Writer Spotlight: Stephanie Bearce

 

Raven Gallows, magic sauce, WFH, Stan the Man, flashlight undercovers, and podcasting: author Stephanie Bearce

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI. In this piece, meet author Stephanie Bearce.

(From an interview) “I’ve written lots of nonfiction books about all sorts of weird and disgusting topics like dehydrated mummies, exploding science experiments, and the history of gangsters. In my mind I think I was always writing for Raven.”

Raven Gallows is the MC in your first published MG fiction novel. The rest of your writing career has been in non-fiction. How did Raven and The Secret of Moonrise Manor make it past the gangsters and mummies and explosions to become a series?

I have always wanted to write a mystery series, and I’ve attempted it a few times in the past. But this time all the stars aligned. And honestly, I think that’s what often happens in publishing. 

You do need the writing skills, but after you have mastered your craft, there’s a lot that’s simply about being in the right place with the right idea at the right time. 

Fortunately, Shadow Mountain was looking for a science-themed mystery series, and my agent did her magical job as matchmaker.

 

(Reading further into the interview) “I have a contract for the second book in the Raven Gallows series and I must have that story finished and delivered to my editor by January.”

Yay! Did you get the draft done in time? What can we expect this time from Raven Gallows?

Yes! Raven and the gang are off on a quest to find treasure in The Curse of the Lost Cave. There are outlaws, secret codes, lost gold, evil villains, and a creepy cave! Book two will be released February, 2026 and I’m expecting the ARCS to arrive in a few weeks. Let the marketing begin!

“To that end I’ve started gathering with my writing groups at private retreats. We spend a week writing, critiquing, and helping move our manuscripts forward. Our agents love the results and it’s amazing how many manuscripts get contracts because of our retreat work.”

What is the “magic sauce” that makes a retreat successful? How should a writer prepare to get the most out of a retreat?

I think retreats are themselves the magic sauce. Removing yourself from the daily routine and all the demands on your time frees the mind and allows space for creativity. Add that to being surrounded by fellow creatives, and you have a recipe for writing breakthroughs.

The best way to prepare is to open yourself up to possibilities. That writer you just met may have an idea that will take your manuscript to the next level. The critique that was a bit painful may be the catalyst you need to make significant improvements. Be ready to listen, learn, and share with other authors.

(This interview just keeps on giving) “I’m doing the business of writing every day.” Explain.

Young Stephanie
Even back then, the business of writing

Writing goes beyond putting words on paper. Today’s authors must be entrepreneurs. That goes for both traditional and indie track authors. Most of the publicity and marketing falls on the shoulders of the author, so I spend a lot of time answering emails, setting up events, and working with social media. It’s not my favorite part of the business, but it’s necessary. 

Additionally, I need to squeeze in public appearances, speaking engagements, and book signings. Most of the time, I’d rather be hiding in my writing cave, but I know that the reality is, I’m the one who has to sell my books.

Some of your series titles (This or That, Awesome, Disgusting, Unusual Facts, Disgusting ___ Jobs, Twisted True Tales, and the Top Secret Files) appear to be Work for Hire. Some of my writer friends have made a career out of creating content for publishers; that’s how I earned my publishing credits.

Are these titles, in fact, WFH? What’s your take on this publishing practice?

Some are work for hire. The Awesome Disgusting series is WFH with Black Rabbit Books. The Top Secret Files and Twisted True Tales are my own IP. 

Ten years ago, Prufrock Press had a call out for series ideas. I pitched the first four books of Top Secret Files of History and sold them. They then bought four more books for that series and the Twisted True Tales series. Prufrock sold the books to Taylor and Francis, and unbelievably, they are still in print, and I still get royalties!

I do a little bit of WFH for publishers that I love, such as Black Rabbit and Capstone, but I’m selective in the WFH that I take on.

“I have the BEST agent in the world, Heather Cashman.” Heather is sought-after, prized by those seeking literary representation. How did the two of you connect?

We met several years ago at a writing retreat. (Magical things happen at retreats!) We were both attending as authors. Heather is a talented writer! Years later, after Heather became an agent, and my agent quit the business… I was thrilled when Heather offered representation. She is not only a phenomenal agent, she’s also a kind and lovely human being.

