Nikki Katz, author of THE MIDNIGHT DANCE, on taking a journey of self-discovery

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re thrilled to have Nikki Katz stop by to talk about her newest book, THE MIDNIGHT DANCE.

Nikki, what was your inspiration for writing THE MIDNIGHT DANCE?

I was actually halfway through writing another novel when I suddenly was struck by the concept of Pinocchio and live puppets. I envisioned a group of girls being mind controlled and what that would look like … the terror in wondering who you were and your history and trying to find yourself. I immediately started writing and finished a draft in less than two months.

How long did you work on THE MIDNIGHT DANCE?

I wrote the first draft over five years ago. I then revised several times to get my agent (including changing from first to third person and an entire rewrite of 2/3 of the book!) I then had to revise again once SwoonReads purchased the novel.

What do you hope readers will take away from THE MIDNIGHT DANCE?

This novel in its first draft was very much a journey of self-discovery for me. Even as an adult I struggle with finding myself and my path. Much of the original story was stripped away in revisions but I still hope this journey resonates with readers.

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

I wrote 5.5 novels before THE MIDNIGHT DANCE. None of them have been published although I want to go back to two of them!

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

I actually have to work in complete solitude with no noise. I can’t even have the possibility of interruptions – which means all three of my children have to be out of the house!

What are you working on now?

I just turned in the first 50 pages of my option novel with SwoonReads. It’s a little bit more high fantasy than THE MIDNIGHT DANCE, but with some interesting magical elements and more mind control!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Midnight Dance
by Nikki Katz
Hardcover
Swoon Reads
Released 10/17/2017

When the music stops, the dance begins.

Seventeen-year-old Penny is a lead dancer at the Grande Teatro, a finishing school where she and eleven other young women are training to become the finest ballerinas in Italy. Tucked deep into the woods, the school is overseen by the mysterious and handsome young Master who keeps the girls ensconced in the estate – and in the only life Penny has never known.

But when flashes of memories, memories of a life very different from the one she thinks she’s been leading, start to appear, Penny begins to question the Grand Teatro and the motivations of the Master. With a kind and attractive kitchen boy, Cricket, at her side, Penny vows to escape the confines of her school and the strict rules that dictate every step she takes. But at every turn, the Master finds a way to stop her, and Penny must find a way to escape the school and uncover the secrets of her past before it’s too late.

Purchase The Midnight Dance at Amazon
Purchase The Midnight Dance at IndieBound
View The Midnight Dance on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nikki is a professional author, editor and freelance writer. THE MIDNIGHT DANCE comes out this month and THE KING’s QUESTIONER is set to be published Fall, 2018 (both novels Swoon Reads | Macmillan).

Nikki is the Managing Editor for SocialMoms.com and a Scribe for Book in a Box. She has written and published articles on a variety of topics: celebrities, entertainment, parenting, pregnancy, women’s issues, commerce, finance, games, puzzles, and more. Some of her work has appeared on Storia, About.com, iVillage, and b5media.com. She is also the author of four books in the puzzle and games genre.Previously, Nikki was a project manager, a management consultant, and her degree is in aerospace engineering. Yes, it is rocket science!

—

Have you have a chance to read THE MIDNIGHT DANCE, yet?

Like, Nikki, I prefer to write in silence. What about you?

Writing can often turn up bits of ourselves we might not otherwise see — what surprising things have turned up in your own manuscripts?

Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy Reading,

Charlotte, Jocelyn, Anisaa, Erin, 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: Oct 17, 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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