Shan L. Spyker's Blog, page 3

Author Q & A (Part 1)

Thank you to everyone who took the time to post questions for the experimental Q&A last week! I had a lot of fun mulling over the questions and answering them. I had promised to post my replies tonight (Sunday), but so many good ones came in and, as I suspected, I have been very wordy in my replies. So…to avoid an overly long post, I have decided to break the questions up into a series of two or three posts.

The first four appear below in tonight’s edition—all great questions that focus on the writing of the book itself. If you asked a question and you don’t see it here yet, it will be posted here on the blog tomorrow and Tuesday (and all questions will eventually be added together here on the new Author Q&A page once all the posts have been made).

Thanks again to everyone for the really fun, thought provoking questions, it’s been great fun!

Part 1How long did it take you to write? You mentioned your original inspiration started with bedtime stories, who started the original story?

The actual writing of the story started five years ago at a slow but steady pace, but the last two years up until the book was published, was the most intense and focused once I made sure to dedicate serious time to it.

However, the story has been around almost my entire life—since I was somewhere between four and five years old. It started with my dad. He had written a piano piece for what he called the Tales of Henry when I was about four or five years old.

His original idea, the crux of the story, was the idea of two sisters, based on my sister and I, finding an abandoned wolfhound who they found they could empathically communicate with. From there once he told the original story, it became collaborative.

Around that time, I used to ride around with him when he was on his route collecting coins from and repairing the washing machines he owned and maintained within apartment complexes. It was during those commutes we would go back and forth telling stories and coming up with new ideas. We took his original idea and ran with it, thinking about what kind of adventures would come of that situation.

I used to gaze into our smallish 1/4 acre backyard with three stately maple trees and several smaller trees and would pretend it was the forest. When our own dogs, Cherry and Princess (both rescues that came with those names!) would go outside I would pretend they were Henry’s friends, who I could talk to. When it rained, the back portion of the yard would flood just enough that I would envision the river. Eventually we populated the forest with other animals.

I am certain that because my dad wrote music for the Tales of Henry—particularly because the very nature of music is so visceral and memorable—it cemented the story in our minds. And it helped it become almost a kind of family folklore; my aunts and uncles and other family members and friends knew about it, too. Henry just was.

Fast forward to decades later when my and my sister’s own children learned about Henry and listened to the music of Henry, and they began to contribute to the adventures with their own ideas. We, along with my dad, now three generations deep, would come up with new plot lines and characters together.

Eventually one of my kids asked if it was a real story, as in, did it exist as a book? When I said no, they asked why not? That’s when I decided it needed to become one. By profession I am a graphic designer, and my passion just happens to be long document and book interior design. So at that point I decided I needed to get this all down into a book, for all of us. And as I got more serious about seeing it through, I figured if I was going to take the time to make it into a book for our family, we might as well share it with the rest of the world. But it still took another 10 years before I began outlining some of the ideas taken from all of these years of brainstorming.

The story changed A LOT in the final years. As a little aside to illustrate how much, the very first incarnation on paper—a quick draft of a scene written perhaps 15 years ago when my kids were about 4 and 6—involved the sisters (who had different names then), Henry, Mister Squirrel, Pipe the bear, and the other animals…at a tea party! (oof!)

Do the characters represent anyone in your family?

Tillie and Elinora started out being modeled after my (younger) sister Adrienne and I in my dad’s eyes, but after we had kids, they began to take on some of their personalities as well though it wasn’t a one to one character/person ratio. So yes, and no.

Elinora is a lot like me, a little more careful and cautious in some regards, and Tillie is more adventurous, like my sister is in some ways. But traits were exaggerated and of course not exactly us, as so many other influences came into play to shape their characters.

In the end, I wanted Elinora and Tillie to be polar opposites—Elinora so overly cautious and having difficulties making decision because of it, and Tillie so extremely impulsive and daring that she winds up in some sort of trouble, so that they each need to each learn how temper and find a balance within themselves to order be effective in accomplishing things. That was their personal arcs for book one.

And all of the main characters, especially the main six—Elinora and Tillie, as well as Lina, Graham, Jamie, and Alister—have within them, bits of my family members (immediate and extended alike) taken and mixed up to create six new, unique individuals.

Did you find anything in particularly challenging along the way of writing the book?

Dealing with the length and scope of a full length novel for the first time was definitely a big challenge.

As someone who has always written shorter length pieces—short stories, content for zines and collaborative creative writing publications and blogs as well as professionally writing copy for fundraising letters, publications, etc.—I was more versed in the short and sweet.

So finding a way to organize the story that made sense to me was difficult at first. Especially when big changes were made, as the plot shifted and developed over time, over countless discussions, it was a lot to learn how to deal with. The story was spoken word initially, so getting that all down on paper and organizing it was a challenge, too.

