A Writer in the Family

Beware.....

A Writer in the Family

^{My uncle John once said about me, “every time Elizabeth writes a book, it’s like dodging a bullet.”  And in his memoir, Stay of Execution, my father wrote, “She has real talent, as well as an awesome determination to become a serious writer. The combination can hardly fail to pay off in the end. But as I’ve told her, sometimes I worry that she’ll run out of family and friends before her talent comes to full flower.”}

^{Sadly, my father died in 1974 not long after my first novel was published so he didn’t live to see that I was able in the end, to create characters from my imagination. That said, many of my picture books were based on conversations my children had with one another or with their friends. Katharine’s Doll was inspired by my daughter’s casual comment that she preferred her best friend’s doll to her best friend. Bear and Mrs. Duck came from a conversation Eliza had with her stuffed animals, trying to convince them that a babysitter would take good care of them.}

^{I once heard my son comment to a friend, “Don’t say anything in front of my mother. She’ll put it in a book.” As my children grew up, so did my books. I began to write fiction for middle grade readers, for teenagers and finally, for adult readers.} 

^{During the pandemic, I decided to write a prequel to my best-selling fantasy series which opens with The Castle in the Attic. It was a project I’d thought about for years and since my memoir was in production at a publisher, it seemed finally like the right time. I was about 80 pages into the manuscript when my daughter called in despair. Her fifth-grade twin girls had gone into lockdown/Zoom school in March, and they didn’t have enough to do. The homework they’d been assigned was minimal, and they were rattling around the house, making it difficult for her to get any work done.}

^{I hired them as research assistants.}

^{First, I asked each of them to read one of the two earlier books in the series and make notes so that I could be sure to maintain consistency when writing about the characters this time around. I needed to be reminded of the magic rules I had created 27 years before (!), the appearance and personalities of my characters as well as the details of the castle setting. Once they finished that task which they did quite well, I had them both read the 80 pages I’d written of the prequel and come back to me with comments. As readers, these two are sharp and incisive, and they don’t mince their words. “That doesn’t make much sense, Mima.”  “You should make this part scarier.”  “You’re taking a long time to get him to the Middle Ages.”}

^{At this point, they suggested that they should be paid. I agreed but insisted they come up with a figure.  They conferred and got back to me.}

                  ^{“Five dollars,” Eve said. “A week.”}

                  ^{“Each,” Sonia added.}

                  ^{I agreed. However, the next week, Eve told me they’d changed their minds. They didn’t want to be paid.}

                  ^{“Why not?” I asked.}

                  ^{“Too much pressure,” she announced.}

^{Finally, I asked them each to research specific details I needed to advance the story. Sonia was to tell me what kind of horses my characters might ride in what circumstances in 14th century England. Eve’s assignment was to make a list of the different servants who might staff a castle in that century. Once they’d reported their findings back to me, the school year was over, and they wanted to resign from their jobs. I told them in lieu of a salary and as a way of thanking them, I would put them in the book. I honestly thought they would make brief appearances as kitchen maids.}

^{How foolish I was. They took over. Their personalities came through on every page. I found it hard to finish the penultimate chapter because it meant that Richard, my main character, and I would both have to leave the girls behind in a precarious situation in 1366. Now, as I contemplate the possibility of a fourth and final book in the series, I can’t imagine writing it without these two front and center.}

^{Beware of a writer in the family. When she is in service to a story, she can be ruthless. I’ve come full circle as my father predicted. I’m back to using family members in my books.}

^{P.S. I’ve sworn never to upload recognizable photos of my grandchildren to any social media site, but now that you’ve read this far, I thought it only fair to show you two images that capture their special connection through the years.}

Photo by Donna Erikson

^{Photo by Julie Kubal}

^{This post has been read and approved by my research assistants.}