Ask the Author: Lindsey Stoddard
Answered Questions (12)
Lindsey Stoddard
When I was creating my main character, Robinson, I was thinking back to my childhood and remembering moments that made me feel big emotions so I could better write Robinson's big emotions. One moment that came to mind was when a kid in my neighborhood whacked a bird's nest out of a tree with his whiffle ball bat. I was SO angry. I used that moment to help me write Robinson's anger throughout the book... I suppose Alex Carter got some traits from that kid in my neighborhood, but certainly not his whole story.
Lindsey Stoddard
Wow! These are two really hard (almost impossible!) questions.
Favorite book of all time: Well, when I was little, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA was my favorite book. It was the first book that made me cry and I really appreciated how the author didn't try to shield me from the real sadnesses that can happen in the world. I also really love THE BRIDGE HOME by Padma Venkatraman, BROWN GIRL DREAMING by Jacqueline Woodson, and ALL THIRTEEN and A WISH IN THE DARK by Christina Soontornvat.
Favorite book I've written: I really do love them all, because I poured so much of my heart into creating each character. I would say, though, that the one I might be most proud of is BRAVE LIKE THAT, not because I think it's *better*, but because I wrote it during a challenging stretch in my life. I had a newborn baby, a 1-year-old and no one was sleeping, and we were moving from NYC to VT, and I walked and rocked my children while I created Cyrus's story in my head, I whispered lines to them late into the night and early into the morning, and I wrote the story with one hand on the laptop while they napped on my chest. I almost gave up because I was so tired, but my heart was full and the book is just so full of love because I wrote it heart-to-heart with both my babies.
Favorite book of all time: Well, when I was little, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA was my favorite book. It was the first book that made me cry and I really appreciated how the author didn't try to shield me from the real sadnesses that can happen in the world. I also really love THE BRIDGE HOME by Padma Venkatraman, BROWN GIRL DREAMING by Jacqueline Woodson, and ALL THIRTEEN and A WISH IN THE DARK by Christina Soontornvat.
Favorite book I've written: I really do love them all, because I poured so much of my heart into creating each character. I would say, though, that the one I might be most proud of is BRAVE LIKE THAT, not because I think it's *better*, but because I wrote it during a challenging stretch in my life. I had a newborn baby, a 1-year-old and no one was sleeping, and we were moving from NYC to VT, and I walked and rocked my children while I created Cyrus's story in my head, I whispered lines to them late into the night and early into the morning, and I wrote the story with one hand on the laptop while they napped on my chest. I almost gave up because I was so tired, but my heart was full and the book is just so full of love because I wrote it heart-to-heart with both my babies.
Lindsey Stoddard
Hi Riley! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed Bea Is For Blended. Thank you for reaching out and letting me know. Congratulations on your A+ paper! I do have a new book coming out in the fall of 2022 called The Real Deal. I'm working on revisions right now. I hope you'll enjoy that one too. - Lindsey
Lindsey Stoddard
Hi Brina! Thank you so much for reaching out. I'm delighted you enjoyed JUST LIKE JACKIE and that you're checking out my other books! I hope your daughters have a good return to school, however that looks for them this year, and that you as a family are able to remain healthy and happy.
Lindsey Stoddard
Hi! I'm so happy to hear you've been enjoying my books. Thanks! Bea is for Blended is the story of a girl named Bea, and it's always just been her and her mom. Except, now her mom is marrying a man named Wendell who has three sons, two dogs, and a cat. It's the story of Bea adjusting to life in her new blended family and also... so much more! You can read more about it on my website. :)
Lindsey Stoddard
I write books because I LOVE books. I don't write to give any certain messages, but I hope that through my writing some kids will feel less alone. I hope this answers your question. :)
Lindsey Stoddard
Hi Grace,
I'm so honored to be one of your favorite authors. Thanks! Did you know I have another book coming out in June?! Whoo hoo! Thanks for asking about why I became a writer. When I was little, my dad told me that if I could figure out what I really love, then figure out how to make that thing my job, I'd always be happy. For me, that was books! So, I had two dream jobs: to be a teacher, and to be a writer. Then I knew I'd be around books every day. I first became a middle school English teacher and LOVED it. I taught for ten years in the Washington Heights neighborhood in NYC and it was there that I realized I didn't want to be just any writer, I wanted to write for kids. I started by writing stories for and with my students and eventually earned my MFA in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Thanks so much for asking about my inspiration to become a writer. :)
I'm so honored to be one of your favorite authors. Thanks! Did you know I have another book coming out in June?! Whoo hoo! Thanks for asking about why I became a writer. When I was little, my dad told me that if I could figure out what I really love, then figure out how to make that thing my job, I'd always be happy. For me, that was books! So, I had two dream jobs: to be a teacher, and to be a writer. Then I knew I'd be around books every day. I first became a middle school English teacher and LOVED it. I taught for ten years in the Washington Heights neighborhood in NYC and it was there that I realized I didn't want to be just any writer, I wanted to write for kids. I started by writing stories for and with my students and eventually earned my MFA in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Thanks so much for asking about my inspiration to become a writer. :)
Lindsey Stoddard
Hi Grace,
I'm so sorry I haven't responded to your question. I am just figuring out how to really use Goodreads! But I am delighted to see your message here now. I'm so happy you enjoyed RIGHT AS RAIN.
