We here at rachelledelaney.com have a great treat for you today. An interview with the fabulously talented author Vikki VanSickle! Yes! We here at rachelledelaney.com are ridiculously excited about this. We didn’t sleep much last night.
Author Vikki VanSickle
Vikki recently published her first novel for young readers, Words That Start With B, with Scholastic Canada, and in the few weeks it’s been on bookstore shelves it has garnered serious acclaim. Vikki is a talented young Torontonian who divides her time between writing and managing the Flying Dragon children’s bookstore. Basically, if you need a book recommendation, Vikki’s your girl. She’s also one of the loveliest, smartest, and most eloquent people I’ve met in a long time (and did I mention talented? Seriously). Her blog, Pipedreaming, is a great place to find book reviews and keep track of her adventures in writing. You should check it out. After you read the rest of this post, of course.
Words That Start With B is the story of Clarissa Delaney (of no relation to yours truly), who enters Grade 7 with high hopes for the year, only to have every hope dashed. Not only has the best Grade 7 teacher in the school been replaced by a clueless newbie, but Clarissa’s best friend Benji is getting mercilessly bullied. Then there’s the unwanted attention from awkward Michael Greenblat and teacher’s pet Mattie Cohen. Grade 7 doesn’t seem like it can get any worse — until Clarissa’s mom announces that she has breast cancer.
I can’t recommend this novel highly enough. It’s chock-full of tension, laughs, and beautiful writing. Clarissa is a great character — brave and feisty, but vulnerable and conflicted. It’s impossible not to get caught up in her struggle.
So Vikki, being lovely, agreed to answer my questions about her life as a writer and her work.
1. Where did you find your inspiration for Words that Start with B? Do you remember which part of the novel came to you first (a character, plot point, etc)?
VV: I always start from character. Once I had Clarissa’s voice in my head I started creating her world, including the hair salon her mom runs out of their family basement, her best friend Benji, what she does after school, her favourite books, candy, etc. The story came out of these little details. I knew I wanted to set the book in a small town, and I wanted it to be a friendship story between a boy and a girl who don’t fall in love. Truly platonic friendships can be tricky to come by in contemporary middle grade.
2. As a bookseller, you must be constantly reading and recommending books. Which authors do you count among your favourites/role models?
VV: It’s wonderful to be surrounded by books all day long! I love authors who write in all different genres and styles. Some of my favourites include Meg Rosoff, Jenny Han, Sonya Hartnett, John Green, Rebecca Stead, Kit Pearson, Karen Hesse and Michael Morpurgo.
3. In your novel, you slipped into the mind of a Grade 7 girl so convincingly. Clarissa’s worries and angst and small pleasures brought me right back to Grade 7 (which wasn’t a really pleasant trip, since I was an awkward teenager with way too much energy and an aversion to wearing shoes). So my question for you is: who was Vikki VanSickle in Grade 7? Did any of your own experiences find their way into Clarissa’s story?
VV: I have very vivid memories of being 12. I’ve also spent a lot of time working with 11-13 year olds at various camps, which helped me access my main character’s headspace. There are no specific events from my own life that influenced the book, but there are details here and there that are lifted from my own history. The name of Clarissa’s mom’s car, for instance, which is Betsy Blue, was also the name of our family car when I was younger.
I think Clarissa and I share a very strong sense of justice and what is fair, although she is much braver and more outspoken than I was. Like Clarissa, I had (and still have) very little tolerance for bullies or cruelty. I think I was probably more like Mattie Cohen- eager, chatty, a planner, and maybe just the slightest bit bossy.
4. This is your first published novel. You’ll soon be featured at Toronto’s International Festival of Authors. You’re booking fun school visits. What’s the most exciting part of this new experience?
VV: Every day has been exciting. As much as I love the process of writing, it’s a very solitary activity, so going to schools and book clubs and chatting with readers is a lot of fun for me. I love presenting, and I love discussion even more. I am passionate about children and children’s literature and I love taking every opportunity I can to talk about these things.
5. Do you mind telling us what you’re working on now?
VV: At the moment I’m thinking about a number of projects and haven’t decided which one to focus on, but they will most likely be middle grade and take place in the summer. These grey fall days are making me nostalgic for sunshine and afternoons by the lake!
[...] few weeks back, I did this interview with the lovely and charming Rachelle Delaney, author of the award-winning The Ship of Lost Souls [...]