Anna has been writing children’s books for 10 years now; her first book came out in 2011, and her most recent book, Double Clique: A Wish Novel, came out in December of 2021. She was born in Poland and moved to the US when she was five. Stories have always been a part of her life and have given her a voice. Anna has published picture books, chapter books, and middle grade books, a few of which I’ve had the pleasure of reading.

I had the opportunity to interview her and talk all about her books and her journey as a children’s book writer! I wish I had the space to share all of our fantastic interview, but Anna has some beautiful insights for you into the world of being a children’s book writer.  

Interview with Anna Staniszewski

What made you want to write for kids?

Anna Staniszewski: I knew pretty early on that I wanted to be a writer. Eventually, I started writing plays, and I went to college for playwriting, actually. After I graduated, I loved theater, but I didn’t love it enough to do it in such a tough industry, not that writing books is that much easier. 

So I started working on short stories instead, and I thought I was writing for adults. But I got some feedback from a critique partner who said, “You know, all your characters sound 13.” And I thought, “Hmm. That’s interesting.” Then I kind of thought back to all the books that had really meant something to me in my life and so many of them were books I had read when I was young. 

Right around that time, I wound up getting a job at the Eric Carle Museum in Western Massachusetts. I started working there, and I was surrounded by people who loved children’s books. I thought, “Maybe this is a sign. This is what I am supposed to be doing.” So I went back to grad school to learn how to write children’s books.

Olivia Fisher: That’s amazing! And that must have been such an experience working at the Eric Carle Museum!

What was the first book you published?

AS: So this was actually the fourth book that I wrote and the first one that got published. It was my book My Very UnFairy Tale Life, and it came out from Sourcebooks. This book basically took all the things that I loved when I was a kid and put them into one book. It’s like a funny fantasy that’s rooted in fairy tales, especially the darker ones. 

I had been trying to get published with like a couple darker stories. It had taken me like a year to find an agent, and I was querying multiple projects. Then it took us [my agent and I] a year to sell something. This was right around when dystopian was really big. 

So I had like some darker manuscripts that almost got picked up but didn’t, and while I was kind of struggling through all that I was really writing this book just to make myself giggled. It’s so often true for writers that we start down one path thinking, “Yeah, I’m going to do this thing.” And then all of a sudden, we find ourselves doing what we love and being able to publish.

OF: Did those other books ever end up getting picked up, or are they still on the shelves?

AS: They’re on the shelf, but I feel like I learned so much. I feel like you learn so much from every book that you write, and I always feel like you take little tidbits from books you put aside, and some element of those projects might work itself into another book. It was never a waste of time to write those books. It was the time I needed to really get better at my craft.

What was the publishing process like for your first book?

AS: I had queried a couple other books and got some really nice rejections, but they didn’t go anywhere. I was working on something new and that actually wound up winning the Pen New England Discovery Award. So while I was at the reception for that award, this agent came up to me and was like, “I’m a new agent. I’m looking for new clients. If you’re looking for an agent…” and I was like, “Oh!’ I’d been querying for like a year,” and so I wound up connecting with Amy Jill Packett who is still my agent now, and she signed me for a different project. That one came really close to selling, but it didn’t. Luckily, I was working on this other book, and that’s the one that sold. We sold it as a stand alone with series potential.

How has the publishing process changed for you? Did that process change after you published your first book?

AS: The publishing process has changed so much for me because my first book, My Very UnFairy Tale Life, I was writing for fun, so I had no plan. There was no outline. I would just work on it when I felt like it. And then to go from selling that book to suddenly having to write two sequels with a deadline, I had to learn so much about plotting and getting unstuck. 

That first book from the time I started it to the time that it was on shelves was probably about four years. And since then, I’ve gotten to be much more organized about my writing process. I’m still not an outliner necessarily, but I’ve gotten really into writing a synopsis of the whole story. 

I’ve also found that I work best when I have deadlines and have multiple projects going at the same time. If I’m working on one thing and I get stuck, then I need something else to work on while this other thing’s sitting for a while. I can’t afford to get stuck. I can’t afford to give up on something, especially if I have a deadline. So I feel like I’ve found different ways to stay motivated and focused.

Where did you get your inspiration for your latest book?

AS: So with the Clique series, Clique Here and Double Clique, they’re both kind of inspired by my middle school woes. I was not exactly popular in middle school, and I remember wishing there was some kind of magic, like a popularity formula, that I could use. 

Then, about three or four years ago, I was thinking about that again and trying to come up with a new idea for a story. I went back to that idea, but I want to try writing it as a realistic novel rather than something that was magical because that would have been too similar to the project I had just finished. 

