K.M. Walton, editor of BEHIND THE SONG, on music having the power to bring people together

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re pleased to have K.M. Walton here to give us the scoop about BEHIND THE SONG, the anthology she edited.

K.M., what was your inspiration for writing BEHIND THE SONG?

I was in my car, blaring Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees” singing along with the lyrics, and like I’ve always done, I was also fabricating an entire story in my head of what was really going on in the song. Creating the story behind the song. I hit a red light, grabbed my pack of Post-its and pen and quickly scribbled: YA anthology. Take fav songs and interpret them by writing a short story. Could be cool!! I pitched the idea to my agent and he loved it. Then the hard work began of creating the proposal and securing the contributors. Took me close to a year! Every difficult twist and turn was worth it because BEHIND THE SONG is one amazing anthology. I can’t thank my contributors enough for their hard work and dedication. It shows. Just wait till you read the entries. And don’t forget to use the Spotify playlist to follow along and hear the songs that inspired us: https://open.spotify.com/user/kmwaltonauthor/playlist/15BBMyS8Lr6a2P5857PiqY

What do you hope readers will take away from BEHIND THE SONG?

That music is our universal language. I can’t think of a time where the need to unite has ever been more crucial. Music can shatter assumptions, it can open hearts and minds. It has the power to bring people together.

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

It reminded me that when I have an idea I believe in I am unstoppable. I don’t say that to brag, I say it as a reminder to myself. Oftentimes I forget to be proud of my persistence and determination. Publishing provides no shortage of surprises, and BEHIND THE SONG’s journey proved full of surprises-some amazing, some disappointing-but I stayed on the path, and now the book is here!

What are you working on now?

I’m co-writing a YA psychological thriller with the brilliant and outrageously talented Elisa Ludwig. Two things are firsts for me: writing a psychological thriller and writing with someone. We are still writing and revising and have all fingers crossed the manuscript sells. It’s one heck of a read!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Behind the Song
by K.M. Walton
Paperback
Sourcebooks Fire
Released 9/5/2017

A song to match everyone’s heartbeat.
A soaring melody, a pulse-pounding beat, a touching lyric: Music takes a moment and makes it a memory. It’s a universal language that can capture love, heartbreak, loss, soul searching, and wing spreading—all in the span of a few notes. In Behind the Song, fourteen acclaimed young adult authors and musicians share short stories and personal essays inspired by the songs, the albums, the musicians who move them.
So cue up the playlist and crank the volume. This is an anthology you’ll want to experience on repeat.

Purchase Behind the Song at Amazon
Purchase Behind the Song at IndieBound
View Behind the Song on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K.M. Walton is a graduate of West Chester University, with a degree in elementary education. As a former middle-school language-arts teacher she’s passionate about education and ending peer bullying. Since her novels shine the light onto the hideous effects of bullying, she gives school presentations on the topic “The Power of Human Kindness.” She is represented by Jim McCarthy from Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. She lives in PA with her husband, two sons, cat, and turtle.

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Have you had a chance to read BEHIND THE SONG yet? Do you make up stories about what’s really happening in songs? Do you have the persistence and determination to deal with publishing’s surprises? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Anisaa, Sam, Martina, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, Emily, 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: Sep 9, 2017

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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