An Interview with Award-Winning Author, Todd Linder
From Montana, USA, Todd
Linder is the award-winning author of three middle grade chapter books: The
Big Sky Boys And Life on the Spinnin’ Spur, Achim’s Pocket, and Grandmother’s
Fan.
From Todd’s bio: As an
elementary educator in years past, Todd spent many hours reading aloud to
students in hopes of not just entertaining them, but to instill a love of being
lost in a book. As a boy riding horses, Todd often wondered if he had been born
a hundred years too late, and what it would have been like to cowboy with the
likes of C.M. Russell in Montana, or the hands on the King Ranch in Texas. He’s
realized at least part of that dream by living in Montana - The last best place.
Welcome, Todd!
GM: How do you find the
balance between crafting intricate plots and developing compelling characters?
TL: I’m not sure
whether there’s a right or wrong way to balance the two. I usually imagine a
broad storyline and setting. This gives me a springboard to find the main
characters that will inhabit it. The supporting cast is brought in as the story
develops. In Achim’s Pocket I knew I wanted to write a story set in the
region of Western Asia – Armenia, Turkey, etc. I patterned it after folktales
that might come from there. Initially I imagined Achim as an older rather
foolish man. After some thought he morphed into a young man with a sad vagabond
life and great aspirations.
Plot development is one
of those things that can vary every time I sit down to write. I often go back
months later or longer to change the plot or character if I sense it needs it.
Even though there are those that recommend doing a complete rewrite of a story,
I rarely start over unless in the first few pages if it’s just not working.
GM: Can you share a
pivotal moment in your writing career that significantly influenced your path
to success?
TL: I think there was a
pivotal moment where after I was rejected by many literary agents and or
publishers, as have so many others. I came close to giving up. I eventually
decided that I had to continue trying to write stories as a creative outlet for
me if nothing else. As well they could be a kind of legacy for my grandchildren
and family. It was about that time that I also decided to record them or some
of them in audio format which has been great fun.
GM: How do you maintain
originality and keep your writing fresh after publishing multiple works?
TL: As soon as I began
reading at age five or six, I devoured books. My wife teases me about being an
inveterate cereal box reader to this day. From the time I began reading to the
present I have read or listened to thousands of books, articles, etc. All that
reading has given me an inexhaustible source of ideas for potential stories.
New ideas pop up all the time. On a recent plane ride returning from South
Carolina, an idea for another one pestered me for hours. The day after I
returned home, I grabbed a notebook and began laying out a rough plot and
characters. An object or snippet of something will suggest a potential storyline
and I jot it in a notebook. I think that habit is something most writers must
do.
GM: What personal
experiences or beliefs have most shaped your writing style and themes?
TL: I would say that as
a Christian there’s a set of values and a worldview that steers me away from
stories that reflect “pop” culture or social trends of the day. I want my
stories to be fun, wholesome things to read or hear and not trying to influence
kids to grow up too quickly. They’ll be exposed to those things all too soon.
Let them grow up without all that.
GM: How do you approach
the process of revising and editing your work?
TL: Editing and
revising is not my favorite thing although necessary. I often read a passage or
page to my wife to get her feedback. As I get into a story, I will realize that
maybe something pages back in the manuscript needs to be revised for the story
to move forward. It could be the addition or modification of a character or
plot change.
GM: Are there any
recurring motifs or messages in your books that you feel particularly
passionate about?
TL: To date my books
are each quite unique so they don’t really have a recurring theme or message.
If there’s a recurring idea, it’s to promote characters with good character and
values. At one time that was a norm in children’s literature and I would like to
be part of bringing it back.
GM: Can you describe a
scene or passage from Achim's Pocket that you found especially challenging
to write, and why?
TL: With Achim's Pocket, the challenge was not so much the text but the images. The artist, Carina Reytblat, lives in Israel, which made communication a serious challenge. There are about nine time zones between Montana and Jerusalem, so we would sometimes be emailing in the middle of the night. The back and forth required to revise aspects of the artwork became challenging at times, but in the end, she produced great images.
GM: How do you handle
criticism and feedback from readers and critics?
TL: Well of course
feedback is important to a writer. We tend to become very attached to our
stories. It can be uncomfortable at times but I think I’ve become less
sensitive about corrections that must be made. When I view the change
suggestions from other writers or editors objectively it becomes obvious that
they’re better than my original wording or structure. Unfortunately, I don’t
have a deep pool of beta readers who have time to read my work and offer a
critique. The goal is to become a better writer with each book and that means
somehow getting an honest, constructive critique.
GM: What advice would
you give to aspiring authors who are just starting their writing journey?
TL: I would encourage
them to write using their own creativity and not try to write for the “market.”
A writer ought to be a voracious reader keeping eyes and ears open for
potential story themes and character names. I keep a notebook for that purpose.
I record potential story ideas as well as character names by region, quotes,
sayings, jingoes, and colloquialisms. It’s fodder/resources for writing.
Connect
with Todd Linder…
Facebook & Insta @
Todd B. Linder Author
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