. Second, she’s volunteered to tutor a boy—a cute boy—who she hasn’t spoken to since their playdates in kindergarten. 

 

Both ideas were inspired by my own experience. But the fun part of writing fiction is that you can start with personal experience and then write a story about what could’ve happened, what would’ve happened, and maybe best of all, what you wish had happened.

 

Like Evie, I lost my dad when I was young.  And like her, I had to watch my mom go on some pretty cringeworthy dates—never the assistant principal, but still, pretty icky.

 

I also remember starting junior high and recognizing a girl I’d played with in nursery school. We were both too shy to acknowledge our long-ago toddler friendship. I thought, what if it had been a boy-girl friendship, and that boy, Joey, now has new friends—and a reputation for trouble.

 

I’m always interested in the labels that kids are saddled with so early in life: good kid, shy kid, picked-on kid, and of course, “trouble.” I wanted to bring two very different groups together on a collision course and dig beneath those labels. Reuniting Evie and Joey in seventh grade, and creating the praying mantis “heist” gave me ways to do that.

 

As for Evie, she’s a lot like me, but she finds herself in situations that help her to question and change. Her identity as the cantor’s daughter makes her an oddity to Joey and his friends. It also colors her view of herself as a good kid, a respectful kid, giving extra weight to the “trouble” she encounters through Joey and his friend Tommy.

 

I loved writing from Evie’s point of view, with her sense of humor, a healthy skepticism and a strength that I probably didn’t have at that age.

 

Q: The writer Terri Libenson said of the book, “A warm, witty, and incredibly engaging story about family, fellowship, and bringing out the best in others.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I love this quote. For Terri to recognize the themes of family and fellowship makes me really happy. Family members have played a part in all of my books, but in this one, Evie’s relationship with her mom really takes center stage.

 

And while I know it’s important in a middle grade book to focus on the protagonist’s character growth, overcoming obstacles, being the hero of their story, I love my secondary characters! It was really rewarding to bring Chaucer’s idea of “fellowship” into the book and to create multiple, unlikely heroes.

 

My books always seem to feature a group of kids who are growing, changing, supporting or opposing one another. In Sidetracked, there’s the cross country team, in Upstaged, there’s the cast of the school musical. In this book, there are Evie’s friends, Joey’s friends, and for added fun, the Lunch Break crew.

 

Terri’s words, “Warm, witty and engaging” are icing on the cake!

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for  you?

 

A: I’m terrible with titles! I needed a lot of help from my editors for both Sidetracked and Upstaged, and Trouble Finds Evie Lefkowitz is no exception. We went through idea after idea.

 

I tried making it simple, like my previous novels, but just couldn’t come up with the right word. I did want it to be somewhat lighthearted, because there’s a lot of humor and fun in the book. Finally, I found this title to be not overly serious, but relaying the idea that despite her best efforts, “Trouble” is finding Evie. 

 

I was honored that Gary Schmidt, who in my opinion is the best of the best in middle grade literature, said, “The troubles that seem to seek out Evie come quickly and suddenly—and they’re set within the greatest trouble of all: losing someone you love.”

 

Q: You’ve noted that the novel draws on some of your own childhood memories—can you say more about that?

 

A: In my first draft, Evie’s father was a teacher. It wasn’t until I returned to the manuscript after several years that I realized how much more depth, humor, and color I could add to the story by entering into territory that was unique, and familiar to me—being the cantor’s daughter.  

 

I have so many visceral memories of my childhood temple. The big, airy new sanctuary and the small one with its stained-glass windows, the way it felt to be squished into the pew for kiddie services, hearing my father sing, exploring the choir loft and the maze of back staircases.

 

Everyone knew me and I knew everyone, the office staff, the custodian, the rabbis, the smiley congregants and the grumpy ones.

 

I didn’t have to make up Evie’s recollections of the days after her father’s death. My father was funny and smart and so full of life. When adults tell Evie it’s time to stop crying, Evie thinks to herself, “…it will never be time to stop crying. Why should I stop crying? If I stopped, I’d be part of it. An accomplice.”

 

Yeah, that was pretty much me. I’ve never stopped missing my father, but eventually I did stop crying. I guess I wanted to write a story that would take Evie to that place, too. I wanted to answer Evie’s question to herself, “I’m the cantor’s daughter, but my dad died, so who am I now?”

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on a book that features the characters from Sidetracked. It’s coming along slowly. It should be easier than starting from scratch, right? But I don’t want to repeat the same story. The challenges have to be different and the characters have grown.

 

I find many ways to be, well, sidetracked—like answering fun questions like these! But as I tell kids on school visits, everyone goes at their own pace, and you do what you can do. I’ll keep you posted!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I’m really happy that this book is being published by PJ Publishing, a young branch of the incredible Jewish book clubs, PJ Library and PJ Our Way. They will get the book into so many young readers’ hands through those book clubs.

 

But I’m also working hard to get the word out to a broader readership.  I think all young readers will enjoy Evie, and they can access the book via Amazon, Kindle, Libby, and other distribution methods that are in the works.  Readers can check my website, dianaharmonasher.com, for updates.

 

PJ Publishing is young, but I think it will be publishing and distributing many wonderful books in years to come.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Diana Harmon Asher.