Debut Author Interviews

Laura Bowers is the author of Beauty Shop for Rent (Harcourt, Spring 2007)

• Laura Bowers on...Ideas
• Laura Bowers on...Why Kids?
• Laura Bowers on...Setting
• Laura Bowers on...Celebrations
• Laura Bowers on...Dream Editors
• Laura Bowers on...Influential Books
• Laura Bowers on...Ideal Reader
• Laura Bowers on...Character and Self
• Laura Bowers on...Outlines
• Laura Bowers on...Impact on Readers
• Laura Bowers on...Why Write?
• Laura Bowers on...Favorite Teacher
• Laura Bowers on...Book Memory
• Laura Bowers on...Self-Help Books
• Laura Bowers on...Website
• Laura Bowers on...Favorite Library
• Laura Bowers on...Favorite Book
• Laura Bowers on...First Novels
• Laura Bowers on...Family Appreciation
• Laura Bowers on...Completion

Where did you get the idea for your book?

About two miles from my house, there’s an old, but charming house that for years had a rusted sign posted in the front yard that read, “Beauty Shop for Rent … fully equipped, inquire within.” I passed it nearly every day, but never thought much of it.

At the time, I was struggling to write a mystery novel that I just couldn’t get a grip on. Then one day, I passed the sign and thought, wow, will the owner ever find a renter? I wondered what she was like. Probably old, probably frustrated because she can’t retire … but really, who has a home beauty salon these days? Most people go to the mall, so who would want to rent her old-fashioned shop?

Then I thought … hmm, what would happen if you threw a teenager in this woman’s old-fashioned world? I was so intrigued with the idea that I tossed the mystery novel aside, and started to write this young girl’s story. I had no doubt what the title should be. Exactly what was written on that sign!

Why write for children and teens?

Whenever someone asks me this question, I’m reminded of a writer’s workshop I took about five years ago. For it, you pre-submitted your work, and during class had to sit quietly while other writers critiqued it. Speaking was strictly forbidden!

One week, I submitted a first chapter that showed a very funny (and very true) childhood event that involved my brother, a pirate map, my pony, blood and a very rocky hill. I know, sounds cool, right? (And don’t worry — the pony was not harmed!)

So anyway, there I sat, pen in hand, ready to hear their laughter. Instead, one woman started the discussion by saying how dark the story is.

Wha— huh? Dark?

The others agreed. Dark and a grim example of complex sibling relationships. Another woman commented about how the mother was irresponsible because she was inside the house, oblivious to what was going on. Someone else agreed, and went on to discuss the obvious show of favoritism expressed to the older brother, leading back to the ‘darkness’ of the story.

Again … Huh?

I was stunned. Oh my gosh, didn’t they remember what it was like being young? Didn’t any of them have an older brother or sister? Come on, it was funny! A little painful, yes, and I still have a three inch scar below my knee, but it was funny! And no, my mom wasn’t irresponsible. We were farm kids and besides, children shouldn’t have a parent breathing down their backs 24/7 anyway!

After that workshop, it came to me why I enjoy writing for kids so much. Because I can look at that story and laugh from a child’s perspective, not just an adult’s.

Where is your novel set, and why there?

The setting for BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT is a small fictional town based on what my prior hometown of Westminster, Maryland was like when I was a teen. I did, however, have to add a Wal-Mart and Target! How on earth could Abbey and Granny Po survive without their Wal-Mart?

How did you celebrate your book sale?

We went to Disney World. Literally.

Several years prior to my offer with Harcourt, I was desperately trying to finish a chapter while my boys were tearing through the house like maniacs. They were about eight and seven at the time, and I promised them if they would be quiet and let Mommy work for just fifteen minutes longer, then we’d use my advance money to go to Disney World if I ever sold the book.

Big mistake.

For years, I kept hearing, “Did you sell the book yet, did you sell the book yet, are we going to Disney, huh huh huh?”

When I finally got that blessed email from my agent - oh my gosh. You should have heard all the yelling, screaming, jumping, and “I’m going to Disney World! I get to meet Mickey!!”

