Q&A with the authors of Falling For Alice!

I recently got the opportunity to read and review the anthology book Falling For Alice, and now I just got another opportunity to interview the authors of the book. I asked them questions about the book, what it was like for them to write it, and more! Before I get into the interview, I'd just like to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to these women for giving me the opportunity to interview them, and thank you Ms. Keswick for being so kind to me and helping me with my writing. You're awesome! (And of course, so are the rest of the authors!) Enjoy!

1. What brought you to write Falling for Alice?

Kitty Keswick: Dawn, Denise and I all had Alice stories, written for 150 year anniversary. I know Dawn as she’s my critique partner and we shared a publisher. (I’m no longer there. My rights were just returned as my contract ended.) I also know Denise from Class of 2K10, it’s a group of YA Debut authors. I was the president. We had done a few book signings together and critiqued for each other. I was going to self-publish my story because I really liked it and it wasn’t needed for the original purpose. I felt one storywasn’t long enough to make up a book. I asked Dawn and Denise to join me, but wished we had more people to make it longer. So when Denise mentioned she knew two more authors that could write fast, tight and YA I was thrilled. We now had five authors. Some of the brightest YA voices out there. Excitement overload for sure! Being a traditionally published author, I didn’t have a clue about how to self-publish and I wasn’t sure I wanted to—the way fate had it, I didn’t have to. I had been chatting with a talented cover artist about doing our cover and it turned out she also owned a publishing company. I sent her our stories and idea. She offered us a contract. Falling For Alice was born. Writing a short story is so different from writing a novel. You have limited amount of words to get the story across, pacing, tense scenes and a tight description is key. Not everyone can write this way. We were very lucky to find five that could also write stories that jelled together so well, flowed.

Denise Jaden: There was lots of talk about the 150 Year anniversary of Alice in Wonderland, and lots of new books and anthologies coming out. When Kitty and Dawn approached me about a short story collection on the topic, I was thrilled to be involved.

Dawn Dalton: Same as above.

Cady Vance: For Kitty to answer.

Shari Green: no response.

2. Alice is a popular character and FFA has such unique stories. How did each of you come up with your own twists on Alice?

KK: I wanted to pay homage Carroll’s original work but do a modern twist. Alice in Wonderland was a major part of my childhood. A wormhole felt very modern to me. I came up with the idea of having Alice on a spaceship in the future. My story is titled Wormhole to Wonderland. 

DJ: For me, it was a matter of going through the symbols and themes of the original Alice story and seeing what spoke to me most. I was immediately drawn to the bigger/smaller theme, and when I started some free writing on the subject, The Pharmacist just appeared in my story and the idea was born!

DD: The inspiration for my story DRUNK came after an encounter with a woman at an airport. My friend and I had a very long layover, and this woman spent almost an hour talking my friend’s ear off. When she left, he looked visibly drained—pale, wide-eyed, even scared—and he said, “That woman is an emotional vampire.” I never forgot that term.

CV: I've been really into the moon, the planets, and the ISS lately, and when I brainstormed ideas for an Alice twist, my mind couldn't help but turn to the idea of a teen space mission. It felt like such a great way to portray the idea of being in a strange new world where all your senses behave differently than they normally do. Plus, I loved the idea of approaching it from a science fiction perspective but keeping it grounded enough in real life scientific progress.

SG: In my story, Alice is a discouraged musician who finds herself at the Woodstock festival in 1969. There was no brilliant flash of inspiration leading to this. Honestly, I think it was simply the alliteration ... Wonderland, Woodstock ... combined with me being a musician. Once “Woodstock” popped into my head, I was off and running with my story.

3. What was the hardest thing about writing the book? 

KK: I tried to keep the flavor of the original Alice but weave in modern elements. Where it was fresh but fans of Alice in Wonderland would still see the original story threads.

DJ: I am first a novel writer, and second a nonfiction writer, and third a short story writer. For me, the most difficult part was finding a full story arc within such a short number of words to work with.