You’ve had a few interesting sidesteps in your body of work. You did biographies on Stan Musial and Mary Anning. Stan because you’re from St. Louis? Mary because a girl can dig holes, too? Why did you choose these two people’s stories?

I’m not sure I consider these “sidesteps.” I write nonfiction for kids. Biographies are nonfiction. The publisher approached me to write Stan Musial’s biography. Stan is a St. Louis legend, and I was honored to write his story for kids.

As for Mary Anning - I am a fossil-collecting rock nerd, and Mary is a hero of mine. I was thrilled when my proposal to Chicago Review Press was accepted, and I received a contract offer.

How many titles of yours are audiobooks? What is your involvement when a piece of yours is chosen for recording?

Right now, just The Secret of Moonrise Manor. Shadow Mountain releases all of its books in both print and audio formats, so Curse of the Lost Cave will also be available as an audiobook. 

And as far as involvement, Shadow Mountain is the most wonderful publisher!! They sent me the audio “tryouts” of several readers, and I got to pick my favorite. So, of course, I adore the audiobook.

“I loved to read.  I was the kid that literally had a flashlight under the covers.  I read everything there was in my tiny hometown library.  Then every week my mother would drive me all the way to the county library so I could get new books.  I am still a voracious reader.  Reading has made me want to write.”

That’s a made-to-order writer bio. What made the Stephanie Bearce story unique?

school visit

I don’t think I am unique. My story is the story of lots of authors—the kid who loves books so much that she wants to write them. At school visits, I tell children that I was just like them. Anybody who loves words and stories can become an author.

You say your current writing process entails working on a fiction and non-fiction piece at the same time. Did you always have fiction stories to tell? Did you always multi-task?

Yes. I always multi-task. My life has necessitated that. Like most people, I constantly juggle the needs of my family and my writing. I always have new ideas percolating and trying to burst out, but  I have to balance writing what is under contract with developing new projects to generate more contracts.

Podcasting is new for you. What kind of learning curve is involved? Are you enjoying the experience?

I’m really loving podcasting! There’s definitely been a bit of a learning curve — especially with the tech stuff — but it’s been such a fun ride. Co-hosting the Way-Word Writers Podcast has given me the chance to meet many amazing authors, agents, and editors from all over. Everyone’s been so generous with their time and knowledge, and I’ve learned a ton. It’s honestly been a real blessing.

What's the story behind this photo?

I grew up on a farm in Kansas. My dad raised and broke horses, so we owned lots of horses over the years. I showed horses for AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) and in 4-H. The horse pictured was my pony, Dolly. (Dolly is NOT a quarter horse!) I was older when I showed the "big horses." I'm about nine there.

What’s next for Stephanie?

I’m busy working on some adult fiction projects. I’ve got a couple of cozy mystery series that I’m anxious to pitch. I still love kidlit, but I’m ready for some new adventures. I believe that trying new genres helps me grow as both an author and a person.

And Way-Word Writers is gearing up to offer a bunch of great workshops and events to help writers polish their manuscripts and meet their dream agents and editors. I’m looking forward to helping other writers get their books published! You can check out our first event here –www.way-wordwriters.com/events/

Please list any social media you care to share:

www.way-wordwriters.com

www.stephaniebearce.com

FB @stephaniemowrybearce

IG @stephaniemowrybearce

X @stephaniebearce

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@WayWordWriters

 

 

Book Birthday Blog with Lindsay Gizicki

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Lindsay Gizicki on the release of Bookley the Book-Loving Ghost

 

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

As a kid, I always loved going to the library. Every Sunday, my parents would take me to pick out new books for the week. It’s one of my favorite childhood memories, and it absolutely sparked my love for reading and writing. One day, I entered the children’s section and there was a book laying on the ground in the middle of the aisle. I didn’t think anything of it, and then the next week there was a new book, and the next week after that as well. My young imagination started running wild with what that could mean… of course it meant the library was haunted and the ghost was picking out a book for me to read! I’ll never know the truth behind that—but it was my inspiration for Bookley.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

It’s my goal that this book sparks the imagination in all of us, especially those who have a love for the library. The library is a magical place. It’s filled with books that can lead us anywhere. Growing up, those books shaped who I was and allowed me to become who I am today. I hope everyone can experience the library like me—and Bookley—do! It’s never too late or too early to take advantage of all that the library has to offer.

 

What inspires you to write?

