Happy Wednesday Everyone! Before I get to my interview with debut author Leah Henderson, I've got my IWSG post for you.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of the month is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group Day.
The co-hosts this month are Co-Hosts:
JH Moncrieff, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Jen Chandler, Megan Morgan, and Heather Gardner!
Today's Question: Did you ever say "I quit?" And if so, what happened to make you come back to writing?
I have never quit writing since I started, but I have had to put my writing on hold for six months or longer many times during approximately 15 years that I have been writing. My demanding job as an attorney, being a caregiver to my husband, being an almost single mom to my daughter, volunteer activities, and this blog have taken all my time and then some many times over the year. There was no choice because I was functioning on 5-6 hours sleep a day and being productive most of the rest of the time.
Now that I am a full-time writer for my job, my creative writing is on hold again. I love writing and the writer's life. But I'm trying to support my daughter and me with this job, so I have to take on more work if I can get it versus writing for myself. Plus this blog is a huge time commitment. And I have to balance on my writing with spending enough time with people, and I have a boyfriend and new life. So writing for me is on hold for now. What about you? Have you had to put your writing on hold or quit?
Today I’m excited to have debut author Leah Henderson here to share about her MG contemporary ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL, which is set in Senegal. It sounds like a fantastic story about a boy trying to keep his family together in a world that offers him hard choices. I was so excited about this book that I forgot that I had invited Leah to be on the blog and accidentally invited her on a second time.
Here’s a blurb from
Goodreads:
An orphaned boy in contemporary Senegal must decide between doing what is right and what is easy as he struggles to keep a promise he made to his dying father in this captivating debut novel laced with magical realism.
Eleven-year-old Mor was used to hearing his father’s voice, even if no one else could since his father’s death. It was comforting. It was also a reminder that Mor had made a promise to his father before he passed: keep your sisters safe. Keep the family together. But almost as soon as they are orphaned, that promise seems impossible to keep. With an aunt from the big city ready to separate him and his sisters as soon as she arrives, and a gang of boys from a nearby village wanting everything he has—including his spirit—Mor is tested in ways he never imagined.
With only the hot summer months to prove himself, Mor must face a choice. Does he listen to his father and keep his heart true, but risk breaking his promise through failure? Or is it easier to just join the Danka Boys, whom in all their maliciousness are at least loyal to their own?
One Shadow on the Wall is about love and loss, family and friendship, and creating your own future—even if it’s hard to do.
Hi Leah! Thanks so much for joining us.
Thank you for having me.
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
So I am probably what you would call a wandering, curious soul. I have always loved traveling and learning. And my family has always been big on exploring. I am happiest when I am getting lost then found somewhere in the world. I love meeting people and hearing their stories and figuring out that special something that makes them unique.
Tales of little-known places or the people who passed through them have always drawn me in and made me wonder and imagine. When I was younger, those were the stories that got me thinking about writing. I knew there were so many more layers to the people and places I was hearing about. I wanted to see their lives before and after their notable adventures. So I started creating my own possibilities for their stories. Then I quickly turned to envisioning my own protagonists on their own journeys. And that is how my love of writing began.
2. That's great how you have tapped into your love of traveling when creating stories. Where did you get the idea for your story?
I was traveling in Senegal, a place full of heart and vibrancy, and I saw a boy sitting on a beach wall.
It was only for a moment, but something about him drew me in, and I asked myself the question: what is his day like? The image of that boy stayed with me throughout the day. Later when I saw him again, I couldn’t help but write a short story (intended only for me) in answer to the question I’d asked myself earlier. I never imagined that string of words would turn into anything more.
3. So amazing how a split second of seeing this boy was the seed for your book. Learning about Senegal intrigues me, and reviews have said that you did a really good job portraying the culture. I know you visited Senegal and have read that travel plays a big part of your writing in general. Did you rely on your visit to Senegal to get the culture and setting right or also research the area?
I did everything I could possibly do to learn more about the culture. I read about it, watched local movies (for mannerisms and gestures) and observed and embraced everything I could while I was there and after. But the most important thing I did to heighten my understanding was to ask questions of people who knew this country best. I talked to professors, scholars, Senegalese friends, and foreigners who have made Senegal their home. I tried to absorb all I learned (notebooks full of notes) to create this fictional, but in many ways, true-to-life world.
4. Wow! You certainly were dedicated watching local movies. What advice do you have for other authors trying to writing about a different culture and country?
In my case, I had to first acknowledge that I knew very little. That my assumptions of a place I had only visited a handful of times and the people I interacted with there were not enough to tell an accurate story. I needed to read, watch, and do research. Whether you are fortunate enough to travel to the place you are writing about, or are reading books, watching films, or documentaries (by people of that culture & you have to do more research than you think you will ever need. Even then you may want to do more. But as I said, the most important thing after that is having people you can ask questions of and pass ideas by to make sure you are depicting that culture, its belief systems, and everyday interactions accurately. And if you are not willing or able to do these things then I think you truly need to ask yourself—should I be the one to try and tell this story?
