Teresa Toten, author of THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B, on making friends with her fear of writing

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re happy to have award-winning author Teresa Toten here to share more about her latest novel THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B.

Teresa, what was your inspiration for writing THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B?

I know far, far too many beautiful and talented young people who are silently labouring with depression, severe anxiety disorders and OCD. I also meet a lot of young adults who are in pain while I’m touring and finally, I tend to get a lot of letters filled with secrets. I tried to honour them all in some small way with this book.

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?

I can’t give it away because it would be a spoiler. Suffice to say I’m one of those ridiculous writers who laughs out loud while she’s typing, but there was also a lot of crying over the keyboards for Unlikely Hero.

How long did you work on THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B?

It took about two and half years. I researched Obsessive Compulsive Disorders for almost a year before I started writing.

What do you hope readers will take away from THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B?

It’s in the dedication for the book: You are not alone. No matter what it is, no matter what you think is wrong with you, or how you don’t measure up, I promise, you are not alone.

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

Unlikely Hero is my ninth book. Much to my eternal shock and gratitude-everything I’ve ever written has been published.

Was there an AHA! moment along your road to publication where something suddenly sank in and you felt you had the key to writing a novel? What was it?

It just happened a couple of years ago. I have made friends with my fear of writing. I’ve tried banishing, raging against and shutting down that fear and none of it worked. I now accept that I write every page with some fear. Fear of not finding the words or that the words are stupid. But now it doesn’t cripple me. I know it’s there, I’ll even remember to greet it or at least recognize its presence and just carry on. Hey, that was a big one for me.

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

I have trouble sitting still for any length of time which is a bit of pain for a writer. So I wander around the house a LOT testing dialogue out loud, talking out paragraphs as I walk up and down the stairs, in and out of rooms . . .

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

Read out of your comfort zone and write out of your comfort zone. It will sharpen your observations and enhance the kind of work you are naturally drawn to.

What are you working on now?

The next book out is part of a brilliant series with 6 other amazing writers. The stories are linked but you don’t have to read them in any particular order. It’s called the Secrets Series and each writer tackles the question of “how much do you want to know who you really are?” My story within that series is called Shattered Glass. I’m currently working on a YA psychological thriller that will come out next year. It’s a twisted and dark story that has just been a ton of fun to write!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B
by Teresa Toten
Hardcover
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Released 3/10/2015

Deep, understated, and wise, this engaging YA novel, winner of the Governor General’s Award in Canada, is about more than the tough issue of teens dealing with obsessive-compulsive order. It also has romance, and a whodunit element that will keep readers guessing. Perfect for readers who love Eleanor & Park!

Adam Spencer Ross is almost fifteen, and he’s got his hands full confronting the problems that come with having divorced parents and new stepsiblings. Add to that his obsessive-compulsive disorder and it’s just about impossible for him to imagine ever falling in love. Adam’s life changes, however, the instant he meets Robyn Plummer: he is hopelessly, desperately drawn to her. But is it possible to have a normal relationship when your life is anything but?

Filled with moments of deep emotion and unexpected humor, The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B explores the complexities of living with OCD and offers the prospect of hope, happiness, and healing.
Purchase The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B at Amazon
Purchase The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B at IndieBound
View The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TERESA TOTEN is the author of the acclaimed Blondes series, as well as The Game, The Onlyhouse and, with Eric Walters, The Taming. She has twice been shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Text and has won or been nominated for numerous other awards, including the OLA White Pine Award, the Ruth Schwartz Award, and the IODE Violet Downey Book Award. Although she was born in Zagreb, Croatia, Teresa left for Canada on that very same day. She now lives in Toronto.

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: Mar 14, 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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