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Author Interviews · March 2, 2021

Author Gillian McDunn on Writing About Relationships

I’m a huge fan of Gillian McDunn’s work. I’m proud to say I’ve now read all three of her books (and enjoyed them all). Gillian’s writing is always insightful, especially when she’s writing about relationships, whether that’s between friends, family members, or siblings. In These Unlucky Stars, the protagonist, Annie reluctantly befriends a grouchy elderly woman in her neighborhood, even as she’s trying to find her place in her family.

Gillian and I discuss Annie’s character, writing about small towns, and trusting the process when she writes. Enjoy!

Gillian McDunn - Author Interview

Hi Gillian! I’m thrilled to be interviewing you. As you know, I’m a huge fan of your books (like ALL of them). What inspires your writing?

Thank you so much, Afoma! As a big fan of your site, I’m very excited to chat about books with you! 

I’ve wanted to write children’s books for my entire life. The books I read as kid became a part of who I am today.  When I write, I’m always thinking of the kid version of myself–I try to tell the kinds of stories I would have wanted to read. I hope that my books feel “true” to kids (and a story doesn’t have to be real to be true). I would say that my stories are mostly inspired by relationships, which are endlessly fascinating to me.

I loved These Unlucky Stars. Annie Logan grew on me really quickly. Her plucky (and sometimes, self-pitying attitude) tugged at my heartstrings. I’m curious, did anyone or anything in particular inspire Annie’s character?

I’m so glad you connected with Annie. Several things inspired her character.

In my earlier books, I had written from the point of view of Cat and Meg, who are both (in different ways) struggling to find their voice. I was really drawn to the idea of a character who was the opposite–one with so much voice that it sometimes seems as if the people around her might be thinking, “Did you really just say that?” It was incredibly fun to write about someone who tended to be a bit reckless with their thoughts and feelings. 

I was also inspired by the general idea of there being more than meets the eye with most people in the world. I’m thinking of the quote “Be kind, for everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” (I tried to find attribution for this quote, but it’s murky at best–oh well, I still love it.) 

One of life’s great challenges is communicating our “battles” to those around us. Annie may be outwardly brash but she’s hurting on the inside. She has accepted some part of her story so wholeheartedly that she isn’t fact-checking with those around her–I’m thinking of Dad, JoJo, and Ray–who can all give her some more pieces of the puzzle she’s trying to sort out.

Sometimes there is a story we tell ourselves about who we are–and sometimes those stories are more accurate than others. Annnie has been viewing life through the lens of being unlucky. In some ways, this has been a way of holding onto a piece of Ma. But throughout the story, Annie changes her relationship with that story and therefore changes how she views herself.

Gloria was such a grumpy character, even though we get to understand her better as the story progresses. Did you have any friendships with older people when you were Annie’s age?

Gloria’s character was inspired by my godmother, Barbara Sederquist. When I was a child, she was my favorite person in the world. Although she was grumpy, she had a huge heart and always seemed to see me for who I really was. She did things her own way and didn’t answer to anyone about it. Barbara died ten years ago and I still think of things I wish I could tell her. She brought a lot of richness to my life.

Annie’s relationship with her brother and father is both sweet and sometimes heartbreaking, the way she feels like an outsider in her own family. I felt that this happened largely because of the differences in their personalities. What did you hope to achieve by highlighting Annie’s feelings about her situation?

Caterpillar Summer - Author Interview

I agree that Annie has a very different personality than her brother and dad. I think of her family as being out of balance–almost like a mobile that’s more heavily weighted on one side. Ma has been gone for many years and Annie, Ray, and Dad have all found different methods of coping with that loss. Dad is extremely practical and has focused on providing for his family. Ray has a similar personality and gravitates toward Dad. Annie, on the other hand, sees herself as being creative and more similar to Ma. She’s very much actively grieving that loss–unbeknownst to Dad. Annie is afraid that if she lets go of some of that grief, it will be the same as letting go of Ma. I hope that readers realize that Annie’s path to healing has to do with connecting more to her Dad and brother–it’s only by seeing their inner “battles” and sharing her own that they can grow together.

I loved the small mountain town vibes in this story! Did you grow up in a small town like the one in this book?