Then when the kids got home from school, my husband and I told them the good news.

How did you choose your editor and was he or she the “dream editor” you wanted?

Before selling my first book, I would have defined my dream editor as someone who was supportive, encouraging, and was more of a friend, rather than just my boss. I wanted an editor who respected my voice, and yet wasn’t afraid to push me beyond my own expectations.

My agent, Rosemary Stimola, was the one who decided which editors to submit Beauty Shop to. I had total faith in Rosemary’s selection, and in the end, found my dream editor when Karen Grove from Harcourt offered me a contract. I adore Karen and couldn’t imagine working with anyone else!

What books had an impact on you when you were growing up?

I loved to read as a child. My favorites were the Little House on the Prairie books, The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley, and any book that had a horse on the cover. In high school, I tore through each and every Sweet Valley High book and loved reading about the devious Jessica Wakefield.

But which book had the most impact on me? The Horsemasters, by Don Stanford. To a horse-crazy kid who dreamed of riding in the Olympics, this book was ideal!

If you had an ideal reader, who would that be and why?

Because my novel deals with the strong bond between four generations of women, my ideal reader would be any girl … or woman who’s young at heart!

Is your main character like yourself?

Every one of my characters is from some aspect of me, whether they’re confident or insecure, bossy or submissive, loud and boisterous or a quiet home-body because really, we’re all a little bit of everything.

While my main character, Abbey Garner, is a very loving, caring girl - she also clings on to a lot of bitterness and resentment towards her father, and has an ongoing love/hate relationship with the mother who abandoned her. To get into her head, I tapped into my own past feelings of bitterness and resentment. But unlike Abbey, they weren’t for my parents!

Do you outline before writing?

‘m definitely a plotter by nature, and I do outline before starting a first draft. The concept of writing a huge novel is less intimidating when I know details of the book’s beginning, middle, and end. But I find that I don’t truly know the story until I get to about page 100, and I end up totally veering from my carefully plotted outline!

What should readers get from your book?

I hope they have some giggles from the raucous bunch of characters and the goofy things they say. And I hope that when a reader finishes the last page, they sit silent for a few moments, replaying the final scene in their heads and recounting all my character’s steps that brought her there. That would be wonderful! But mostly, I hope they’re inspired to forgive, rather than clutch onto the bitterness and resentment that can weigh a person down, and then take this into adulthood.

Why do you write?

Sometimes I have no clue. Especially if I’m struggling with insecurity and self-doubt over a manuscript that feels completely whacked. Or if I’m overwhelmed with editing and I think of how there’s a thousand other saner things I could be doing at the time.

But, there are those rare and wonderful moments when I’m elated over finally figuring the story out. Or when the stars align and I feel as though a scene I’ve completed is brilliant. Or when I’m so in love with my characters and I can’t wait to tell their story. It’s because of these moments that I write. (I just wish there were more of them!) Plus, this is the path God pointed me down, so who am I to say no?

Describe your favorite teacher when you were your protagonist’s age.

My protagonist is fifteen, but I’m going to cheat a little and pick Mr. Thompson, one of my seventh grade teachers. He was my favorite because he made each student feel special and not just part of an anonymous herd.

One day, he pulled me aside to give me a book about stunt horses used in the movies that he thought I’d enjoy, since I was a total horse nut. I was also a bit of a loner at the time, and the fact that he singled me out to give me this book made me feel so special.

I no longer have the book—maybe it got lost during one of my many moves, but I’ve never forgotten his kind gesture!

What is your earliest book memory?

I can’t recall many exact book titles, but I do remember how much I loved it when my father read to me. He has such a rich voice—and can sing like Elvis—so when he read a story, the text would come alive. My dad would change his tone for different characters, and sometimes, Mom would hang around my bedroom door to listen as well.

One book I can remember him reading is LITTLE BLACK, A PONY, by Walter Farley, and how I cried when the boy no longer rode poor Little Black because he was having too much fun with the bigger, more streamlined Big Red. Oh, the injustice! But fear not, Little Black proves his worth in the end by saving the boy.

