Day 5: Thanks, Stacy A. Nyikos!

2k8: Writing is hard. Publishing is harder. On this last day of Stacy A. Nyikos' launch week, let's find out what she struggled with.

Stacy: The hardest part about writing and publishing DRAGON WISHES was the emotion that went into it. I revealed on Tuesday that the story emerged after a near fatal sledding accident my daughters were in. They healed, but I didn’t. I went through all of the stages of grief – which, on a good day, I thought was just plain wrong. They were still alive. I didn’t want to think about what would have happened if they had died. But think about it I did. It haunted me.

Writing out the emotions was the only way I could work through them. That proved rather difficult since I’d sworn off writing, and I’m not much for journaling. At some point, nearing the edge of my sanity, I forced myself to sit back down and take the overwhelming emotion of loss and turn it on its head. What would it be like for a child to go through this? I’m an adult. I’m supposed to be trained by life itself to deal with loss. But a child? What would a child do?

That idea loosened my silent pen. I would turn my loss and fear around. I’d write a story, one that could be a beacon to kids going through the overwhelming craziness of loss that I’d gone through.

2k8: So, then did the story come quickly or slowly?

Stacy: The ideas for the story came pretty quickly, and the writing part went relatively smoothly. It was the revising that was a battle. My critique group pushed me to do better, like all critique groups do. I am indebted to them. Alone, I don’t think I could have done it because they forced me to take on the most difficult scenes – when Alex has to let somebody love her again or drown in her own feelings of loss – and write them until they ached with my main character’s struggles. It made the story so much stronger, but I was a real bear to live with when I was revising certain scenes. I could have thought of a million places I would have rather have been – childbirth, a lecture on international political economics, watching paint dry – than in those emotions, trying to shape them into something positive.

At times, I wondered if I hadn’t actually jumped off the deep end. Who in their right mind tries to shape the emotions of loss? Aren’t we just supposed to figure out how to survive them?



2k8: Now DRAGON WISHES is a real book sitting on the shelf. The writing and revising are behind you. How do you feel?

Stacy: In the end, the story became one I’m really proud of. My characters emotions are real. They are at times raw. The rawness gives them an unmistakable authenticity that I very much hope helps kids dealing with loss find their own path through the darkness.

2k8: Stacy, it's been a great launch week. We've all enjoyed getting to know you better. Thank you so much for sharing. We wish you the very very best in your writing career. We know it's going to soar.

To read an excerpt of DRAGON WISHES, click here.

Day 4: Stacy A. Nyikos and Johnny Depp!

We're back for Day 4 with Stacy A. Nyikos, debut author of the middle-grade fantasy DRAGON WISHES.

Stacy's gotten really comfortable on the blog. So, today, we're handing the mic over to her and letting her have at it.

"Hey, Stacy. Feel free to just chat away. DRAGON WISHES on the silver screen. Who do you want in it and why?"




The following confession is pretty pathetic, but I actually wrote one of the parts in my book with a particular actor in mind. Reader should now picture author hanging her head like a scolded dog because yes, I wrote Uncle Norbert as a Johnny Depp character. (NOTE: If you’re reading Johnny, please just have your agent get in touch with my agent. I’m sure it will all work out. Uncle Norbert is really written for you.)

Personal fantasies aside, if that ever does happen, believe me, I will so absolutely blog about it.
Still, you may be wondering, why did I do this? Massive star crush perhaps? Only slightly. The bigger reason is because Uncle Norbert is someone eccentric, off the wall, and odd. I kept thinking of some of the amazingly bizarre characters Johnny Depp has played – and there have been a few. I pictured Mr. Depp with rumpled hair, his shirt half untucked, meandering around the house with an old book in one hand, a spongy pastry covered in powdered sugar in the other, and this surprised look in his eyes. He was the big guest star appearance in my book.

As for the others, well, it would be an unusual cast.

First off, the most real and important. Last year while I was doing a school visit I met a student who is the real live Maddie, Alex’s best friend. She goes to a school in a Chicago suburb and is named, no kidding, Maddie. I met her well after the book was finished, but she was, in almost every way, the living version of my character – cheerful, mile a minute chatterbox. If you’re reading, Maddie – which is so much more likely than Johnny Depp – you’d just have to play yourself in my movie, okay? You’re the all time perfect best friend.