My children are the reason I got into writing books for kids, and every book I create I do so with them in mind. This book is my first where they didn’t help me to come up with the idea for it; but I had them in mind while I wrote it. They are my key audience, so it helps me to consider what they would want to see, what they think would be funny, what visuals matter to them as they’re reading. In my books, I have a lot of significant things in there for them. In Bookley the Book-Loving Ghost, there is a book that contains a drawing of two kids running through a weeping willow. That image is taken directly from one of my favorite photos of them. I love putting little tidbits inside of my books for my kids. Things that most readers wouldn’t pick up on; but are so important and meaningful to us.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

I’ve been doing a lot of fun “add-ons” for this book. I’ve commissioned a stuffy to be made, and I’m having a book set created for it so I can sell the book and plushie together. I’ve also created keychains, stickers and bookmarks. I’m really excited for the launch because it’s the most I have ever put into a book launch. I hope to be able to team up with some local businesses in September/October for some fun Fall and Halloween events as well. The book will be available on my website, hankarooreadings.com, Amazon, and at some local stores.

 

 

What's next for you?

I’ve thought a lot about it, and Bookley might be my last picture book! I have gotten a lot of requests to make a sequel to my second book, The Pirate Doctor—and that’s still a possibility. But I don’t think I’ll have any “new” new picture books. I would really love to break into chapter books next. I started writing these books for my kids, and they are getting older. Soon, my daughter will prefer chapter books, and I would love to be able to write some for her.

More about the book . . .

Bookley is a shy spirit who adores the little town he’s in. He connects to the local people through the joy of reading at the town’s library—where he lives!

Published by: Hank A Roo Readings

More about the author . . .

Lindsay Gizicki graduated from Central Michigan University and pursued her passion for journalism. She is currently the editor of an architecture magazine, and writes for publications all across the country. Lindsay is an avid book lover and the Michigan-representative for The Book Fairies Worldwide, leaving hidden books for potential readers all around the state. Lindsay is also one of the founders of A Pop of Indie, Michigan's first traveling book fair for self-published authors. Her children, Harper and Henry are her "why" behind all of her books.

Instagram: @hankarooreadings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hankarooreadings

 

 

Studio Tour with Jen Boehler

 

The studio in 1965 painted white is sits to the left. 
Do you see the little arborvitae planted next to it? 
Look how far it’s spread in the current exterior photo!

The summer of 2003 found me squarely planted in the estate sale circuit, collecting relics I had no space to store in our tiny condo. 
Luckily, on one of my treasure hunts I stumbled upon an adorable red brick farmhouse that had been vacant for the past ten years.  It was, along with its contents, for sale.  Inside waited a glorious challenge for this interior design student: Pepto-pink walls, a postage stamp-size kitchen and wall-to-wall carpeting straight from the sixties — Oh, the potential!  More favorably, it boasted plaster cove ceilings, built-in curios, and a kitschy telephone nook — Swoon.  My husband’s skepticism melted with my enthusiasm, along with the discovery of a little cedar-sided bunkhouse that sat adjacent to the house.  The previous owner had used it as his clubhouse, evidenced by the cigar smoke stains lining the walls.  Little did I know that in addition to being the perfect storage spot for my treasures, this gem would serve as an invaluable studio space someday, lending daily doses of inspiration and levity with its age-related quirks and storied past.

 

These photos were taken in 1984 and kindly given to me by the former owner’s daughter.  Oh, to be a fly on that knotty pine wall!

Following our exciting “First Home” purchase, I discovered the little house was originally a barracks at Camp Freeland for German prisoners of war during World War II, and was moved to our new property upon the war’s end.  The ARTICLES I’ve uncovered since reveal favorable conditions with the soldiers earning a living wage for work in nearby crop fields.  The evolution of the building’s purpose has always intrigued me, with the varied inhabitants having little-to-no commonality:  Prisoners of war, card-playing farmers, and illustrator/author.  This history also gives me pause each time I make a new improvement or design choice, as at times it feels I’m permanently tucking the past behind a coat of paint or treated two-by-four. 

The interior right after we bought the house as I was moving my “collection” in (notice Rusty’s easy chair sporting a tired teal brocade).

