Oh MG & YA Canada, Interview and Giveaway with Yolanda Ridge

Welcome  Yolanda Ridge to Oh MG & YA Canada.  She is a debut novelist whose middle grade novel, Trouble in the Trees is now out. I’ll be going a giveaway (international, all you have to do is comment). But, don’t forget to check out the giveaway being done on Good Reads, as well! Double your chances of winning a copy.





From Good Reads:

Eleven-year-old Bree is happiest when she's climbing the trees at Cedar Grove, her urban townhouse complex. She's the best climber around, even better than an older boy, Tyler, who drives her crazy with his competitiveness. When Ethan, a younger boy, falls from a tree and hurts his elbow, the neighborhood council bans all tree-climbing in Cedar Grove. If Bree chooses to ignore the bylaw, her family could be kicked out of their home, so she vows to change the rule instead. After giving a presentation to the neighborhood council, she realizes this is not a battle she can win on her own, but rallying the Cedar Grove troops is more difficult than she imagined.

On with the interview!


Yolanda, can you tell me where the idea for you book came from and what the journey was like once you got the idea? Smooth sailing? Stop and start?

When my friend, Claire, had tree climbing banned in her townhouse complex in South Vancouver she put together a short power point presentation called “Tree Illegal”. Claire was 11 years old at the time and although she didn’t fight the bylaw, she gave me the premise for a book that I just had to write. It took me a long time to finish the first draft (I was a stay at home Mom of twins who were two) and the manuscript went through quite a few revisions (including the ending which was changed at the request of my publisher) but relatively speaking, it was pretty smooth sailing.

I _loved_ climbing trees when I was a kid. Will admit to getting myself into a bit of climbing to high a few times. 

What is next for you? Is there another book in the works?

Yes! I just signed a contract with Orca for the sequel to Trouble in the Trees. Tentatively titled Road Block , it’s about Bree’s fight against the construction of a highway through her grandma’s farmland. It’s scheduled to come out in Spring 2012. I have another completed manuscript (in need of some revision) about a 12-year-old girl who’s battling some serious anxiety issues. And my manucript in progress has a 12 year old male protagonsit… so I guess I’m sticking with middle grade for now although I still have a pile of picture book manuscripts desperately seeking a publisher!

Congratulations on the sequel! 

How do you find the balance you need for family, reading and writing (your poetry and your novels)? A color coded timetable on your wall, possibly?

Ha! A color coded timetable – why didn’t I think of that? Basically, family is my first priority and takes up most of my time. I read after my boys go to bed, when I’m too tired to do anything else. I fit writing in the little time that's left… it used to be when my boys napped. Now it’s when they are at preschool or watching Dinosaur Train. I’m very productive with the time I have because there is so little of it. I’m a bit worried that when they go to full day kindergarten, I’ll start finding ways to procrastinate!

Does your poetry help with writing novels and visa versa?

Great question Deb, that’s something I’ve never really thought about before. I love words (a good thing for any type of writing) but sometimes I get a little carried away with things like rhyme, rhythm, alliteration… things you don’t want too much of in a fast paced novel. Poetry gives me an outlet where I can be more fancy and playful.

My book club is filled with aspiring writers, ages 8 to 13 and I’m gathering advice for them. When did you start writing and would you like to share some advice for my young writers?

I think I’ve always been a writer. I started writing for the school newspaper when I was in elementary school and I’ve been bombarding my friends and family with poems and screenplays for as long as I can remember. My biggest piece of advice is to write a lot… it’s a skill that takes practice, just like anything else. Not everything you write will be good but the more you write, and the more you share your writing with others, the more likely it is that you will find your niche.

Speaking of my book club kids, I always like to ask my guests what they would recommend for them. Is there something that is a recent read, or a book you loved when you were a kid?

I just read The Ballad of Knuckles McGraw by Lois Peterson, another book from OrcaYoung Readers. I loved the characters and the original story line (including it’s un-perfect ending.) As a kid I loved Judy Blume which is probably why I am attracted to realistic fiction with strong protagonists.

Thanks for the recommends! I've just ordered some of Lois's books, but didn't get the one you've mentioned...I will be sure to, though. 

Anything you would like to add? Maybe a question you wanted to answer...but I didn't ask?

No – you’re questions were great and my answers were long so I will leave it at that. Thank you so much for your interest in Trouble in the Trees and Oh MG and YA Canada!

Thanks again for being here Yolanda!


ORCA, is at BEA this week. If anyone drops by their booth, Yolanda and I hope you’ll stop, say hi and check out hers and other books ORCA will be showcasing. 


And, what's that, what's that you say...another giveaway? Yep. Just comment on this post I will enter you in a draw for THE TROUBLE IN TREES. You have until next Sunday June 5, Midnight MST.