Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Interview and Giveaway with Margo Sorenson

 

It's my great pleasure to welcome Margo Sorenson to my blog.   Here is a little bit about her from her website:


Margo Sorenson is the author of twenty-eight books for young readers. A National Milken Educator and Minnesota Book Award finalist in YA fiction, Margo’s latest middle grade mystery/adventure is Island Danger, (MuseItUp Publishing, June 2012) set in Hawaii, complete with surfing and explosives.


Her book, ISLAND DANGER is a middle grade/tween mystery set in Hawaii featuring an utterly believable 14 year old boy named Todd. He's on a mission to prove to he is old enough to take care of himself and not always leaping before he looks. The thing with Todd is that he does leap before he looks when trying to prove himself. Sometimes he is understanding of others and sympathetic, even willing to stand up to his Uncle who has nothing good to say about native Hawaiians. In the same thoughts, though, he too judges others and assumes the worst based on who they are. In other words, he really is confused and trying to figure himself out while showing everyone he is a grown-up. I remember those days. This book is a great contemporary read with lots of suspense, some mystery and dangerous situations that keep the story moving along. Although it is considered a boy book, this is one I could easily recommend/booktalk for girls, especially ones who like mystery and adventure. And let me tell you--you feel like you are in Hawaii. The author knows her setting and people inside out and backwards. More from the publisher:


When fourteen-year-old soccer star Todd arrives in Hawaii, he hears that radical, militant Hawaiian activists have hidden weapons in a nearby ravine to use for their rebellion against the U.S. government to gain Hawaiian independence.  Even though he’s warned that people are raising marijuana or “pakalolo” in the ravine, guarding their crops with rifles, pit bulls, and explosives, Todd plans to scout the ravine and find the weapons, hoping he can finally earn his family’s respect and find some adventure to offset his boring summer.  What will Todd discover in the ravine that could force him to rethink everything he’s believed?






Margo and I got talking back and forth on Sunday and she kindly agreed to answer a few questions for me. As some of you know I am always interested in how writers balance everything they do and that is where I started with the questions.


We love talking finding that balance in your writing career. How do you find yours? How has it changed now that your book is out and you are out there promoting it?


How do I find a balance between my writing life and my “real life”?  Hmmmm, well, once we take into consideration that I’m probably a bit unbalanced to begin with, the answer is that it ebbs and flows.  If I have an editorial letter that I need to be working on, my schedule goes into overdrive, and I’m at the computer revising early, say, around 6:30 AM.  I work all day, taking a few breaks.  If I’ve got a work-in-progress, depending on whether I’m “on fire” at a particular juncture of the plot, I can’t keep my hands off the keyboard.  But, on the other hand, if I’m at a “sticking point,” and am worrying over a characterization interaction or a plot flaw, then I get up and take a long break.  Over the years, I’ve found that letting ideas simmer on the “back burner,” so to speak, is often the best way to get clear of the ‘gators in the writing swamp.  Now, that was a mixed metaphor! 



 Right now, I’m fortunate that my children are grown, my dear husband is very understanding, and I’m retired, so I do have much more latitude in my daily life than when I was raising my family, teaching middle and high school, and trying to write a little at the same time.  Needless to say, the family always came first, even though sometimes I’d sit at soccer games, thinking about a story idea, but I’ve never regretted putting family first.  Nowadays, when I have a book coming out, I start six months in advance with a to-do list, and then as the day draws closer, I go into action again.  I’ll spend possibly one to two hours a day doing just publicity.  I still keep an eye out for publicity opportunities for my other books, as well, especially since they’re still in print, and follow up on those. When the grandbabies call, though, I’m front and center for them!  


 What is a piece of advice you have for writers who may have hard time switching back and forth between the writing, the reading, the social media-ing and that crazy thing called life?


As I said, the “back burner” analogy has stood me in good stead over the years.  A theory that I learned in a  course in psychology of the unconscious that I took at Berserkley has proven to be most helpful: that our unconscious minds do a lot of work when we’re not “paying full attention,” and I use those times to enjoy family and friends and let the writing things sort themselves out.  I know other writers do the same.  The social media conundrum is interesting, especially to this dinosaur, and I love this quote I just read:  “Facebook is where you lie to your friends and Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers.”  Ha!  Earlier, I mentioned that family comes first, and I’m into “regret minimization:” not doing things I’ll regret later, and doing things that I won’t regret I didn’t do!  Does that make sense?  First things first, and you’ll never regret.  Or, not often, anyway.


Would you care to share a snapshot of your day?


Honestly, every day is different when you’re retired, but I’m a morning person, so I’m up early and doing some writing task – or pleasure: either working on a new idea, or doing some promotion (besides ISLAND DANGER, I have another middle grade ebook mystery  TIME OF HONOR, coming out in October), or revising some of my many (blush!) works in progress.  When we travel, I always have a notebook with me, along with pencils and a small pencil sharpener.  I know, pencil sharpeners are hard to find these days!  I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and thoughts, and the notebook is key.  Otherwise, I may play golf or read a book for a few hours, watch a baseball game (go, Angels!), cook an Italian dinner for my dear husband, and enjoy the day.  Still, that back burner is cookin’ away!


Thank you so much, Deb, for hosting me on your wonderful blog!


Thank you for being here and taking some last minute questions from me. It's been great getting to know and your writing more. I'll be waiting and watching for TIME OF HONOR. In the meantime happy writing...and using that back burner!


Next week, Margo will be over on Middle Grade Mafioso...yep, our favourite Don will be back in town!


Further links: 


Author's Website, includes interviews, new books, information for teachers.


Author talking about writing ISLAND DANGER.


Guest post on Writing for Boys!


If you'd like to win a copy of ISLAND DANGER just leave a comment and next Monday I will draw a winner and send you the book in format preference.


MORE! GUEST POSTING today:


 I am guest posting on Shannon Messenger's website again. Talking it up for The Rock of Ivanore, oh yes I am! Please head over there to check it out and enter the giveaway!

Also, there is still time to enter the giveaway for SEEING CINDERELLA.

More MMGM love:

Shannon Whitney Messenger (a.k.a. Fearless Leader)-Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe
Jennifer Rumberger-Children's Author
Joanne Fritz-My Brain on Books
Danika Dinsmore-The Accidental Novelist 
Shannon O'Donnell-Book Dreaming
Natalie Aguirre-Literary Rambles
Brooke Favero-Somewhere in the Middle
Ally Beecher- Kid Lit Frenzy
Barbara Watson-Novel and Nouveau
Anita Laydon Miller-her middle grade blog
Michael G-G-Middle Grade Mafioso
Jessica Lei-her blog  
Pam Torres-So I'm Fifty
Akoss-Nye Louwon – My Spirit | a search for the writer in me
Gabrielle Prendergast-Angelhorn
Gina Carey
T.L. Conway