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I'm thrilled to welcome a fabulous middle-grade author to the blog today who is celebrating not one, but TWO major career accomplishments today: A brand new book and a paperback release! Check it out...  Sandy Stark-McGinnis is a middle grade author. Her upcoming novel The Space Between Lost and Found will release April 28, 2020. Her debut middle grade, Extraordinary Birds, was a Kids Indie Next List pick.  Cassie’s always looked up to her mom, a vivacious woman with big ideas and a mischievous smile. Together they planned to check off every item on a big-dream bucket list, no matter how far the adventure would take them. But then Mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and everything changed. Now, Cassie tries to keep Mom happy, and to understand some of Dad’s restrictive new rules. She tries to focus on math lessons and struggles to come up with art ideas that used to just burst off her pen. When Mom’s memories started to fade, so did Cassie’s inspiration. And even worse, she’s accidentally pushed away Bailey, the one friend who could make it all okay. After the worst Mom day yet, the day she forgets Cassie’s name, Cassie decides to take action. It’s time for one last adventure, even if it means lying and taking a big risk to get there. Sandy Stark-McGinnis, acclaimed author of Extraordinary Birds, explores big questions – the kind that don’t always have answers – in a powerful story about family, friendship, and the memories that will always be part of us. The Interview... Who are you and what do you write? Teacher (currently 5th grade), Mom, writer of realist middle-grade Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you? I started out as a film studies major. I fell in love with stories through movies. I was never a reader up until then. Because of film, I started to read more and found my way to poetry. I became a poet and that led to writing prose. How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown? The journey has been exciting! My debut year was amazing. My publisher, Bloomsbury, was incredibly supportive and I was lucky enough to do a lot of traveling for conferences, school visits and festivals.  What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? I think the hardest part is learning not to compare yourself with others and continuing to believe in your stories and your voice. And the most enjoyable? The most enjoyable has been meeting other authors, booksellers, librarians, teachers, people who work in publishing, and readers from across the country. Would you go back and change anything? I don’t think so! Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? Or, what are your plans for the future? I just want to continue to be in a position to write and publish books. What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out? Stay present. Keep writing. And most importantly... Ketchup or Mayo? - Ketchup Night or Day? - Morning Inside or Outside? - Outside Dogs or Cats? - It used to be dogs, but now it’s cats. Twitter or Facebook? - Twitter Ebook or Paperback? - Definitely paperback Walk or Drive? - Walk Sun or Rain? - Rain Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? - Both. It depends on where I am in the process. At the beginning, it’s more pencil and notebook. Once I’m writing a draft, it’s keyboard. Comedy or Drama? - Drama Chips or Chocolate? - Cookies w/chocolate chips (Always with coffee!)
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October 2020
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