Sherry Roberts: Interview with Victoria Marble

The following is from my interview with Author-Illustrator Victoria Marble:

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About Your Creative Spark

Your series is based on your grandfather’s life growing up in Oklahoma in the 1930s. Tell us a bit about that.

It's not my grandfather's story but my father's. He is 93 years young. For the past three years, I have been collecting stories he tells me about his life growing up in a time long past, when money was very tight, and he lived on a small farm in a small farming community in Northeastern Oklahoma. These stories inspired the stories in this series. His name is John. His dad, my grandpa, was named Allie. His dad, my grandpa, never liked his name because he was always teased about it being a girl's name. My dad was named John Alleni instead of John Allie. In the books, I turned the names around and made the main character named after his father and grandpa. I flipped my father's name to Allie John, A.J. The story of Allie being teased about his name is actually my grandpa's story. The stories about the horse are my father's stories. His horse did the same things to him in the two stories when he was first learning to ride. It has been fun to use his stories as inspiration for this series.

I love everything about this. Not only is it relatable and humorous, it adds some realism and authenticity to the story you are conveying with all the heart and soul of being grounded in the real life of people you know.

When did you know this idea had to become a chapter book?

At first, this was going to be a middle-grade book. Not a series. Then, as I began to think through the stories, I realized it would be fun to make them into a series of chapter books for younger readers. The books would help introduce them to how hard life could be in the late 1930s-40s, yet also how fun it could be. I thought about the television series The Waltons. Although my father was an only child, the time of that series matched what I wanted to tell. That series taught the viewers so much about life during this time and I wanted to do that with these books.

I think we all long for a time far passed.

Do you remember the moment a character “clicked” for you?

Since this is such a personal story series, all the characters have "clicked" with me. I may have had to create some characters in the stories but I knew who they were and how they fit the story I wanted to tell. 

I think all of our characters as creatives are spiritually connected to us on a deep level. They are based on real life too, making them all the more relatable.

 Writing & Craft

Chapter books look simple, but they’re incredibly precise. What part of the writing process do you find most challenging or most joyful?

The hardest part is to make the language simple enough for the early reader, yet not so simple that they are not challenged in their reading. The joyful part comes when you find yourself laughing as you write or rejoicing for the character. 

We don't talk down to our readers. And, importantly, we take joy in what we do.

How do you approach rhythm, pacing, or read‑aloud quality when drafting?

Understanding the length of a chapter for a chapter book and the "sweet spot" for the entire book. Keeping this in mind helps with the book's pacing.  I'm not a writer who works from an outline. I let the characters and their story "tell" me where we are going. Once two or three chapters are written, I will read them aloud to see if the story's flow is working. Often by the end of the book (before editing begins), I've read the story multiple times.

I'm one of the ones that goes strictly by outlining. BOOTS works a little differently because it's based on a true story BUT I relate to having read the story multiple times before publishing.

What’s one line or moment in the book that changed the most from first draft to final?

As I was writing Just Call Me Pardner, I realized that this needed to be the first, not the second book. That would be the biggest change I've made in the stories. I switched the order of the books. It meant a few changes were needed to Just Look at Those Boots to accommodate the order change. Although each book does not need to be read in a particular order, the writer knows the order when telling a story and knows what needs to be repeated to remind the reader or to introduce the reader to a character or to something that has happened previously.

That's fascinating. I've never written or illustrated a series, but re-working it like that has worked fantastically. Sometimes when illustrating for strip comic Bonk, I re-think how things could have been redone rather than write and illustrate them chronologically.

 Illustration Collaboration

 If you worked with an illustrator, what was it like seeing your words come to life visually?

With a chapter book, there are usually illustrations at the beginning of a chapter. It's fun to suggest to the illustrator what the chapter's focus is and see how he or she interprets it. Sometimes, how they interpret what you have told them about the chapter is not what you thought it would be, but it is really good and brings out more of the story. 

I love working with new authors for this reason. It always comes as a surprise to them, and that's what makes it fun. 

Was there an illustration that surprised you in the best way?

How each of the characters looked. I love how they were interpreted and shown. One of my favorites in the second book is the beginning of chapter 3. In the first book, the favorite illustration is before chapter 9.

I love surprising my authors.

 Do you write with visuals in mind, or do you prefer to leave space for the illustrator’s imagination?

When I write Picture Books, I can see the finished book in my head, but I never tell the illustrator what I see. I send them the manuscript and asked them to tell me what they see. In chapter books, the illustrators are given suggestions about the chapter's focus, and I let them tell me what they think or see. 

See answer above.

Themes & Heart

What emotional truth or message were you hoping young readers would carry with them after reading?

I hope they can see that even though times were hard, there was joy, accomplishments, and heart. This is what the chapter book series is about. 

Relatable to today.

Chapter books often speak to adults as much as kids. What part of this story feels especially meaningful to you personally?

