Author Interview: Welcome Kristen Kittscher @kkittscher @JKSlitpublicity

Get ready for parades, pageantry, suspense, and a hefty dose of hilarity as seventh grade spies Sophie Y oung and Grace Y ang trade their high tops for high heels to investigate a deadly crime in this clever Miss Congeniality set in middle school! Back by popular demand, this funny, fast- paced follow up to Kittscher’s acclaimed The Wig in the Window will thrill fans of the funny, clever humor and suspense in Pseudonymous Bosch and Gordon Korman’s books. A “Hitchcock meets Harriet the Spy” set in California, the mystery turns deadly in this new adventure featuring our favorite savvy, spunky, wise-cracking sleuths!.
When a mysterious murder rocks The Winter Sun Festival (a town tradition featuring floats, a parade, and a “royal” court), Sophie and Grace must go undercover as helpers to the Royal Court girls. But as the girls go deeper into the world of the festival, their friendship is tested—and as they get closer to solving the case, their search for the truth becomes more dangerous than they ever could have imagined...

THE TIARA ON THE TERRACE by Kristen Kittscher
Harper Children’s Division, HarperCollins, Publishers, January 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0062227980 Ÿ $16.99 Ÿ Hardcover Ÿ 388 pages Ÿ Middle-Grade Mystery Ÿ Ages 8-12 

Today we welcome Kristen for an interview!

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else? 

When I was five, I wanted desperately to be a cab driver, because I thought there’d be nothing more fun than driving all day. I suppose I’ve fulfilled that dream by living in Los Angeles!

But, in truth, I dreamt of being a writer as early as age seven, when  I was inspired by a nun in a Catholic school I went to in London, England who gave us writing prompts in a weekly “Creative English” class and responded encouragingly to my stories. However, I didn’t have the courage to actually try writing a book until later in life, after I’d been teaching middle school English for a good long while. To me, it felt like declaring I wanted to be a rock star. It just didn’t seem feasible!

How do you come up with themes for your stories?

While I don’t actively think of themes when I’m writing, I’m very much inspired by my own childhood memories and my time teaching seventh graders. I’m most interested in empowering stories that feature kids learning to trust themselves and outsmarting adults, as well as capturing the ups and downs of middle school friendships.

What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

I think the most challenging aspect of writing a book is developing the confidence and self-trust to keep going and know that, eventually, with help, time, persistence, and compassion for myself, I’ll manage to shape my ideas into a cohesive, meaningful story that will truly entertain.

Do you have a favorite character?

I love all my characters, of course, even the villains, but I do especially love Young & Yang’s tech-savvy good friend, Trista Bottoms who—despite facing bullying from her peers—is unapologetically smart and secure in her own abilities.

Where do you write?  

I have a separate office in a converted garage in my backyard where I can work without being interrupted. Sometimes, though I simply lie in bed on or on my couch, laptop propped up, where I can feel a little dreamier and freer to make a mess—and save working in my office for revisions.

What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?

As a longtime teacher, I love to spend time in the classroom helping kids write their own stories. I was lucky enough to be the Thurber House Children’s’ Writer in Residence last year, where I spent part of the summer in Columbus, Ohio teaching students in their summer writing camp, and I also travel during the year doing school visits. It’s a real joy to spend time with the age group I write for! In my free time, I love hiking with my dog in the hills near my house in Pasadena, California, as well as hanging out with friends.

What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing? 

While it might be helpful to start writing in isolation, I think it’s crucial to find other trusted writers on your same path who are willing to read your work, provide feedback, and spur you on. If you’re interested in writing for children or young adults, I highly recommend joining the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and attending their events, as well as bookstores events for local writers, where you’ll learn so much about the business side of writing and find like-minded friends to help you on your journey. Finding support and gaining confidence to realize your vision is just as important as writing itself.

Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? 

Kirsten Miller’s KIKI STRIKE series for middle schoolers which features bold girl detectives solving high-stakes mysteries inspired me to try my own hand at telling stories for the age group. She’s a gifted, funny writer who never condescends to her audience, and I aspire to be half as good as she is at writing well-plotted, entertaining, sophisticated mysteries for young readers.

Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such? 

My friend McCormick Templeman (YA author of THE LITTLE WOODS and THE GLASS CASKET) is my main partner-in-crime who reads my work, helps me clear mental blocks, solve plot problems, and cheers me on while I’m drafting. I owe so much to her insightful feedback, humor, and warmth. Everyone should be as lucky to have a first reader like her!

KRISTEN KITTSCHER is the author of bestselling tween mystery The Wig in the Window (Harper Children’s, 2013) which garnered a starred review from School Library Journal and was on ten Best of the Year lists. A graduate of Brown University and a former middle school Enligh teacher, Kristen was named the James Thurber House Children’s Writer-in-Residence in 2014. She presents frequently at schools, libraries, and festivals and is active in promoting community literacy initiatives in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, Kai. When Kristen is not reading, writing, or teaching, you’ll find her spending time with friends or hiking in the foothills near Pasadena with her dog, Mabel.

(@kkittscher).