Benjamin Ludwig is the author of the new novel Ginny Moon, which focuses on a teenager with autism. He is an English and writing teacher, and he lives in New Hampshire.
Q: You've said Ginny Moon was based on your own experiences
as an adoptive parent. How did you come up with the character of Ginny, and was
it difficult to capture her voice?
A: Ginny’s voice came to me fully formed one night after my
daughter’s Special Olympics basketball practice. It wasn’t my daughter’s
voice at all, but something much more intense and fast, and very, very honest
in a way that was sometimes funny, sometimes tragic.
Once I heard the voice, I sat down to write what Ginny was
saying – and at that point I could barely keep up with her! Aside from her
voice, Ginny’s background is inspired by the many foster and adopted kids I’ve
met over the years, mostly as a public-school teacher.
In my experience, every child who isn’t living with his
parent wants to somehow get back to his mom and dad. Our parents are our
origin, and if our origin is a mystery, then we need to solve it in order to
understand ourselves.
Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started
writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: When I started writing the book, following Ginny and
understanding what it was she really wanted, I knew that at some point she
would met her birth mother. I didn’t know what the meeting would look
like, but I knew it had to happen.
I also knew that because Ginny was adopted, it would be
important (in the ending) to focus on her adopted parents as well. From
the very beginning I wanted Ginny to finally learn how to self-advocate – so I
hope readers see that by the end of the book, she’s beginning to learn how to
do that.
Q: How was the novel's title chosen, and what does it
signify for you?
A: The title changed three or four times, and I’m happy to
say that I like the final one the best. "Ginny Moon," as a title, speaks to
me because it says hey, this character is beyond defining. She’s a force
unto herself, and won’t be classified.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book when it
comes to special needs adoptions?
A: I hope they’ll see that kids with special needs really
are just kids. They’re unique individuals with the same needs that any
other kid might have.
I also hope people will see how important it is to adopt
teenagers! Most couples who adopt want to adopt babies – and that’s fine,
except for the fact that it leaves a lot of teenagers in a very difficult
situation.
If a child isn’t adopted, she “ages out” of the system when
she becomes an adult. At that point, she has to navigate the world without
any parents at all. I’m proud to have adopted a teenager, and hope to do
it again someday. If I could encourage other people to do the same, I
would.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Right now I’m working on another novel. The first
draft is finished, and I’m revising. I really can’t say much about it yet
except that it’s another voice-driven narrative, and this time around features
a male protagonist.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Yes! I’ve been asked a lot if there will be a
sequel to Ginny, and though I don’t envision one at this point (never say
never, right?), I did let her take over a section of my newsletter. Honestly,
I just couldn’t let her go after finishing the book.
So each month, in addition to news about my own travels and
adventures as a writer, my newsletter will feature a section in which Ginny
shares her thoughts and opinions, and tells us what she’s been up to. If
anyone might be interested in subscribing, here is the link.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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