MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX

More documents

Recommendations

Info

14 feature author interview Jennifer Gooch Hummer Girl Unmoored Fiction Studio Books | www.fictionstudiobooks.com P R E M I E R E I S S U E : F A L L 2 0 1 3 Ages 10-14 GIRL UNMOORED Everyone’s new favorite seventh grader is Apron Bramhall, the unmoored star of Girl Unmoored. We talked to author Jennifer Gooch Hummer about Apron, writing, and the upcoming film adaption of the book. Middle Shelf: You started writing Girl Unmoored when you were 10. What did it start out as? How did it develop over time? Jennifer Gooch Hummer: When I was 10 years old, Apron knocked on my head. I don’t know where her name came from; as far as I know there has never been a girl named Apron in the history of the world.
But I started A Girl Named Apron in a red spiral notebook that I still have today. Not much happened in this first story; all Apron did was pack up to go live with her grandmother in Maine. I put the notebook aside, but Apron stayed with me all these years. It wasn’t until I met my friend Mike 15 years later that her story came to me. MS: What lesson have you learned about writing that you would share with your 10-year-old self? Hummer: Promise your characters you will tell their story, no matter what. Because the truth is, no one really cares if you finish that story. Obviously, this isn’t the case if you are writing for a homework assignment — your parents and teachers care a great deal about you finishing your work. But writing fiction as a passion or a hobby can be hard to stay focused on. There’s just so much to do in a day, and sitting down to write for yourself can become last on your list. But by promising your characters to tell their stories, your self-destructive thoughts have no choice but to take a hike. After all, your character showed up at the page. You should too. MS: Tell us about your main character, Apron Bramhall. Hummer: Apron has just lost her mother and is about to lose her best friend. And if those two things aren’t bad enough, her father is about to marry the evil manipulating nurse who took care of Apron’s mother. Apron is floating in a sea of trouble, until she meets Mike. Apron is 13 and Mike is in his 20’s. But Mike is handsome and charming and sweet, so it’s only natural that Apron would have a crush on him. Growing up is hard and spicy and foggy. One minute you think you know where you’re headed and the next minute someone switches the map on you. Mike and Chad show Apron what love means — not necessarily the romantic kind, but the kind that can save you. MS: What were some of your favorite books as a middle grade reader? Hummer: In middle grade, my favorite author was Judy Blume. Blubber and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing were two of my favorites. There was no one writing like Judy Blume at the time. Now, of course, there are many great contemporary middle grade fiction writers, but she was the leader of her genre. MS: Was it hard to say goodbye to Apron when you finished Girl Unmoored? Hummer: Yes! But then a great thing happened. Girl Unmoored was optioned for a film. I just finished writing the screenplay, so I spent my summer once again with Apron, Chad, Mike, and unfortunately, the evil M. Writing Girl Unmoored for the big screen was just about as fun as it gets as a writer. Now, it’s onto my next book. 15
Page 1 and 2: 68 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 PREMIE
Page 3: Margaret Brown founder and publishe
Page 6 and 7: a word from the editor 4 W elcome t
Page 8 and 9: 6 feature author interview Margaret
Page 10 and 11: 8 MS: What books did you enjoy read
Page 12 and 13: Chris Grabenstein 10 feature author
Page 14 and 15: 12 feature author interview McKenzi
Page 18 and 19: 16 P R E M I E R E I S S U E : F A
Page 20 and 21: 2 humor 18 My name is Lulu Harrison
Page 22 and 23: 4 dystopian 20 ilas, you know what
Page 24 and 25: 5 contemporary 22 “G abe, honey,
Page 26 and 27: 6 24 LUCY I float in and out of sle
Page 28 and 29: 26 feature under the covers P R E M
Page 34 and 35: nonfiction spotlight 32 P R E M I E
Page 36 and 37: novelty book spotlight You’ve nev
Page 38 and 39: 36 TEAK recommends Teak Balena is 1
Page 40 and 41: 38 publisher’s corner Tanglewood
Page 42 and 43: on our shelf Ages 10 + Remember Dip
Page 44 and 45: est of the Ages 8-12 THE BOOK MONST
Page 46 and 47: themed books: 44 P R E M I E R E I
Page 48 and 49: 46 poetry Crazy About Basketball by
Page 50 and 51: character spotlight 48 P R E M I E
Page 52 and 53: BOOK Seven Moon Circus: The Adventu
Page 54 and 55: BOOK Wild Boy by Lloyd Jones This b
Page 56 and 57: BOOK Charlie Bumpers vs. Teacher of
Page 58 and 59: BOOK I.Q.: The Alamo by Ronald Smit
Page 60 and 61: KATE BOURNE is the co-creator of th
Page 62 and 63: 60 “ LAST WORDS Two people are lo

MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?