5. The stakes are really high for Mor to keep his promise to his dad to protect his sisters or join the gang from the nearby village. Did the plot come to you from the start or did it develop as you wrote and revised your story?
Pieces of the plot came to me at the very beginning, but I didn’t know to what extent certain things would unfold until I had written a few drafts.
6. What was a challenge you faced in writing ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL and how did you overcome it?
My greatest challenge in writing this novel was believing that I could. I worried that I didn’t know enough. And even after a ton of research, I was still extremely apprehension. Far too many times I had witnessed authors writing about another culture doing harm, and I did not want to be responsible for more.
In terms of overcoming it, my father reminded me that this was an opportunity for kids like Mor to see themselves on the page, an opportunity that might not come around again so soon. Then he asked me a question: Was I really going to deny them this chance?
After that, my excuses were just that—excuses. I had to try. Remembering my own childhood frustrations of not seeing myself fully represented in stories, I was not going to be a barrier to this opportunity or any of its possibilities for them.
7. Awesome how your dad's encouragement kept you going. What was your road to publication like?
As I mentioned, this book came out of a short story (never meant to go beyond ten pages) but one of my grad school professors thought it could be the beginnings of a novel. She encouraged me to flush it out. Then another professor wanted to see ‘more of Mor’ as well. And when I finally graduated and thought I could put it aside for a while, someone else crossed my path and asked what was going to happen to Mor. At the time, I was still hesitant about the work (my father hadn’t imparted his words of wisdom yet 😊. I told her Mor would be resting for a long, long time. She thought that was a mistake.
With her advice and more encouragement, I finished a draft. Then I did a series of revisions until it was ready to send out. Of course I was still a bit reluctant to send it, but I did. And after a few rejections, I did decide to place it in a drawer for a while. I wasn’t completely discouraged though. One of the rejection letters I had received was very thoughtful, and, in a way, encouraged me to keep writing. So I did. I started a new manuscript. Then about nine months later, I crossed paths with the agent who had been so encouraging and they wanted to see Mor’s story again. From there things went pretty quickly. I signed with them. We did a few quick tweaks. Sent the manuscript out to a select list of editors (including one who had requested it) and I was fortunate to receive happy news shortly after. It took a lot of time and work to get to that point, but I needed to go through every second of it. I am so grateful to those who kept me writing this story. Without them it might not have ever come out of the drawer again.
8. So cool how your paths crossed with your agent. What was something that surprised you about working with your editor?
I know we all hope our editors will truly understand what we mean to do when we write drafts of our stories, and I was relieved and a little surprised at how well my editors understood what I wanted to convey even when I wasn’t quite there yet. They each asked the perfect questions to get me to the next layer of story.
9. What advice do you have for other debut authors in working with their editors?
Be open to receiving all the advice your editor has to share. That doesn’t mean you always have to agree, but it does mean you should think about it, and ask yourself if it will make your story stronger and if it keeps to the tone you are striving for. If so, welcome the advice, make it your own, and watch your story grow because of it.
10. How are you planning to market your book?
This is such a tough question. There are so many things that people recommend doing. It can be overwhelming, but you really have to figure out what is comfortable for you (and I’m still trying to figure that out). But one thing that has been invaluable for me is joining a debut author group. I have met some wonderful people taking similar journeys to mine. They also have similar apprehensions, worries, and questions. But more importantly, we get to celebrate each other’s successes, trade ideas, and figure this all out together.
11. I think figuring out the marketing aspect of writing is a struggle for many writers. What are you working on now?
At the moment I am working on two MG novels that are very different from ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL in many ways, but that are also similar in the themes of family, friendship, and finding your possibilities.
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Leah.
Thank you so much for asking me (twice). I was flattered and have really enjoyed this!
Ha! Ha! You can find Leah at:
Leah has generously offered ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower anyway you want and leave a comment through June 24th.
If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest.
If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. This giveaway is international.
Here's what's coming up:
Monday, June 12th I've got an agent spotlight interview with Bibi Lewis and a query critique giveaway
Monday, June 19th I have a guest post with debut author Kayla Olson and possibly her agent with a giveaway of her YA science fiction THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE
Wednesday, June 21st I have an agent spotlight interview with Kelly Van Sant and a query critique giveaway--my last until the fall
Monday, June 26th I have a guest post with debut author Emily Bain Murphy and her agent Peter Knapp with a giveaway of Erin's YA fantasy THE DISAPPEARANCES and a query critique giveaway by Peter--my last joint agent/author post until the fall
Wednesday, July 5th I have an interview with debut authors and sisters
Heidi Lang and Kati Bartkowski and a giveaway of their MG fantasy A DASH OF DRAGONS
Hope to see you on Monday!
