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LIVE CHAT – Heather Mackey and Lisa Von Drasek

Live Chat with Heather Mackey, DREAMWOOD

(09/11/2014)

4:45

Nora - EarlyWord:

We will begin our live online chat with Heather Mackey, author of the middle grade novel, Dreamwood, in about 15 minutes.

Thursday September 11, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord

4:45

Nora - EarlyWord:

Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book, published by Penguin/ Putnam Juvenile in June …

Thursday September 11, 2014 4:45 Nora - EarlyWord

4:45	Nora - EarlyWord Thursday September 11, 2014 4:45

4:47

Nora - EarlyWord:

Reviews have been strong. This one from Kirkus does a good job of outlining the story elements:

An original fantasy for middle-grade readers plaits together science, the supernatural and deep ecology.

Lucy Darrington, 12 1/2, is a spunky girl who has escaped the stultifying atmosphere of a San Francisco finishing school to reunite with her beloved father, a scientist whose livelihood as a ghost clearer has diminished with the spreading, turn-of-the-20th-century popularity of electricity. Lucy arrives at the fictional city of Pentland—in an alternate Pacific Northwest where American settlements are embedded within lands still owned by indigenous peoples—only to find her father gone from his rooming house. Is his disappearance related to Rust, which is killing off kodok trees, source of income for many settlers and First Peoples? How does mythical, elusive dreamwood fit into the picture? Determined to find her father, Lucy embarks on a series of adventures, most of which include Pete Knightly, a slightly older boy whose parents were housing Lucy’s father. The latter part of the book takes them deep into the Devil’s Thumb peninsula, where gripping, even terrifying, moments are seasoned with humor and a slowly blossoming friendship. The carefully plotted twists and turns will keep readers absorbed to the end.

A stunning debut with equal parts originality and heart. (Fantasy. 8-13)

Thursday September 11, 2014 4:47 Nora - EarlyWord

4:52

Nora - EarlyWord:

I see chat participants gathering!

You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Heather before the end of the chat.

Thursday September 11, 2014 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord

5:01

Nora - EarlyWord:

The magic hour has struck and we're ready to begin our chat.

Our moderator is Lisa Von Drasek, head of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries (and EarlyWord kids Correspondent).

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:01 Nora - EarlyWord

5:01

lisa von drasek:

Hello, Everybody!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:01 lisa von drasek

5:02

[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ]

Hi, Lisa -- love these chats!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:02 Sally, Mich.

5:03

[Comment From Michelle K.Michelle K.: ]

Hi, Everyone! Looking forward to the chat. Love the book!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Michelle K.

5:03

Heather Mackey:

Hi everyone! Thrilled to be here with you!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Heather Mackey

5:03

[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ]

Hi Heather. Love how the book helped me look at today in new ways.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Kathy C.

5:03

[Comment From Linda.P.Linda.P.: ]

I've been reading it to kids. They love the fantasy elements.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:03 Linda.P.

5:04

lisa von drasek:

Heather, first things first..... tell me a little bit about yourself

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:04 lisa von drasek

5:04

Heather Mackey:

Thank you Kathy! Big reason alternative past is so interesting :)

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:04 Heather Mackey

5:04

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

Hope you're ready for tons of Q's!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:04 Melissa

5:05

Heather Mackey:

Hi Lisa, so I live in Berkeley, Mom, 2 wonderful kids. Um... have an MFA from University of Arizona, Grew up in the Southwest. Studied Greek and Latin and French -- typing as fast as I can!!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:05 Heather Mackey

5:06

lisa von drasek:

Can you say a little something about your own reading?
As a kid?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:06 lisa von drasek

5:06

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

An MFA? As in visual arts? If so, how/ why did you tansition to writing?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:06 Melissa

5:06

Heather Mackey:

Sure I was a huge reader as a kid. Loved fantasy adventure. If I could LIVE in Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising, I'd be there

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:06 Heather Mackey

5:07

lisa von drasek:

Melissa wanted to know about your MFA....

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:07 lisa von drasek

5:07

Heather Mackey:

Melissa, in creative writing. Always knew I wanted to write - was a journalist, but not so clearr on the fiction thing

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:07 Heather Mackey

5:08

Heather Mackey:

My husband was getting an MFA in writing and I thought, maybe I should do that. We are a writing household! He runs National Novel Writing Month

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:08 Heather Mackey

5:08

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

What changed?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:08 Melissa

5:09

lisa von drasek:

Can you say a few words about your writing life? do you write everyday?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:09 lisa von drasek

5:09

Heather Mackey:

An MFA was useful in learning how to finish stories and look at my work objectively. I learned how to give and accept critique

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:09 Heather Mackey

5:09

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, I try to write every day. I am a grump if I don't.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:09 Heather Mackey

5:10

Heather Mackey:

I try even if it's just a couple sentences -

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:10 Heather Mackey

5:10

lisa von drasek:

As you recall, my job is as the curator of a children's literature manuscript collection. I hope that you are saving your drafts for our researchers...

