Interview with Beverly McClure, author of 'A Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat'
When Beverly
Stowe McClure was in eighth grade, her teacher sent her poem “Stars” to the
National High School Poetry Association, and she was soon a published writer in
Young America Sings, an anthology of Texas high school poetry. Today,
Beverly is a cum laude graduate of Midwestern State University with a BSEd
degree. For twenty-two years, she taught children to read and write. They
taught her patience. She is affectionately known as the “Bug Lady” because she
rescues butterflies, moths, walking sticks, and praying mantis from her cats.
Most of the
time, you’ll find Beverly in front of her computer, writing the stories little
voices in her head tell her. When she’s not writing, she takes long walks and
snaps photos of clouds, wild flowers, birds and deer. She also enjoys visiting
with her family and teaching a women’s Sunday school class at her church. Her
articles have been published in leading children’s magazines. Two of her
stories are in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ANTHOLOGIES, and she has nine novels
published, two of them award winning novels at Children’s Literary Classics and
other competitions.
Connect with Beverly on the net:
Q:
Congratulations on the release of your latest book, A Pirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat. What was your inspiration
for it?
A: One summer,
on a visit to our son and his wife in South Carolina, we went to Folly Beach,
not far from where they lived, to watch the sun rise over the water and
lighthouse. It was a beautiful sight. But what caught my attention more than
the sunrise was the lighthouse sitting in the middle of the inlet. It was
deactivated years ago, but was used during the Civil War. A lighthouse must
have a ghost, right? My mind started chasing different scenarios as to who the
ghost was and why he was a ghost. What kept him from finding rest? A blockade
runner worked nicely, since the ships came into the harbor bringing supplies to
the city. Other ideas popped up, too. Pirates were quite active in the area
although in earlier years. But, if they were ghosts they could have been around
for years. So I added a couple of pirates to the story. And what’s a good ghost
story without a cat? My MG/Tween novel APirate, a Blockade Runner, and a Cat was born.
Q: Tell us
something interesting about your protagonist.
A: Thirteen-year-old
Erik Burks is a typical young teen. He plays baseball and likes to hang out
with his friends. When his dad leaves home, Erik’s life changes in ways he
could never imagine. First, his mom takes Erik from Texas to South Carolina
where they move in with her sister. Second, he meets the weird twins that live
down the street and that claim they’ve seen a ghost ship in the harbor. Third,
Erik doesn’t believe that ghosts exist. Fourth, he soon discovers he might be
wrong.
Q: How was your
creative process like during the writing of this book and how long did it take
you to complete it? Did you face any bumps along the way?
A: I had fun
creating Erik and the twins, typical teens, if you count a girl who can read
mind dreams typical. The ghost pirates are based on real pirates, and I did a
lot of research to learn about them and their ships so the historical facts
would be accurate. I am a slow writer and it took probably two years to write
and edit the story. No major bumps along the way. I had visited some of the
places in the story, like the lighthouse, and tried to remember what they were
like.
Getting the
pirate language just right took some research too, but was a lot of fun. Avast,
matey. I discovered fascinating information about the two pirates that ended up
in the story.
Q: How do you
keep your narrative exciting throughout the creation of a novel?
A: I try to put
the characters in exciting circumstances. In novels for MG readers, the kids
like action. They’ll stop reading if they’re bored. Forget description unless
it moves the story along. I let the characters get in trouble so the reader
will wonder if they’ll get out of it. At this age, friendships are important.
And they need trouble. Lots of trouble. Ghosts are just right to cause trouble,
along with a cat that Erik hates, and the feeling is mutual.
Q: Do you experience
anxiety before sitting down to write? If yes, how do you handle it?
A: Sometimes, I
look at the blank screen on the computer and think, Okay, where do I start?
Will anyone like this story? Can I even write it? The only way to deal with anxiety is to start typing. Yes, there
will be many changes, at least for me. I usually rewrite the beginning a
jillion times. If I don’t get those first words down, I’ll never have a story.
So I go for it and hope I’m headed in the right direction.
Q: What is your
writing schedule like and how do you balance it with your other work and family
time?
A: I’m a morning
person. Usually I work on my WIP from 9:00 AM to 11:30 or 12:00 noon. Then I
take a lunch break and maybe check emails or look at blogs. (I’ve done some mail
early in the morning before I started writing.) Around 2:00 PM I do edits if I
have a manuscript that’s been sold, or else I check my blogs and post on other
blogs. Evenings, I write reviews, do critiques for my critique groups (I’m in
two), and whatever else needs to be done.
I’m retired from
my teaching job, so I have no outside work to interfere with my writing. I’m a
playmate for my cats, but other than that, my time is my own.
Q: How do you
define success?
A: Success to me
is writing novels that help young people enjoy reading, and if they take
anything away from the story that makes their lives happier or more
understandable, that’s an added bonus.
Q: What advice
would you give to aspiring writers whose spouses or partners don’t support their
dreams of becoming an author?
A: It’s hard
when your family doesn’t support you, but I feel we each have the right to
pursue our dreams. I’m not saying neglect your significant others. Don’t
neglect yourself either. Let them know how important your writing is to you.
They may surprise you and understand. If they don’t, find time when you’re
alone, or make time to be alone, even if it’s only 30 minutes or an hour. Maybe
while they’re at work, or anytime they go out for whatever reason. Don’t give
up. Follow your dreams. You only have one life.
Q: George Orwell
once wrote: “Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long
bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one
were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”
Do you agree?
A: Oh, yes. A
writer has to be driven; otherwise, why would we sit in a chair for hours a
day, typing our hearts away, for pennies a day (at least in my case)? Perhaps
we’re a little insane. And the beauty of it is we don’t care. We’re doing what
we love.
Q: Anything else you’d like to tell my readers?
A: Just thank
you for hosting me today. Thank all you awesome readers for your comments and
thoughts. You’re the ones that keep us writing, you know. If you have a chance,
stop by my blog and see what’s happening.
http://beverlystowemcclure.blogspot.com.
Comments
Best,
Donna
And to Bev for being a guest on my blog!
Best,
Mayra