The next one I would cast is Mrs. Chen. I’d ask, beg, badger – and pretty much pester nonstop – Amy Tan to play Mrs. Chen. I know she’s not an actress per se, but since I get to do the casting, I’m promoting her to screenstar extraodinaire. She writes such strong female characters, I think she could pull off Mrs. Chen, no problems.

Auntie Ling would have to be played by my best friend, Ching Ling Teng, who guided me through the Chinese world with such aplomb. I know she’s not an actor – she’s a physicist actually – but she is Auntie Ling. That has to count for something.
Mr. Cisneros, the school principal, would have to be played by the illustrator of my picture books, Shawn Sisneros. He’s a starving artist too, but with so much talent. I think he could totally handle the acting thing. Plus, I borrowed his name. There have got to be some sort of royalties on something like that to get him a screenpart.


Mr. Sanchez, the bus driver who rushes Isa to the hospital, would be played by Cheech Marin. I think I had Cheech’s face half the time while I was writing Mr. Sanchez’s character, somebody with a little attitude but a huge heart willing to go above and beyond to help.

My hairdresser has already claimed the part of the art instructor, Degas Rivera. I had no choice, since I’d like for my hair to continue to look halfway decent, but to promise him the part.

Although my book has no official narrator, someone has to read the dragon story. I’d like it to be Mark Twain. Yes, I realize he is no longer among the living, but there’s no other person I know with a better voice.


As for Alex, Isa, and Shin Wa, and the entire soccer team, I would like to have an open casting day for the kids at all of the schools I’ve visited as an author. I’ve met some real personalities along the way, as well as a few drama queens. I think we could have those parts filled in no time flat.

And that's a wrap. Although we're sure Stacy will have cameo roles for all her 2k8 classmates!

Day 3: Stacy A. Nyikos--True or False?

Our Stacy A. Nyikos, debut author of middle-grade fantasy DRAGON WISHES,can really spin some tall tales. We love having her in class. Cause ya just never know what she'll come up with!

So...which of the following do you thing are true? And which are not?


Numero Uno: I’ve heard some crazy stories from author’s on the road, but the one I’m about to tell happened to me when I was on author tour for my picture book, DIZZY. It was the last day of a grueling two-week stint. I decided to take my girls–who had come along for the whirlwind ten city tour across the Midwest and down the Eastern seaboard–for a hike in the Shenandoah mountains on the last day of the tour. I’d lived nearby at one point in my life and often gone hiking in the mountains. Never saw anything scarier than the next bend in an endless uphill hike. On this particular occasion, however, nature decided to write her own little story with me as the main character. It all began when a water moccasin slithered into the water right next to my youngest daughter’s foot as she crossed a small stream. If I had known what was going on, I’d have called it foreshadowing. Instead, I called it nature. The next, building “incident” were leeches in the waterfall the girls played in. I kept thinking, when in nature expect to see nature. I wasn’t really ready for the black widow that wandered over our pass as we began to make our way back out of the park. But they were all just building to the actual climax – we ran into a black bear. And by ran into, I mean, we were close enough to touch it. We ran one and a half miles uphill out of the park, no stopping. I’ve never been so scared in my life.


Numero Dos: I spent my junior Spring Break re-stitching the linen wing on an old plane. Honest to Pete. Here’s how it happened. My grandfather is a pilot, my father is a pilot, three of my uncles are pilots, and my brother is a pilot. You probably won’t be shocked to learn that I can fly too. I’m not sure I’d have been allowed to leave the house without learning. It was more important than driving. Not only did I learn how to fly, I learned all things air and plane related, including how to rebuild a plane. My father was a crop duster part time. He came across an old linen plane in a barn up in Indiana where I grew up. I think something in his heart went out to that old, beaten up plan. When I was twelve years old, he bought it, and we spent most of my teen years rebuilding it. I learned how to stretch the fabric, apply it to the wings and body, and how to cover the frame so the material wouldn’t be ripped off by the wind either on take off and landing, or, god forbid, while flying through the air. The real test came, though, when we took off for the first time. Everything was going really well until we came up upon a flock of ducks. My dad tried to pull up and out of the flock, but one of the birds got confused and collided with the wing, tearing a huge hole in it. We made an emergency landing. As unbelievable as it sounds, the bird, a mallard, got away more unscathed than the plane. Not me. Or the wing. Which is why I spent Spring Break re-stitching it.