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:10 lisa von drasek

5:11

Heather Mackey:

So I am - of course a lot is electronic. But I do a lot of brainstorming or "noodling" on paper. I dug out my very first noodles for you!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 Heather Mackey

5:11

lisa von drasek:

May we see it please?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek

5:11	Heather Mackey The very first Dreamwood notes! Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11

5:11

lisa von drasek:

ooohhh!!!!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 lisa von drasek

5:11

[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ]

What made you interested in the 20th C. technology? Did you do research on it?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:11 Kathy C.

5:12

Heather Mackey:

So I was at day job, and found this wonderful reference book on place names, I started noting them down because I had an idea for story, and you see Pentland there...

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:12 Heather Mackey

5:12

Heather Mackey:

Kathy, I was interested in history of science. And I work in tech, so always fascinating to see the evolution

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:12 Heather Mackey

5:13

lisa von drasek:

I see the date 3-21-01 is that right?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:13 lisa von drasek

5:13

Heather Mackey:

Oh yeah we are talking ancient history!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:13 Heather Mackey

5:14

lisa von drasek:

so how long from beginning to publication? was that surprising?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:14 lisa von drasek

5:15

[Comment From Sally, Mich.Sally, Mich.: ]

Lisa -- is technology making curation more difficult these days? Is there less to curate?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:15 Sally, Mich.

lisa von drasek:

Sally , makes it a little crazy. I am now receiving manuscripts on thumb drives with track changes.

lisa von drasek

5:15

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, I was working on other things, just playing around with an idea I thought would be fun for myself. No big intentions. I sold the MS in 2007, and from there had a very long road to publication - 2 different editors, multiple agonizing revisions

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:15 Heather Mackey

5:15

lisa von drasek:

How many drafts did you go through?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:15 lisa von drasek

5:17

Heather Mackey:

It was about 3 MAJOR rewrites, then multiple drafts

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:17 Heather Mackey

5:18

lisa von drasek:

I was wandering about Lucy and Pete's survival wilderness survival skills. Do you camp? Have you eaten wild foods?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:18 lisa von drasek

5:18

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

How did the 2 different editors affect things? Did they have different ideas?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:18 Melissa

5:19

Heather Mackey:

I have been weirdly fascinated by wilderness survival narratives. Growing up in the Southwest, I know how to make a solar still - in case I'm stranded!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:19 Heather Mackey

5:20

lisa von drasek:

fYI A solar still is a simple way of distilling water, using the heat of the Sun to drive evaporation from humid soil, and ambient air to cool a condenser film.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 lisa von drasek

5:20

[Comment From Kathy CKathy C: ]

Solar still! i want to camp with you!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 Kathy C

5:20

[Comment From Susan, OhioSusan, Ohio: ]

Loved Lucy’s character – I'm always on the lookout for imaginative, strong female characters. did you model her on anyone?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 Susan, Ohio

5:20

Heather Mackey:

Melissa, they had very different ideas! A major reason it took so long. So my first editor got laid off midway, and my second editor Ari Lewin loved the book but had a very different approach

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:20 Heather Mackey

5:21

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

Wasn't that confusing?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:21 Melissa

5:21

Heather Mackey:

Thanks Susan! Lucy has some of my qualities in her (probably all her worst ones). But she also is close to my daughter.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:21 Heather Mackey

5:22

Heather Mackey:

Melissa, so this is a bit New Agey, but I had to do some visualization exercises to make myself believe I could do it!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:22 Heather Mackey

5:22

lisa von drasek:

And I believe I was promised a pet picture...

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:22 lisa von drasek

5:23

Heather Mackey:

Of course Lisa! I cannot leave my phone around without coming back to find it full of pictures of our dog. Kids usually like to pose him under a lot of covers. But here's one where you can see him

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:23 Heather Mackey

5:23	Heather Mackey Buster Thursday September 11, 2014 5:23

5:24

lisa von drasek:

oohh , now I am happy

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:24 lisa von drasek

5:24

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

I'm so curious about how editing works. Did the second editor just start over with the original MS?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:24 Melissa

5:25

Heather Mackey:

Great question Melissa. She looked at my 3rd draft, and we started from a story level. So I did a major overhaul. Her kind words to me were "You just don't have a story." Oops. So I worked on story, then another draft on character. Then another draft on everything else that wasn't working :)

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:25 Heather Mackey

5:26

lisa von drasek:

