Susan Count brings one of her middle-grade novels to us today. What a fascinating story of her writing method and how the idea for the FIREFLY WARRIORS came to her–and she’s offering a GIVEAWAY, too. Commenter’s choice of a $10 Amazon gift card or a signed paperback of this book.
This story is overflowing with information for young scientists, and the author integrates ways modern laws can be used to protect endangered species. What a great Christmas gift for a grandchild!
Now Susan shares her writing story with us:
Oh what fun it is to be a middle-grade author!
Selah’s Sweet Dream was my first book. I was 62. I had NO idea about craft, so I didn’t write it with middle grade in mind—it just turned out to be the voice of the story. Then a friend read and loved it, so I wrote to Dandi Mackall—you know her as a well-respected Christian children’s author. Bless her heart—she answered me. At her prompting, I joined SCBWI and worked with a critique group for two years on the novel. At the end, I was in love with the process and couldn’t stop writing. I still have that problem today.
I prefer to fabricate stories in a quiet zone. Out my window, my mind wanders across the forest and keeps me in a grateful state of being. I write at a fabulous antique desk that has secret compartments filled with horse story ideas.
My schedule changes with the seasons of life. The sunniest of times is when I can equally balance the best things in my life—riding my horse and writing my stories. When the weather is bad, I write more. If it’s glorious, then I ride more.
I’m not a fast writer because I re-read and then listen for the next line. Editing is my super-power but plotting is the greatest fun. I write the story beats on sticky notes and plaster them on a glass sliding door. I especially love to plot with my grandchildren. They are full of fun ideas. I have to keep asking them “and then what could go wrong” because they will stick a happy ending into every scene. How delightful to be a child. I feel strongly this age should have their hearts and minds sheltered from the world’s evils. If it were up to me, I’d keep them innocent for as long as possible.
My new release, The Firefly Warriors Club,is a major departure from the horse books I normally write. The story came about after the bushes in the forest surrounding our home came to life with thousands of twinkling lights. We’d never seen such a spectacular show and have not seen one like it since. Then I learned that many children have not only never seen the miraculous firefly, but have never heard of them. God filled our world with delights and clues to His existence. It’s our job to draw young readers near to the light.
| https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089M1XJXW/ |
| http://www.susancount.com |
| https://www.facebook.com/susancount/ |
| https://www.pinterest.com/susancount/ |
| https://twitter.com/SusanCount |
| https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14771062.Susan_Count |
Horses or fireflies; they are both God’s creatures and bring a sense of wonder and humility into our lives don’t they? Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Indeed the do. Fireflies leave you with breathless awe. They are a picture of the great lengths God has gone to for our delight. It grieves me that so many children have never seen a firefly.
Such an interesting premise for a book. It should be intriguing to the younger set. I hope that they find and read this book.
Thank you, Cleo. It was terrific fun to write. To allow for the magical aspect of the fireflies, you have to suspend disbelief and chase the light.
I don’t usually comment, Susan, but your “suspend disbelief and chase the light” phrase is wonderful–fits a lot of situations in life!
Thank you, Gail. And thank you for hosting my book.