Numero Tres: I think I’ve had one of the most unusual visits to the White House. It all came about when I was on the drive out from Oklahoma to Virginia to start my PhD at the University of Virginia. On the way, I spent the night at a hotel in Tennessee. After a long day of driving, I decided get some exercise, so I headed over to the workout room. I had it all to myself except for one other guy. He was pretty nice. We talked off and on as we worked out. I caught about half of what he said because there was music playing. Before he left, he said I should come out and visit him in Washington, D.C., which is pretty close to the University of Virginia. I was in my mid-twenties and thought he was hitting on me, but I said sure. He left to get his business card. When he gave it to me, my jaw nearly hit the floor of the workout room. He was a secret service agent. I asked him what he was doing in Tennessee? He told me he was there on detail for the Vice President. Then, he repeated his offer. If I was ever in D.C., I should call him up and he’d take me on a backstairs tour of the White House. I did. It was shortly after Christmas, and I asked him, how many people I could bring along? As many as I wanted. This was, I have to admit, pre-911. I showed up with my aunt and uncle, my roommates from grad school, a friend from the navy, and another friend who was in the Marines. We didn’t get to see the president, but we did get to see the Oval Office, the Roosevelt Room, a bunch of other rooms, and the old Executive Offices. Afterwards, we took the secret service agent out to eat at a nearby restaurant where we scrounged our pennies together to pay for his meal. And that’s how I got to see the White House.

So, whaddya think, blogosphere friends? Are any of these true? Are they all true? Or what?

Day 2: More on Stacy A. Nyikos

2k8: We're back with Stacy A. Nyikos, debut author of the middle grade fantasy DRAGON WISHES. And because we're classmates, we get to ask her pretty much whatever we want. So, here goes.

Stacy, where do you do most of your writing?


Stacy: I do most of my writing in my office. I’ve tried sitting in a comfy chair facing the window, but that was sort of counterproductive, although I was really well rested! Much as I liked that great view, I realized that I’m pretty much a desk person. I guess I need a little bit of discomfort to keep my mind focused. I’m in good company, though. Hemingway wrote standing up. He said that helped him pare down and only write what absolutely needed to be said. I’m glad I don’t have to go to such extremes, but the desk definitely helps me slip into my own imagination and unlock the stories waiting in there to be told.

2k8: What made you begin writing DRAGON WISHES?

Stacy: DRAGON WISHES came to be through a number of factors. The first, and most monumental, was an event. About five years ago, my daughters were in a near fatal sledding accident. When they crashed into the back of a parked horse trailer, my world came to a crashing halt. I stopped writing. I became depressed. My personal life fell apart. Ironically, it was pen and paper that got me through the darkness. The emotions my daughters’ accident left me with had taken on a life of their own. It wasn’t all that productive. I needed to redirect. Turn them into something good, rather than destructive. The heart of Dragon Wishes was born – how do children work through the grief and sadness of loss. Heavy stuff, I know, but that’s where it all started.

2k8: And how did DRAGON WISHES find a publisher? Give us the *real* dirt!


Stacy: I submitted, and submitted, and submitted. I wish I could say there was some real dirt, but it was mostly pure, unadulterated rejection – like high school all over again. Then one day, as I contemplated the ratio of time it would take to burn my manuscript as opposed to the time it took to write it, I got an email from a friend about a regional publisher that was–dare I say it–looking for new works to build its line. It was Blooming Tree Press. I submitted to them. Instead of a rejection letter, I got a call from Miriam Hees shortly before Christmas. Well, okay, it was December 8, and I was actually frantically grocery shopping at Whole Foods (not that I remember exactly what I was doing). Through the clatter of carts, crinkle of plastic and roar of my heart, I heard those words I’d been waiting to hear for soooooooo long – the book had been accepted. It was the best present ever.


2k8: Imagine you have an offer from your dream press to publish your dream book, no matter how insane or unmarketable it might be (though of course it might *not* be). What's the story?


