Guest Post: "Have You Ever Thrown Up? Kids Wanna Know!" by Tracey Hecht

Recently some young fans were allowed to ask questions of author Tracey Hecht. These are those questions:

1. Do you ever know anyone in the classes you visit? Emma, age 8

Yes, I do!  (I know Emma, the author of this question.)  I love visiting classrooms and schools where I know the kids.  It makes it feel personal and connected and it's fun for me to have a familiar face in the crowd.  I did have one awkward experience where I said hi to a boy I knew—I recognized him as the older brother of my son's friend.  He did not recognize me and it made him very uncomfortable.  Especially because he really had no idea how I knew him!  I felt terrible. I won't do that again.

2. Have you ever had to go to the bathroom really bad while you were presenting? Lincoln, age 10

I always use the restroom before I meet with a class or present to a school, so I haven't had that problem.  But one time I almost fainted!  I was visiting a school in New Jersey in late June.  It was about 90 degrees in the school auditorium and I have no idea what happened except that I got halfway through my presentation and my vision started to spin.  I couldn't hear properly and the sea of kids before me became a stormy, fuzzy sea of kids!  I sat down as quickly as I could and tried to continue on, but I felt completely out of it.  It was a close one. Can you imagine? “Nocturnals Author Goes Down in Front of 200 Kids.”  Thank goodness not!

3. Have you ever gone to the wrong place? Kiera, age 8

Yep!  Pretty much every visit.  I get so lost in new towns and on unfamiliar highways and interstates.  I'm always pulling over and redoing my GPS.  On my last trip to the Chicago suburbs I used a rideshare and it was heaven!  I may never rent a car again. 

4. Have you ever thrown up because of nerves? Miranda, age 10

Thankfully, no!  I get nervous sometimes, but so far no throwing up.

5. Do you do anything else when you go to a new town to visit a school? Taylor, age 9

Yes, I love the added benefits of visiting schools in other cities.  I'll meet up with a friend if I have one in that town (and usually stay with them to save money!).  I always visit the bookstores in the town.  I also try to see if there are local exhibits, interesting museums, or local highlights if I have time.  On my last trip to Seattle, I did the Underground Tour, which was totally random and really fun.  But my all-time secret favorite thing to do is bring back take-out food to my hotel room and watch TV while eating dinner in bed!

Tracey Hecht is a writer and entrepreneur who has written, directed and produced for film. The American Booksellers Association chose her first book in The Nocturnals series, The Mysterious Abductions, as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick. Last year, in partnership with the New York Public Library, she created a Nocturnals Read Aloud Writing program for middle graders that has expanded nationwide. She splits her time between Oquossoc, Maine and New York City. 

Website: www.nocturnalsworld.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nocturnalsworld

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nocturnalsworld

Twitter: @fabled_films

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29633704-the-fallen-star

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwz4zncz5EShG0IBK_pkMrg

Read Aloud Blog: https://nocturnalsworldreadaloud.tumblr.com

In The Fallen Star, Dawn, Tobin, and Bismark awaken one evening to a disaster: all of the forest's pomelos have been mysteriously poisoned! As the Nocturnal Brigade sets out to investigate, they encounter Iris, a mysterious aye-aye, who claims monsters from the moon are to blame. While the three heroes suspect a more earthly explanation, the animals of the valley are all falling ill. And then Tobin gets sick, too! The Nocturnal Brigade must race to find answers, and the cure, before the pomelo blight threatens to harm them all.

nocturnalsworld.com

GUEST POST: "Finding My Story's Voice(s)" by Tracey Hecht

When I was a child I loved the Roald Dahl books. They made me laugh, used interesting language, and though they possessed characters unlike the people I knew in 'real' life, felt very believable to me.  I can almost remember which Dahl books I read where in my house and at what stages during my youth.  

When I thought to write a middle grade series, I had two things in mind:  

The first was my desire to create a voice that was unique to the series and distinguishable in the way that Dahl's books were distinguishable to me as a kid. 

The second was my hope to create a world of stories that could be enjoyed by kids as a group in the way that television and movies are shared and watched among friends. 

The two of these things together, the appeal to readers as group entertainment and in a distinct voice, were the goals that guided me in developing what we call a literary cinematic vernacular.

I have been told, though I didn't know it when I conceived it, that a three person protagonist voice is unusual for middle grade fiction.  The Nocturnals does not have a classic narrator voice, or single protagonist point-of-view.  

The Nocturnals has three characters:  a sugar glider named Bismark, a pangolin named Tobin, and fox named Dawn.  These three characters speak in a 'singular' voice that work in a loose 3-2-1 iambic pentameter:  for every three words from Bismark, there are two words from Tobin and one word from Dawn. 

 The ration is not literally 3 words, to 2 words, to 1 word, but it is the guiding rhythm and helps distinguish the voice of the series.

Bismark is a tiny marsupial who yammers on and on (and on!), Tobin chimes in to frame the things in which Bismark is ranting, and then Dawn speaks a word or two to punctuate the conversation.  It's snappy, cheeky, and from what we have seen, compels a kid to read (and share it) out loud. It's also great fun to write.

Tracey Hecht, founder of Fabled Films, is a writer and entrepreneur who has written, directed and produced for film. Tracey has launched several start-ups including DoughNet, an online company promoting savings and social responsibility for kids. Fabled Films brings together her passions and interests: writing, creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurship. When she isn’t writing and managing a business, she can be found hiking, reading or spending time with her family. Tracey currently splits her time between New York City and Oquossoc, Maine with her husband, four children and three pets—none of which are a sugar glider.

The Nocturnals features three unlikely friends: Dawn, a serious fox, Tobin, a sweet pangolin and Bismark, the loud mouthed, pint sized sugar glider.  The stories all play out in their nighttime world with teamwork, friendship and humor in every adventure. 

In The Mysterious Abductions, the animals form a brigade of the night after a random encounter with a blood-thirsty snake, and just in time because something is threatening their night realm. Animals are disappearing without a trace. Together with the help of a wombat, a band of coyotes and many others, Dawn, Tobin and Bismark journey to the depths of the earth in a wacky, high stakes game that will determine all of their survival.

nocturnalsworld.com