MMGM + Oh MG & YA Canada-Interview and Giveaway with Leslie Carmichael

Today we welcome Leslie Carmichael to Oh MG & YA Canada and Marvelous Middle Grade Monday! To celebrate the double-ness of this day, the giveaway is for both of her books! Details at the end of the interview.

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Thanks for taking the time to do this. The books I’m giving away are Lyranel’s Song and Amulet of Amon Ra. Can you tell us where the idea came from for each and how developing each idea differed--or is your process the same for your novels.
The processes were very different. For Lyranel's Song, I had published a short story in a Blooming Tree Press anthology called Mistletoe Madness, the theme of which was "holiday stories." I knew music and I knew the middle ages, so I put those two together. Then the publisher said she liked it so much, she wanted me to turn it into a novel. I did NaNoWriMo that year, trying to get it jumpstarted. Of course, it was awful. Then I spent about a year redoing it.

For Amulet, it was actually the first novel I tried to write. I had it critiqued over and over again, rewrote it many times, kept changing it. When my publisher learned I had another novel ready, they offered to publish it. Meanwhile, the publisher had split off an imprint, CBAY Books, with Madeline, my editor, as its head.

What's next for you? 
I'm currently working on a YA novel, about sharks. I don't know who will publish it yet.


You are also a playwright. How does this help (or does it?) your with novel writing?
It does and it doesn't. I'm pretty good at dialogue now, but I tend to forget to describe clothing (in theatre, the costume manager decides that). Also, it takes up a lot of time, almost all year. This year, I asked for 6 months "off" so I could work on a novel. It's difficult to switch from one type of writing to another.

How do you research your novels? Can you tell us a little about your latest book that I know involved a fair chunk of research?
I read a lot. I mean, a LOT. For Amulet, I had the advantage of having grown up with books about Egypt in my father's collection. Also, I went to Egypt in 2000, to do research. Lyranel is sort of medieval, but since I had once belonged to the SCA, a medieval recreation group, I had sort of been there, too. My current book takes place in Bermuda, and I am still trying to work out a way to get there.

What advice would you have for some of my book club kids who are aspiring writers?
Persistence. Just keep doing it. Don't give up. Someone once told me, that talent, luck or persistence are required, and if you have two of the three, you'll do well, but I think persistence is the key.

Speaking of my book club kids. Something that is a recent read you’d like to recommend for them? They are ages 8 and up (have a few teen readers now) and read a wide variety of genres. What were some of your favourite reads when you were a kid?
I'm currently reading some YA SF, and really enjoyed Ship Breaker, and The True Meaning of Smekday. As a kid, my favorites were Black Beauty, Five Little Peppers, and A Wrinkle in Time. Then I discovered Andre Norton's books and was hooked on sf and fantasy forever.

And finally, favourite place to write at home? Sitting at a desk? On the couch--in bed?
At my desk downstairs when I'm home. I have no windows down there, so I put up some outdoor scenes. But I like to get out of the house and write in coffee shops and libraries, to reduce the distractions.

To learn more about Leslie, check out her website and to enter the giveaway I only ask that you comment with your email included. Open until Sunday July 10, midnight MST.  Happy Fourth to all my friends south of the border! 


If you have the time I'd love for you to check out the inaugural post for Oh PICTURE BOOKS! Canada, too. There is an interview and giveaway with Mary McKenna Siddals.