But I’ve learned a lot about how I like to work through that, and I have clear ideas how I am going about organizing the writing of the next book.

I’m now somewhere between what some like to call a pantser and a plotter, vs. being a full-on pantser, which is what I used to think I was (or was).

What was your biggest inspiration for writing a book?

Probably one of the biggest inspirations would be coming from the vast amount of children’s and young adult programming and movies I consume. I watched, of course, as a kid, and then again intensely with my kids when they were younger. When they got older and began going to see movies like Oculus while I instead slipped excitedly into the theater next door by myself to see Kung Fu Panda 3…it became apparent I will obviously never outgrow kids movies and shows. We still laugh about that one.

But really all three of us are kids at heart and we still obsessively watch Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli and Studio Ponoc films, as well as shows like Avatar the Last Airbender, Korra, The Dragon Prince, She-Ra, and most recently they got me watching and becoming a fan of My Hero Academia. I’m also a life-long Star Wars fan, and an enthusiast of so many other films, cartoons, and fandoms in those genres.

So I think it’s my obsession with these types of shows and love for middle grade novels that motivated me to make our own, and helped me understand a little of what makes a middle grade story be captivating to all age groups, and also inspired me to create something within this genre.

That, and almost daily hikes on a trail with a version of Ole Warty and a river to help imagine things!

To be continued tomorrow…

Review: The Way of the River earns 5 Stars from Readers’ Favorite

Reviewed By Vincent Dublado for Readers’ Favorite

The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One) by Shan L. Spyker is surefooted in its message with a plot that will endear itself not only to young readers but to adults as well. Siblings Elinora Wolton, 15, and her younger sister, Tillie, 14, live in a country called Eldmoor, on a landed estate known as Kellandale. Her cousins, along with her Aunt Camille, will be staying with them until her father and her uncle finish the completion of the community school. Life is pretty normal for the two siblings, except that they are forbidden to venture into Kellandale Wood, which everyone believes to be bewitched. But when they witness a sack being thrown into the river, they itch to investigate and break the long-standing admonition not to enter the woods. Inside the sack is a wolfhound pup that they rescue and name Henry. Elinora and Tillie discover that Kellandale Wood is indeed bewitched but in a positive and enchanting way, as it allows them to communicate with Henry and other woodland creatures.

Shan L. Spyker is so precise and simple with the characters in that she writes them with clear motivations that are reflected in what they say, and it does not complicate the message about our relationship with nature. Reading The Way of the River has transported me to my grade school age again. Creating a fictional country and combining it with spectacular sensory details, the story manages to create its own space that you can actually inhabit. It is the kind of setting that can pop up in your imagination. Elinora and Tillie both have childish spunk that is both appealing and relatable to young readers. In every way, this quietly majestic tale should be read not only for its message but because it is a triumph of good storytelling. — Readers’ Favorite, 5-Star Review

Review Page for The Way of the River on Readers’ Favorite , which will include this review, is forthcoming.

 

Upcoming Author Event

What the Heck in the World!? — Not Quite, but Almost, Your Average Q&A Session

Have a question about the story? Want to know more about a character? Wonder about how the story came about? For those who have read the book, are planning to, or are considering it—here’s an opportunity to ask Shan Spyker, author of The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One)! All day Thursday, November 18th [12:01am-11:59pm EST], you will have 24 hours in which you can leave your Q’s via the Shan Spyker Author Facebook Page or @shanlspy Instagram Author Account. This will be followed three days later with a post containing musings and replies to the questions and that will appear here on the author Blog. To make things even more fun, one Question-asker will be chosen at random to receive some The Way of the River-related items, which you can learn more about via the Facebook Page link above. See you then!

There’s a Secret Page hidden on this website!

One of the most unique and exciting items created to go along with The Way of the River, in my opinion, is the Character Card Set.

Created by artist Thomas L. Spyker, who also illustrated the front and back cover of the book, the set includes 8 Character Cards including Elinora, Tillie, Lina, Graham, Jamie, Alister, Henry, and Mister. To make it even more fun, a Tower Key card with an access code and information where to sign to The Amphitheater, a special locked page within this website where readers can learn more about the characters, view new character illustrations as they are created, and access discussion questions geared toward middle grade readers. Cards are 3” x 4” and printed on velvety matte-finish heavyweight cardstock and are only sold in the shop here at shanspykerauthor.com .

Get a sneak peek and read an excerpt from the Secret Page here:

You can order the Character Card Set individually here, or save when you bundle with a book, or with other items in our special Holiday Gift Bundle on sale for the holidays!

Order now and learn more about Elinora, Tillie, Lina, Graham, Jamie, Alister, Henry, and Mister. New characters will be added to the collection over time!

Kids, it has begun…

Again. Here we go, book two!