The Queen Bee and Me - Author Interview

I didn’t, actually–I grew up in a suburban city in Southern California. I do love writing about small towns for their sense of community and character. Since all my books (so far!) take place in North Carolina, sometimes people are surprised when they find that I am not a North Carolina native. I grew up in California and also lived in St. Louis before moving here eleven years ago. But sometimes I think it’s that outsider perspective that allows me to appreciate how special and unique North Carolina is. 

Annie loves to get away on the roof and paint. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love spending time near the water–the ocean is my favorite, but I’m also happy to be at a lake or river. My family and I really enjoy cooking and love trying out new recipes together. I have celiac disease, so we’re always looking for ways to make food that’s both delicious and safe for me. I’m also a new fan of crossword puzzles–that’s been a pandemic discovery for me. My husband and I are working through the New York Times crossword books together–sometimes the kids will jump in and try to solve along with us, too! 

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

The best writing advice (and advice on most things) comes from my husband, Jon–who is actually a scientist. I tend to be very results-oriented and struggle sometimes with the “thinking/prepping” phases of writing. I would much rather hurry ahead to the writing part where I get to see my daily word count tick up, which I find incredibly satisfying. But for me, that thinking stage is crucial–without it, I cannot write the kinds of books I want to write. Jon reminds me that the process part is just as important. He encourages me to be patient and give those ideas time to develop when I need to.  

Which middle-grade books have you read and loved recently?

I’ve been lucky enough to get my hands on advance copies of three can’t-miss reads being published in 2021: 

The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron–a novel in verse about the friendship that forms between two kids who find themselves on the outer edges of things. Chris’s writing is beautiful and the characters are especially vivid. 

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca–another novel in verse, this one about an Indian-Americal girl whose mother is diagnosed with leukemia. This book was heartbreaking and joyful. 

The Hedgehog of Oz by Cory Leonardo–This book is described as Wizard of Oz meets The Wind in the Willows. No one writes animals like Cory does–and this book is full of characters that readers are going to adore!

Even though it’s been out for several years, I had somehow missed Leslie Connor’s The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle, but I read it recently and have since given it to everyone I know. It’s glorious.

You’ve written three heartfelt, but different books — about siblings, friendships, and now, coming of age — what’s next for you? (no pressure, haha) Do you think you’ll ever branch into other kid lit genres like YA or picture books?

Ahh, I love this question. I would definitely love to branch out at some point, but right now I have so many middle grade stories I want to tell. I’m currently in revisions for my fourth book–which I like to say is about family, friendship, and pie. Elliott loves to cook more than anything in the world, but outside the kitchen things aren’t running so smoothly. His stepmother is about to have a baby, and this has turned Elliott’s life upside down as he tries to understand what this means for his place in the family and his relationship with his dad. He’s also facing some friendship struggles at school where he’s been assigned a pie-baking project, paired with the extremely organized and driven Maribel. 

Thank you so much, Gillian! I can’t wait for everyone to meet Annie!


Buy These Unlucky Stars

These Unlucky Stars - gillian mcdunn interview

Meet Gillian McDunn

gillian mcdunn

She grew up in Orange County, California and was the oldest of three children. She has also lived in San Francisco, San Diego, St. Louis (go Cards!), and currently lives near Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Gillian still loves to read and write. She also loves to spend time with her family playing board games, going on road trips, and walking on the beach. 

Gillian is represented by Marietta Zacker of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. To connect with Gillian and learn more about her books, visit her website or Instagram and Twitter.

More Author Interviews

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  • E.L. Shen on The Comeback
  • Claire Swinarski on What Happens Next

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About the Author

Afoma Umesi is the founder and blogger at Reading Middle Grade. She's a writer and editor with a deep love for children's literature. Her favorite genre is contemporary realistic fiction, but she'll never say no to a graphic novel. Read More…

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🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fa 🕵️‍♀️ a new mystery for spelling bee fans

If you’ve been looking for more high-stakes mysteries for tweens, let me introduce you to THE WINTERTON DECEPTION! Meet 13-year-old twins Hope and Gordon. They’ve just found out that their dad was Brandon Winterton (of the wealthy dictionary magnate family). Unfortunately, Hope can’t stand rich people, especially since the twins and their mom are barely making ends meet and living in a motel. But their fortune is about to change.