I thought what if it wasn’t magic that this character was using to try to become popular? What if it was science? So basically, she uses science in the first book to try and hack popularity because she was being bullied at her old school, and now she’s starting over at a new school. She thinks if she could just be in the popular crowd then she’ll be safe from bullies. So she uses science to try to get in with the popular crowd, and of course, hijinks ensue. 

In the second book, Double Clique, she tries to use science to help her patch things up with her friend. So they were very fun to write.

OF: That’s fantastic! I know those are definitely issues that lots of kids can relate to in their middle school experience.

What’s next on your author journey?

AS: I always like trying new things. That’s how I went from writing middle grade to writing picture books to writing chapter books. I love writing all sorts of things in different genres and different formats for different audiences. 

Right now, I’ve been working on a work for hire series, which I’ve never done before, and it’s actually under a pen name. It’s the Simon Seahorse Series and they’re written under my pen name, Cora Reef, which is adorable.

OF: That’s so cute!

AS: The first three books of this series actually just came out last month, and I have a few of those in the works, which has been really fun to do. And then, speaking of trying new things, I’ve been working on graphic novels, middle grade ones. And I am actually using a lot of my playwriting skills that I’ve sort of dusted off because writing a graphic novel script is very similar to playwriting in a lot of ways. And then I’m just always playing around with new ideas on the side. I want to always keep learning and trying new things by challenging myself to write for a new genre, or format, or audience.

OF: Oh man, that is so cool, and the world of kids graphic novels has become so vibrant recently.

Anna, thank you for taking the time to share all of your incredible author journey with us, and congratulations on your latest book Double Clique! To read Anna’s books or follow along with her writing journey, feel free to visit her website.

Tell us in the comments: Have you ever read anything by Anna Staniszewski?

Olivia Fisher is a children’s lit writer and freelance editor with an English degree from BYU-Idaho. When she isn’t dreaming about living in a treehouse or chasing down her two young boys, she enjoys curling up with a book, watching Star Wars, writing her next adventure, and trying to live in the state of child-like wonder that we all secretly, or not so secretly, miss. Follow her adventures on Twitter or Instagram, or hire her for your next editing escapade on Fiverr.

The post Kid Lit Craft: Interview with Anna Staniszewski appeared first on DIY MFA.

I’m sometimes tempted to respond to this query with one of my own: why wouldn’t I choose to tackle heavy subjects for middle grade readers? 

Even before the pandemic, kids were grappling with school shootings. And since the beginning of time, they’ve had to deal with the loss of loved ones––mother, fathers, extended family, friends, and community members. 

As a society, we like to pretend that childhood is a place of innocence and wonder, a place filled with ice cream and teddy bears, a place where nothing bad ever happens. 

That’s not to say that I don’t understand the temptation to shelter children, to provide them with books that reflect the gentler side of life. Those types of books are wonderful, and important. 

But keeping children from stories of loss and grief deprives them of a safe space to grapple with difficult subjects. It deprives them of the chance to reflect on their own beliefs, to internalize a model for how they might one day not only encounter trauma and survive, but thrive.

The Real Question

The question, then, isn’t why it’s important to tackle heavy subjects with middle grade readers––it’s how do we approach these subjects in a way that’s age-appropriate? 

For me, the answer comes in the form of writing fantasy. 

More specifically, I reinvented the traditional (and often frightening) Grim Reaper mythology to make it more kid-friendly. Instead of a skeletal figure dressed in black, my Reaper is an invisible Great White Wolf. And instead of exploring concepts like heaven and hell, I utilized my setting––a French-inspired fishing village––to create the Sea-in-the-Sky, where stars are lanterns lit by the departed while sailing to eternity. 

In replacing funerals with a Release ceremony, flowers with feathers, and coffins with boats, I’ve removed some of the immediacy of real death, giving readers the chance to approach the subject on their own terms and at their own comfort level. 

Knowing the Middle Grade Market

This is especially important because the middle grade market ranges from kids as young as eight all the way up to twelve and thirteen years old. The needs of kids on the younger end of that spectrum are far different than the needs of older readers. 

Fantasy books are unique in that they offer a layered reading experience, allowing each reader to pull from the book whatever they need depending on maturity and interests. Young readers or those who are looking for fun, adventure, mystery, and escape can find it in the pages of fantasy novels. Older readers looking for more depth and emotional resonance will tune in to the darker themes that younger readers may gloss over. 

Books such as Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, The Boy, The Boat, and the Beast by Samantha M. Clark, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman are all great examples. 

Humor and Tackling Heavy Subjects with Middle Grade Readers

Another important tool in tackling heavy subjects with middle grade readers is the use of humor. In The Wolf’s Curse, the Wolf acts as an omniscient narrator, offering moments of levity with wry observations about the villagers’ many superstitions, including their insistence on carrying dead rabbits’ feet to protect them from death. 

