The fun here at rachelledelaney.com never stops. Today we have another author interview for you. Yes! This time with Vancouver’s (well, Greater Vancouver’s) own Alison Acheson.
Alison is an acclaimed children’s and young adult author with several titles to her name, including Mud Girl and The Half-Pipe Kidd (both YA novels) and Grandpa’s Music (a picture book). She’s also a phenomenal writing teacher (I can vouch for this myself!) who currently offers a wealth of online writing workshops. You can learn more about Alison on her website and WritersWebWorkshop.com. After you read this interview, of course.
Alison’s latest YA novel, Molly’s Cue, is the story of Molly Gumley, who enters high school with dreams of being an actress like her grandmother. It’s never occurred to her that she could fail at what she loves most in life — until she makes a few startling discoveries that change her outlook on her abilities. Molly’s Cue tells of Molly’s struggle with family, friends, and her own desires and fears. It’s an engrossing read, and one that will resonate with anyone who wants — or once wanted — to pursue a dream.
Alison graciously agreed to enlighten us on the creation of Molly’s Cue and give us a peek into her writing life. Here’s the interview!
RD: Where did your inspiration for Molly’s Cue come from? Were you ever in a similar position as a teenager – not sure whether to pursue a dream?
AA: Wow. This is going back a LONG way—years. It’s hard to pinpoint the genesis of this novel. I began to work on it in the mid-90s. Yes, you read that correctly. And it is now 2010. I was very shy as a kid. I was so shy that when there were auditions for the school play in grade 7, my teacher told me not to bother. But I did love puppets, and writing puppet plays. So in writing about Molly, I was able to revisit these. I suspect that all writers have a bit of “actor” in them; we need this to create and write character. I know that there was an initial urge to explore the idea of having a “friend” help you through a tough spot. In American and Canadian books for children there’s a strong emphasis on having the protagonist sort out things for him or herself, and I’m not convinced this is realistic. I think that at times, knowing/recognizing you need some help is wise. In Molly’s case, Millicent becomes a friend of sorts. Who’s Millicent? Is that a spoiler? If you haven’t read it yet, do…and you’ll find out!
It’s a huge challenge to pursue certain types of dreams. When you’re young, and you want to be an artist of one form or another, people often don’t take you seriously. Or adults who are close to you become worried, especially as you grow into your last years at school, that you’ll be unable to earn a living. All this adds to the complexity of having a dream.
RD: Molly wants to be an actress, and she gets some unwanted advice from someone who thinks she should put her energy elsewhere. What would be your advice to a young person who wants to pursue such a big, challenging dream?
AA: Certain dreams require a 200% effort, not 100%. Arts and sports, especially. You need to put in more. That’s just how it is. I think the important part is not to have a back-up plan. Yes, I know that sounds “bad” and parents reading this might shake their heads. But in my experience, a back-up plan is a plan to fail. I’ve done “back-up” plans, and they’ve provided many years of detour from what I really want to do. Truth is, to be good at what you want to do, you need to ensure that as many hours as possible are spent doing just that, only beginning with the 10,000 hours (which, according to research is what you need to do before you become an “expert” at something!) With a back-up plan, you’ll become half decent at a couple of things. If you must work in something else, then find something that is connected…in other words, a path that keeps within sight of the path you should be on…and do whatever it takes to be on the #1 path. GO FOR IT! Put in the effort and the thought and the care. Become great at what you love.
RD: I LOVE that ventriloquism played such a strong role in the book. Did writing about it require a ton of research? Do you have any hidden ventriloquism skills?
AA: No, not tons of research. It just meant that I was very happy to have spent almost thirty years of my life hauling around my 30-lesson “Become a Ventriloquist” course from the Maher Ventriloquist Studios (Colorado)…(I have to remind my family that writers can’t throw out anything!) Yes, I took a correspondence course in ventriloquism at the age of 15. I never did perform—I was too shy to do that—but I practiced with my ventriloquial figure (aka “dummy”), Angie, for hours. In my earlier teens, I held weekly puppet shows for the neighbourhood and Sunday School kids. Puppets and ventriloquism have always fascinated me.
RD: You obviously know a lot about classic theatre productions. Any favourites? If you could have a role in any of these productions, who would you want to play, and why?
AA: Well, here’s where I did research, or at least had to think outside the comfort zone of my own little writing room! I’m not particularly knowledgeable of theatre—or not as much as I’d like to be. I wanted to use stageplays with which most readers would be familiar. What role would I like? Good question! I think it would have to be someone quite unlike me…so maybe the Baroness in Sound of Music (I could use a cigarette holder, and carry gloves, and act snobby!) or maybe one of the nuns. Or best: I could be a walk-on part and see what everyone else is up to. Observation is often the writer’s role.
RD: Do you mind sharing what you’re working on now?
AA: Currently, I’m completing a few projects, including wrapping up last bits on The Cul-de-sac Kids, a short illustrated book for Tradewind Books. My work-in-progress is for older YA readers, though, and it’s about four young women dealing with varying depths of depression. They’re discovering or nurturing dreams, too—dreams of dance, music, math—in one case!—and one wants to become a stand-up comic. That I’ll have to research. I expect it’ll be fun research!
Thanks for asking such crack-open-the-brain questions, Rachelle!
