Ask the Author: Meg McKinlay
Answered Questions (7)
Meg McKinlay
Haha well, I hope you've handed it in by now. GR is pretty flaky about notifying me of these questions but I don't think my year of birth is that important for a school project anyway. Let's just say that as a child I owned a purple-and-orange crocheted jumpsuit and leave it at that. ;)
Meg McKinlay
Thank you! I'm so glad you liked Catch a Falling Star; it's one of my own favourites and I loved writing it. I'm coming to your question very late but I've published a couple of picture books since then and am working on another novel, probably aimed at ages 8-12-ish. I haven't told anyone else this yet but it's about boys, hot-air balloons, and a very unusual choir. Keep it a secret, okay? :)
Meg McKinlay
So sorry, Samantha! For some reason GR has just shown me your question now. :( My main inspiration came from the real-life fall of Skylab, as I mention in the note at the end of the book, but it's never quite as simple as one thing for me. There are almost always a couple of things that bump together to kickstart a story. I've written more about this on my website, so I'll just point there rather than writing an essay here. :) https://megmckinlay.com/books/junior-...
Meg McKinlay
Hi Talha. Thanks for the question.
I think I remember very vividly what it felt like to be a child, so I have a good emotional connection to child readers. I do have to be careful with language and so on, though - that I pitch that at the right level while not being too simple either. I guess I try as much as possible to drop back into the skin of my childhood self and see with those eyes. It really helps to get out and talk to kids as well; that's one reason I love working with school groups because it sort of refreshes that sense of connection.
I do generally find it easier to do with younger kids, though; I don't think my teenage self has as much in common with today's teenagers and I would find it more difficult writing realist fiction for that age group.
I think I remember very vividly what it felt like to be a child, so I have a good emotional connection to child readers. I do have to be careful with language and so on, though - that I pitch that at the right level while not being too simple either. I guess I try as much as possible to drop back into the skin of my childhood self and see with those eyes. It really helps to get out and talk to kids as well; that's one reason I love working with school groups because it sort of refreshes that sense of connection.
I do generally find it easier to do with younger kids, though; I don't think my teenage self has as much in common with today's teenagers and I would find it more difficult writing realist fiction for that age group.
Meg McKinlay
Boo Radley and Scout. Because obviously.
Coming in a close second, Harriet the Spy and Ole Golly. Because see above.
Coming in a close second, Harriet the Spy and Ole Golly. Because see above.
Meg McKinlay
A middle-grade novel set in 1979 against the historical backdrop of Skylab falling out of orbit. It's been a long time coming but I'm hoping to have this out in 2018.
Meg McKinlay
There are! In fact a few years back I spent a couple of months in Japan doing research and early drafting for a just such a novel. It's for adults, though, and my other writing has kept me so busy I haven't had time to commit to finishing it. Soon (ish), I hope.
I should add that I don't currently work as an interpreter and would struggle to do so now; my conversational Japanese is still decent but I'd struggle in a formal setting.
I should add that I don't currently work as an interpreter and would struggle to do so now; my conversational Japanese is still decent but I'd struggle in a formal setting.
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