Follow-up Interview with
Laura Williams McCaffrey (2004)
by Debbi Michiko Florence
What have you been working on since we last chatted?
I’ve been revising my second novel, which doesn’t have a final title right now. It’s a fantasy for teens about a princess with a strong connection to water magic who’s considered tainted in her own land. She meets king from a land by the Sea who offers to help her run away, and she goes with him in hopes of finding a place she belongs.
When this story is with my editor, I’ve been working on one about a girl trying to make her way out of poverty. This is another fantasy for teens, but has a more contemporary feel.
What’s the best thing that’s happened in the last year?
ALIA WAKING was named a Notable Book by the International Reading Association. Teens chose it as a nominee for the 2003 Teens’ Top Ten. It’s also currently on Vermont’s children’s choice book award list, The Dorothy Canfield Fisher List. The best of all has been hearing from kids who’ve loved ALIA.
The funniest?
I can’t think of any funny moments. Maybe I’m not a funny enough person!
Any disappointments?
My second novel has taken far longer to write and revise than I had hoped. I thought writing it would be easier than writing ALIA WAKING. Apparently, what I learned from writing a first novel was how to write that first one. Now I’ve been learning to write this second one.
Do you work on one project at a time? Or many at once?
I work on one project at a time. However, I try to write every day so when something is with my editor, I start or return to another project.
Do you have a ritual you follow before you’re able to settle down to work for the day? What is it?
I help everyone off to school, or get up early on weekends, or put my kids to bed on evenings after I’ve worked at my school library. I make tea. I check e-mail, then web sites that I’m addicted to. I remind myself that floating around on-line is not actually work. I unplug the cord that runs between my computer and the phone jack, and start writing.
What’s the best advice you were ever given, and by whom?
Jane Yolen’s famous BIC advice — Butt In Chair — is always important to keep in mind. Also, my editor once told me, while I was having some difficulties with an element of this second story, to trust my instincts. I respect her opinion a great deal, so this meant a lot to me.
What books have you recently published, or will be released soon?
ALIA WAKING was released in 2003.
My next book doesn’t have a concrete release date yet.
Any other news you’d like to share?
I regularly update my web site and my blog. Sometimes the updates are about writing and sometimes they’re about books I’ve read or appearances I’m making. You can always check either of these places for news.
Interview © September, 2004, by Debbie Michiko Florence.
See also my earlier interview with Laura, in 2003.
what's new?
You can read more about Laura and her books at her web site and her blog.
See also my earlier interview with Laura, in 2003.
Contents © 2001-2009 by Debbi Michiko Florence. All rights reserved.
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