To the peanut gallery... if you have read the book... towards the end I was dreading then I was so, so happy and satisfied with the ending. Any thoughts about that?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:26 lisa von drasek

5:26

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

I can see why you needed the visualization!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:26 Melissa

5:26

Heather Mackey:

Melissa, I am big on that! Seriously

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:26 Heather Mackey

5:27

lisa von drasek:

Heather...What are you reading and loving right now?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:27 lisa von drasek

5:27

[Comment From Peanut GalleryPeanut Gallery: ]

I am totally with you, Lisa.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:27 Peanut Gallery

lisa von drasek:

Quite the drama, huh?

lisa von drasek

5:29

Heather Mackey:

Ah, I'm reading a ton of books! I read a mix of adult, YA, middle grade. I just finished re-reading Donna Tartt's The Secret History, finishing E Lockhart's We Were Liars, looking forward to Rick Yancey's The Infinite Sea. And kids and I can't wait for R Riordan's Blood of Olympus

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:29 Heather Mackey

5:29

lisa von drasek:

Who do you consider the perfect reader for Dreamwood?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:29 lisa von drasek

5:29

[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ]

How do you feel about the term Steampunk?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:29 Kathy C.

5:30

[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ]

As I said, love the reflections of today -- technology, but also environmental issue. Did you want to get a message across?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:30 Kathy C.

5:31

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, I've hear from girls and boys - so ideal is not a gender, but maybe an attitude: curious, involved readers

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:31 Heather Mackey

5:31

lisa von drasek:

I am thinking it hit the sweet spot of middle grade...what do you think?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:31 lisa von drasek

5:32

Heather Mackey:

Kathy, steampunk can mean a lot of different things. There are a couple elements - the instruments and the alternative tech. ...

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:32 Heather Mackey

5:33

Heather Mackey:

And to answer Kathy's second question - I didn't want to write some militantly environmental book. But of course I hope people think about our place in the natural world, so the story is an avenue to that

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:33 Heather Mackey

5:34

Heather Mackey:

Question for you all - would you describe it as steampunk??

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:34 Heather Mackey

5:34

lisa von drasek:

I see that the story would be a great start for science related discussions.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:34 lisa von drasek

5:35

lisa von drasek:

Heather, I assumed that all of the science in the novel is fact based, yes?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:35 lisa von drasek

5:35

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

Back to the editor telling you it didn't have a story -- you sure bounced back from that -- wish someone had told that to the author of THE NIGHT CIRCUS -- all atmosphere and no plot!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:35 Melissa

5:35

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, I hope so! I think there are a lot of ways to talk about science from it

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:35 Heather Mackey

5:36

Heather Mackey:

I have to admit Lisa, I did make up some ghost physics!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:36 Heather Mackey

5:36

lisa von drasek:

Can you give an example of some of the research that informed the plot?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:36 lisa von drasek

5:37

lisa von drasek:

You also created an imaginary American Indian people. Can you say something about that?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:37 lisa von drasek

5:37

[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ]

I don't think I'd really call it Steampunk. Ir's just the trendy term of the moment.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:37 Kathy C.

5:38

Heather Mackey:

Oh boy... I researched geography of Pacific Northwest. Read a LOT about timber, timber industry, meaning of trees. GREAT book called The Golden Spruce about a culturally important tree - true story. Made up my own scientific names. Researched energy studies.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:38 Heather Mackey

5:40

lisa von drasek:

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed 2006
by John Vaillant

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:40 lisa von drasek

5:41

Heather Mackey:

So Lisa, I could not imagine this time or region without reference to indigenous peoples/culture. And I grew up surrounded by several American Indian cultures. Next door to the Tohono O'odham Nation. Always been interested in the idea of what would US look like if there had been a different outcome to the "Indian Wars" of late 19th C. Especially relating to coastal peoples, who didn't retain large territory

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:41 Heather Mackey

5:42	Nora - EarlyWord Thursday September 11, 2014 5:42

5:43

lisa von drasek:

I was thinking about how Lucy grows in her own emotional life and judgement. Was this part of your plan from when you started writing this novel?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:43 lisa von drasek

5:43

lisa von drasek:

thanks Nora

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:43 lisa von drasek

5:43

Heather Mackey:

Dispossession of the American Indian by Janet McDonnell interesting here. And of course Howard Zinn. Empire of the SummerMoon by SC Gwynne. Not necessarily kids books, but hopefully something to think about. What if you had to pay tolls to cross Indian lands. Or what if Am Indians controlled NW timber?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:43 Heather Mackey

5:45

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, I do credit Ari Lewin my editor with such great advice re: Lucy's emotional growth. If that's there it's because she pushed me to it

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:45 Heather Mackey

5:45

[Comment From Michelle K.Michelle K.: ]

Tell me more about the research! Did you find any great libraries (and librarians)?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:45 Michelle K.

