Author Interview with Sheila Turnage

The DMS was lucky enough to interview  Sheila Turnage , author of the middle grade novel  Three Times Lucky . Lizzy recently reviewed this intriguing story, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We are excited to learn a little bit more about the story behind the story. So, without further ado... take it away, Sheila! 
What inspired you to write Three Times Lucky?Actually, the voice of the narrator - Miss Moses LoBeau, rising sixth grader - inspired me more than anything else. I gradually became aware of her on the edge of my imagination, just waiting to be written. And I’d think in her direction, and there she was, a scrappy eleven-year-old in plaid sneakers. And she’d say, “hey, my name’s Mo LoBeau. You got a minute? I got a story to tell.” I started listening in my imagination, and writing her story. I loved her from the start, and it really pleases me that readers love her too. 
How long did it take you to write Three Times Lucky?  I worked on the first drafts off and on in my spare time over the course of three years or so. Then Dial Books for Young Readers bought it, and I worked on it with them for another year. And then it took time for it to become a physical book. So four years of writing, and then production.

What was your inspiration for the characters Mo and Miss Lana? Are those your favorites? I like them too… I’m not sure, really, where inspiration comes from. My sister says Mo reminds her of me a little, so perhaps that’s part of it. Mo and I do have a lot in common, though we’re not really the same character. And Miss Lana? I do enjoy my flamboyant friends and family members, but she’s not really based on anyone I know. I wrote Mo’s story for the sheer joy of it, listening to the characters and enjoying them as we went along. When I finished the first draft, Three Times Lucky was three times too long. So I started trimming it down. The more I trimmed, the more Miss Lana and Mo came to life.
What are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were there any specific authors who inspired you?
I loved mysteries, like the Hardy Boys . And I loved Peter Pan , Winnie the Pooh …  books I could step into and get lost in. But I read everything. I absolutely loved to read. I grew up in the country and looked forward to trips to the library like you wouldn’t believe. To the librarian’s horror, my parents insisted I could check out anything I wanted to read. I had a blast, particularly in the summer.
If you could live any place real or fictional, where would it be? Why? I live on a farm in Eastern North Carolina, and I really like it here. I love visiting other places, but this is where I like to live. I understand the rhythms and the seasons, and I have a wonderful sense of continuity.
If you could befriend a character from your book, who would you befriend? Why? That would be a toss-up between Mo and Dale. Where I live kids often ride the school bus, and I’d love for either of them to get off the bus in the afternoon and sit on my porch a while. They’re both really smart, funny kids, but in different ways. I love Dale’s take on life, and Mo’s quick wit. If you mean an adult character, I’d probably get along well with Miss Rose. We have a lot in common: we both live in the country, we both care about family, we’re both pretty low-key.
Where do you like to write? Do you listen to music while you are writing?I mostly write in my house – in the swing on the front porch, or in my office upstairs. I don’t listen to music while I write. If there are words in the music (whether they are sung or not) it completely destroys my focus, and if there are no words, once I get into the flow of my writing I don’t hear the music anyway. 



Mo sends messages in a bottle to her upstream mother. Have you ever sent a message in a bottle or have you ever found one? If so, we would love to hear about it!   



As I recall, I did once send a message in a bottle. I was a very little girl and my father helped me. It was so long ago! I set it adrift in the ocean. For some reason I hoped it would go to Portugal, but so far I haven’t heard back. I suppose it should get there any day now.  
Where can we purchase your books?  Thanks for asking!  Three Times Lucky is available through independent booksellers everywhere. It’s available in hardback, e-book and audio.  Amazon ☞ Barnes & Noble
Connect with this author:Website ☞ Facebook 

Read the reviews!





Mo and Dale’s next adventure - THE GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING - is slated for publication in early 2014. FEAR NOT THE UNEXPECTED