DD: The hardest part about writing my short story, DRUNK, was keeping it short! I’m more of a novelist than a short story writer, and it was a challenge to keep things tight, while still completing a story arc.

CV: Telling the story concisely! I'm usually a long-form writer. My novels tend to be around 80-90k, so it was definitely a challenge to tell a full story with its dramatic and emotional arc within so few pages.

SG: Actually, I had a blast writing this story. Sometimes writing is so hard ... but not this time!

4. Why did you decide to collaborate? 

KK: Explained above.

DJ: Kitty and Dawn were the brains behind this operation, but when they came to me and asked if I’d like to be involved, the answer was a resounding YES.

DD: The idea of an anthology of stories that paid tribute to the 150th anniversary of a classic—a book that is such an important part of my childhood and the reason I wanted to be a writer—was too good to pass up! Plus, my co-authors have serious talent.

CV: I've always wanted to collaborate with other writers on a project like this. I love reading anthologies myself, and I love Alice in Wonderland, so I felt this was the perfect project to become involved in.

SG: I jumped at the chance to work on this project – partly because it was Alice, and partly because of the challenge of coming up with something in a relatively short timeframe, but mostly because of the other writers involved...it was so fun working with them and getting to know them!

5. Have you read each other's FFA stories? 

KK: Oh, yes many times. We all critiqued and helped each other fine tune our words. I had fun but learned a lot too.

DJ: Yes, and I love them all! During the editing phase of getting the book ready for production, our publisher asked that we each go over each other’s stories before handing in the final drafts. It was a thoroughly enjoyable process!

DD: Absolutely! There are elements to each of my co-authors’ stories that I LOVE and I’m so proud and honored to be in a book with them. I love how each interpretation is different, but still keeps the same themes as the original story. Truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

CV: Yes! I've read them all and am amazed at the talent in this group of writers. I also love how differently we approached our adaptations. We each brought our own twist and voice to the project, and it's such a group of unique stories.

SG: Yes! I love the other stories, and I love that all our Alices and all our wonderlands are so different.

6. Do you have any funny memories you'd like to share from during the time you were writing the book? 

KK: I can’t single out one thing. Just chatting with these ladies has been wonderful. We felt like a family, a cast. I wish I could always write with a team.

DJ: I don’t know if I have any funny memories of the writing, but recently three of us were speaking on a panel together (Dawn, Shari, and I), and I couldn’t stop laughing hearing Shari’s account of how quickly she’d had to come up with the concept of her Alice story. We didn’t only tell her she had thirty days to write it, we also said, “Oh, and by the way, can you set it in the past?” In the end, I think she works very well under pressure, because I love Alice at Woodstock!

DD: I can't think of anything.

CV: Like Dawn, I can't think of anything funny that happened!

SG: Not really, except maybe that I wrote this story with a soundtrack of psychedelic rock playing (loudly). I think my teenage son found this both weird-funny and haha-funny.

7. Did you ever get writer's block while writing FFA? 

KK: Not block. Frustration. I knew where I wanted to go. I had to cut it down some words and that was a challenge. My biggest issue is time. I’m not a full time author. I have a day job to pay the “rent”. I hope someday I can live by my pen.

DJ: I don’t really believe in writer’s block. Maybe I’m one of those delusional-type writers, but I think if you brainstorm often enough and sit down and do the work believing something good will come of it, eventually it will.

DD: Actually, the first draft of this story came very quickly for me—which is not usually the case when I write. The concept had been percolating for so long, it was READY to come out. I was just waiting for the perfect vehicle. This anthology was it!

CV: Toward the end of the story, Alice is forced to pull herself together and save the day. I struggled with that segment of the story for awhile, because I wasn't entirely sure what and how she'd manage the situation. I sent my first draft to the rest of the authors and got some great feedback that really brought that ending sequence to life.

SG: No. I didn’t always know what was next, but I never felt stuck.

