GCC Presents……….. Debbie Rigaud!!!
Welcome Debbie Rigaud and her short story VIOLA in OPEN MIC: RIFFS ON LIFE BETWEEN CULTURES IN TEN VOICES (Candlewick Press) Edited by Mitali Perkins
About OPEN MIC
Listen in as ten YA authors use their own brand of humor to share their stories about growing up between cultures. Edited by acclaimed author and speaker Mitali Perkins, this collection of fiction and nonfiction embraces a mix of styles as diverse as their authors, from laugh-out-loud funny to wry, ironic, or poignant, in prose, poetry and comic form.
About “Voila”
Thanks to overprotective parenting, Simone’s elderly great aunt Ma Tante has more of a social life than she does. But one afternoon, Ma Tante’s social scene awkwardly intersects with Simone’s in the unlikeliest of places.
And for the questions:
What inspired the plot for your story?
My story “Voila” was inspired by real-life experiences of–as a teen–accompanying a beloved family elder to her doctor’s appointments in order to serve as her translator. And let me tell ya, just like in the story, those office visits had ridiculously long wait times.
Why did you decided to write in this genre?
Early in my career, I held freelance and staff positions at various magazines, but being a staffer at seventeen and Twist felt like the best fit. I really bonded with teen readers back then, and naturally I wanted to continue that relationship when I made the transition into book publishing.
What is your writing process like?
I always seem to have tons of story ideas buzzing in my head, but few make it to the plotting out stages. Those that do become a 5-10 page story summary, which I use as a guide for when I start writing. Recently, I’ve started to explore writing software like Scrivener to help me outline character details and figure out plot pace. All this fleshing out helps me be me productive when it’s time to write.
What are you working on now?
I just completed the editing phase of my first YA e-book. Titled TURFQUAKE, the story follows one city girl’s reluctant (and awkward) switch to a suburban school at the same time her cousin from earthquake-ravaged Haiti moves in and faces greater challenges adjusting to life in the US.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
After living in Bermuda for the past five plus years, my husband and I recently moved back to the States! We’re settling into life in Atlanta, so we’ve been busy exploring this city, its restaurants (yum!), and various events (the Decatur Book Festival was awesome!). There never seems to be a dull moment out here.
Who do you like to read?
I’ve just finished reading a few Lois Lowry books, which I found interesting. I’m also diving into the second book in Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy.
Rave Reviews for OPEN MIC:
“[Open Mic] will leave readers thinking about the ways that humor can be a survival tool in a world that tends to put people in boxes.” –Publishers Weekly
“Naomi Shihab Nye offers an eloquent poem about her Arab American dad, whose friendliness made him ‘Facebook before it existed.’ David Yoo, Debbie Rigaud, Varian Johnson and Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich also contribute stories to this noteworthy anthology, which robustly proves Perkins’ assertion that ‘funny is powerful.’”
–Horn Book Magazine
“Teachers will find some powerful material here about how the young can become discomfited and find solace in their multifaceted cultural communities.
–School Library Journal
For more about OPEN MIC, like our page www.facebook.com/openmicanthology
Debbie Rigaud (www.debbierigaud.com)
Debbie Rigaud began her writing career covering news and entertainment for popular magazines. Her YA fiction debut, HALLWAY DIARIES/Kimani Tru was followed by the fish-out-of-water romantic comedy PERFECT SHOT/Simon Pulse. Since then, Debbie’s non-fiction essays have been published in anthologies IT’S ALL LOVE/Broadway Books and DEAR BULLY/HarperTeen. Her short story “Voila!” is featured in OPEN MIC/Candlewick Press, and TURFQUAKE, her first YA e-book will be released late 2013.