 

Shortly after we moved in and I graduated from college with an interior design degree, I used the space on rare occasion to meet with clients, but only seasonally: During the first few years I had to build a fire in the potbelly stove to stay warm in the winter (you can see it in the photos of the clubhouse days).  We relocated the wisteria once it grew too heavy for the aging overhang.

Me at the studio today (December, actually).

When delving into a studio conversion, I waffled over painting the knotty pine walls, but settled on brightening it up with an airy shade of white (followed immediately by plaguing shades of regret for forever erasing the possibility of leaning into its summer-camp vibe).  We removed the drop ceiling added in its card club heyday and covered it with wood extracted from a tumbledown barn out back, installed additional lighting, and replaced the rotted and peeling cedar siding with new.  Architectural details like the front porch and fireplace remain original, and will continue to be there as long as they are intact.  Though nonfunctioning, the fireplace serves purpose as a sanctuary for mother birds to raise their babies each spring, their hungry chirps always a sweet sign of the warm days to come.  The caveat?  On rare occasion, one of these birds will make their way down the chimney and into the studio, with the ensuing mayhem offering that previously mentioned dose of levity!

This tabletop was here when we bought the house,
so my husband used it to build a standing desk to hold my easel.

My daughter Violet with Rusty
after school in her fuzzy chair.

Vintage finds are still spread throughout, but they’ve each now found their purpose.  At the front of the space are my computer, files, and a fuzzy little chair found roadside and recovered for my daughter to pull up after school and chit-chat about the day’s events.  A standing-height skirted table built from a reclaimed top and salvaged fabric offers storage and surface for my easel.  At the center is a table inherited from my grandmother-in-law to paint and catalog textures for my cut-paper illustrations, surrounded by another collection of roadside chair finds for hosting craft nights with friends. 

My faithful studio-mate Rusty
in his easy chair.

A left-behind shelf, market storage bin and oversize crate house a handful of pieces from my Michigan apparel line, and fabric and crafting supplies have a home on salvaged tables and fruit crates.  Colored pencils are propped in a quartered barn beam, and patinated tins, vases and drawers house all other art supplies.  Perhaps most importantly, a reupholstered easy chair sits by the fireplace for Rusty, my faithful studio-mate.

This corner tickles me because it houses a little bit of every era and facet of my life, serving as a museum of sorts:  Painting night with my kids, hand-sewn apron, fine art, illustration, dried corn tassels from the garden, Michigan apparel, crafting supplies, SCBWI conference swag, and vintage finds aplenty.

The contempt I have for these shoes destroying my feet in the early 2000’s
is superseded by my captivation with their cuteness.

My husband enlisted a woodworking friend
to create this colored pencil holder out of a salvaged barn beam.

After designing a line of Michigan apparel ten years ago, I used the studio to store, ship and sell merchandise.  I still have a little corner saved for a handful of pieces.

My grandmother-in-law’s old table covered in supplies to paint and cut paper textures.

Though wonky floorboards sometimes evoke shades of the Mystery Spot and boxelder bugs find creature comfort inside the walls, this little bunkhouse is still my favorite part of the property I scored at an estate sale twenty-two years ago.  As time has passed, I focus less on the lives it lived before us and more on its evolution in the years since we’ve owned it, a reflection currently punctuated by a shift in our household.  By the time this article is published, my daughter will be moved into her college dorm, thus ushering in yet a new iteration of inhabitants and daily happenings.  So if anyone finds themselves in the Saginaw area with a hankering for creative chit-chat, let me know: I’ll have a fuzzy, reclaimed chair open for you.

 

Jen Boehler, Michigan Co-Illustrator Coordinator, is an illustrator, graphic designer and author working on a hobby farm in Saginaw, Michigan. Before pursuing children’s literature, Jen worked as a freelance editorial illustrator, graphic designer, interior/event designer and owned her own line of Michigan travel apparel. She has degrees in both art/graphic design and interior design.

Editor's Note: Thank you, Jen, for sharing your very cool studio with us! If anyone else is interested in sharing their studio with The Mitten, we'd love to see it! You can email me at Sarah.Prusoff.LoCsacio@gmail.com if you might be interested in doing a studio tour post.

Book Birthday Blog with Gail Kuhnlein

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Gail Kuhnlein on the release of Into the Thicket

 

Please share a little about this book's journey. How did you come up with the idea?