Untitled Kellandale Wood Book Two has been getting some serious airtime in my mind, and that has now shifted onto paper and is part of my daily routine. Currently, the status is I am mapping out character positions from the close of book one, and jotting down plot points so I can construct an outline for the next story. Twists and turns are being pondered with the help of my wonderful creative team, aka my family. It feels so good to get back to what’s the most enjoyable bit of it all—writing!

As I’ve done with The Way of the River, I will continue to blog my way through the process of creating a book, this time armed with the knowledge I have gained over the course of the last several years. I cannot wait to share part two with everyone when its done! No release date as of yet, but as I get a feel for the pace, I will try to firm that up better. Until then, check back to see what’s happening, or subscribe to the blog to keep up!

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Holiday Gift Bundles in the Shop

Perfect for the middle grade fantasy/adventure novel enthusiasts!

For those who like to get ahead on the gift shopping, we are excited to offer a special gift package for a reduced price. Give the gift of story and art to the young readers in your life, and support indie authors and artists in the process!

Special Reduced Price $45.99 through November 30, 2021.

Holiday Gift Bundle Includes:

One signed copy of The Way of the River and bookmark

Vibrant 8-card illustrated Character Card set with access code to unlock a hidden page on the shanspykerauthor.com website

“The Messenger” hard enamel pin

9”x12” art print signed by the artist

Holographic sticker

Wrapped and shipped in recyclable/compostable packaging

Flat rate $5.00 shipping to all US addresses

To order, visit the shanspykerauthor.com Shop

Gift Bundle Details:

The Book: The Way of the River, a 368-page middle grade/tween fantasy adventure, teeming with animals and nature, friendships and family, a magical forest, and an unscrupulous showman. All copies are signed by the author and come with a bookmark.

Character Card Set: For the young reader who wants to know more about the characters in the story! Elinora, Tillie, and friends are beautifully illustrated in this lush, full-color card set by artist Tom Spyker. Includes a password to unlock additional character information, discussion questions, additional artwork, and more via the shanspykerauthor.com website. All 8 cards, each 3” x 4” and printed on velvety matte-finish heavyweight cardstock, ship together with access code and information where to sign in.

Enamel Pin: Custom Designed collectible pin with “The Messenger” bird design. Hard enamel pin with shiny copper plating, designed by Thomas Spyker for The Way of the River. Includes a sturdy, rubber pin stopper. Measures 1.25”

Holographic Sticker: The Way of the River tree symbol 3” high quality holographic sticker logo designed by Thomas Spyker. Spread the Ole Warty love!

Poster: 9”x12” high quality print featuring Henry and Ole Warty from the cover of The Way of the River, signed by artist Thomas Spyker.

Add a custom screen printed Way of the River tote bag or Tillie’s Satchel messenger bag (only 2 left in stock!) to your order to make it an extra special gift!

The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One)Description

Life is perfect for fifteen-year-old Elinora Wolton...for the most part. Anxious by nature and resistant to the often painful metamorphosis of growing up, she is most content when she is able to avoid uncomfortable feelings and experiences. This proves easy enough to do living a secure, sheltered life at Kellandale, a quiet country estate that has been isolated from many of the world's problems.

 But in Kellandale Wood (Book One): The Way of the River, a tween fantasy/adventure set a hundred years ago in the country of Eldmoor, this estate also happens to sit on the edge of a vast forest. Known as Wyches Wood to some, it is a forest with a centuries-old reputation of being haunted. No one has dared to enter it for the last two hundred years, and Elinora and her precocious, easily bored younger sister Tillie have been strictly forbidden from going near it by their parents-a fact that drives Tillie mad.

 This all changes when they witness a man dropping a mysterious parcel into the river within their property. Despite Elinora's initial reluctance, Tillie-curious and relentlessly persistent-persuades Elinora to go searching for it with her, taking them deep into the woods. There they discover an abandoned young wolfhound with an extraordinary ability, setting them off on a dangerous rescue mission and pitting them against a greedy and unscrupulous man.

 As they begin to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abandonment, they discover what links their family to the forest, and the forest to the puppy’s own traumatic past. Together with their many allies, Elinora and Tillie set out to achieve what seems impossible, ultimately revealing the truth of the legendary enchanted woods and the mystic river that flows through it.

More About the Story

In a world suffering from greed, threats of animal extinction, social injustice, and threats to the environment, this tale is a reflection on the importance of cherishing our own interconnectedness to nature, to one-another, and to all living beings. It’s been my purpose to write a story for a young audience that is hopeful to read, one that encourages kindness, compassion, open communication, the recognition and celebration of diversity, and working with others to enact positive change—told within the context of a fantasy adventure. The Way of the River is the result, and is a 368 page middle grade/tween tale written with readers age 10-14 in mind. If you are drawn to stories such as Mary Stewart’s The Little Broomstick, Hayao Miyazaki’s Totoro, CS Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series, or Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle, this might be the next book for you!

