Elle Cosimano, author of THE SUFFERING TREE, on there being a time to be brave and take risks

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re thrilled to have Elle Cosimano here to tell us more about her latest novel, THE SUFFERING TREE.

Elle, what was your inspiration for writing THE SUFFERING TREE?

While chaperoning my son’s school field trip to an apple orchard, the bus rolled by this very old and picturesque cemetery in Westmoreland, VA. In the middle of this beautiful green field was a cluster of graves around an old, dead tree. I couldn’t get this tree out of my mind. It was gnarled and broken, the bark bleached white. Beneath it lay a handful of worn, mossy, leaning headstones, so old that I couldn’t make out the dates on them when I returned the next day for a second look. I wondered what had happened to the tree—why it had died and no one had cut it down, why no one had bothered to tend to the cemetery or farm the field around it, who was buried there and forgotten. And after a few days of asking myself “what if”, the story of The Suffering Tree was born. You can see more pics of the cemetery that inspired The Suffering Tree by clicking here.

What book or books would most resonate with readers who love your book–or visa versa?

If you are a fan of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, you may find a lot to enjoy in The Suffering Tree. Time travel, witch hunts, history, romance, and the exploration of family roots will definitely resonate with Outlander fans. Sadly, however, in my book there are no kilts.

How long did you work on THE SUFFERING TREE?

I began The Suffering Tree in 2011. I had about 50 really terrible pages written by the time I signed with my agent for what would later become my debut, Nearly Gone. When she read my draft of The Suffering Tree, she suggested I shelve it, that I didn’t yet have the “chops” to write such an ambitious book. The rotating POV structure was challenging, Nathaniel’s voice was all wrong, and I was clearly trying too hard. On her advice, I put the draft away for a few years, focused on learning and growing, and finally took it up again in 2015, when I felt I was ready to tackle it. Even then, it took many revisions to get it right.

What did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?

This book taught me patience, but it also taught me that there is a time to be brave and take risks. That there is no such thing as the perfect time to write the perfect book, and at some point, we have to trust that we’re ready to try.

What are you working on now?

I’m drafting a super-fun YA urban fantasy based on a flash fiction piece I wrote a few years ago with the gang over at The Hanging Garden on Tumblr—mythological worldbuilding, assassins, some flirty cat-n-mouse, and plenty of kissing.

I’m also drafting what I hope will become my first adult suspense novel. I’m really excited about the way it’s coming together, and I think it will captivate my YA fans as well.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Suffering Tree
by Elle Cosimano
Hardcover
Disney-Hyperion
Released 6/13/2017

Tori Burns and her family left D.C. for claustrophobic Chaptico, Maryland, after suddenly inheriting a house under mysterious circumstances. That inheritance puts her at odds with the entire town, especially Jesse Slaughter and his family—it’s their generations-old land the Burns have “stolen.” But none of that seems to matter after Tori witnesses a young man claw his way out of a grave under the gnarled oak in her new backyard.

Nathaniel Bishop may not understand what brought him back, but it’s clear to Tori that he hates the Slaughters for what they did to him centuries ago. Wary yet drawn to him by a shared sense of loss, she gives him shelter. But in the wake of his arrival comes a string of troubling events—including the disappearance of Jesse Slaughter’s cousin—that seem to point back to Nathaniel.

As Tori digs for the truth—and slowly begins to fall for Nathaniel—she uncovers something much darker in the tangled branches of the Slaughter family tree. In order to break the centuries-old curse that binds Nathaniel there and discover the true nature of her inheritance, Tori must unravel the Slaughter family’s oldest and most guarded secrets. But the Slaughters want to keep them buried… at any cost.

From award-winning author Elle Cosimano comes a haunting, atmospheric thriller perfect to hand to readers of the Mara Dyer trilogy and Bone Gap.

Purchase The Suffering Tree at Amazon
Purchase The Suffering Tree at IndieBound
View The Suffering Tree on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elle Cosimano grew up in the Washington, DC, suburbs, the daughter of a maximum security prison warden and an elementary school teacher who rode a Harley. She annually attends the Writers’ Police Academy at Guilford Technical Community College, Department of Public Safety, to conduct hands-on research for her books. Elle is the author of Nearly Gone and it’s upcoming sequel, Nearly Found. She lives with her husband and two sons in Mexico.

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Have you had a chance to read THE SUFFERING TREE yet? What’s the strangest object you have “what if’ed” into a story? Have you ever felt you didn’t yet have the “chops” to write a particular story? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Emily, Jocelyn, Anisaa, Sam, Martina, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, and Lori Ann

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Jun 17, 2017

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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← Previous: Catherine Egan, author of JULIA DEFIANT, on unlocking the next book Next: Kimberly McCreight, author of THE SCATTERING, on an extremely long and exceedingly bumpy road to publication →

The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

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