If a writer is lucky enough to see
their work used as a diving board or a trampoline, that, I think, is a moment
to celebrate. Look! A step, a pause for concentration and now a
jump…
It’s all about the bounce.
Pieces
and Players is my sixth novel, and I’ve been lucky enough to be a witness
to some of the independent life of my books.
When I visit schools, I get glimpses of projects and investigations
built on my mysteries. This is a huge
treat. How exciting is it to actually see
your book as a bridge between imaginations -- yours and someone else’s, someone
you don’t even know?
Once a teacher, librarian or kid
takes a bounce on a book, the story begins to stretch and breathe. A breeze enters the room; characters look
around. The book becomes unpredictable,
even dangerous – how cool is that? It’s
certainly no longer simply written or spoken words. Has the story become a tool, a piece of
equipment, or perhaps an interactive form of art? What a dream for a writer, being able to
observe some of this leap-and-fly magic!
A bounce on some detail, and whoosh… off these readers go in surprising directions. What a
thrill to see!
All of us readers have taken a
bounce on a book, but the writer is rarely a direct witness. Writing for kids and then absorbing what
they’ve taken away from the page is truly an amazing experience. When making my stories theirs, kids give me
so much. First, they show what they feel. Next, I hear what they’d like me to tackle and
which characters should be involved. They
suggest what I might do differently or what they want to see again. I love to hear and share their ideas. Writing is a solitary activity, but the bounce
of a book is not.
Of course, getting the thousands of
letters I’ve gotten over the years from kids has been miraculous, and a
different kind of very special experience.
I’ll never take that for granted, and the thoughtfulness of the written
word can’t be topped. I’ve opened and read
all of these letters in my kitchen and often shared them with family or friends. I keep them in boxes. Yes, really, every one! Their images and sparkle stay with me. These are wonderful and often deeply moving
bounces, but a different kind of experience from being physically in the same
room.