When Gordon enters the family into the Winterton Bee, they’re thrust into into the midst of family’s secrets, with a deadly enemy, and a scavenger hunt set up by the family’s dead matriarch. 

This is a fast-paced mystery with plenty to gnaw on between the twin relationship, family drama, character development, and flashbacks that help readers learn more about the Winterton family.

So happy that more and more mysteries are coming out for readers in the 6th-8th grades. This one does touch a bit on addiction and there’s a scene where the kids’ lives are in danger but all ends well!

It’s out at the end of October! 🤩

#mysteriesforkids #middlegradebooks #bookstagram
👯‍♀️ TWINS in middle grade literature 💕 

I love seeing more twins in middle grade books. For a long time, the only twins I knew in middle grade lit were the Sweet Valley High girlies. Then, I got a glimpse of twin life with Issa and Jessie in @karinaisreadingandwriting’s THE VANDERBEEKERS. 

Since then, we’ve seen more depictions of twins, including Varian Johnson’s TWINS (a graphic novel about twin sisters Francine and Maureen entering 6th grade), MIRROR TO MIRROR by Rajani LaRocca, and Hope and Gordon in THE WINTERTON DECEPTION (review to come)!

And of course, these two books, TWIN CITIES and SAVING SUNSHINE (which I just started and am loving)! While these stories will appeal to twins, I think everyone who’s ever been curious about twins will love getting a glimpse into what life feels like as one half of a whole. 

Which middle grade twin stories have you read and loved? 😍 

#middlegrade #twinbooks #mglit #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks
📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the 📰 a beautiful graphic novel about speaking the truth 

This stunning graphic novel follows Cinzia, Avvisi writer’s apprentice living in sunny Sianerra. Cinzia and her mestra write news stories/pamphlets to the city, but not everyone likes when they tell the truth. 

After an edition exposing the ruling family for extortion, cinzia and her mestra are arrested at night and she has to join forces with the princess to fight back against censorship. 

Besides the wonderfully imaginative and powerful storyline, loved the visuals and the diversity representation in this graphic novel. The main character has a bad leg and gets around with a walking stick, which is something rarely depicted in graphic novels (and it’s barely even discussed—it just is!).

Although, this book is closer to fantasy (but without magical elements), it’s set in a Renaissance-style Italian village, so it could work for lovers of realistic fiction too.

Look out for it in November! Have you read this graphic novel? Thoughts? Is it on your radar already?

#graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites 🩰throwback Thursday - meet one of my favorites

Looking for an upper middle grade book about ballet, friendships, and body image? Meet TURNING POINT. 

This book focuses on Monique (Mo) and Rasheeda (Sheeda)’s friendship and how it changes over a summer when both girls are drawn into different pursuits. Mo is off at a ballet intensive with Mila, while Sheeda is stuck at church (with her church “friends”) feeling like she has no life.

At the ballet intensive, Mo comes face to face with her competitive attitude which is fueled by feelings of not “fitting in” with the mostly white, skinny ballet dancers. Even though she makes a couple of friends (who basically lovingly force her to befriend them), she’s insecure at times, afraid to be vulnerable because everything feels so different. On the other hand, Sheeda is desperate for something new. Unfortunately, she falls into a risky situation with Mo’s brother whom she happens to have a crush on.

Paula Chase is one of my favorite writers for this audience and this may be my favorite of hers so far. It’s in the same universe as two of her previous books, DOUGH BOYS and SO DONE but you don’t need to read them in order. 

I’d say her books are great for kids ages 12+
Have you read any books by this author? Which ones are your favorites?

#booksbooksbooks #mglit #bookstagram
🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides I’d seen this b 🇲🇽Twins on opposite sides

I’d seen this book floating around for ages but was never drawn to it (the cover maybe?) until I saw a review somewhere I can’t remember 🤪 I was pleasantly surprised!