Such moments offer young readers a reprieve, a release from the darker truths reflected on the pages. 

Author Tahereh Mafi uses this same tool with great results in her middle grade novel Whichwood, in which a young girl is tasked with washing souls from their bodies. She’s haunted by her mother’s ghost, a spirit she tolerates with observations such as, “Ghosts, it turns out, were excessively insecure creatures, offended by every imagined slight; they required constant coddling and found comfort only in their romantic musings on death––which, as you might imagine, made them miserable companions.”

Including humor can be particularly important when writing contemporary, realistic stories that tackle heavy subjects. Debut author Yvette Clark uses this technique in Glitter Gets Everywhere, a novel about a young British girl trying to cope with the loss of her mother. Among all the grief, the main character manages to find small moments of humor, such as turning her ponytail wearing, bully-squashing older sister into an imaginary superhero called “Ponytail Girl,” who she imagines will save the world and then film Youtube videos about avocado hair conditioners. 

Clark also utilizes quirky and humorous side characters, such as Mrs. Allison and her French bulldog, Sir Lancelot, who is described as a “glum-looking creature, constantly snuffling and with numerous digestive issues resulting in horrible farts…” These touches result in a story that doesn’t shy away from the grieving process, but still provides an enjoyable read. 

More than ever before, the middle grade market is opening up to books that address nearly every heavy topic out there; there’s no doubt that writing these stories can be a challenge and carry a great responsibility, but offering young readers books to help them process traumatic events is essential, and incorporating fantasy and humor can help make the stories more palatable for the young readers we’re trying to reach. 

Jessica Vitalis is a Columbia MBA-wielding writer. After leaving home at 16, Vitalis explored several careers before turning her talents to middle grade literature. She brings her experience growing up in a nontraditional childhood to her stories, exploring themes such as death and grief, domestic violence, and socio-economic disparities. With a mission to write thought-provoking and entertaining literature, she often includes magic and fantastical settings. As an active volunteer in the kidlit community, she’s also passionate about using her privilege to lift up other voices. In addition to volunteering with We Need Diverse Books and Pitch Wars, she founded Magic in the Middle, a series of free monthly recorded book talks, to help educators introduce young readers to new stories. An American expat, she now lives in Canada with her husband and two precocious daughters. She loves traveling, sailing and scuba diving, but when she’s at home, she can usually be found reading a book or changing the batteries in her heated socks. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post Not All Ice Cream and Teddy Bears: Tackling Heavy Subjects with Middle Grade Readers appeared first on DIY MFA.

Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Henry Clark.

Henry is the author of What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World as well as The Book That Proves Time Travel Happens. He has contributed articles to MAD magazine and published fiction in Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine in addition to acting at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, a living-history museum. Today we’ll be talking about his latest novel: What We Found in the Corn Maze and How It Saved a Dragon.

In this episode Henry and I discuss:

• The symbolic meaning of numbers and how it interplays with magic.
• Why a trio of protagonists creates a great dynamic for moving along a story.
• How to use humor as a vehicle for character development.

Plus, his #1 tip for writers.

About Henry Clark

Henry Clark is the author of What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World and The Book That Proves Time Travel Happens. He has contributed articles to MAD magazine and published fiction in Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine in addition to acting at Old Bethpage Village Restoration, a living-history museum. He lives in St. Augustine, Florida. Visit his website and connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. 

What We Found in the Corn Maze and How it Saved a Dragon

For fans of Adam Gidwitz, Chris Grabenstein, and Adam Rex comes the story of three kids who discover a book of magic spells that can only be cast a few short minutes a day!

When three kids discover a book of magic spells that can only be cast a few short minutes a day, they’ll need all the time they can get to save a dying magical world, its last dragon, and themselves!

An ordinary day turns extraordinary when twelve-year-old Cal witnesses his neighbor Modesty summon a slew of lost coins without lifting a finger. Turns out she has a secret manual of magic spells…but they only work sometimes. And they’re the most boring spells ever: To Change the Color of a Room, To Repair a Chimney, To Walk With Stilts, To Untangle Yarn. Useless!

But when Cal, his friend Drew, and Modesty are suddenly transported to the world the spells come from — a world that’s about to lose its last dragon — they’ll have to find a way to use the oddly specific incantations to save the day, if only they can figure out when magic works.

From the inventive mind of Henry Clark comes a hilariously wacky adventure about magic, friendship, a lookout tower come to life, a maze in the shape of a dragon, an actual dragon named Phlogiston, and lots and lots of popcorn.

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

Link to Episode 311

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

The post Episode 311: World-Building in Middle Grade Fantasy – Interview with Henry Clark appeared first on DIY MFA.