Into the Thicket has had a long journey. I originally wrote it shortly after our son found an injured baby rabbit in our backyard when he was about 8 years old (he turns 30 this year!). He and his older brother were playing catch. A throw went over his head, he ran to the football and noticed a small creature lying in the grass. Thus begins the story. Most of the rest is fiction.

 
At the time, I was the new communications coordinator at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. One day, my phone rang and on the line was an editor from New York state who needed to verify some information about an animal. We were affiliated with the Museum of Zoology and their well-known Animal Diversity Web. I was able to connect him to someone for the information he needed, but more noteworthy (for me) was that as we talked, I learned that he was a writer and book editor (including children’s books). This fortuitous connection led to me hiring him (twice) to expertly help me edit the manuscript that became Into the Thicket. The original name was Small Rabbits, Big Hearts. He was an excellent editor/teacher who asked me questions to help me to come up with my own answers. 

What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

One of the most difficult parts of writing this book was that it was based on a real-life experience. Originally, I’d included several plot points that mirrored what actually happened. I ended up removing some of these and further fictionalizing the story. It was a classic case of “kill your darlings,” or in other words, you may have to delete parts that you love if they don’t serve the story. My editor was invaluable with his guidance. 

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

I hope that readers, especially children, will be inspired by the compassion for wildlife inherent in the story. Further, I hope they learn some strategies for helping to save animals and just as important, to know when it’s best to let them be. I hope my book helps children to overcome some of their own fears. Perhaps they’ll realize that even small acts of kindness really can make a difference in our great big world. I think this can be empowering. 

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

I’ll concentrate on marketing Into the Thicket on social media (posts, stories, reels), by attending author events and readings, blogging, printing promotional items including giveaways (I’m thinking stickers). I’ll contact libraries (where I’ll donate my book) and bookstores, especially the local bookstores that carried my first book. I plan to reach out to more Michigan bookstores this time. I’ll enter a few contests and request several literary reviews. I’ll send a press release about the book’s release to local newspapers, something I had a positive response to last time. Given the book’s subject, I’ll include wildlife rehabilitation and conservation organizations on my press release list. 

What's next for you?

This year, I’m excited to share Into the Thicket with children and their adults. While I have possible ideas brewing for my next book, including previously written manuscripts that need work, I don’t have definite plans. I was fortunate to bid on and win the production of three videos through an online #KidLit event on Bluesky to provide support after the California wildfires. So, I have a couple of cool videos on the new book to help with promotion. 
 
Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Many of my experiences have taught me just how unpredictable life can be. I’ve developed a deep appreciation for each day’s small joys. I hope to continue to soak in nature’s beauty and life’s adventures.

More about the book . . .

Into the Thicket is based on a real-life adventure when my (then) young son found an injured baby rabbit. The fictionalized story follows the journey of a young boy and the rabbit one springtime in Michigan. 

The book beautifully portrays an appreciation for wildlife. The universal emotions of compassion and loving and letting go are central elements of the boy’s experience. In addition, he is challenged with overcoming his fears — not only of entering and walking through the dark thicket to get the rabbit the help it needs quickly, but also his fear of losing the rabbit that he loves. Readers will see how even small acts of kindness make a difference in a great, big world. Illustrations of ink and watercolor are by Ann Arbor artist John Megahan.

Published by: BookBaby

More about the author . . .

Gail Kuhnlein has been writing stories since she was young.

Gail majored in journalism and public relations at Michigan State University. She worked in the communications field for over 30 years, most recently at the University of Michigan’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. People met serendipitously at UM were instrumental in publishing her first picture book, How Happy Is a Lark?, a long-awaited dream come true. Her second picture book, Into the Thicket, is available at the BookBaby Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Powell’s City of Books and Amazon. 

She lives with her husband, Tim, just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan. Gail loves walking outdoors, practicing yoga, meditation, reading, writing, watching good television and movies, listening to music, and their darling cats. She’s been volunteering at the UM Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for over a year. She especially loves spending time with and holding the babies who need extra tender loving care. They adore their two adult sons, Davey and Trevor.

Facebook: gail.kuhnlein

Instagram: @gkuhny

Bluesky: @gkuhny

Website and blog: https://authorgailkuhnlein.com/

  

Writer Spotlight: Tracy Bilen

Romance, Paris, pantsing, plotless, DIY trailers and misbegotten book titles: YA author Tracy Bilen

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet YA author Tracy Bilen.