Twins Luisa and Fernando find their paths diverging as they’re entering sixth grade. Luisa will be attending middle school in the US just across the border from Fernando’s school in Mexico. There, they come to face to face with different, but equally pressing challenges that threaten to tear them apart.

I really enjoyed this book. The side by side depictions of both kids parallel lives, the way the illustrations celebrate Mexican culture, living, and traditions, and the heartwarming way the twins find their way back to each other. 

I’d recommend this one to 6th graders and up (heads up for content warning: text mentions and depicts illicit drug use by a minor, although portrayed in a negative light) as a fascinating look into Mexican culture, life as a twin, and finding your own identity.

#kidlit #graphicnovels #mglit #booksforkids
♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man An ♠️ on spades and what it means to be a man

Ant isn’t your average 10 year old. He loves a good game of spades and he and his best friend are planning to revamp their reputation after losing badly at the last spades tournament. But things are changing in Ant’s life. His dad is acting weird, asking him to hide things from his mom. There’s a new girl in class who Ant maybe likes and who plays spades better than many boys he knows. 

When his best friend is grounded, Ant teams up with Shirley, hoping to impress his father and finally be tough like Joplin men should be. But instead, he learns what it really means to be a man—and it’s not about never crying.

There’s SO MUCH going on in this story, but the author does a stunning job of keeping all the threads in place. I was very surprised by all the protagonist has to manage at his age and the fact that it all remains believable. The story is told by Ant’s ancestor, lending a touch of magic realism. There are also many details about playing a game of spades and I loved, loved the audiobook narrator.

If you’re looking for a meatier middle grade book perfect for kids ages 9-12 (and older, really—love the cover!) looking for books that balance levity and relatability with real issues like toxic masculinity, parental addiction, friendship issues, and crushes.

#mglit #middlegrade #middlegradebookies #kidlit #booksforkids
❤️ a protagonist for the times Willow (Lolo) ❤️ a protagonist for the times

Willow (Lolo) Weaver’s summer is not going well. Her grandfather has recently died, her grandma isn’t herself and she’s given away her grandfather’s foster dog, Hank. Lolo’s mother is heavily pregnant and Lolo is in summer school because she didn’t do too well in her last exams. On top of that their lake town isn’t a lake town anymore because the lake’s been drained and smells awful now. 

Lolo wants to help her grandmother feel better and she’s convinced that getting back her grandfather’s dog will do the trick. The only problem is that the dog now belongs to someone else. So Lolo gets on Pop’s boat to steal Hank back—only to run into her summer school classmate, Noah (who’s the new dog owner).

I really enjoyed Lolo’s story. It’s strongly reminiscent of classics like Ramona and Lolo’s voice leaps off the pages. The setting is also an unmistakable part of this story and the story feels drenched in summer. My heart went out to Lolo who always feels like she’s the reason why everything’s gone awry. I also laughed plenty at her way of seeing the world. 

This book is perfect for family readalouds especially for kids in grades 3-5. Dog lovers and kids who like a good adventure with a sprinkle of mischief will love it too.

#mglit #summerbooks #booksforelementaryschoolkids #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram
🎸 believe the hype I was very nervous about re 🎸 believe the hype

I was very nervous about reading a book about a kid with cancer, but there’s no better author than Rob Harrell to do this. 

When Ross is diagnosed with a rare lacrimal gland cancer (in his eye), it’s like a new trial for his seventh grade existence. Add to that the fact that his mom died from cancer years before, he’s going blind in one eye, his best friend is moving away soon, and mean kids at school are making terrible memes about his illness and you have a dumpster fire of a year waiting to happen. Or is it?

As heavy as everything I’ve mentioned above sounds, this book is more hopeful than anything else. We follow Ross through radiotherapy and the painful, sad side effects of cancer medications, but also through learning to play the guitar, an unlikely friendship with a school bully, and a closer relationship with his dad.

I especially loved the audiobook version which has fun interdissions featuring Will’s comic alter-ego BatPig (with a different narrator, background jingles and everything). 

I would recommend this book to 6th graders and up looking for funny books with male protagonists. It’s also a great one to hand to kids coping with cancer or chronic illnesses. 

If you’re in the WINK fan club, you just got a new member 😉

#mglit #books #bookstagram
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