ReadWonder: An Inside Look #198 (Author Interview)

An Inside Look with J.M.M. Nuanez

(Author of Birdie and Me)

Welcome to my favorite feature of my blog...

*Season #ONE (June of 2016 to March of 2017)

*Season #TWO (Summer of 2017)

*Season #THREE (School Year 2017/2018)

*Season #FOUR (Summer/fall of 2018)

*Season #FIVE (School Year 2018/2019)

*Season #SIX (Summer 2019)

*Season #SEVEN (Fall 2019)

*Season #EIGHT (Winter/Spring 2020)

*Season #NINE (Fall 2020)

*Season #TEN (Winter/Spring 2021)

*I'm excited to be back for season #ELEVEN with brand new interviews/authors.

*It has been such an honor to connect with authors and "chat" about their novel, characters, and thoughts about the story.

*This is the Twentieth interview in which I'm calling Season #ELEVEN.

*Thank you to J.M.M. Nuanez for being the One-Hundred Ninety-Eighth author I've had the pleasure of interviewing. I truly appreciate it.

Birdie and Me

by J.M.M. Nuanez

(February 18, 2020)

How did you come to know Jack and Birdie?
Most of my story ideas come from a vision or image that suddenly pops into my head. Usually the image is of a character or characters in a scene. It’s hard to know where these visions come from—sometimes they are based on someone I see on the street. I assume a lot of them are an amalgamation of the media I consume—movies, books, podcasts, video games. For Jack and Birdie, it was the same: they appeared to me on my walk home from work. They were standing there, hand in hand, with looks of determination on their faces, like it was them against the world. The looked absolutely ordinary other than the fact that Birdie was wearing a skirt over his jeans. I went home and immediately started free-writing, and Jack’s voice quickly became sharp in my ear and I wrote and wrote just to get to know her and her brother’s story.

What do you think are their most admirable qualities?
Individuality. Strength. Loyalty.

Is there anything you wish they would have changed or done differently in their story?
Nope. I try not to look back too much once something is final—and anyway, BIRDIE AND ME is no longer mine. It’s published and out in the world. The story belongs to everyone now.

What do you think they can offer to other children that are experiencing similar situations to what they went through?
There are two things that I hope people reading BIRDIE AND ME receive: knowledge and acknowledgment. I hope they realize that if they are different, if they are outside of the box, if they aren’t even sure what kind of boxes exist, I hope they know that they aren’t alone. They are valid people deserving of love. Secondly, I hope they are inspired and challenged to think about what other people—even supposed “enemies”—might be going through. Everyone has a story. Everyone is trudging through their own set of challenges. I hope they see that adults often don’t have all or any of the answers, but it’s important to keep seeking help and support, and to keep looking for the people who truly love them, even if they don’t always get it right. Those people are out there, even if it may take a while to find them.

How did you research Jack and Birdie and the circumstances they found themselves in?
Holy bananas! So. Much. Research. I read books, I talked to kids and some parents, I watched documentaries, I scoured social media sites and traveled in the real world. From my research, the biggest truth I found was that for people (and especially kids ) who identify as gender non-conforming, there is no one ultimate way to be. The expectation that any one person should know exactly who they are, how to label or identify themselves, and how to present themselves at all times is a fruitless and sometimes dangerous expectation. Instead of having all the answers and labels, it’s more important to be authentic to who you really are, even when you don’t understand it. And that’s something I tried to include in the book.

Do you and the two characters share any similarities?
Both Jack and I are older siblings. I think I was definitely working through feelings and thoughts about what it means to be an older sibling, what my responsibilities were and are and what it was like growing up being a responsible sibling caregiver. My situation wasn’t as unstable as Jack and Birdie’s, but with five of us, and sixteen years between me and my youngest sibling, I was inevitably drawn into caregiving circumstances (which I think is very natural for eldest and older siblings). Even though my siblings and I are now all adults, I still think about my responsibilities toward them and my position as the eldest. With Birdie, I definitely share a love for the outlandish and fabulous. I’m not really into sparkles and dresses, but I do love rainbows and food fashion accessories!

What was the hardest scene to write about them?
Endings are always, always, always hard. I knew what I wanted the emotional resting place to be, but getting there plot-wise was difficult. Trying to orchestrate a climax that felt tense, but also real and meaningful was extremely challenging. I really felt like I was “being a writer” and “working through my craft.” I thought a lot about the beats of a scene, and the specifics of character development in every sentence and how tension was being raised and then lowered. Most editing is pretty technical for me, whereas the early drafts are like 95% feeling. So, getting the ending right really challenged my writing chops.

Now, as far as emotionally, writing the fire scene was tough. In order for me to write any scene, I have to really see it all—what I mean is, with my eyes open or shut, I have to be able to imagine everything that happens and see it like I see a movie in my head. I make myself feel the emotions of the characters, and see the scene through each of their eyes so that I can accurately and authentically get their motivations, emotions, and actions right. So, the fire scene was difficult. Also, the confrontation at Janet’s trailer was likewise difficult. But that one was mostly adrenaline based—started and over in a flash.

Who do you think were their biggest supporters and why?

Despite the shortcomings of the adults around them, I think most of them really do love and support Birdie and Jack. Their uncles each provide crucial support, and although alone they fall quite short, together, the kids have a lot of what they need. Of course the quiet heroism of their local librarian, Ms. Perkins, as well as Carl’s girlfriend, Rosie, give the kind of encouragement and love the kids need. And let’s not forget Jack’s friend, Janet. She offers crucial peer support to both Jack and Birdie and through her companionship they can be real kids.

Why do you think young people are sometimes more resilient during difficult and challenging times in life, than the adults around them?
I think as a kid, your expectations are constantly changing and so are your goals—so, often, instead of being totally crushed by a difficult time, you just move the goal posts. And because you don’t have as many years under your belt, you tend to be more flexible (both physically and emotionally). When we are adults there is often so, so, so much baggage. That history, years of difficult experiences and pain, often add up and make it hard to believe it will get better. Most kids—thankfully—don’t have that baggage to bog them down.

What do you think Jack and Birdie are doing as the present time?
It is up to the reader now. Jack and Birdie and their story after the last page exist in the readers’ minds and hearts. I think what the reader sees is what is. Perhaps one day, I’ll give Jack and Birdie’s future more thought and I’ll want to write more. But for now, I have no plans to do so, and so for me, their future belongs to those who love them.

Book Pages

Monday, January 3, 2022

An Inside Look #198 (Author Interview)

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