Author of House Arrest
*Another summer Monday, means another "inside look" with an author.
*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" with them about their novel, the characters, and their thoughts about the story.
*I have had such fun connecting with authors and "picking" their brains.
*Here are the links to my first six interviews...
Interview #1 with Elly Swartz (Author of Finding Perfect)
Interview #2 with Jeff Zentner (Author of The Serpent King)
Interview #3 with Nora Raleigh Baskin (Author of Nine, Ten, A September 11 Story)
Interview #4 with Cammie McGovern (Author of Just My Luck)
Interview #5 with Kate Messner (Author of The Seventh Wish)
Interview #6 with Paul Griffin (Author of When Friendship Followed Me Home)
*I remember reading a "tweet" from Donalyn Miller about this novel.
*It took me awhile to get to it, but once I did, I was overjoyed with how great this story was.
*After finishing it, I reached out to K.A. Holt and asked if she would be willing to be interviewed.
*Even with a busy schedule, she was more than happy to say yes to these questions.
House Arrest by K.A. Holt (Released October 6, 2015)
How did
you come to “know” Timothy?
I came to know
Timothy, because Timothy is kind of my ID. He represents everything I wish I
could have done, and wanted to do, when my youngest son was very sick. Obviously, I couldn't steal money or punch a wall, but I wondered what would
happen if someone did. Timothy was my outlet.
What do
you think is Timothy's most admirable quality?
Timothy is just
full of love. It's hard to see that in the beginning, but everything he does
comes from a place of love and kindness, even if he gets things messed up
sometimes.
Is there
anything you wish Timothy would have changed or done differently in his story?
Hmm. I don't really
think so. I really like the arc of Timothy's character, and while there are
things I wish he didn't have to go through, going through them is what makes
him the person he is.
What do
you think Timothy can offer to other children that are experiencing similar
situations to what he went through?
I think he is a great
outlet. He does the things you wish you could do, but can't. He gives you a way
to see consequences without having to experience them yourself. And he lets
readers know that they aren't alone in their feelings, or in the situations
they're in.
How did
you “research” Timothy and the circumstances he found himself in?
As far as
nitty-gritty details go, I researched the Texas State Juvenile Detention
program, and I spoke with law enforcement about how arrest and trial, etc,
would go. As far as Timothy's home life, and Levi's illness, I was able to tap
into personal experiences of my own, having dealt with a child who was born
with subglottic stenosis and was trached for nearly two years.
Do you and
Timothy share any similarities?
Timothy is more
impetuous than I am. He does the things I think about doing, but would never
do. Though he has a sarcastic wit like I do, and sometimes he says things a
little too sharply than he means to. I can relate to that!
What was
the hardest scene to write about Timothy?
The hardest scene
for me to write was the one where Timothy watches his mother run barefoot
through the hospital, chasing after the gurney that Levi is on. This is
something based on real life, and it was very difficult for me to go back to
that dark place, even when writing it from the perspective of someone
else.
Who do you
think was Timothy's biggest supporter and why?
Timothy has so many
supporters in this book. At first he doesn't realize it, but then he begins to
figure it out. Mrs. B really is one of Timothy's biggest fans, and she goes
above and beyond to help him. But then so does James. And so does Jose's
mother. It's impossible for me to choose!
Why do you
think people will go the the end of the Earth or commit wrong doings in order
to help our loved ones?
Well, precisely
that, right? They are our loved ones. They are a part of our hearts, and of
course we want to make their lives easier. Despite evidence to the contrary
these days, I truly believe that is instinctual human behavior to be kind and
to look out for others. We might have crazy ways of doing that, but ultimately
we all want to love and be loved.
What do
you think Timothy is doing as this present time?
Right now I hope
that Timothy is able to be a happy teenager. I hope the world's worries have
been lifted from his shoulders and that he's able to relax and enjoy just being
a kid.
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