5:46

Heather Mackey:

Michelle, I used some of my own books, which I've been collecting as well as online sources. As you can probably tell from this chat I've got way more material than made it into the book!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:46 Heather Mackey

5:47

lisa von drasek:

huh. which brings me to ask....will there be another book set in this world?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:47 lisa von drasek

5:47

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, no plans at the moment. Though I'm happy to imagine that Lucy gets off the train and onto another fabulous story!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:47 Heather Mackey

5:49

lisa von drasek:

We are in the final few minutes... Peanut gallery...last call!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:49 lisa von drasek

5:49

lisa von drasek:

Heather, librarians often want to know if you are available for school or library visits?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:49 lisa von drasek

5:49

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

What are your thoughts on today's technology? Are people too in to their device?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:49 Melissa

5:50

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, so I am doing some school visits - day trips from Berkeley. And am open to skype.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:50 Heather Mackey

5:50

lisa von drasek:

how would teachers and librarians contact you? Do you have a website?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:50 lisa von drasek

5:51

Heather Mackey:

Melissa, it's something I struggle with. I personally LOVE gadgets. But I recognize they're addictive and not the best for my concentration, or even my mood. It is harder to read long, or difficult as a result

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:51 Heather Mackey

5:51

lisa von drasek:

oh so do you have a game or site that you can't pull yourself away from?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:51 lisa von drasek

5:51

Heather Mackey:

Sure, my website is www.heathermackey.com. I am on Twitter, etc. And there is a contact form there.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:51 Heather Mackey

5:52

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

Do you have online exchanges with kids? What are their concerns about technology?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:52 Melissa

5:52

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, I've gotten stuck on a few things. It's mainly incessantly checking email or social media!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:52 Heather Mackey

5:53

lisa von drasek:

what is the craziest question that you have gotten about Dreamwood?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:53 lisa von drasek

5:53

Heather Mackey:

Melissa, I haven't had many online exchanges with kids - website comments, emails. My kids are constantly on Instagram - so until I can take a good selfie, I think I'm hampered there ;)

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:53 Heather Mackey

5:54

[Comment From Peanut GalleryPeanut Gallery: ]

Would love to know what kinds of questions kids ask.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:54 Peanut Gallery

5:54

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, I have been asked why I didn't just blow off my editor - to me that was crazy!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:54 Heather Mackey

5:55

lisa von drasek:

who wanted big changes?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 lisa von drasek

5:55

[Comment From Kathy C.Kathy C.: ]

Gotta run, but wanted to thank you SO much for taking my questions! Makes me like the book even more.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 Kathy C.

5:55

Heather Mackey:

Peanut Gallery, so good to see you ;) My son has asked about more battle

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 Heather Mackey

5:55

Heather Mackey:

Kathy, thanks so much! Wonderful questions

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:55 Heather Mackey

5:56

Heather Mackey:

Lisa, yes. When I would tell people what was going on, I'd often here that.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:56 Heather Mackey

5:56

lisa von drasek:

Heather, here is a chance for a final word. Is there anything you want to share that we haven't touched on yet?

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:56 lisa von drasek

5:58

[Comment From MelissaMelissa: ]

Love the bit about blowing off the editor! you're both great -- thanks so much!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Melissa

5:58

Heather Mackey:

Hmm... I do want to say I've been touched by kids' astute readings. I was joking with someone about how I wrote a book with a "bad" tree. And this girl said, "that tree is more complicated than that"

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Heather Mackey

5:58

Heather Mackey:

Thanks Melissa, appreciate all your questions!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Heather Mackey

5:58

[Comment From Peanut GalleryPeanut Gallery: ]

LOVE that!

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:58 Peanut Gallery

5:59

Heather Mackey:

Peanut Gallery, isn't that great! I could have hugged her

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:59 Heather Mackey

5:59

Nora - EarlyWord:

Thanks, Heather and Lisa for a fun discussion.

And thanks to the Penguin Young Readers program members for joining us today.

Thursday September 11, 2014 5:59 Nora - EarlyWord

6:00

[Comment From Linda P.Linda P.: ]

Bye and thanks!

Thursday September 11, 2014 6:00 Linda P.

6:00

Heather Mackey:

Thanks all of you!

Thursday September 11, 2014 6:00 Heather Mackey

6:00

Nora - EarlyWord:

Our next chat, is with Kristin Levine, author of Paper Cowboy.

If you’re not part of the program, you can sign up here -- http://penguinyrauthors.ear...

Thursday September 11, 2014 6:00 Nora - EarlyWord

6:01

lisa von drasek:

Thank you everyone. Looking forward to the next one.

Thursday September 11, 2014 6:01 lisa von drasek

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