Yamile Saied Méndez is the author of the new middle grade novel The Trouble with Sunshine. Her other books include Wish Upon a Stray. She lives in Utah.
Q: What inspired you to write The Trouble with Sunshine, and how did you create your character Dori?
A: I was inspired by one of my favorite books ever, Heidi, by Joanna Spyri, if Heidi was a Gen Z born and raised in Florida who has to move to snowy Wyoming.
Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: The working title was “Here Comes the Sun,” after the famous song, but after much collaboration with my editor and the whole team at Scholastic, we came up with “The Trouble with Sunshine” to weave in the conflict with Dori’s beloved horse.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book called it a “heartfelt story of grief, family, and healing.” What do you think of that description, and what do you hope readers take away from the story?
A: I love it when reviewers get the heart of the story. Although the book tackles difficult topics, I hope that those readers who feel identified with Dorani will feel they’re not alone, and those who are lucky enough not to have experienced the same losses she goes through have more empathy and compassion.
Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I’m not an outliner but I always know how my story will end. I always have to incorporate a lot of changes as I revise, but that’s the magic of the process.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m working on a middle grade in verse!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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