What are some of your current favorite writing or author-help books?

I have to confess that I have a shelf-full of unread writing and author-help books. But three books I have read and enjoyed are ON WRITING, by Steven King, IF YOU CAN TALK, YOU CAN WRITE, by Joel Saltzman, and CREATING CHARACTERS KIDS WILL LOVE, by Elaine Marie Alphin.

Although it’s not a book, one of the most useful tools I’ve ever found is the “Snowflake Method,” found on Ron Singermanson’s website:

http://www.rsingermanson.com/html/the_snowflake.html

This is an excellent plotting aide, and a quick read for folks like me who don’t have the patience to get through a whole book!

Do you have a website for your book? How did you handle setting it up?

Sure do! http://laurabowers.net

After months of procrastinating—okay, a year—I forced myself to find a web designer last December who was fantastic. (www.kickassdesign.com.) She did the grunt work to make it pretty and I added all my info and pictures myself using Word Press. I’m so happy with the way it turned out, and how I can maintain it myself, rather than rely on someone else to do it. I also did my own MySpace page (after more procrastination,) www.myspace.com/laura_bowers. Stop by and visit some time!

Describe your favorite library.

I’m a root-for-the-home-team kind of gal, so my favorite will always be the library in my home town. It’s right off of our historic Main Street, and has a beautiful court yard in the front. There’s plenty of cozy sofas, plenty of tables, plenty of books—what more could you want!

I also love the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, which is one of the oldest free public library systems in the United States. So gorgeous! I went there once with my husband to do book research, and at first—I was in too much awe to concentrate! http://www.prattlibrary.org

What was your favorite book when you were your protagonist’s age?

The Horse Masters by Don Stanford. I was a total horse nut, and read this book so many times the cover wore off and I had to make another!

Was this the first full-length novel you wrote, or rather the first that you sold?

No, BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT is the third novel I wrote.

The first was a young adult novel based on my experiences with horses as a teen. While I truly loved the concept and plot, I ended up abandoning the manuscript, because it was difficult writing about my own family. I do plan revisiting it after finishing my current WIPs, however, just this time - I’ll fictionalize it more.

The second novel was a mid-grade called LIGHTEN UP, LILLY. It was an okay book. Not great, just okay. But after gathering a list of publishers, I realized that I had zero passion for the book. I didn’t even like it very much, I was just looking to get published. So I tossed LILLY aside, decided to put passion before publication, and started BEAUTY SHOP soon after.

Now that you’re under contract, does your family better appreciate your writing?

My family has always been beyond supportive, especially my husband and mother, who’ve read through countless drafts and would often stay up until 1:00 am so we could hash out a plot problem.

But do they appreciate my writing more? Sure, while they’ve always had my back 100%, my writing is now considered more as my job, not just a hobby or a dream I’m chasing. And the time I spend on the computer answering emails, fiddling with MySpace, and posting blog messages is marketing and networking, not just for fun.

How did you know you were “done” with your book and ready to submit it?

It’s funny, really. You edit, edit, edit, and edit and finally, after shedding a ton of blood, sweat and tears, you think … by God it’s done! It’s DONE!

And then a week or so passed and it dawns on you. I’m not done. I’ll NEVER be done.

With BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT, I met an editor at an October 2003 conference who requested to read a full manuscript after critiquing the first two chapters. I finished the book, went through several rounds of editing, and by February 2004, sent it to the editor. I was like, you know what — I’ve done all that I can for this book for now and it’s simply time to let it go before I go totally nuts.

Two months later, I sent the same version to Rosemary Stimola of Stimola Literary Studio who offered me representation one week later. The editor did reject me shortly after, so after another three rounds of edits, Rosemary began to submit my book to editors in November. In May, 2005, I was offered a contract by Harcourt, and went through another four or five rounds of edits during the next year and a half.

So when was I actually done? Once my editor said time’s up, no more editing. And now, I’ve decided to never again read the book, no matter how much I love the characters. There would be just too much I’d want to change!