Megan Frazer Blakemore is the author of middle grade fantasy and adventure such as The Firefly Code, Princess of the Wild Sea, Secrets of Truth & Beauty, and more. She graciously took the time to answer my questions about the pressures of writing a sequel, her upcoming adult mystery and what’s coming next. Enjoy!
1. What are your literary inspirations?
I have so many! I read all the time, across all genres. As a kid, I loved Beverly Cleary and Ellen Raskin. I devoured the Nancy Drew series, both the original books and the Case Files that were popular in the 1980s. I was also a huge fan of The Baby-Sitters Club books. One way to think of my new cozy mystery series for adults is Nancy Drew joins the Baby-Sitters Club but they’re all grown up.
2. What draws you to the middle grade fantasy genre?
There is something very freeing about writing middle grade fantasy. You get to be as whimsical as you want. It’s not that there aren’t rules. There are. But as the writer, you get to establish them. This is a bit of a double-edged sword however. World building is one of the most challenging parts of writing fantasy and it’s important that the rules of the world are internally consistent.
3. Did your work as a librarian influence/aid your writing for kids?
If you are going to write for children or teens, it’s essential that you respect them. Working with kids as a librarian allows me to see the day-to-day lives of these readers. I can see how smart they are, their senses of humor, and, unfortunately, the struggles they face. In this way, working as a librarian has definitely informed my writing for kids.
4. What is the greatest trait you need when you are a working writer?
Persistence. Keep writing, keep sending things out, keep trying. There is a lot of rejection in this field. Even once you have an agent and/or a publishing deal, the nos keep coming. An editor doesn’t want your next book. A review is so harsh it breaks your heart. The book doesn’t do as well as you hope. Getting up each day and getting back to it is what sustains a career.
5. What drew you to the Sleeping Beauty tale for Princess of the Wild Sea?
The fairy tale is named after her, but she has no agency. She’s born and she’s cursed. She falls asleep. I wanted to give this girl a story where she could make her own choices and decide her own fate.
6. The Firefly Code is one of your few books that has a sequel-the Daybreak Bond– was this planned? Did you have any pressure following up on it?
I had originally planned to write three books. My intention was that there would be The Firefly Code, set within the utopia of New Harmonie. Then there would be a second book set in the outside world and feature a different group of kids. The third book would bring the two groups of kids together. But, since The Firefly Code ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, my publisher wanted us to pick back up with the kids of Firefly Lane. I had to rethink the way I wanted to introduce the kids from outside New Harmonie. That was a challenge, but the real challenge was time. There was a very quick turnaround, about a year, and that was tough.
7. What inspired your Frankie Sparks collection?
This was definitely a case of my students inspiring me. One school library I worked in had a maker space. I loved watching the kids tinker and invent. Kids are tremendously creative. I wanted to write a book that reflected that. Each book also has a STEM challenge at the end to encourage kids to do their own making.
8. You are working on your first adult mystery-what is it about?
When Harriet Met Homicide is about a bookseller, Harriet Page, who is called in to help sort through the papers of her favorite author after the author dies. When it turns out that the author was murdered, Harriet and the rest of her bookselling team are on the case. It is a cozy mystery with strong rom com vibes.
9. Is the process for the genre different from middle grade fantasy?
Because it is a cozy, there was a sense of joy and play while writing it that was similar to when I write middle grade fantasy. I wish I could say that with the mystery, I did more plotting before I started, but I am not a plotter. So, as with all my books, I write a very rough draft. Then I pull that draft apart, reassemble it, and fill in the gaps. It’s not the most efficient way to write, but it’s what works for me.
10. What else is coming next for you?
Right now I am working on the sequel to When Harriet Met Homicide. I’ve also been trying my hand at screenwriting.
You can learn more about Megan and her books on her website: https://www.meganfrazerblakemore.com/
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