WRITING IN DIFFERENT GENRES (HOLLY SCHINDLER)
In 2014, I’ve released two very different books: THE
JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY, a middle-grade contemporary read about a young
girl becoming a folk artist, and FERAL, a YA psychological thriller.
I can’t say I have a favorite genre, or that I find that
there are genres that are more difficult or require more work or research. What I love, actually, is being able to
stretch myself as a writer. Part of
loving to write in multiple genres stems from the fact that my reading
interests are incredibly varied: I’m an old lit major, so I do love the
classics. Also, I read everything from
contemporary adult novels to children’s lit to romance to fantasy to mysteries
to cereal boxes…
In all seriousness, I’m just a tried-and-true lifelong fan
of the written word. Can’t get enough of
it. That’s been the case since I was a
little girl, and had to have a new Little Golden Book each time I went to the
supermarket with my mom.
Regardless of genre, I will say that what comes to be most
naturally is metaphorical writing.
Auggie in THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY speaks heavily in simile,
and FERAL as a whole is a metaphor for the frightening aspect of recovering
from violence. What’s tough is writing a
dramatic scene in which I’m trying to depict something physically
happening. I have great respect for
writers who consistently tackle action-driven work. It’s far harder than it appears at first
glance.
I also feel that writing in one genre actually strengthens
another—primarily because there’s so much overlap. For example, mysteries can contain romantic
elements. Having written a full-on
romance only strengthens the romantic elements of your new mystery. Or, having written for kids means that you
create better, more authentic child characters in adult work…
Having published both MG and YA, contemporary realism,
romance, and a psychological thriller, I can’t wait to find out where I’ll be
headed next…
FERAL jacket copy:
It’s too late for you. You’re dead. Those words continue to haunt Claire Cain months after she barely survived a brutal beating in Chicago. So when her father is offered a job in another state, Claire is hopeful that getting out will offer her a way to start anew.
But when she arrives in Peculiar, Missouri, Claire feels an overwhelming sense of danger, and her fears are confirmed when she discovers the body of a popular high school student in the icy woods behind the school, surrounded by the town’s feral cats. While everyone is quick to say it was an accident, Claire knows there’s more to it, and vows to learn the truth about what happened.
But the closer she gets to uncovering the mystery, the closer she also gets to realizing a frightening reality about herself and the damage she truly sustained in that Chicago alley….
Holly Schindler’s gripping story is filled with heart-stopping twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.
FERAL AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
THRILLER:
FERAL
falls squarely into the realm of the classic psychological thriller. While the book features mystery, horror, and
paranormal elements, the emphasis is on the “psychological” rather than
thriller / action.
The novel features a Hitchcockian pace and focus on character
development (here, we’re exploring the inner workings of the main character,
Claire Cain). Essentially, every aspect
of FERAL is used to explore Claire’s inner workings—that even includes the
wintry Ozarks setting. The water
metaphor is employed frequently in psychological thrillers to represent the
subconscious, and here is incorporated in the form of a brutal ice storm (that
represents Claire’s “frozen” inner state).
The attempt to untangle what is real from what is unreal (another
frequently-used aspect of the psychological thriller) also begins to highlight
the extent to which Claire was hurt in that Chicago alley. Even the explanation of the odd occurrences
in the town of Peculiar offers an exploration into and portrait of Claire’s
psyche. Ultimately, FERAL is a book
about recovering from violence—that’s not just a lengthy or hard process; it’s
a terrifying process, too. The classic
psychological thriller allowed me to explore that frightening process in
detail.
THANK YOU!:
Thank you for sharing Holly! You can check out my review of FERAL HERE and also check out my review of THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY HERE.
Holly Schindler Bio:
Holly Schindler is
the author of the critically acclaimed A BLUE SO DARK (Booklist starred review,
.JPG)
Her
debut MG, THE JUNCTION OF SUNSHINE AND LUCKY, also released in ’14, and became a favorite of teachers and
librarians, who used the book as a read-aloud.
Kirkus Reviews called THE JUNCTION “...a heartwarming
and uplifting story...[that] shines...with vibrant themes of community,
self-empowerment and artistic vision delivered with a satisfying verve.”
FERAL
is Schindler’s third YA and first psychological thriller. Publishers Weekly gave FERAL a starred
review, stating, “Opening with
back-to-back scenes of exquisitely imagined yet very real horror, Schindler’s
third YA novel hearkens to the uncompromising demands of her debut, A BLUE SO
DARK…This time, the focus is on women’s voices and the consequences they suffer
for speaking…This is a story about reclaiming and healing, a process that is
scary, imperfect, and carries no guarantees.”
Schindler
encourages readers to get in touch.
Booksellers, librarians, and teachers can also contact her directly
regarding Skype visits. She can be
reached at hollyschindlerbooks (at) gmail (dot) com, and can also be found at
hollyschindler.com, hollyschindler.blogspot.com, @holly_schindler,
Facebook.com/HollySchindlerAuthor, and hollyschindler.tumblr.com
FERAL TRAILER:
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