Kerri Maniscalco, author of STALKING JACK THE RIPPER, on having your work critiqued with an open mind

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re excited to have Kerri Maniscalco stop by to tell us more about her debut novel STALKING JACK THE RIPPER.

Kerri, what was your inspiration for writing STALKING JACK THE RIPPER?

My inspiration for writing SJTR can definitely be credited to my grandma. She loved a good “whodunit” and once I figured out that I wanted to write a YA CSI, there was really only one unsolved mystery that was worthy of the ultimate whodunit. I think she would have really enjoyed it.

How long or hard was your road to publication? How many books did you write before this one, and how many never got published?

Oh my gosh. I started writing with the hope/intent to get published back in 2009/2010. I signed with my agent in 2012 and before that there were hundreds of rejections for a couple of projects. I think I signed with Barbara on my fifth novel? It gets hard to keep track of 😉 We’d gone out on submission with two other projects and had come SO CLOSE to selling them, but editors even get rejected from their bosses when they really love something.

SJTR was a bit different. We went out on sub and a few weeks later my agent called me over a holiday weekend to let me know an offer was likely coming the next day. It STILL feels like the most surreal thing even as I sit here holding my published book in my hands, and sobbing like the emotional mess I am. I never thought I’d say it, but the struggle to get here—with all the rejections and close calls and tears and laughter from other projects—were worth it once I got the phone call that changed my life.

What advice would you most like to pass along to other writers?

My best advice is always to NEVER give up. Keep writing and have your work critiqued with an open mind. One thing I’ve learned about writing/critiquing is so simple but easy to forget: the way we think we’re communicating through our world filter, and the way it actually comes across on the page, might not translate through another person’s filter in the same way. Be open to advice and take what resonates with you. At the end of the day it’s your story to tell. Oh! And be kind whenever you can. Kindness and encouragement help while on this journey. You never know when your door is going to swing open.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on book two in the SJTR series. I can’t say much about it yet, but it starts a week after the events end in SJTR. There’s a new setting, new murderer on the loose, and new sides to our favorite characters that we learn. I will say it takes place in an infamous castle and there are plenty of twists and turns that I hope readers enjoy…

ABOUT THE BOOK

Stalking Jack the Ripper
by Kerri Maniscalco
Hardcover
Jimmy Patterson
Released 9/20/2016

Presented by James Patterson’s new children’s imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion…

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story’s shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

Purchase Stalking Jack the Ripper at Amazon
Purchase Stalking Jack the Ripper at IndieBound
View Stalking Jack the Ripper on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

STALKING JACK THE RIPPER is her debut novel. It incorporates her love of forensic science and unsolved history.

It will be available in stores and online September 20, 2016.

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Have you had a chance to read STALKING JACK THE RIPPER yet? Are you open to advice about your writing? Are you kind whenever you can? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Anisaa, Sam, Erin, Susan, Michelle, Laura, and Kristin

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: Sep 25, 2016

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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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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