I’m pretty sure I jumped off the deep end a long time ago when I decided to write for a living. I’m a starving artist! I’ve pretty much given in to the insanity of my profession and write whatever I feel most strongly about. I have to have a strong reaction to stay with the labor of creating the story and then the marathon of revisions. So, I’m writing my dream book right now, Pelorus Jack, which is set in late 19th century New Zealand, and is about a boy and a dolphin who become inseparable friends.


What question won't most people know to ask you? What is your answer?

It’s one I’ve heard a few brave–and very wise–children ask. How much do you make? The answer is really easy – less than their teachers. I’d really really really like to make more money at it, don’t get me wrong. If there is an agent out there who can make it happen, please give me a call! But in the end, I write because I am passionate about storytelling. I have the great and elusive gift of being in love with what I do. Without that, I’d go back to my day job tomorrow.


For today, we leave you with a gorgy photo of a two-year-old Stacy. Who knew this cutie patootie would grow up to be a passionate writer!


Click back tomorrow for more on Stacy A. Nyikos and her fantasy middle-grade, DRAGON WISHES!

Day 1: Introducing Stacy Nyikos!

It's another super exciting week on the blog. We're celebrating the launch of classmate Stacy A. Nyikos' debut middle-grade novel DRAGON WISHES.


Ahhhh....What can we tell you about Stacy?

She has always been a storyteller. When she was little, her parents called her a ham. Why? Because she acted out her stories!

Then she learned to write. And we're happy she did.

Besides writing, Stacy loves to travel. In DRAGON WISHES, she flies her readers high above the earth and into the mythical world of Chinese dragons.

Stacy also has three children's picture books under her belt: SQUIRT (2005), SHELBY (2007), and DIZZY (2007).

When she isn’t traveling–either through her imagination or around the globe–Stacy lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband and two daughters.

Guess what else? Stacy has a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Virginia. She's one smart cookie.

Okay, Stacy, tell us about DRAGON WISHES and how it came to be.

Eleven-year-old Alex is searching. So is Shin Wa. They both need to find a path out of the darkness that surrounds them. Shin Wa’s journey leads her to the Black mountains of the far north in China. There she discovers more than just the last surviving dragons. She finds a way to save mankind. It all lies in a single pearl of wisdom. The gem is also the key to Alex’s own journey. The pearl travels through the ages to find the struggling young girl and her sister. But it is not until Alex discovers how to use the pearl that she finds a path out of the darkness.

Here's the story behind the story. I wanted to build a strong sense of family into my book. The Asian culture offered that to me. Now, I have to say, I am neither Asian nor did I grow up in an Asian household. I did grow up in a family very proud of its heritage. I am a third generation Hungarian. However, when I moved back to the United States from Germany to start my PhD, my best friend was Ching Ling Teng, from Taiwan. We celebrated holidays together, both Western and Eastern. We cooked ethnic foods. We told stories. She and her extended family took me in and made me feel at home again in the U.S., odd as that may sound.

When I began working on DRAGON WISHES, Ling and I had long conversations about names and what they mean, festivals and their importance, Chinese storytelling, and stories from her childhood. Many of them found a place in my story.

But dragons? I knew next to nothing about Chinese dragons. I began researching. I read books. I combed the Internet. I learned a lot. But I still wasn’t quite ready to write. Then one day, I learned that Asian dragons protect knowledge. And that knowledge is symbolized in a very unusual way, by a pearl.

Many Chinese dragons, both drawn and as statues, have a small pearl around their neck. They are said to guard this pearl of wisdom. For me, it became the key to my story. It became the element that could crossover from the legend into the real world and spur Alex into action. Thanks to the pearl, Alex began to change her life. Granted, she didn’t get it right at first. Does anybody? But she had guidance, a family that loved her, and, finally, the will to move in the right direction.

The pearl of wisdom became more than just magical, or symbolic of knowledge–or even the dragon story–in Dragon Wishes. It became a representation of storytelling in our lives. As such, it led Alex to three things: family, wisdom, and love. I had my story.

Very cool, Stacy. We love hearing the story behind the story.

Join us tomorrow for the inside scoop on how Stacy landed her publishing contract with Blooming Tree Press. We're looking forward to a week learning about Stacy A. Nyikos and her fantasy middle-grade DRAGON WISHES!