Personally, I love telling the stories of my father's life. It all leads to the final book, where I hope the reader is now older and understands the significance of this story. If the sixth book in the series is the only story that is read, I wish for all adults and young people who read it to see that there is always hope, wonder, and hidden truths about themselves that can be brought out by an adult, in this case, one in particular, who can guide you to be your very best. 

This is brilliant.

How many of AJ’s experiences are true to experiences your father or grandfather experienced growing up?

My father struggled to learn to get the saddle on his horse tight. He more than once fell off the horse when the saddle loosened up. He also had one horse who loved to "dump" him in the pond on the farm and did so more than once. He had lots of chores before and after school, but his friend often went fishing with him. The farmhand was actually a Creek Indian and taught my father so many things. You will learn more about him in Book 4. You will also learn more about my grandpa's work outside the farm in Book 5. My grandpa's name really was Allie, and people really did make fun of it. As an adult, my grandpa went by Al instead.

The pictures at the front of each book are real, from my father's scrapbook, which my grandmother kept.

I know the character. I enjoyed interpreting him.

Behind the Scenes

What’s something readers might not know about the making of this book?

My notes for the stories are kept on my phone in a notepad app. I have also recorded some of my sessions with my dad. Sometimes I have to stop him because he is talking faster than I can key in the notes, and I'm a former keyboarding teacher!

Fascinating!

Do you have any quirky writing rituals or creative superstitions?

 I'm not a writer with a timetable. I don't have a specific time to write each day. I write when I have something to say. My most creative time of day is at night. I write quite often to The Golden Girls television show. The rhythm of their banter is soothing to me. I am not able to write when there is music on because I tend to sing along. Or if it is classical, I might fall asleep. I grew up in a musical family. Music is how we express ourselves. Therefore, I am unable to write with music playing, but The Golden Girls becomes my writing background.

Me, but with Looney Tunes!

What was the biggest “aha!” moment during the creation process?

When I know what the ending will be. Usually, I don't know the ending because I don't plot out the book.It always feels good when I finally know the ending of a book and how to get to it. 

I relate. I'm struggling with my middle grade.

Kid Readers & Reactions

Have you had a memorable moment reading this book aloud to children?

I read one of my picture books aloud to a group of children. It was the book "Hello, Can I Bug You?"  There is a moment in the book that relates to a story my mother told me. After I read the book, I always tell the children that story. One time, after telling how the ending came about, and it was my mother's story, a child raised his hand and asked: "Did she become his Valentine?" I had to say no because the little boy ran away before she could answer. It was so cute and such an honest moment, I'll never forget.

How adorable!

What’s the funniest or most unexpected reaction a young reader has had to your work?

It was recently and involves my middle grade series. A young girl found out that her relative was narrating the books (they will be available soon as audiobooks), and she got so excited. She asked if her relative knew the author. The young girl had gotten the entire series for Christmas and took them to her school book club to read to them. It made me feel so good and warmed my heart. That is such a special series to me, and to have a young person relate so much to it was simply special. (Yes, I got her information and mailed her a special packet.)

I love this! Inventing memorable moments for these kids is why we do what we do.

If AJ could visit a classroom, what would he want to tell the kids?

Life is an adventure, and you can make it special if you just put in the effort, take the chances, and live it well. 

Having the honor to have read and illustrated this story, it tracks. 100% AJ.

For Aspiring Authors

What advice would you give someone dreaming of writing their first chapter book?

Find what means something to you personally. Don't write to what the industry tells you will sell. What will sell is an honest story that the author feels. 

THIS!

 What’s a myth about chapter book writing you wish more people understood?

Don'twrite down to students. Treat them as though they will understand, and they will. Chapter books are for 6-8-year-olds. Write to the 8-year-old, and the 6-year-old will be there with the help of an adult, maybe, but they will learn so much more about reading. 

I said it earlier: We don't talk down to our readers. And, importantly, we take joy in what we do.

How do you stay inspired when the creative well runs dry?

I take a walk. I take photos of nature. I take a break. I never push it. I know the writing will happen. When I try to force the story or writing, it makes it worse. That's why I am not one to have a set time each day to write. It would not work for me. I know other authors for whom it works. The best advice is to do what you need to do, not what others tell you you need to do. 

We all need a rest from time to time.You can't force creativity.

Looking Ahead

What stories are tugging at your sleeve right now?

Right now, Book 3 is asking to be finished.  It's getting close, and I feel it happening, but not quite yet.

Looking forward to this!!

Is there a theme or genre you’re excited to explore next?

I do know a genre I'm excited to try, but it will be really different from what I have been doing.  

It's difficult to stay on track. I'm dabbling in fantasy, prehistoric, sci-fi! I'm suprised I haven't lost my own mind yet.

If you could collaborate with any illustrator (living or historical), who would it be and why?

I would have loved to work with Eric Carle, but he is gone. I love his work. It's creative, expressive, and colorful. I also like Robin Preiss Glasser. She is such a fun and childlike illustrator.

Adore both! Solid options.

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