Editorial Reviews

"Two curious young adventurers find themselves in the strange heart of a magical forest, and at the center of their own family secrets, in The Way of the River by Shan L. Spyker, the first book in the Kellandale Wood series. Despite a high-fantasy atmosphere reminiscent of Narnia and other incredible YA realms, this story remains a uniquely plotted tale, as well as deeply symbolic. The concept of nature being a source of untold power and strength, coupled with a healthy nod towards paganism and older belief systems, makes this novel impactful for a broad range of readers. The prose is accessible, the protagonist dynamics are touching, particularly between the girls and Henry, and the more whimsical aspects of this novel keep it balanced and compulsively readable from the first page." — Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½

“Henry deserves an immediate induction into the literary pantheon of canine heroes…Spyker delivers a strong message of inclusiveness, love, and respect for all creatures.” — Kirkus Reviews

Published by Tulip Tree Creative Studios
The Way of the River ©2021 Shan L. Spyker, All Rights Reserved. Illustrations ©2021 Thomas Spyker, All Rights Reserved. Book interior design by Shan L. Spyker, Illustrated by Thomas Spyker, Edited by Allison Reker, Additional Proofing & Editing by Mia Spyker

The journey continues

Short version—I am feeling so incredibly honored by the assessment that has come in from Kirkus Reviews. Full text of the review can be read on their website.

The long wordy version—as I have posted here in the blog about before, The Way of the River began long, long ago as a simple story that grew over the years into a multi-generational bedtime series of made-up-on-the-spot tales within our family when my sister and I were very young children. In the beginning it was called The Tales of Henry, and it was based on a character our father first imagined and wrote piano scores for. Years later, at the behest of my own and my sister’s young (at the time) children, I began to jot the stories down. Eventually, I began writing the manuscript with increasing seriousness and increasing the story’s scope, and with the simple goal of putting it into book format for us, once and for all (because as a lifelong, rabid maker of books and zines and publications, both professionally and for personal joy, that is what I do!). What came out was a full-scale middle grade novel, and I had no idea where it would lead and the adventures that would follow. As a lifelong writer, but also as someone who is a novice, first time novelist, I am pinching myself in disbelief over the journey this story has had so far. To my family—this is for us! Yay, Henry!

And the winner is (part two)…

Congratulations to @lepidorkterist winner of The Way of the River Giveaway B!! Books and book-related goodies are headed your way!

Thank you to everyone for their interest and for entering the giveaways! You can be sure I’ll be brewing up some fun in the form of future giveaways of some sort, perhaps mega discount codes or even scavenger hunt type activities down the line!

And the winner is…

Congratulations to C. Denning, winner of The Way of the River Giveaway A!! Two signed copies of The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One) and book-related goodies are headed your way!

Giveaway B drawing will take place tomorrow (Monday) and winner will be contacted via IG and announced on IG, FB and shanspykerauthor.com so stand by! If you wish to enter to win two signed copies of the book along with other book-related goodies, find the post here on Instagram or via link in bio. You have until tomorrow noon EST!

World Elephant Day

At its core, The Way of the River: Kellandale Wood (Book One), a middle grade fantasy adventure, is about the interconnectedness of all living things—human, animal, and all other living organisms. Within this framework is a strong theme of animal rights, animal protection and care, and advocacy against performing animal operations.

In addition to Henry the wolfhound, who is at the center of action in The Way of the River, are hundreds of animals in need, including Wildflower—a young elephant taken from her home and family intended to become a prized member of a traveling circus. As someone with a life-long passion for elephants, it was important for me to include such a story to shine a light on the plight of animals within performing animal operations to a younger generation. As one reader/reviewer has so well put it:

I have advocated AGAINST any & all circuses that have any animals for YEARS now. So when I saw that very same idea on the treatment of animals & their rights in this book-I was overjoyed. Books like this help open people’s eyes-even ones who won’t realize it at the time, because at the same time it’s an amazing fantasy adventure that you also love for that!—Belles Middle Grade Library/Goodreads/Amazon Review

It is my hope that this book will not just entertain, but also encourage already blooming compassion and the desire for action in young readers (and adult readers, too!)

Yesterday was World Elephant day, a wonderful day to celebrate and advocate for elephants…but I also believe every day should be elephant day! Two amazing organizations that help these magnificent creatures are @sheldricktrust Sheldrick Wildlife Trust who rescue and rehabilitate injured and orphaned elephants and help reintegrate them into the wild, and @pawsark2000 Performing Animal Welfare Society who advocates, rescues, and cares for elephants as well as other wild animals forced into captivity and performance. Please give them both a moment and check out all that they do!