MG KidLit ALERT!
Interview with the Contemporary Author
Welcome back, Readers and Creatives,
I'm so glad you are here, and I hope your holiday season is kicking off with lots of love and family time, along with lots of books and reading time.
Speaking of reading, let's give a warm welcome to Abbie Lee, debut middle-grade author of the Geocache Club series, which is out now.
There's nothing more exciting for me as a reader than to uncover a hidden treasure or solve a thrilling mystery. Author Abbi Lee brings these elements to life in her Geocache Club series, blending real-world adventure with the magic of storytelling to inspire young readers. I am so glad I reached out to her for an interview to be able to bring her adventuring world into yours.
With her background as a teacher and a love for creativity, Abbi combines her passion for crafting compelling stories with her knack for connecting with kids. In this interview, she shares insights into her writing process, the inspiration behind her books, and how geocaching transformed into a literary adventure.
Hello, Abbi, and thanks for being on Teazurs Blog!
Your Geocache Club series explores adventure and mystery. How do you balance keeping the story realistic while adding a sense of wonder and excitement for young readers?
As a former teacher and a mom of two avid readers, I know that kids can sense when a story feels too forced or unauthentic. So, for the Geocache Club series, I made sure to root the adventure of a treasure hunt within real-world geocaching, Kansas history, and social/emotional obstacles that kids face every day. By blending realistic situations with just enough mystery and excitement, I aim to create a story that feels like it could really happen.
Will your future books be published with Chicken Scratch Books as well? What do you love or dislike about that process? Is the print quality good? Did you get to help choose your cover?
The Geocache Club series is designed to be a trilogy, so I will have at least two more books published with Chicken Scratch Books. I am already contracted for Book #2 and revisions are well underway. I’ve really enjoyed the process, and CSB is a publisher who truly wants to be a partner with its authors. The print quality has been impressive, and I was thrilled to have input on the cover. That was an important factor for me because the cover is essential for a children’s book in order to capture young eyes and imaginations right from the shelf.
Your love for reading started at an early age. How has your childhood reading experience influenced the kinds of stories you write today?
As a child, I loved stories that transported me to a place that was both different and yet somehow relatable. Books sparked my imagination, and I often took elements of the story into the real world, like going geocaching after reading Ghost Town Treasure Hunt. That’s why I try to recreate a sense of wonder and discovery that feels like an adventure.
The best question so far was at my first school visit, and a young boy asked when Book #2 in the Geocache Club series was coming out. When I told him it wouldn’t be out until 2026, he pouted and asked if I could make it come out sooner. So sweet!
What inspired you to write about geocaching? How do you research and incorporate this unique activity into your stories?
I stumbled upon geocaching a few years ago, and it was an instant hook! It combines mystery, exploration, and real-life adventure—all elements I love in a story. I go geocaching myself, noting little details like the anticipation before finding a cache or the quietness of the cemetery. These experiences add authenticity, making it easier to capture the thrill and mystery of geocaching in Layton’s story.
Having my work accepted into magazines and doing well in writing contests proved to myself that I was a good writer. Since I was near the beginning of my writing journey, I needed that reassurance to believe that this was something I should keep pursuing.
For newbie writers,
I recommend contests that have a
fun community surrounding them
and offer multiple winners/prizes.
Such contests include Kaitlyn Sanchez’s KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy and Spring Fling Kidlit contests, as well as Vivian Kirkfield’s #50PreciousWords contest.
You juggle many creative interests, from crafting to baking. Do any of these hobbies influence your storytelling, and how do they feed your creative process?
Absolutely! Crafting and baking involve patience, creativity, and a bit of experimentation—all valuable in writing. Sometimes, while working with my hands, a plot solution will come to me. These hobbies also offer an outlet when I need a break and remind me of the joy of creating something from scratch.
As a Kansas native, do the places you've lived—farms, small towns, big cities—make their way into your stories? How do these settings inspire your writing?
They do! Multiple scenes in Ghost Town Treasure Hunt are fictionalized versions of places I’ve experienced first-hand. I have found that I can create richer scenes if I’m drawing from a place I’ve interacted with, such as the grain elevators, the church pond, and the Havenboro cemetery from the story.
