With Kim McCullough
Photo by Shannon Mancuso
This Town is Not All Right is set in a fictional American East Coast town; how did you choose the setting and what were some of the challenges when writing the setting of this book?
I chose a fictional setting for a few different reasons. The idea for the book came from a real life “UFO” sighting that took place in the 1960s in Shag Harbor, Nova Scotia. Local residents claimed to have seen an aircraft crash in the harbor, but when the coast guard arrived no trace of the craft was ever found. I thought it would be fun to write a story about kids who discovered the truth behind this crash. THIS TOWN was initially set in Shag Harbor, but as the plot unfolded the setting looked less and less like the real life town I’d based the story on. Somewhere along the way, I decided to stop trying to make the plot fit into the setting that inspired the story and let the plot flourish in a fictional one. Of course creating a fictional town has it’s own challenges. Namely, creating a fictional town!
The characters in this book all have different personalities, interests and strengths. I was struck by how clearly each character was presented. How do you balance the need for fast-paced action with the need for characters the reader can care about and engage with?
Thank you! I really believe that the best stories start with good characters. No matter how propulsive and fun the plot twists, a story will fall flat if the reader doesn’t care about the people they’re happening to. I’ve found that when I’ve focused my attention on creating engaging, three-dimensional characters first, the results are always better. Don’t get me wrong, plot is also important, but getting a handle on the characters is always my first priority. From there, the character’s individual personalities help inform the plot to a certain degree by how they react to the twists I throw at them.
Are there any characters or events you wish you'd been able to explore more? If so, which ones, and what would you add or change?
I might have said yes at one point, but I now believe everything that made it into the final draft is all that needs to be there. I was fairly aggressive with edits. If it didn’t propel the story forward or provide meaningful characterization, I ditched it, and I hope that what’s left behind is a tight, fun plot that keeps young readers engaged.
The twins, Beacon and Everleigh, are mourning the death of their older brother Jasper. What kind of research into grief did you do while writing this book?
I did a fair amount of research on grief, but the vast majority was informed by my experience with losing my dad at 18. Something that always stuck with me is how quickly everyone wants you to move on and heal. But grief doesn’t fade away quickly, or, in Beacon’s case, go away because the world needs saving. I wanted to show young readers that’s it’s normal for healing to take time, to highlight characters grieving in different ways, and ultimately, to provide hope that it will get better. The book is a sci-fi adventure, but at its heart it’s about a family dealing with loss.
You’ve previously written books for Young Adult readers including Hexed, Charmed, and Dead Girls Society. What made you write for the Middle Grade audience with This Town is Not Alright? Was there something about this story that you felt appealed to a younger age group or was it a new challenge for you?
THIS TOWN actually started out as a young adult novel. But after I’d written a few chapters I realized the plot was better suited for a middle grade audience. I really liked the idea of younger kids who were still trying to figure out how they fit into their own world stumbling onto a world-sized problem. Once I made the change it really allowed me to run wild with fun, voicey characters and adventurous plot twists that might not have worked for an older audience. It was a lot of fun! And there’s the added benefit that my eleven-year-old can read this one.
Cloud Lake Literary serves as both a space for readers as well as writers. What advice would you give to aspiring authors? This could be about the writing process, the writers journey, or even about navigating the publishing world.
Get involved in the online author community. This business is so fun and exhilarating, but it can also be frustrating at times. It’s been tremendously helpful and comforting having friends who get it that I can turn to for advice and a good old-fashioned vent every now and then. Some of my closest friends are authors I met online.
This Town is Not All Right ends on a significant and pretty shocking cliffhanger. Are there plans for a sequel? A series?
The sequel to This Town, called THIS TOWN IS A NIGHTMARE, comes out August 21st, 2021! I can’t wait for readers to see what this spooky town and its not quite right residents have in store for you this time.
What are your “must-read” book recommendations and what books have had the most impact and influence on your writing?
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder has been my secret, not-so-secret, weapon. It’s a screenwriter’s guide on story structure that divides a story into 15 plot beats, each of which serves a particular function in a story. I highly recommend it for aspiring authors looking for a starting point.
I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention Twilight. For all of its faults, Twilight did what a lot a lot of authors only wish they could, which is to keep readers obsessively engaged and turning the pages. It’s something I’m always striving for.
On a personal level, my critique partner, Ruth Lauren, constantly inspires me. She’s incredibly driven and determined and the most incredible writer I know. Her debut middle grade novel, Prisoner of Ice and Snow, is out now from Bloomsbury. Think Prison Break meets Game of Thrones. Check it out!