Rebecca Stead: Time slip

Rebecca Stead grew up in New York City. She began writing stories, Very Serious stories, when she was at school, but a career in writing felt impractical so she became a lawyer. Many years, two sons and a broken laptop (containing the Very Serious stories) later, she decided to write again. This is her first book for children published in the UK. Rebecca lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

When You Reach Me explores the complexities of friendship and relationships in a fresh and original way. Did you set out to write a time-slip novel or did it turn out to be the best way to tell this story? Did you deliberately set out to explore the nature of time?

I set out to write a time-slip novel that is not a time-slip novel. The first seed was planted when I read a newspaper article about a man with amnesia – it gave me an idea for a story about a mission to prevent a future tragedy. But I knew from the start that I also wanted my story to be about the 'ordinary' mysteries of childhood: changing friendships, conflicting feelings about parents, questions about what makes us who we are.

The classic science fiction novel by Madeleine L'Engle A Wrinkle in Time plays a big part in this book. Was it your favourite book as a child?

It was one of my favorites, absolutely.

What were your other favourites?

Red Planet by Robert Heinlein
All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
Fog Magic by Julia Sauer
Half Magic by Edward Eager
Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth by E.L. Konigsburg

A Wrinkle in Time helps Miranda stay focused and brave – are you hoping When You Reach Me will have the same affect on its readers?

I have no goals of that kind. I want my books to be good company.

I understand that this is your first children’s book – you must be delighted with the response it’s received in the States and now in the UK. All that preparation of writing ‘serious books’ paid off. Do you think you have found your place writing for children?

When You Reach Me is my second novel for children published in the US, and the first in the UK. I am thrilled - and moved - by the response the book has received. In time, I may explore other kinds of writing. But I hope never to stop writing for children.

As you may have heard many of our public libraries are being threatened with closure and I know this has happened in the States. Could you share any advice/experience from what happened in the States?

I wish I had useful advice. We’re in the midst of the same crisis in the States – in fact, I just today saw a headline in 'School Library Journal' about proposed cuts to federal funding for libraries. Both public libraries and school libraries are under siege. Unfortunately, libraries are seen as something we can do without.

I’ve read that A Wrinkle in Time has been banned from public libraries in the past for its use of magic and time travel and I know authors such as Blume and Wilder have also been banned – could you share your thoughts/views on this.

I think that the banning of books is almost always an act of cowardice.

We have also been following the censorship row over the new edition of Huckleberry Finn by NewSouth Books over here with great interest and there is a very interesting post by The Horn Book about this. Could you share your thoughts about this.

I agree with Roger Sutton at the The Horn Book on this issue - I wish the text had not been changed. I think the better path would be to reserve the book for school years when the story can be discussed meaningfully within its historical period, allowing for a deeper understanding of both the book and the time in which it was written. Books are history – rewrites are not allowed (unless you are the author).

I was inspired by your quote that the most important thing to know about writing is there are no rules. Could you share some writing tips with us.

The most important thing to know about writing is that almost every writer is disappointed by what first lands on the page. There’s no way around that hard moment when you realize just how far your first draft is from the gorgeous idea dancing in your head. If you can’t face that moment with some sense of hope, you will probably never be a writer.

Other things to keep in mind: Weird ideas are often good ideas. Grammar and punctuation are more flexible than you have been taught. It’s best not to imagine your mother reading your work. Sharing your work is a good idea, but not before you’ve had a chance to fully form your idea. But these are not rules, of course.