How do you manage the balance between working on multiple projects at once, like finishing the Geocache Club series while outlining new middle-grade stories? Are there any apps that help you with time commitments?
Juggling multiple projects was one thing I wasn’t prepared for when I sold my first book. I listen to a lot of writer and author podcasts and everyone has apps they recommend, but so far, what’s worked the best for me is goal-setting and planning out my month on a calendar. For example, I’m currently promoting and marketing Ghost Town Treasure Hunt while also on a deadline for the revisions of Book #2 in the Geocache Club series. Plus, I’ll soon be outlining the third book in the series. Determining the highest priorities at the beginning of the month and looking ahead showed me that I needed to work my marketing goals around the deadline for my second book. Once the revisions have been sent to my editor, I’ll amp up my marketing efforts for Book #1 again and also work on Book #3 until I get another edit letter. Staggering my projects in this way helps me feel productive with all of them and ensures I don’t miss any deadlines.
You keep a “bucket list” book filled with experiences and goals. How does this practice of documenting aspirations help you stay inspired in both life and writing?
It helps me remember how much I’ve done;
it reminds me to step out of my comfort zone;
and it inspires me to always move forward.
The most challenging part of writing for kids is making sure the voice is authentic to them. Kids are incredibly perceptive—they can instantly tell if dialogue, behavior, or emotions feel forced or “off.” To create an authentic voice, I spend time listening to kids in real-life settings, like when I volunteer in my daughters’ classrooms or attend their sports practices. I also talk with other parents, teachers, and librarians to gain more insight into how kids express themselves. To make the story resonate with more kids for a longer amount of time, I try to avoid current slang and trends so they don’t immediately date the book.
What organizational methods do you use when creating a book? What would you recommend to other writers?
I’m a planner by nature, so I outline scenes, character arcs, and major plot points. I have tried a couple of different ways to outline the Geocache Club books, but I have found the most success when I assign an aspect of the story with a certain color so I can follow the layers of the story all the way through.
For example, whenever I focused on the relationship with Layton’s parents, I used blue. Anything to do with his friendships or school was pink, and all geocaching elements of the story were green. Using these colors, I pieced together the outline on my computer and used the computer’s highlighter tool to show me gaps in any of the storylines. I have also used this method with sticky notes if I didn’t have a cohesive timeline for the story and needed to move pieces of the story around.
Where will you be next for book signings? How can my readers help support your writing journey?
My next book signing will be at the brand-new Barnes & Noble in New Market Square, Wichita, Kansas on November 24th from 2-4pm. (Since this interview came out today - readers, I will be updating the next signing for Abbi soon)
Ghost Town Treasure Hunt is also available anywhere books are sold, but my local independent bookstore, Watermark Books & Cafe in Wichita, Kansas, has signed copies available at all times.
If people want to follow me on social, they can find me on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook under @abbileebooks. I'm also pretty good about keeping my website updated (https://abbileebooks.wordpress.com/), and that's where people can sign up for my email newsletter. It goes out every month or so.
Thank you for allowing me to chat about my book and my writing journey!
__________________________________________
Oh wow - Abbi, thank you for being here!
We all appreciate you sharing your writing journey with us. And what a beautiful journey it is, and what a testament to the power of storytelling to spark curiosity and connect readers to the world around them. From geocaching adventures to realistic characters navigating life’s challenges, this series will surely capture the essence of wonder and discovery that kids will love.
When my children were younger, we went on many geocaching adventures together. The funny and cute things we found inside those hidden treasures always had them laughing and filled with wonder. I'm so glad the first of your Geocache Club book series is out in the world. Get outside and go find one -- after you read her book, that is!
Whether you’re a fan of treasure hunts, heartfelt friendships, or simply love a good read, Abbi’s Geocache Club series is sure to delight. Don’t forget to follow her on social media and stop by her upcoming book signings to join in the adventure!
The photo was taken in Bend, OR, years ago with my geocaching kids.
No comments:
Post a Comment