Hackmatack Author Tour – Day Two in Edmundston, NB
In the excellent town of Edmunston there is a lovely library…(sounds like the opening line of a book!). There, I had the chance to meet with a wonderful group of students from Saint Mary’s Academy. You were a mix of grades and classrooms, but you felt like a tight-knit community to me, one that welcomed me in from the very first smile!
Some of you had already read Frostbite Hotel, and some of you had even explored a few of my other books (that was very exciting for me – thank you! – and, if you go on to read more, let me know what you think). What I loved about this group was the way you thought like readers and authors in terms of guessing what might happen next in my book, or in any book. We talked about how authors build authentic characters, the importance of developing backstories (even for minor characters), putting our characters in situations where they have to work, struggle and grow – basically the things that the most seasoned authors need to be thinking of all the time. You are a VERY sophisticated group and I hope that many (all!) of you will go on to explore your own potential as authors and that many (all!) of you will keep on reading!
I will especially remember our discussion about the difficulties authors face when writing a book, which arose from a great question. Some writing difficulties are practical challenges, like meeting deadlines, or keeping our creative energy flowing. Others are more personal, like exploring and remembering tough situations in order to write about them authentically. I talked about how in my upcoming book, I had to do a lot of thinking and remembering times in my life when I felt like I didn’t fit in or when I was too shy/scared to express myself. You bravely shared some of your own stories about fitting in or feeling different. And while we might not have solved those hard problems, I think we learned from each other that we aren’t the only ones to have these feelings. Not only that, when we read books about characters struggling with problems like our own, it’s another chance to know and feel we aren’t alone (because there’s a character out there who understands, and an author who does, too). There’s something very powerful and hopeful about that. So…read and write on, Saint Mary’s, for the joy and adventure of it all, and also to connect to the things that make us caring, feeling, human beings. (Okay, I’ve just decided that reading is awesome. 🙂 )
The visit with Saint Mary’s was unique in many ways, like getting to read from My Best Friend is a Viral Dancing Zombie (you’re the only ones I got to read it to!). And I even had the chance to read to Pig, an adorable friend of the library and avid story-lover (there are pictures out there to prove it!). Thanks for an amazing Hackmatack experience.
Till we meet again,
Karin 🙂