8. Any tips on how to get over writer's block? 

KK: I read if I’m stuck or watch a movie in the same genre I’m writing. But the thing that really keeps me fresh is reading my CP’s work. I’m always fired up after a critique, ready to work. Ideas flowing.

DJ: Like I said above…brainstorm ideas all the time: at the grocery store, in the gym, on the bus. Then block out time where you WILL sit down and write some words. They don’t have to be great, or even good, but often writing one mediocre sentence will lead to a better one, which will lead eventually to something great.

DD: Keep writing. Okay, I know that sounds lame, but if I get stuck, I’ll first try to work on a different scene. If that doesn’t work, I’ll get up and go for a walk, or have a shower (it’s cliché, but so many of my story problems have been ironed out in the shower!) Music can help as well. If I’m truly stuck, I take a day or two away from the project and work on something else, or feed my creativity in another way—ie: crafts, cooking, etc. But don’t take too long! That can prolong the block.

CV: Brainstorming is a great idea. Plus, getting feedback from other writers. I often find just talking through a plot problem with someone else will be enough to spark a solution.

SG: For me, writing about my story usually works. If I don’t know what to write in a story, I just start writing about the story instead...a sort of rambling, narrative brainstorming. More often than not, this leads me back into the story. (If I’m still stuck after that, it usually means I’m coming at the story from the wrong direction. I take a break, go for a walk, then come back and try a new approach.)

9. Would you write another anthology based on a different tale, such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty or Snow White? 

KK: This is my second anthology I’ve published. I wrote a short story about a modern day Cinderella and a haunted dress. Spirited is the name of the anthology and my story is Death Becomes Her. I enjoy writing short stories. It’s a different skill set than writing a novel, more of a challenge. Yes. I’d love to write another maybe even with the same authors. Hint, Hint, ladies.

DJ: My most recent YA novel is called A Christmas Kerril, based on the Dickens’ classic Christmas Carol, where instead of ghosts, Kerril experiences her past, present, and future through lucid dreaming. I love retellings, and I will likely tell some more in my future.

DD: Definitely. I’d love to do something Peter Pan inspired—another childhood favorite.

CV: Definitely! I think The Little Mermaid could be a lot of fun, or The Snow Queen.

SG: If the opportunity comes up, I’m in!

10. And lastly, do you have any advice you could share with aspiring writers (such as me)?

KK: NEVER SURRENDER. NEVER!!! Publishing is as much aboutgetting back up when you’re knocked down as it is about talent. Grow thick skin. Super thick. People will be mean. Keep writing. Take a break from your words and look at it with fresh eyes. READ EVERYTHING IN YOUR GENRE. EVERYTHING. Not just the best sellers but the crappy stuff too so you can see what not to do. Find a critique person, someone who will tell you when your writing sucks and how to make it better. Everyone’s first drafts have some suckage. Everyone’s. Find what works for you and make it happen. Experiment. Stretch yourself and try things that are out of your comfort zone that’s how you grow as a writer.

DJ: Gather lots of ideas and keep them all in one place. Don’t compare your writing journey to anyone else’s. No two journeys into publishing are the same, and that’s okay. Always remember to enjoy the process of creating, and not get too hung up on publishing aspirations and other things that are not completely in your control. And finally, read a lot and take note of what you love in the books you read. What makes you love literature? What, in what you’ve read, has changed you?

DD: Write! I know, I know, that’s what EVERYONE says. Butthere’s a reason they say it—practicing the act of writing is the number one way to improve your craft. Write your first draft. Revise it. Polish it. Revise it again. Keep writing.

I also advise finding critique partners. Not only can they help you see improvements you can’t see (impossible for you to spot your own weaknesses), you learn by critiquing for others. And lastly, read. You cannot be a good writer if you don’t read.

CV: Write, read, write, repeat.

SG: Write a lot and read a lot. Find your tribe (your support system, your critique partners). And don’t lose sight of the joy – remember what you love about writing, even (and especially) when the going gets tough.