Laura Segal Stegman‘s non-fiction work includes collaboration on the travel book Only in New York. Her feature stories have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, Westways Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, Hollywood Bowl Magazine and Los Angeles Daily News. Summer of L.U.C.K., her debut for middle grade readers, is her first novel.
Which book do you most clearly remember from when you were a child?
The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton fits that bill. In fact, the magical elements woven into its heroine’s journey to self-acceptance inspired me to write my debut novel, Summer of L.U.C.K. (see below)
Did you ever write a fan letter to an author? If so, who to, and did they write back?
Yes! When I was a kid, I wrote to author Sydney Taylor, who wrote the All of A Kind Family series, another of my childhood favourites. I was so thrilled when she replied that I still have her letter.
How did you learn to write? What is one writing book or website you’d recommend to anyone else wanting to learn?
I’m actually not sure how I learned to write – maybe by widely reading ever since I was a kid. And by doing, probably. What helped me the most was input from editors and other writers. Agent Janet Reid’s blog has tons of great advice about querying and writing along with the occasional flash fiction contest/writing exercise.
What is your favourite hobby or activity that has nothing to do with writing or reading?
I’m a big fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, so following the progress of their season and Major League Baseball has always been a big part of my life. With limited baseball during the pandemic, I’ve significantly upped my reading and writing time.
Who is your favourite author now?
That changes over time! Right now, I’m making my way through the Inspector Gamache mysteries. When I finish one, I can’t wait to start the next. So I’ll say Louise Penny, the series’ author. For kidlit, it’s J.K. Rowling, hands down. I also love her adult fiction under the Robert Galbraith pen name.
Do you have a new book coming out soon?
I do, and it’s a dream come true. Summer
of L.U.C.K., my middle grade debut, is being published September 15, 2020, by INtense Publications. It’s a contemporary fantasy about three kids finding their way to self-acceptance with the help of a ghost who haunts a magical carnival.
What are you writing these days?
I’m writing Summer of L.U.C.K.‘s sequel, called Ready or Not, which follows one of the first book’s three main characters. Justin, still grieving the loss of his father, struggles with a bully during his second summer at Camp Inch. He’s convinced he’ll find solutions with the help of the magical carnival, like last year. Turns out real life is much more complicated.
Do you write regularly, or just when you feel like it?
Since Ready or Not is due in the fall, I am writing for a few hours just about every day, often more. My writing pace was much slower when I wrote Summer of L.U.C.K., which took many years, including rejection after rejection and what could be the world’s record number of revisions.
How do you like editing and revising?
Sometimes editing and revising seem easier than creating a story, especially when I’m stuck in a scene or a chapter. But I love writing too. There’s nothing like the feeling when words and ideas start flowing, as if some magic angel is whispering them in my ear.
Can you share one strange, weird or wonderful thing about yourself?
Strange: Other than baseball, I rarely watch television or movies.
Weird: I’m super organized. Almost to a fault.
Wonderful: I care about others.
What’s the one question (and the answer) that you wish I had asked.
You said that Summer of L.U.C.K., your debut novel, received “rejection after rejection.” What kept you so dedicated to it?
With every rejection, I worked harder on making improvements. I kept going. I kept believing. Summer of L.U.C.K. is the book of my heart. Its publication means the world to me.
More about Laura and her books:
Her website: https://www.laurastegman.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LauraSegalStegmanAuthor
Buy Summer of L.U.C.K: https://www.childrensbookworld.com/laura-segal-stegman-conversation-kitty-felde
This is the last in this series of author interviews for now.
Thanks to all the authors who participated.