I was inspired, actually, by a moment in my own childhood when my big brother asked me to help him sneak out of the house. In my heart I said no, but I immediately said yes because I adored him and looked up to him so much. I spent the entire night worrying, counting the minutes until he'd be home. Luckily, he did come home, but I never forgot that feeling of worry and guilt and it made me think, "What if?" That's how Rain's story was born. I also lived and taught middle school English for 12 years in Washington Heights, so this book was a bit of love letter to that neighborhood. :)
Thank you so much again for reaching out! I hope you've read JUST LIKE JACKIE too! And my third novel, BRAVE LIKE THAT, comes out June 2nd. I'm super excited for that one too!
Lindsey
I'm so sorry I haven't responded to your question. I am just figuring out how to really use Goodreads! But I am delighted to see your message here now. I'm so happy you enjoyed RIGHT AS RAIN.
I was inspired, actually, by a moment in my own childhood when my big brother asked me to help him sneak out of the house. In my heart I said no, but I immediately said yes because I adored him and looked up to him so much. I spent the entire night worrying, counting the minutes until he'd be home. Luckily, he did come home, but I never forgot that feeling of worry and guilt and it made me think, "What if?" That's how Rain's story was born. I also lived and taught middle school English for 12 years in Washington Heights, so this book was a bit of love letter to that neighborhood. :)
Thank you so much again for reaching out! I hope you've read JUST LIKE JACKIE too! And my third novel, BRAVE LIKE THAT, comes out June 2nd. I'm super excited for that one too!
Lindsey
Lindsey Stoddard
Linnea,
I am so sorry it has taken me this long to respond, but I am just figuring out how to use Goodreads and social media... but I am delighted to see your message here now. Thank you so much for reaching out about RIGHT AS RAIN. I'm beyond honored that it is your favorite book! I hope you enjoyed JUST LIKE JACKIE as well. And yes, my third novel comes out June 2nd. It's called BRAVE LIKE THAT. I'm super excited!
Thank you thank you again!
Lindsey
I am so sorry it has taken me this long to respond, but I am just figuring out how to use Goodreads and social media... but I am delighted to see your message here now. Thank you so much for reaching out about RIGHT AS RAIN. I'm beyond honored that it is your favorite book! I hope you enjoyed JUST LIKE JACKIE as well. And yes, my third novel comes out June 2nd. It's called BRAVE LIKE THAT. I'm super excited!
Thank you thank you again!
Lindsey
Lindsey Stoddard
Hi Julie! I am so sorry that it has taken me a year to see your question. I haven't quite figured out Goodreads and social media yet! But I am so delighted to see if here now and I so appreciate you reaching out to me about JUST LIKE JACKIE.
My grandpa did suffer from alzheimer's when I was young. I remember feeling so sad and confused when he would forget the ends of his sentences. I adored my grandpa. He had a huge sugar bush near Bethel, Vermont and I grew up sugaring with him. Even when he started to forget our names, he never missed a beat out there, much like Robbie's grandpa in the mechanic's garage. :)
Thank you so much again for reaching out. I hope you're having a great year! I've written another book since, RIGHT AS RAIN, which came out February of 2019 and my third middle grade novel, BRAVE LIKE THAT, is due out June 2nd!
Lindsey
My grandpa did suffer from alzheimer's when I was young. I remember feeling so sad and confused when he would forget the ends of his sentences. I adored my grandpa. He had a huge sugar bush near Bethel, Vermont and I grew up sugaring with him. Even when he started to forget our names, he never missed a beat out there, much like Robbie's grandpa in the mechanic's garage. :)
Thank you so much again for reaching out. I hope you're having a great year! I've written another book since, RIGHT AS RAIN, which came out February of 2019 and my third middle grade novel, BRAVE LIKE THAT, is due out June 2nd!
Lindsey
Lindsey Stoddard
Thanks, Carol! I’m so happy you enjoyed JUST LIKE JACKIE. Thanks for reaching out! My next book, RIGHT AS RAIN, comes out in January 2019. It’s set in the Washington Heights neighborhood of NYC. It also explores family dynamics, the importance of finding a network of friendships, and discovering who is on your team and rooting for you no matter what. I’m really looking forward to its publication and I hope you enjoy it as much as JLJ. Thank you again!
Lindsey Stoddard
Hi Debbie! Thanks for reaching out. It means SO much to me that you enjoyed JUST LIKE JACKIE. I love hearing from teachers and students! You made my day! As for what's next, my second middle grade novel, RIGHT AS RAIN, is slated to come out in January of 2019, and I'm currently just starting to ink up some notebooks with a third book idea. RIGHT AS RAIN is set in the Washington Heights neighborhood of NYC (where I'm currently living, and taught middle school English for 10 years). I'm excited! I really appreciate you spreading the word for JUST LIKE JACKIE to your teacher friends. My hope is that it lands in many kid-hands :)
Thanks again!
Lindsey
Thanks again!
Lindsey
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