Valerie Sherrard is the author of the new middle grade novel Absolutely No Body Parts. Her many other books include Birdspell. She lives in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.
Q: What inspired you to write Absolutely No Body Parts?
A: This middle grade novel was the result of an idea that started out as a potential thriller, but morphed over time into a story with greater depth. The intrigue remains and there's some creepy stuff, but also plenty of humor, and our young people have some unexpected challenges to deal with.
Q: How did you create your characters Nick, Khenan, and Florrie, and how would you describe the dynamic among them?
A: The narrator (Nick) and his best friend (Khenan) were developed pretty much together. I wanted a pair of friends, young teen males, with a relatively typical relationship, but distinctive voices and traits. A shared experience (they each lost a parent) strengthened their bond but there was a divide in how they handled this. They complement each other in some ways, but are at odds in others.
My original intent with Florrie's character was to add someone quirky, giving me an opportunity to add humour. However, she had her own ideas, as characters often do, and quickly grew into a far more rounded, sympathetic and significant part of the story.
The three clash at times but as they learn more about each other, genuine friendships develop. Of the three characters, I anticipate that Florrie will be a favorite for many readers.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: Like the plot, the title went through a number of changes. It's not always easy to find something that represents the story, the tone, and will make readers curious to know more. As I recall, there were two earlier "working titles" -- each discarded as not quite right.
I eventually put together a list of possible choices and we went with the one that was most preferred by the staff at Cormorant/DCB Young Readers. It happened to be my top choice too, so I was pleased with the outcome.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?
A: I hope readers will relate to the young people in the story in whatever ways serve them best. There's a lot in there. Besides the unexpected situation central to the plot, there are issues of loss, addiction and abuse.
I think the strongest message, and one most readers will recognize, is the importance of caring about and supporting each other. Small gestures can have surprisingly big results. As Nick, Khenan, and Florrie navigate their individual situations, their understanding of each other begins to impact their own lives as well.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I have three projects on the go. One is a middle grade nonfiction, the second is a chapter book for ages 9-12, and the third is a middle grade novel about a girl in the 1970s, who discovers her small town is hiding a surprising number of secrets, including what's behind her own mother's disappearance.
The (probable) title for that story is The Secrets of Turnaround Bay. I anticipate that it will be published in the fall of 2027 with DCB Young Readers, who also published Absolutely No Body Parts and six other of my 35 titles.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: My stories frequently begin with a character. It's unusual for me to write from a story idea - and even when I do, the main character has to come to life for me before I can do much of anything with it.
Something that's changed for me over time is my feeling toward outlines. While I never chart a story from start to finish, I've begun keeping a summary of what's happening as I write, and I find that's resulted in more detailed planning ahead. It helps to prevent dropped threads and supports the proper development of subplots.
Thanks so much for inviting me to be a guest on your blog. It was a pleasure!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
No comments:
Post a Comment