GIVEAWAY! In celebration of Flashlight Press' 20th Year of publishing, they are giving away 20 copies of "No More Noisy Nights". Visit:
This giveaway is open from Feb 3-29, 2024
Interview with author Holly Niner
Author of many books for children, including “No More Noisy Nights” and “The Day I Ran Away” through Flashlight Press.
1. How long have you been writing for? What was the 'spark' that inspired you to start writing books for children?
The short answer is that reading inspired me to write.
The long answer is more complicated. I’ve always loved the magic words can make when they tell a story. The way they instantly transport me to another place, another time.
Many writers begin writing at very early ages. Not me. I just wanted to read.
Then my children came along. Watching them fall in love with books, ask to hear the same one over and over again, made me wish I could write stories like that. Little story ideas popped into my head.
In 2004, twelve years after my correspondence course, and many rejected stories from publishers, my first picture book, Mr. Worry: A story about OCD was published!
Writing requires a thick skin and perseverance!
2. What were your favourite children's books to read when you were a child, or to your own children?
That is a question students often ask so you think I’d have a great answer, but I don’t. I think that’s because as a child I read all the time so it’s hard to pick favorites. I loved mysteries. Think Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Brains Benton. I loved historical fiction-Caddie Woodlawn, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates, Johnny Tremain. I loved the world of The Borrowers. I read short story anthologies and poetry books. My parents supported my love of books with trips to the library and books as gifts. And my elementary school librarian suggested that a classmate, also an avid reader, and I pick our books out together and switch midweek so we’d both have enough to read until next week's library class!
3. Tell us a special moment or memory or achievement as an author!
There’s a quote I like:
“A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.” Samuel Johnson
I think that’s why it’s so rewarding to meet readers who love your book. You send your words out into the world and hope someone connects with them. So anytime I talk with a child that loves one of my books is a special moment.
My first book, Mr. Worry: A story about OCD has brought me much joy. Hearing from parents, adults, teachers and children that Mr. Worry helped them as they or someone they loved struggled with OCD is rewarding because that is exactly what I hoped Mr. Worry would do. When my son was young and struggling with OCD I looked for picture books (my go-to) to help us understand this disorder. I didn’t find any.
One day, as a group of first graders filed past me as they left the cafeteria where we’d had our writing workshop, a little girl stopped and slipped me a tiny piece of torn paper that said:
I LOVE YOU
That is one of my favorite memories of being an author!
4. How did you come up with the idea for "No More Noisy Nights"?
Where do ideas come from?? Every author will have a different answer to that question. I think they can come from anywhere!
I’ve written stories prompted by a newspaper headline, an overheard conversation, a childhood experience, a What-If thought, a piece of artwork in my bathroom, the sounds heard sitting in my backyard.
Even though many story ideas just come from life I also seek them out. The story seed for No More Noisy Nights came from a book of writing prompts that an early elementary teacher might use. And this one caught my eye.
This prompt was just the start of a story idea. It got me thinking. If someone could calmly write a letter to a monster under the bed, they wouldn't be scared. That made me wonder why they weren’t scared. And that led to my favorite writing tool. The two words-WHAT IF. Asking what if can lead to so many possibilities!
5. What made you choose a mole for the main character? (We LOVE him by the way!)
I’m so glad you love Jackson! I wanted him to be lovable, sweet and kind.
Picture books are a wonderful way to introduce topics or situations to children that might be scary or difficult. They are a way to help a child explore their emotions. That’s one reason why so many picture book characters are animals, not people. (No, it’s not just because they are adorable!) We give them human characteristics (anthropomorphism). Now a child can safely experience things that they wouldn’t in their own lives.
In No More Noisy Nights the main character is moving into a new house alone. A child can’t do that. And children don’t want to read about adults doing things. So, in my mind Jackson was always an animal.
I don’t know about other authors, but I try not to do too much “picturing” of the story as I write because I know the illustrator and editor will have their own ideas. But for me Jackson always was a mole. I can’t fully explain why, but I think of moles as quietly industrious creatures.
And sweet Jackson found a home at Flashlight Press and, hopefully, on a lot of bookshelves!
6. How did you connect with the illustrator?
We call them picture books for a reason. When a reader spies a book on a shelf the cover calls to them. “Stop. Look at me.” The reader pauses. Picks the book up and flips through the pages, often looking at the pictures before reading a word. And that’s why, the illustrator is SO important. I think that’s also why, for most picture books, the editor chooses the illustrator not the author.
When you think editor, you might just think they correct grammar, spelling, things like that. But they are so much more. Their vision helps the words and illustrations work together to create something bigger than the initial manuscript. In the best picture books, the illustrations add to the story.
If you can think about just the words in No More Noisy Nights, you’ll realize that the words never tell us Jackson is a mole. That he lives underground. That he loves music. Once Shari and I agreed that Jackson was a mole her vision for the book began to take shape. She began a search for an illustrator and eventually found Guy Wolek. At that point I saw a sketch or two of his vision of Jackson and I fell in love! His Jackson was mine, too.
7. One more thing…
(About Holly’s book, “The Day I Ran Away”)
While Flashlight Press has chosen to give away copies of No More Noisy Nights for their 20th anniversary, I had the honor of having another book published with them. Actually, The Day I Ran Away came out a few months before No More Noisy Nights.
The idea for The Day I Ran Away came from an America’s Funniest Videos clip. In it a small boy is outside his house with a backpack asking, “how can I run away when I’m not allowed to cross the street!” I started wondering how a child could “run away” but still be safe at home. Because haven’t we all had a bad day when we’d feel like running away.
A fun fact about The Day I Ran Away: there are yoga poses in each spread. As he tucks her into bed, Grace is telling her dad about her day. So, one side of each spread takes place in her bedroom and the other shows the events of her day. So, the bedroom scenes wouldn’t feel repetitive, Shari decided that Grace would be doing bedtime yoga which is a great way for kids to settle down. So, on each spread Grace, her dad and her dog, Charlie are doing different yoga poses!
Another fun fact: because the story is told in dialogue, we don’t know Grace’s name. But if you look carefully at the pictures, you’ll see it on the sorry picture she draws for her mom. I’m grateful Shari thought to do that because when you talk about your book it’s easier to have a name than to keep saying “the little girl” or “the main character”.
At the Flashlight Press website, you’ll find free downloadable worksheets for all their books and you’ll find one with all the yoga poses if parents want to try them at home.
Visit Flashlight Press to learn more about her book:
THANK YOU so much Holly for taking the time to chat with us! To read her full interview, visit:
Ooo! Love both of these stories and love 'seeing' the process - from idea to final art! - of how they came to be. And that note? PRECIOUS! Thanks for a great interview with a fabulous author!😊