Sarah Beth Durst, author of FIRE & HEIST, on writing books being like growing carrots

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re thrilled to have Sarah Beth Durst stop by to chat about her latest novel, FIRE & HEIST.

Sarah, what was your inspiration for writing FIRE & HEIST?

Dragons! And heists! And were-dragons doing heists!

All my books seem to begin with a spark of an idea that makes me say, “I want to write that NOW!” And for FIRE AND HEIST, the spark was “I want to write Ocean’s Eleven with were-dragons!”

It evolved from there into a story about family and secrets and a lot of snark.

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?

From a nerdy-writing-craft perspective, I have always loved the structure of a mini-adventure at the start of a story that sets the tone for the larger, primary adventure — like in the first Indiana Jones movie, where Harrison Ford steals the gold idol. That’s what I was aiming for with the first chapter of FIRE AND HEIST: a mini-adventure that sets the tone and introduces the characters and the world.

It begins with sixteen-year-old Sky Hawkins hanging upside down by her knees from the chandelier in the foyer of her family’s mansion in Aspen, Colorado, and hoping fervently that the chandelier doesn’t break.

I think it’s my favorite first chapter that I’ve ever written.

What do you hope readers will take away from FIRE & HEIST?

I hope they’ll laugh. I hope they’ll have fun. I hope FIRE AND HEIST will take them away from the world for a few hours.

One of the reasons that I read and write fantasy is because of its power to transport you out of your life and take you on an adventure — and then bring you back again, safe and sound, maybe slightly changed. Some might dismiss that as “escapism,” as if it’s a negative. But I consider it important self-care.

Books that entertain are also books that heal tired hearts and souls. And that’s what I hope to do.

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

I write every day at home while listening to music.

This doesn’t work for everyone — everyone’s brain works differently, so everyone has a different writing routine that works best for them — but all three of those things are essential to my writing process. Writing every day keeps the momentum going. Writing at home keeps me focused. (I tend to eavesdrop whenever I try to write in coffee shops.) And writing to music helps distract my critical editing brain until I’m ready for it to chime in.

The other thing that’s key to my writing process is chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

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

Be kind to yourself.

There’s a temptation to compare your first draft to a finished book on your shelf and think, “Mine’s not good enough,” and then abandon it. But that’s not fair. That finished book has been through multiple drafts plus an entire editorial process. You need to give your story a chance to grow and evolve.

You wouldn’t yank a carrot out of the ground to see how well it’s growing. Leave your story in the dirt. Let it spread roots, let it fluff out that green leafy stuff on top… okay, I’m not a gardener. Never mind this analogy.

The point is that you should be kind and gentle with yourself while you develop your story. You can be ruthless later, when you want to hone your craft, but in that first stage, when you’re coaxing a story out of the shadows… don’t scare it away with self-doubt.

If it helps, lie to yourself. Tell yourself you’re only practicing. Tell yourself that you’re just playing with words. And see what arises. It could be something magical!

What are you working on now?

I write fantasy for kids, teens, and adults. My current book for YA is FIRE AND HEIST, which is out right now (yay!!!). My next book for adults (coming in March) is THE DEEPEST BLUE, which is a standalone epic fantasy in my world of Renthia, about a young woman who is an oyster diver with the power to control sea monsters. And my next book for kids (coming in May) is SPARK, about a girl and her lightning dragon and how even a quiet voice can change the world.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Fire & Heist
by Sarah Beth Durst
Hardcover
Crown Books for Young Readers
Released 12/4/2018

In Sky Hawkins’s family, leading your first heist is a major milestone–even more so than learning to talk, walk, or do long division. It’s a chance to gain power and acceptance within your family, and within society. But stealing your first treasure can be complicated, especially when you’re a wyvern–a human capable of turning into a dragon.

Embarking on a life of crime is never easy, and Sky discovers secrets about her mother, who recently went missing, the real reason her boyfriend broke up with her, and a valuable jewel that could restore her family’s wealth and rank in their community.

With a handpicked crew by her side, Sky knows she has everything she needs to complete her first heist, and get her boyfriend and mother back in the process. But then she uncovers a dark truth about were-dragon society–a truth more valuable and dangerous than gold or jewels could ever be.

Purchase Fire & Heist at Amazon
Purchase Fire & Heist at IndieBound
View Fire & Heist on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of sixteen fantasy books for adults, teens, and kids, including The Queens of Renthia series, Drink Slay Love, and The Stone Girl’s Story. She won an ALA Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and has been a finalist for SFWA’s Andre Norton Award three times. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. For more information, visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.

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Have you had a chance to read FIRE & HEIST yet? Are you kind to yourself while coaxing a story out of the shadows? Does chocolate help your writing process? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy Reading,

Jocelyn, Halli, Martina, Erin, Susan, Shelly, and Kelly

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: Dec 5, 2018

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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← Previous: Cindy R. Wilson, author of PAPER GIRL, on making the switch to writing YA Next: Heather Fawcett, author of ALL THE WANDERING LIGHT, on focusing on what you're passionate about →

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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