Ask the Author: Stacy McAnulty
Answered Questions (30)
Stacy McAnulty
YES!!!!! It comes out next month. It's called NEVER THIRTEEN!
Stacy McAnulty
My next novel comes out in October. It's called "Never Thirteen."
Stacy McAnulty
Hello! Thanks for reading my book. At this time, I'm not planning a sequel. I'm busy working on a new book that also stars a math-loving girl, but it's set in the 90s. Maybe someday I'll write about Lucy again. :)
Stacy McAnulty
Maybe some day. :)
Stacy McAnulty
Hello. Thanks for the question. All three of these novels are contemporary, so we can imagine they are in the same "universe". Both Lightning Girl and World Ends take place in NC, my home state, and Millionaires is set in NY, where I grew up. While none of the characters ever interact, we can imagine that it is totally possible that they might bump into each other at a store. :)
FYI: my new book, FOREVER TWELVE, is also contemporary and set in NC--the mountains, this time. However, this book is slightly different because it's a bit of a fantasy.
THANKS FOR READING!
FYI: my new book, FOREVER TWELVE, is also contemporary and set in NC--the mountains, this time. However, this book is slightly different because it's a bit of a fantasy.
THANKS FOR READING!
Stacy McAnulty
Yes! THE EVERS: FOREVER TWELVE comes out in October. It's about kids at an elite boarding school who may or may not be eternally tweens and teens. It's part mystery and part fantasy. I'm very excited about this new series. (Book 2 will come out in 2024.)
Stacy McAnulty
Interesting question! Maybe ISTJ.
Stacy McAnulty
Hi again! I have a bonus chapter available on my website. www.stacymcanulty.com
Stacy McAnulty
I do not (but now I do).
Stacy McAnulty
My favorite middle grade novel is COUNTING BY 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan.
Stacy McAnulty
Thank you, Quinn!
My favorite scene to write was probably the scene where they try out the water filter at Nature Club. Gross, but fun! But I also really enjoyed writing the backmatter of the book. It gave me a chance to talk about science and my research.
Thanks for the question!
My favorite scene to write was probably the scene where they try out the water filter at Nature Club. Gross, but fun! But I also really enjoyed writing the backmatter of the book. It gave me a chance to talk about science and my research.
Thanks for the question!
Stacy McAnulty
Hi Chloe,
Thank you for reading The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, and I'm honored that you turn to it for inspiration. It's very cool that you want to be an author someday. My two dream jobs were to be an astronaut and a writer. (Still working on the astronaut dream.) I didn't go to college to become an author; I hold an engineering degree. So I had to learn to write outside the classroom.
Here's my advice.
1) Read, read, read. Most authors will tell you this. And it's true. You'll learn so much by reading books you love but also by reading books you don't love so much.
2) Finish projects. Whether you're creating a short story, poem, or novel, see it through to the end. A lot of people give up. Maybe they jump to a new project, or they put it away, hoping for inspiration later. I say finish the piece. If you hate it, lock it away. If you like it even a little, revise it until it shines.
3) Learn to love revisions. Most of my time (I estimate 75%) is spent on revisions and editing. Nothing I write comes out right the first time. My first drafts are a mess. But I know I'll make the work shine in revisions.
4) Gummy bears. If you're having a bad writing day--a day when it feels like you can't write--treat yourself to gummy bears. Say to yourself, "If I write 50 more words, I can have one gummy bear." I'm not kidding; I really do this!
Thanks for the question!
Thank you for reading The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl, and I'm honored that you turn to it for inspiration. It's very cool that you want to be an author someday. My two dream jobs were to be an astronaut and a writer. (Still working on the astronaut dream.) I didn't go to college to become an author; I hold an engineering degree. So I had to learn to write outside the classroom.
Here's my advice.
1) Read, read, read. Most authors will tell you this. And it's true. You'll learn so much by reading books you love but also by reading books you don't love so much.
2) Finish projects. Whether you're creating a short story, poem, or novel, see it through to the end. A lot of people give up. Maybe they jump to a new project, or they put it away, hoping for inspiration later. I say finish the piece. If you hate it, lock it away. If you like it even a little, revise it until it shines.
3) Learn to love revisions. Most of my time (I estimate 75%) is spent on revisions and editing. Nothing I write comes out right the first time. My first drafts are a mess. But I know I'll make the work shine in revisions.
4) Gummy bears. If you're having a bad writing day--a day when it feels like you can't write--treat yourself to gummy bears. Say to yourself, "If I write 50 more words, I can have one gummy bear." I'm not kidding; I really do this!
Thanks for the question!
Stacy McAnulty
Thank you for reading my new book and your kind remarks. It means a lot to me.
