KidLit Alert!
Traditionally Published Children's Book Author
Sydney Dunlap
Debut MG Coming Out Feb. 2023
It Happened on Saturday
Wow! It's a whole new year, and I took some much-needed time off for the holidays to visit with friends and family. I hope you readers checked out past interviews while I was resting. There's some great writing help on this blog, too, if you check out the posts from when I was an agent intern.
Welcome, 2023, and the first KidLit interview on Teazurs Blog with Sydney Dunlap. Her middle-grade novel will be released this February!!! Congrats, Sydney! Now, let's find out more about this truth-teller.
I learned so much about life from the books I read as a kid. I love how reading helps us all to...
see the world in new ways...
& from other points of view. It’s such an incredible tool for building empathy and understanding between people with different backgrounds and experiences.
You’ve worked with at-risk youth – what do kids need to help them see all possibilities in any situation life throws at them?
I think it’s important that kids know that there are people who care and can help them, even if it doesn’t always seem that way. I believe that reading about other kids who’ve found mentors in unexpected places is beneficial, as well as stories about those who have overcome challenges such as difficult family situations.
Beginning your day with outdoor exercise is awesome! Writers tend to have neck and back aches. What does running do for your writer’s body? Any other exercises that might help?
Thank you! Running first thing in the morning definitely wakes me up, yet it also relaxes me so that I’m ready to focus and sit down at the computer. I also do yoga to help with any neck and back issues that arise from sitting at a desk for long periods of time.
Once when I mentioned to a third grader that my cat was “a rescue,” he wanted to know which kind of rescue missions she went on: avalanches or what?
Do any of your students end up as characters in your books?
Not specifically, but I definitely remember interesting character traits when I’m writing!
You have a novel coming out in February – 2023 – What’s it about, and why should we buy it?
IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY is the story of a 13-year-old girl who narrowly escapes becoming a victim of human trafficking and must find the courage to tell her friends what happened, so none of them end up becoming victims too.
It’s my hope that you’ll buy it to enjoy the fast-paced story and also to increase your understanding of trafficking and how easily it can happen in our own backyards.
I’d love for you to share it with any young people in your life so they can be careful and aware, especially as they go online and on social media.
Do you have a quote or book you use for inspiration?
I love the poem “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann. A favorite quote from it is,
“Whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
JEREMY NORBECK: ANIMAL WHIZ KID came from a newspaper article I wrote for the kids’ section on Father’s Day, which included a list of animal facts, such as catfish dads go without eating anything for weeks at a time while they wait for their babies’ eggs to hatch in their mouths!
After writing that, I knew I had to write a book about a kid who knows all kinds of wacky, interesting things about animals and is always incorporating them into his conversations! I wanted to use it in my classroom right away, so I published it myself through CreateSpace. So IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY is my traditionally published debut!
Do you use an outline, or do you just write first and then outline the books? Any helpful hints for aspiring authors out there?
I write down notes about characters and ideas, but my books all seem to come from writing and seeing where things go. After I do that for a while, I eventually have enough of an idea to form a loose outline, but never anything rigid. I like to see where the characters take me.
My main advice for aspiring authors would be to do what works best for them and not feel that they have to follow a certain strategy just because it works for someone else.
Do you have an agent? What advice do you have on how others might find an agent?
Yes, I have a wonderful agent, Ann Rose, from the Tobias Literary Agency. I was lucky enough to meet her in person at an SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) event in Houston, where I currently live.
I highly recommend joining an organization for writers and attending conferences as a great way to connect with industry professionals, and the events are so much fun too!
If I gave you a megaphone and the whole world would listen - What one sentence would you yell?
I think a reminder about the Golden Rule—
“Treat others the way you’d like to be treated!”
If we all did that, things could be so different!
In addition to meeting my agent, I’ve learned so much about the craft of writing and the business of publishing from sessions at conferences, and I’ve also gotten to connect with many other writers who are absolutely wonderful people and have become great friends.
I was a conference organizer for the Mid-Atlantic (Virginia/DC) region, where I’ve spent most of my life, and a highlight of that was getting to invite many of my favorite authors to be guest speakers at our events!
Do you always write what you know, or do you research and write about topics you’re curious about?
Some of each, for sure. IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY grew out of my work with child trafficking survivors and my realization that there was very little in the way of literature on this important topic for young readers, even though kids from 11-14 are especially vulnerable to being lured or forced into trafficking.
The scenes at the stable came from my real-life experiences working in a barn. But I’m currently working on another novel about a topic that’s requiring a lot of research!
You teach an online safety course to middle schoolers - what should we all know about safe practices in this very digital world?
As far as red flags, first and foremost, any time someone says to keep a relationship a secret, that is cause for concern. Other warning signs include a person making excuses for why they can’t meet your family or friends, or promising something, especially if it sounds too good to be true. It’s important to remember that anyone can say anything online, and people aren’t always who they claim to be.
I actually still teach kids, just on a part-time basis as a private tutor. I write in the mornings and work with kids in the afternoons and evenings. I loved teaching elementary school, but what I’m doing now enables me to have a lot more time for writing but still connect with kids, so it’s a great fit for me!
If you could go back in time and tell yourself something that would help your writing career - what would you say?
“The difference between a writer and a published author is that
the author never gave up.”
I’m not sure who said that, but I’ve heard it more than once and believe that it’s really good advice. I can’t overstate the importance of persistence in this business. If you view every draft, every revision, and every rejection as a step closer to publication and an important tool in learning and growing in your craft—and keep the big picture in mind—it can really help.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like it! I’m very grateful that Meg Gaertner, my amazing editor, asked for my ideas about the cover, and we worked on it collaboratively.
It was really fun because I was able to provide input every step of the way, from sharing a concept idea and favorite color tones to approving sketches. I wanted the cover to reflect the decision the main character has to make.
The illustration shows Julia starting out in a dark place but looking ahead through the open gate to an opportunity to follow a path. Her journey, if she chooses to take it, will be uphill with twists, but it can ultimately lead her toward hope and healing.
Emily Paik, the illustrator, did such a wonderful job with light, color, and mood, and I absolutely love how she drew the horse that’s off in the distance too.
My pets have taught me about the value of unconditional love, as well as how sometimes there’s nothing more important than just cuddling with a sweet, furry friend.
Why are you drawn to tough topics to write about?
As a kid, I loved reading about tough topics. I wanted to know about real things and real-life told with honesty, so that is what I most like to write for kids.
Do you have a critique group? What do you think about critique groups? Should writers form one?
I’m in a wonderful critique group made up of seven women, and it is such a privilege to be a part of it. It’s so helpful to get other eyes on a work-in-progress, and it’s also a lot of fun to share feedback on other people’s projects. We writers speak our own language and understand the joys and frustrations in a way that allows us to truly celebrate and commiserate together. I highly recommend it!
Who is your hero?
Katherine Paterson, because her stories are heartbreakingly honest in the most beautiful way.
What is your goal as a writer?
To create literature that will be compelling and engaging for young readers and that will also help grow their awareness of important topics they need to know about.
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Awesome Interview, Sydney!
Thank you for stopping by Teazurs Blog and sharing your thoughts and helpful hints with us.
If you'd like to meet Sydney or keep in touch with her amazing books, check out her platforms below.
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