Hello everyone. I know I haven't done any blogs last month. Sometimes things don't work out as I plan. That's okay. I'm glad to be here to introduce a new guest. Now, this interview will be similar to what I did with Ella Moore, which you can check out. Click her name to see her interview. With L R Hay, we will ask each other questions about writing children's stories and why we do. Let's do it. Before we do that, let's meet the guest.
Hi L R, I'm glad to have you here. Can you tell us about yourself?
L R: "I'm a writer and an actor, and have been doing both since I was little. Most of my writing is plays- for theatre, film, and TV. I've done writing episodes for the BBC over the years. But I also have my preteen books series, which is two so far."
Nice, I see you won a Writers' Guild Award. That's awesome. Do you have a favorite genre and why?
L R: "With the play, it's probably all genres except horror. (I never like that!) I enjoy the variety of writing in different styles. I always like to include humor in serious pieces and something poignant or gritty in comedies. Life covers everything, after all. But for the books, I would say I'm only really interested in writing for preteen (and writing for adults in a preteen style) I like the liberty it gives me to mess around and be silly, breaking rules, expectations and the 'fourth wall' in a way I probably wouldn't get away with if I said I was writing for adults!"
Hahaha, I get what you mean. I like comedies too. I don't always get jokes in person, but reading in a book or watching a show, I laugh. I suppose that's why I like to add silly comedies in my stories. Every person is different when it comes to a sense of humor.
L R: "You often write fairy tales. What is it that appeals to you?"
Okay, I think the most appealing to me is designing fairy clothes! Long before I took an interest in writing, I would watch Disney Fairies movies and draw cartoons. Then I began to use real people and turned them into fairies and it led me to write fairy stories. I could say they were the ones that inspired me to create my own fairy world.
L R: "I love that you started with real people and kind of took them sideways into a fairy world. It's interesting that you came to it from the visual, too. I think storytelling is more visual than is generally realized. Okay, we use words but we are painting pictures with them in people's imagination."
I agreed. We both write children's stories (and preteen) in creative ways. What inspired you to write that genre?
L R: "Back in the mid-1980s, the idea grew on me of telling Bible stories from the point of view of the children involved. The whole story- full-length books aimed at older children. I thought it would be an interesting angle: making the stories more accessible to children, but also shining a different light that would perhaps help adults to find something new."
Same, though I started writing fairy stories less than thousands of words. I was a baby writer then and now I write longer stories.
L R: "Do you see fairy tales as an escape from real life, or do you think they can show the reader things about reality?"
When I write fairy stories I limit the magic. I'm not against it, I want to make it as real as possible yet in a creative way. You may or not know fairies use their magic to change the seasons. Well, I used the world as it is without using magic to change the seasons. I let the seasons change itself while we as fairies use our abilities to take care of nature and living creatures. I want readers to know that we don't need magic to change seasons but in reality, we are responsible to make our world healthier and caring for nature.
L R: "I think that's really strong when a fictional world shows us truths about our own. It is what I most appreciate about the Narnia books, The Lord of the Rings, and similar -the way they can be taken on different levels."
You mention Bible stories, is that where you got inspired to write Tammie's story?
L R: "The idea of using Jairus's daughter as a vehicle to see the Galilee side of the Gospel was just a part of that bigger picture along with a parallel book showing the events in Jerusalem. But those two were the ones that stuck. It quickly became clear to me that the New Testament books were the heart of the idea and a huge project!"
Yes, writing takes a process. But you made it! That's a huge accomplishment!
L R: "Congratulations on the publication of The Promise, earlier this month! I found it a poignant glimpse of just a brief period within the story of Jesus. All the more so because three main characters stumbled across Him for such a short time and at the moment of the greatest crisis. Why did you decide to switch to a Bible retelling?"
If I remember correctly it was two years ago I got an email with a prompt. It goes like this, "Three strangers meet in a surprising location, only to discover they all have something in common..." I wasn't sure at first what to write about. I was about to not join the challenge until something clicked in my mind. I could write about three young kids with different beliefs but have one thing in common. I think that is why I wanted to write about the last days of Jesus's life and use that part of the story as a plot.
L R: "What a great use of a writing prompt! I doubt many people would have taken a very general idea like that and focused it in so specifically to that pivotal time in our history. The aspect of their different beliefs and cultures was something that really interested me when I read your story. It emphasizes that what Jesus achieved is universal, available for all. available. And the power it holds to unify us while keeping our rich diversity."
Thank you L R I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
L R: "In The Promise, you tell the story from the point of view of children. Why is that?"
Today our world has different views about religions. Many people feel it is about rules and has to earn their way to heaven. I don't want readers to think they have to be religious. I want them to know that God has given us the gift of redemption and it is up to us to accept it. All God wants is to build a relationship with His children. I feel it is a good way to show that example through children's point of view. They have their beliefs yet they are open to seeking the truth.
L R: "Indeed, that's wonderful."
Now the final question I like to ask is, who is your favorite character in Jairus's Girl?
L R: "Oh, that's so hard! I like many of them for different reasons. The small child, Jakey, is great fun. I was able to have him behaving randomly as toddlers do to inject humor and keep the older children on their toes trying to control him. But also he's the one who often sees the Kingdom, 'God' perspective and doesn't yet have the filters to edit it out."
I like Tammie and love the part where Tammie and Jesus went for a stroll. That's such a sweet way of demonstrating who Jesus really is.
L R: I'm glad you like that bit! So do I. Tell us about one of your characters?"
I think Bacchus is more relatable to many people. He has his own opinions about religions. He is the kind of person that only trying to understand this mysterious man he never met died without crimes. Bacchus learned that Man died because He came to restore the bridge between us and God. He realized God isn't about religion: He is much more than that. Because the word of truth opens his heart, he chooses to believe. For me, it is an example of faith.
L R: "And all the more strong because he felt that without even meeting Jesus- the same situation as a modern reader. I wish you every success with it and trust that the story does point people to their own search, whatever their viewpoint, like your characters."
L R Hay, I had a good time speaking with you and answering your questions.
L R: "Thank you for inviting me to join you on your blog. It looks at a part of the story of Jesus from the point of view of children- something close to my own heart, as that’s what I do in my preteen series the Young Testament. So, the idea of interviewing each other about our stories sounded great!"
Readers, if you are interested in reading L R Hay’s series, click Young Testament to get your copy (amazon link) or follow her on Twitter @Jairus_Girl and on YouTube L R Hay
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