Your three young adult novels all have romantic overtones in addition to the suspense. When did you join Greater Detroit Romance Writers (GDRW)? How have you used the GDRW in your three published novels?

I joined GDRW somewhere around 2010 and it’s actually how I found my agent – she was a guest speaker at a meeting and I queried her afterwards.

Back when the group was affiliated with RWA (Romance Writers of America), I entered a lot of their local chapter contests, winning a full manuscript read by a published author, and some awards for my books in progress. (Reputable) contests can be a great way to improve your writing and find the incentive to keep going!

You’re a high school French teacher, and you studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. There’s likely a book there, but give us the Paris pitch. How did the opportunity arise? How did you enjoy Paris and its famous school?

My college had an exchange with the Sorbonne which just happened match perfectly with my long-term dream. I guess my shyness was evident from the forms we had to fill out, because I was assigned to a dorm run by nuns. 

Being the only American in the dorm, I made a lot of French friends and became a little less shy! I loved everything about the experience, except having my purse stolen in a lecture hall at the Sorbonne!

 

 

Whisper, you said, was inspired by the noise your TV made when the volume was turned down. What else in your childhood inspired the thrilling angst that runs through your stories?

Oh, wow. There are little bits of us sprinkled in all of our books, aren’t there? When I was thirteen, I lived in a three-story Victorian house designed by a woman architect, like Olivia does in Whisper. 

In high school I lived in a house on ten acres in the middle of nowhere near a town with just one blinking light like Sara in What She Left Behind. 

And my first teaching job was at a boarding school for skiers with Olympic dreams which was the inspiration for Thirty Seconds at a Time.

 

With three published titles, are you still a “pantser all the way”?

For the most part. I mean, I always know the beginning and the end when I get started, and plot points soon start to crop up after that. But I don’t write them in anywhere near chronological order – I love the Headings feature in Word because it lets me write the scene I’m passionate about in the moment and then easily drag scenes around later.

 

You won a mentorship with Shutta Crum through an SCBWI-MI contest. How much effect did Shutta have on What She left Behind?

Shutta’s insight and guidance had an indelible effect on my development as a writer and in transforming my first novel into all it was meant to be. In fact, it was the mentorship contest itself that inspired me, in part, to begin that novel. Whether you win or not, entering the mentorship contest can be transformative. I cannot recommend it enough!

 

While Left Behind is your first published YA, it was your third manuscript. Tell us about the first two.

My first two books were how I learned to write novels. A critique that I received on the first one was brutal but in the kindest way. It turns out the book had no real plot, just some scenes strung together! 

The second book did have a plot and I queried it for a bit. Then I followed the advice that said to begin your next book as soon as you start to query. 

By that book I had learned to use my own emotional journeys to better embody my characters and What She Left Behind was on its way to becoming my debut novel.

 

You have professional-looking book trailers for all of your books; they’re all compelling and make me want to go out and get that book. How did you make the first trailer? Over the course of the three books, how has your trailer-making process changed?

Thank you! I hired someone to make the trailer for my first book, What She Left Behind. But for Whisper, I decided to do it myself using Biteable, a video software website. 

And I loved it so much that I made trailers for a couple of friends and for my most recent book, Thirty Seconds at a Time. It’s really quite easy to do and very intuitive. 

Probably the only process change I’ve made is to be sure to keep the length under a minute, both to accommodate shortened attention spans and to make sure they can be easily posted to social media.

 

“I give myself a daily word count goal and keep track of my progress in a notebook. I usually write late at night.”  How does writing late at night work with teaching high school?

Yeah, the late-night writing doesn’t happen as much anymore. I think the quiet and stillness of writing late at night was what helped me let go of everything that was holding me back from writing (fear, laziness, imposter syndrome, writer’s block). 

Tracy at her college radio station

In world language acquisition we actually have a word that that sums up the feeling quite well: affective filter. The affective filter is what holds you back from trying to speak another language because you’re afraid of making mistakes. Now I can find that late-night peace in the morning (but not too early!!) 

In fact, it doesn’t even need to be quiet. For me this summer (I’m a teacher), one thing has worked really well: meeting friends at a café to write! My husband wonders how I can get anything done with friends around, but the reason it works is that I know that writing is the only thing I’m supposed to be doing there (besides a bit of talking!) 

