Sandra Rathbone Interview Published on: 19, Apr 2024
Can you tell us about your journey into writing middle-grade fiction and comics? What inspired you to pursue this genre?
I am a middle school teacher and hearing my students' stories both funny and sometimes cringey, inspired me to write comics and novels about being a middle school kid. Also, my literary agent, Cindy Bullard at Birch Literary nagged me to finish it. I'm glad I took her advice. I wouldn't be here without her and my editor, Shawn Reilly Simmons at Level Best Books. Having people believe in you and your work really helps.
How do you balance your roles as an author, orchestra director, and freelance musician? Do you find any intersections between these roles that influence your creative process?Balancing these three wonderful jobs has become quite the juggling act. "When it rains it pours" is my mantra right now. I'm not complaining. I do enjoy being busy, but there are times I look at my calendar, and I just tell myself, okay, where do I need to be today or what do I need to do? Some days, it really is just a get through this day mentality. In the end, I do count my lucky stars that I get to do the things I really enjoy. However, being busy strangely inspires me to write. Somehow I find the time, and it works for me.
"Skelee Boy" is a unique title. What inspired the concept behind this series, and what themes do you explore through these books?Skelee Boy is about a skeleton boy that moves to the human world and tries to fit in. I love to explore how more similar we are than different, but that our differences can make us great, too. Skelee learns how the humans are more like his kind than different.
Could you share your approach to character development, particularly in creating the protagonist of "Skelee Boy"?Skelee is the friend I would like to have had in middle school. He is kind, compassionate, smart, and loyal. He is not without his flaws. He does have confidence issues as do most middle school kids...well, people overall. He is based on some of my best students I have taught over the years.
What challenges did you encounter while writing "Skelee Boy and the Demon King," the second book in the series? How did you overcome them?Making sure that the events were consistent with the first book, and developing newer characters was definitely a challenge. I had a much better idea of the ending for the second book than I did for the first book. Writing the second book came more easily. I think having a deadline really helps, LOL.
How do your diverse interests influence your writing style and storytelling techniques?I read a lot of different books. Being a musician, I enjoy reading books about composers and Rock musicians. I love Classical music and Rock music. Reading about the lives of artists and listening to the right kind of music easily inspires me to write, When I started the first Skelee Boy book, I listened to groups like The Cure and dark Celtic music like Loreena McKennitt. With the second book, I branched out to The Prodigy and Symphony Fantastique by French composer, Hector Berlioz and Toccata by Ginastera as interpreted by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. With the third book (this one will come out in early 2025) I've been listening to Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov, early prog-rock Genesis, and Mars from the Planets by Gustav Holst. My musical background plays a big part in my writing.
Rock musician biographies seem like an unusual yet fascinating choice of reading material. How do these narratives inspire or inform your creative process as a writer?Rock biographies are so interesting. Truth is definitely stranger than fiction. Reading about the lives of artists can really inspire, particularly learning about their backgrounds and the journeys people have taken to become successful.
As an orchestra director, how does your musical background contribute to your writing process? Do you find any parallels between composing music and crafting a story?Oh, absolutely. Inspiration comes from hearing a great song or a melody, then you expand on that idea until it turns into something bigger, more complex and interesting.
Can you share any insights into your experience as a freelance musician? How does performing inform your understanding of storytelling and character dynamics?I learn so much from playing. I am so fortunate that I can still teach and perform my violin regularly. I always learn from my experiences in rehearsals and concerts. In turn, I take those learning experiences, and share them with my students when they have similar problems in their performances and techniques. There are pieces that I play as a musician, and that inspires me to craft scenes or create a body of work. Recently, I played a concert where we got to perform Scheherazade, a wonderful symphonic work by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Lots of inspirations in the third book from this piece.
Living in North Carolina, do you find any specific aspects of the state or its culture influencing your writing? How does your environment shape your creative work?Absolutely. I love my state. North Carolina has great people and beautiful areas. My hometown of Asheville is a gem, but living in Greensboro has really helped me develop where Skelee and his human friends live. Being Southern has its challenges, but between the food, the beautiful parks and landscapes, and the cool people, North Carolina is a positive inspiration to me in writing my books.
Tell us about your "tortie" cat, Charley. Does she play any role in your creative process or serve as a source of inspiration?Yes. Every day. Charley is sweet but sassy. She is a great companion, although there are times I try to write, and she wants attention. She's great, through. Watching her helps me characterize animals that play a prominent part in my books.
How do you approach world-building in your middle-grade fiction and comics? What elements do you focus on to create immersive and engaging settings for your readers?My students always like to tell me what they are reading. A lot of those books are about fantasy worlds and they sure do love their scary stories. Reading books like "City of Ghosts" by Victoria Schwab and "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman are definitely stories that I enjoy along with my students. I'm so lucky that I get to have my own test group with my students. They are very honest. If something works or doesn't, they will absolutely let me know.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors, particularly those interested in writing for middle-grade audiences or delving into the world of comics?Get to know your market. Schedule a book reading with your age at your local schools and libraries. Schools and libraries love author visits. Immerse yourself in authors that write the same genre as you. Never give up. I was 48 when I got my first book published.
Are there any upcoming projects or new directions you're exploring in your writing career that you can share with us?The third Skelee Boy book will come out in 2025. I'm also looking into doing another series involving a cat world shared with tiny humans, and a middle-grade book on the journey of cat pop divas and their journey to stardom. I'll always want to write about music or be inspired by music that gets me writing. This is the world I have made for myself and enjoy living.
What is your takeaway based on your experiences with AllAuthor? What is it about this site that you like or dislike?I am so thankful for AllAuthor. The promotions are so easy and helpful in marketing my book. I've connected with sweet and encouraging authors. It's so nice when people reach out to you and tell you how much they love your work. The downside, some of the unsolicited marketing people can be annoying, and I've had to deal with some "catty" authors. Other than that, I have recommended Allauthors to my other author friends and colleagues. It's a great service and a great deal.
