Hannah Barnaby, acclaimed
author of Wonder Show (2012,
Houghton) was my first graduate school writing mentor. She slogged with me
through the jungle of the first novel I ever wrote, one which will never see
the light of day, and never once told me to sharpen my skills at my day job. I
owe her hugely.
author of Wonder Show (2012,
Houghton) was my first graduate school writing mentor. She slogged with me
through the jungle of the first novel I ever wrote, one which will never see
the light of day, and never once told me to sharpen my skills at my day job. I
owe her hugely.
Hannah recently participated
in The Next Big Thing Blog Tour, which started in Australia and is now looping
its way from blog to blog around the cosmos. She tapped me in her blog post as
her NEXT Next Big Thing nominee, so I’ll now answer the questions and pass the
baton. But first, a little about Wonder Show. In Hannah’s own words, it’s the story of a
fourteen-year-old girl named Portia who finds herself with very few friends and
no family at all, having been deposited in a home for wayward girls that is
owned by the nefarious Mister. When a traveling carnival sideshow crosses
Portia’s path one day, she seizes the chance to run away and follows the Wonder
Show folks on their dusty, dismal journey through post-Depression America. Read
more about Hannah and Wonder Show here or on my earlier blog post here.
My upcoming novel,
All the Truth That’s in Me, releases September 26, 2013 from Viking – just under a month
from now. Judith, a
young woman living in a colonial village, has suffered a trauma that left her unable
to speak. Years prior, she and her best friend went missing from their small
village. Soon after, the friend’s body washed up in a river. When Judith returns
two years later, she can’t speak. She’s assumed to bear moral guilt for what’s
happened, so she becomes an outcast in her repressive, Puritanical community. All
her life she’s been in love with a young man named Lucas, but he’s beyond her
reach forever, now. The whole book is written as an address to him – not as a
letter, but as an outpouring of all her thoughts to him – as though she’s
telling him all that she would, if she could.
Now for the questions.
1)
What was the working title of your book?
What was the working title of your book?
As I wrote it, I called it Lucas,
since it was addressed to him – he was the “you” of the book, and the focal
point of Judith’s preoccupation. In hindsight, I’m glad my editor prevailed
upon me to choose better.
since it was addressed to him – he was the “you” of the book, and the focal
point of Judith’s preoccupation. In hindsight, I’m glad my editor prevailed
upon me to choose better.
2)
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was reading a discussion in a craft
book about point of view in literature, and I read about the infrequent use of
second person narration. I thought, “Hm. I wonder if I could write a second
person novel?” So I opened my laptop and let my mind wander. The first line of
the novel popped into my head, followed in rapid succession by the entire first
(short) chapter. I had tons left to figure out, but I definitely felt I was on
to something. As it turned out, what I’d written wasn’t true second person,
since the “you” figure was a character within the story (as opposed to the reader).
That’s okay. Any prompt that gets you writing is a good one, even if the result
isn’t quite what you’d planned.
book about point of view in literature, and I read about the infrequent use of
second person narration. I thought, “Hm. I wonder if I could write a second
person novel?” So I opened my laptop and let my mind wander. The first line of
the novel popped into my head, followed in rapid succession by the entire first
(short) chapter. I had tons left to figure out, but I definitely felt I was on
to something. As it turned out, what I’d written wasn’t true second person,
since the “you” figure was a character within the story (as opposed to the reader).
That’s okay. Any prompt that gets you writing is a good one, even if the result
isn’t quite what you’d planned.
3)
What genre does your book fall under?
What genre does your book fall under?
It’s definitely young adult. People
call it historical, because it’s set in the past, but it’s not affixed to an
actual historical period, so I’m not sure that’s quite right. It’s a made-up
place and time that feels like Colonial America, but isn’t ever specifically
named as such. It’s realistic fiction, and it’s been called a romance, a
mystery, and a thriller. A YA romystiller?
call it historical, because it’s set in the past, but it’s not affixed to an
actual historical period, so I’m not sure that’s quite right. It’s a made-up
place and time that feels like Colonial America, but isn’t ever specifically
named as such. It’s realistic fiction, and it’s been called a romance, a
mystery, and a thriller. A YA romystiller?
4) What actors would you choose to
play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Oh, I am terrible at these questions.
I don’t watch enough TV or movies to know who’s who. A disproportionate number
of the characters in the movies I do watch are comic book monsters or Orcs. I
suppose I can’t cast Lady Arwen and Legolas?
(I did not just say that, did I?)
I don’t watch enough TV or movies to know who’s who. A disproportionate number
of the characters in the movies I do watch are comic book monsters or Orcs. I
suppose I can’t cast Lady Arwen and Legolas?
(I did not just say that, did I?)
Suggestions welcome!
5)
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
“Judith can’t speak, but she can lay
down her life to save her village if it offers a hope of survival to Lucas, whom
she loves from afar – but doing so resurrects ghosts and secrets better left
forgotten, and exacts from Judith a painful price to tell her tale.”
down her life to save her village if it offers a hope of survival to Lucas, whom
she loves from afar – but doing so resurrects ghosts and secrets better left
forgotten, and exacts from Judith a painful price to tell her tale.”
Oof, that’s a monster of a sentence.
Where’s an editor when you need one?
Where’s an editor when you need one?
6) Who or what inspired you to write this book?
See #2.
7)
What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?
So far, the international markets have been
very receptive to All the Truth That’s in
Me, which will appear in 12 other countries or territories outside the US
and Canada. Reviewers have been kind, too; the novel has three stars so far. On a more personal level, I think Lucas is pretty swoon-worthy, but then, I might be biased. Check out a 35-page excerpt of the novel here.
very receptive to All the Truth That’s in
Me, which will appear in 12 other countries or territories outside the US
and Canada. Reviewers have been kind, too; the novel has three stars so far. On a more personal level, I think Lucas is pretty swoon-worthy, but then, I might be biased. Check out a 35-page excerpt of the novel here.
Next on the Next Big
Thing blog trail, check out my dear and funny friend Erin Dionne!
Thing blog trail, check out my dear and funny friend Erin Dionne!