As for your question, characters and conflict really drive my stories. (Probably most authors can say the same thing.) For me, I try to get close to my characters by imagining them in various situations. My real-life children make fun of me because I'm always mumbling to myself. My kids know I'm talking to Felix or Benji (or currently, a character for my latest book names Ryatt). The characters live with me as I create the books. Even when I'm doing something mundane like ordering pizza, I'm thinking, what would Benji want on his pie? How many slices would Felix eat? As for conflict, my favorite piece of advice is "chase your character up a tree and then throw rocks at them." That might not make sense out of context, but basically, a writer should not shield her characters from problems. As a mom, I want to protect my kids. As an author, I can't do the same for my characters. I'm here to make their lives hard (at least for three-quarters of the book).
Thanks again for reading Millionaires for the Month!
As for your question, characters and conflict really drive my stories. (Probably most authors can say the same thing.) For me, I try to get close to my characters by imagining them in various situations. My real-life children make fun of me because I'm always mumbling to myself. My kids know I'm talking to Felix or Benji (or currently, a character for my latest book names Ryatt). The characters live with me as I create the books. Even when I'm doing something mundane like ordering pizza, I'm thinking, what would Benji want on his pie? How many slices would Felix eat? As for conflict, my favorite piece of advice is "chase your character up a tree and then throw rocks at them." That might not make sense out of context, but basically, a writer should not shield her characters from problems. As a mom, I want to protect my kids. As an author, I can't do the same for my characters. I'm here to make their lives hard (at least for three-quarters of the book).
Thanks again for reading Millionaires for the Month!
Stacy McAnulty
Thank you for your question and your sweet comments. I'm glad you liked the book! As of now, there's no plan for a sequel. Maybe someday. However, I have another novel available called The World Ends in April (scary title, right?) and in Sept 2020, a third book called Millionaires for the Month will hit shelves.
Thanks for the question! Stay safe. (And I totally think Uncle Paul should come home and live with them. They should adopt a dog too.)
Thanks for the question! Stay safe. (And I totally think Uncle Paul should come home and live with them. They should adopt a dog too.)
Stacy McAnulty
Hello! What a great idea. I'm sure readers would like to know more about Pi. But right now, I'm not planning any sequels. Maybe some day.
Also, please note that this question is not private and others can see it. Please let an adult/parent know that you posted this question. Thanks.
If you want to write me a non-public email, have an adult send it to author.stacymcanulty@gmail.com
THANK YOU for the question and reading my book.
Also, please note that this question is not private and others can see it. Please let an adult/parent know that you posted this question. Thanks.
If you want to write me a non-public email, have an adult send it to author.stacymcanulty@gmail.com
THANK YOU for the question and reading my book.
Stacy McAnulty
Yes! But partly by accident. I love the song Windy by The Association and knew I wanted to use it. Then, when I had to come up with a name for Windy's sister, Cherish just came to me. Simply popped into my brain. I knew I couldn't use a more common name like Amanda or Katelyn because it wouldn't go with Windy. But that was all thought I gave to the name. It wasn't until after the book was published, and I was listening to "oldies", that I realized Cherish was another song by The Association. I knew the song (and love it!) but didn't know who sang it. (Or maybe my brain subconsciously knew.)
Thanks for the question!
Thanks for the question!
Stacy McAnulty
In THE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL, we are in Lucy's head. (It's first-person point of view and present tense.) Lucy is a math genius, and she sees numbers in everything. She's also constantly counting. I didn't think a character obsessed with numbers would ever see 7 as "seven". Her world would be full of digits. I hoped by writing digits instead of words, we might feel closer to Lucy and understand her brain more.
Thank you for your question, Frank Frank!
Thank you for your question, Frank Frank!
Stacy McAnulty
Nope. Maybe the Recalculations of Lightning Girl. :)
Stacy McAnulty
Both of these titles are stand-alone books.
Thank you for your question and I apologize for the slow reply!
Thank you for your question and I apologize for the slow reply!
Stacy McAnulty
Here's what's on tap for 2020.
OCEAN! WAVES FOR ALL written by me and illustrated by David Litchfield. Coming May 5
MAX EXPLAINS EVERYTHING: PUPPY EXPERT written by me and illustrated by Deborah Hocking. Coming July 7
MILLIONAIRES FOR THE MONTH, a novel written by me. Coming Sep 1.
Man, I LOVE long titles. :)
OCEAN! WAVES FOR ALL written by me and illustrated by David Litchfield. Coming May 5
MAX EXPLAINS EVERYTHING: PUPPY EXPERT written by me and illustrated by Deborah Hocking. Coming July 7
MILLIONAIRES FOR THE MONTH, a novel written by me. Coming Sep 1.
Man, I LOVE long titles. :)
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