Mackenzi Lee, author of THIS MONSTROUS THING, on learning to appreciate your own journey

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re thrilled to have Mackenzi Lee join us to share more about her debut novel THIS MONSTROUS THING.

Mackenzi, what was your inspiration for writing THIS MONSTROUS THING?

My books never have a single “aha!” inception moment. Instead, a bunch of small things I’ve collected over the years all synthesize into one. The idea for This Monstrous Thing was a combination of seeing a production of Frankenstein at the National Theater that changed my perspective on the story, hearing Frankenstein misidentified as the first steampunk novel (which I knew was wrong, but it sounded like a good idea), a trip I took to Germany at Christmastime, and a lifetime of being the emotional older half of a pair of siblings. It all culminated in an email to my sister, the first line of which was ‘I think I just came up with an idea that’s too weird to write.’ Thankfully, she didn’t think so and told me to write it.

What scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

There’s a flashback in the book to Alasdair and Oliver (the two brothers in the book) taking an inadvertent ice skating adventure in Amsterdam that I love very much. It’s my favorite scene in the book for a couple of reasons—first because it was a breakthrough moment for me in developing their relationship. The first draft of the novel was woefully absent of scenes with them together and getting along! Writing this scene was a sweet moment between two people who mostly have pain and strife between them during the present narrative of the novel. But the reason it has the most special place in my heart is because it’s the only scene in the book that’s sort of inspired by truth. The idea came to me when my sister and I were in Salem, Massachusetts in the winter and had to skate our way through a frozen cemetery, holding each other up.

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

Well obvs if you like This Monstrous Thing, you gotta read Frankenstein. It’s even better. And if you’re a fan of alternate history steampunk without magic, I can’t recommend the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld highly enough!

How long did you work on THIS MONSTROUS THING?

I started writing it in January of 2013, it sold in June of 2014, and will be published in September of 2015. You can do the math!

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

I alternate between writing in my hot, but adorable apartment and the Writer’s Room of Boston, which is a quiet, air-conditioned (can you tell it’s summer while I’m writing this?) space looking out across historic downtown and some of the most beautiful stonework and fire escapes you’ll ever see. Being in that space with other writers being studious and creative always inspires me to be similarly studious and creative. I make playlists for every book I write, and I listen to them while I work—most of the playlist for This Monstrous Thing was dominated by an album called The Life of the World to Come by the Mountain Goats, which has a lot of life and death and resurrection imagery. I also make Pinterests boards, and when I get stuck, the visual inspiration helps stimulate a different part of my brain. And I always, always, always have to have Diet Coke. That’s really my only non-negotiable demand.

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

Don’t compare yourself to others—it is literally the hardest thing about being a writer, and it never goes away. It’s a lesson I have to relearn every time I get on Twitter. Wherever you are in your journey, it will never feel like you’re far enough. It will always feel like someone has more than you or is getting something you want. So you have to learn to appreciate your own journey, your own timetable, your own successes, and your own speed. Enjoy where you are in your publication journey, whether you are unagented, prepublication, just starting out, or ten books in—there is something awesome in every step of the way. So don’t miss out on it by looking at where other people are!

What are you working on now?

I have another book coming out with Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins—it’s unrelated to This Monstrous Thing and has no Frankenstein in it (alas the day!), but it’s another historical fantasy set in eighteenth-century Europe, and there are boys and queerness and road tripping and magical things.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This Monstrous Thing
by Mackenzi Lee
Hardcover
Katherine Tegen Books
Released 9/22/2015

In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.

His brother, Oliver—dead.

His sweetheart, Mary—gone.

His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.

Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.

But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.

Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…

Purchase This Monstrous Thing at Amazon
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View This Monstrous Thing on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mackenzi Lee is reader, writer, bookseller, unapologetic fangirl, fast talker, and perpetually-anxious badass. She holds an MFA from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults, and her short fiction has appeared in Inaccurate Realities, The Friend, and The Newport Review. Her young adult historical fantasy novel, THIS MONSTROUS THING, which won the PEN-New England Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award, as well as an Emerging Artist Grant from the St. Botolph Club Foundation, will be published fall of 2015 by Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins.

She loves Diet Coke, sweater weather, and historical fiction. On a perfect day, she can be found enjoying all three. She currently calls Boston home.

Have you had a chance to read THIS MONSTROUS THING yet? Do you have one thing you always, always have to have when you write? Are you able to enjoy your own publishing journey without comparing yourself to others?

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Erin, Lisa, Susan, Sam, Lindsey, Sandra, Kristin, and Anisaa

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 27, 2015

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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