For a while I thought I’d have to go to a café every morning to make any progress, but once I eased into the process with friends, I found that the same thing happens at home if I come out and sit on the patio at the same time every day. 

Obviously, that’s not going to work in the winter, but if I can just keep up the routine of a daily time and place, I will be able to power through the sometimes crippling fear of not being able to create.

You told Cynthia Leitich Smith, “The bottom line is that if you really want to publish your book and you’re willing to work hard and listen to criticism, it’s not as unattainable as it seems.”  Was that your attitude even before your first book was published, before you had an agent? You went to school in Paris. Did you always have a can-do attitude?

As writers we’re dreamers, aren’t we? We make up stories about how we imagine things could be. I dreamed of studying in Paris since I was in third grade and my aunt put the idea in my head. Shortly after that I started buying French records at garage sales and clandestinely used the record player at home. 

Tracy and Austria in the 90's

That’s how I learned how to say my shoe size so well in French – that was the part where the record would always skip. When French wasn’t offered at my high school, I took Spanish and studied French on my own so I could test into a higher level in college. 

I kept dreaming and did everything I could to tilt the odds in my favor. 

For me, writing goals are the same. Every time I’d send a query out, I’d do a bit of dreaming about what it would be like if it worked out. But I also took that same garage sale approach to make success more likely: I did the Writer’s Digest novel writing classes, sent my work out to be critiqued, entered contests, joined professional organizations and critique groups, pitched a movie, and most importantly, put myself out there and made dear writing friends. 

At first, criticism was hard to take because it messed with all my dreaming. It reminded me that I hadn’t done all I could. And when you get an editorial letter for a book under contract, that imposter syndrome can hit you pretty hard. 

But just know that you can do it. Let your subconscious mull it over and dig back into the same routines you used to write your book in the first place.

 

Watch Your Back and Come With Me were early titles. How much did your opinion matter when it came to naming your books?

Ha! Those of you publishing veterans out there know that as writers we typically have little to no control over our titles or our covers. My first published book started out as Leaving Dad. But a friend thought that meant it was about leaving Dad at a nursing home, so I changed the title to Leaving, because one-word titles were all the rage at the time. 

Tracy's latest YA romantic thriller

With the help of another friend, that turned into Riding Backwards, which is what the title was when it was picked up by my agent. But one editor thought it was a horse book, so that didn’t work either. 

When it finally sold to Simon & Schuster, they decided the title would be Come With Me. I was able to talk them out of it (but obviously not before it sneaked onto the Internet somewhere for you to find!) And then the publishing house finally picked the title What She Left Behind. 

The German version of the same book, by the way, translates to Like Father Like Death – the Germans definitely like their stories dark!

 

Duolingo? Are you a student? You are already fluent in how many languages? How does your knowledge of other languages help you as your write your YAs in English?

Yes, I do a bit of duolingo as a student – some Catalan for a sister school exchange we do at my school. I speak fluent French and also some Spanish and German. I’m currently working on the translation of Thirty Seconds at a Time into French. Unfortunately, the English version of that book is currently out of print – but I will hopefully find a new home for it in the not-so-distant future!

 

There’s a passage attributed to you on a website called Quote Fancy: “He made my mom call and tell Maureen I wouldn’t be in to see her anymore. He said therapy is a waste of money. He also told her to upgrade the cable service and to order him a subscription to Military History magazine. Then he went and bought a new fishing pole for Matt, who is dead.”

— Tracy Bilen

What’s this all about?

This quote is taken from What She Left Behind. My main character, Sara, is talking about her dad, who is both physically and emotionally abusive. Sara’s been seeing a therapist to help her deal with her brother Matt’s suicide. It’s obvious from her dad’s statement that this is not about money, It’s about power and control, but it’s also about denial. 

Sara’s dad’s way of dealing with Matt’s suicide is to pretend it didn’t happen and that he’s still alive. Sara and her mom are forced to play along with the fantasy to avoid provoking her dad’s anger. But Sara’s dad is a complex character – while his abuse is unforgiveable, Sara and her mom struggle with the memories of the loving person he once was.

 

So, school’s just about out for summer, and that’s when you can write full-time. What’s cooking? (In keeping with the bad kitchen puns) What’s on the back burner?

I’m actually working on a book set in Paris, which I hope to finish this summer!

 

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