An Interview with Stacey Graham

Title: The Boxcar Children Guide to Adventure

Genre: Non-Fiction

Age Range: 7 - 10 years

Grade Level: 2 - 5

Series: The Boxcar Children Mysteries

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (September 1, 2014)

The Boxcar Children have long been known for being creative and resourceful. This hardcover book is filled with fun how-to guides for everyday adventures. It includes tips and tricks for mystery solving (how to make invisible ink and create secret codes), travel (how to pack a suitcase; how to take great snapshots), and enjoying the great outdoors. Each of the four Boxcar Children has their own section--practical advice from Jessie, a "roughing it" guide from Henry, crafts and art projects from Violet, and recipes from Benny! A great gift for Boxcar fans.

Tell us about the books you enjoyed as a child.

I loved any book with humor -- the more outrageous the story, the better. I also loved spooky stories, I think a lot of that influence has followed me into my own writing. Not only do I love the delicious shiver of a well-crafted ghost story, I wanted to know the back-story – why did the ghost stick around?

What inspired you to become a children’s author?

I love the freedom of working with children. They’re very honest, telling you what you need to hear about a story instead of trying to tell you what they think you want to hear. If a story isn’t working for them, they’ll wander off. I’m also very curious. My children’s books are nonfiction and how-to: I wanted to learn how to find a ghost or bait a fishhook, and figured my readers would as well.

Describe your path to publication.

My first published story was a very short zombie romance. After that, I sold the Girls’ Ghost Hunting Guide and The Zombie Tarot within a week of each other. A year and multiple short stories later, I sold Haunted Stuff: Demonic Dolls, Screaming Skulls, and Other Creepy Collectibles, and was asked by Albert Whitman and Company to write a companion book to the Boxcar Children series: The Boxcar Children Guide to Adventure (written under Gertrude Warner Chandler).

Tell us about your latest book.

The Boxcar Children Guide to Adventure is written from the POV of Jessie Alden, the eldest sister in the series. As she is constantly writing notes in the novels, I transferred some of her tips into a how-to for kids to learn how to set up a tent, sofa forts, go on night hikes, how to tell scary stories, how to pack a suitcase and say hello in 14 languages, among other things. It was a great book to write! There are also sections on crafts and recipes to round out the guide.

What are the main themes?

Self-reliance, adventure, and fun.

Who or what inspired your story?

The Boxcar Children.

What do you like best about your main characters?

The children are involved in mysteries in each novel but their core message stays the same: family.

Do they have any peculiarities?

Each child has his or her own strength and weakness. Benny is gregarious but can be scared easily while Violet is artistic and shy.

How does your main character evolve?

In the Boxcar Children Guide to Adventure, each child has a section devoted to their strengths so you’ll see Jessie discuss her interactions with her siblings as well as how to problem-solve.

What’s the principal message you want to send to your audience?

With preparation and curiosity, anything is possible.

Where can we purchase it?

Thanks for asking! BCGtA may be found at your local bookseller or online at Albert Whitman, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at Books-a-Million.

Tell us about your other children’s books.

My first children’s book was the Girls’ Ghost Hunting Guide. It is a combination sleepover book and guide to research the paranormal in a safe way using deductive reasoning with adult supervision. I’ve been researching and writing about ghosts for over 25 years. My five daughters have packed my ghost hunting kit and waited up to hear the stories I’d return with. The Girls’ Ghost Hunting Guide helps kids cut through the fluff of what they’ve seen on television and dip a toe into the mystery of ghost hunting.

Do you have any other children’s books in the works?

I am currently working on pitching a children’s series to a network this spring.

What advice can you offer new writers?

It’s okay to try different styles and explore genres. If one writing site tells you to stay in your lane and only write one type of book, it’s a good indication that they’re afraid to branch out. Their story isn’t your story. Also: read. Read nonfiction and fiction that makes you uncomfortable, study the author’s style and dissect what works and what falls flat. Those who succeed in being published approach it two ways: getting the words down and following through with the business side. Research both until your eyeballs fall out. Writing is hard work. Editing and submitting and rejections suck but it’s what we do. It’s our job. And we can do it without pants. That has to count for something.

Stacey Graham is the author of four books and a rag-tag collection of short stories. You may currently find her scaring the pants off of readers with her latest book, Haunted Stuff: Demonic Dolls, Screaming Skulls, and Other Creepy Collectibles. She intends on returning the pants at a later date. 

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