ReadWonder: An Inside Look #242 (Author INTERVIEW)

An Inside Look with Chrystal D. Giles

(Author of Not An Easy Win)

*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)

*Season #ELEVEN (Fall 2021)

*Season #TWELVE (Winter/Spring 2022)

*Season #THIRTEEN (Summer 2022)

*Season #FOURTEEN (Fall 2022)

*I'm excited to present season #FIFTEEN 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 EIGTH interview in which I'm calling Season #FIFTEEN.

*Thank you to Chrystal for being the Two Hundred Forty-Second author I've had the pleasure of interviewing. I truly appreciate it.

Not An Easy Win

by Chrystal D. Giles

(February 28, 2023)

How did you come to know Lawrence?

The idea for Lawrence as a character was inspired by another character,
Takari, from my debut novel, Take Back the Block.

I long thought about Takari--about his family situation but also about his voice and
what he would say if he had space to tell his own story.

I knew a novel from Takari's point of view wasn't necessarily viable
but I used him as inspiration to create Lawrence.

What do you think is his most admirable quality?

Lawrence is honest and possesses a realistic view of his world,
I really admire those things about him.

He tells the truth to himself--which is most important--
and he tries to share his truth with those around him.

Is there anything you wish he would have changed or done differently in his story?

I wanted to integrate Pop's music into the story more.

My editor and I were worried that some of the lyrics
and themes expressed in it were too mature for the middle-grade audience

so we pulled back on that element of the book.

When writing for young people, authors have a real responsibility to protect their readers
from harm on the page,

so it was the best decision, although a hard one.

What do you think Lawrence can offer to other children that are experiencing
similar situations to what he went through?

I would love for other young people to see Lawrence as a symbol of hope.

He has some bad days but he doesn't give up.

Even when things seem to get worse for him, he finds a way to win.

How did you research Lawrence and the circumstances he found himself in?

All of the stories I write are born out of truth, either from my own lived experience
or from a truth I've bared witness to.

So while some aspects of the book--like the technicalities of chess--were researched,

who Lawrence is at his core didn't require research, I simply know him.

Do you and Lawrence share any similarities?

It is almost inevitable for my characters to share some parts of my personality or life experience.

I mention in my Author's Note that Lawrence and I share a shame
and embarrassment about living in a multigenerational home

at times throughout our childhoods, as well as an unspoken truth about having an incarcerated parent.

And while we share some similarities it was important to make sure Lawrence got to tell his own story,

so I made sure I moved out of the way and allowed him to do that.

Who do you think was his biggest supporter and why?

So many people in the story played a huge part in supporting Lawrence,
I'm not sure I can choose just one.

Ma was a provider and listener, Mr. Dennis was a mentor, Twyla was a friend,
and Granny (in her own way)
pushed Lawrence to be better.

I think it was important to give him an array of support.

Why do you think some young people, have the strength, desire,
and courage to change a negative situation in their life and move toward a positive outcome?

For some people there is no option to quit, so the simple answer is because they have no other choice.

Too often Black children are characterized with a singular, negative narrative
and they find themselves fighting against it.

I wanted to give my audience a chance to see Lawrence win, and move toward a positive outcome,

despite his circumstances.
That is also perhaps one of my favorite aspects of middle-grade literature,
there is always a movement toward the hopeful end.

*Here are links to the Two Hundred Forty-One interviews...

SEASON #ONE (2016-2017)

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)

Interview #7 with K.A. Holt (Author of House Arrest)

Interview #8 with Abby Cooper (Author of Sticks and Stones)

Interview #9 with Melanie Conklin (Author of Counting Thyme)

Interview #10 with Claire Legrand (Author of Some Kind of Happiness)