Monday, November 19, 2012

Author Interview with Lindsay Eland

It's Thanksgiving week so I thought I should feature a book that touches on themes of food, family, and friendship. I read Lindsay Eland’s SCONES AND SENSIBILITY (Egmont USA), a MG novel about a 12-year old girl named Polly who tries to play matchmaker with the people in her life. Her attempts to pair people up and break up couples seem like fun and games until her well-intentioned meddling starts ticking people off. What made SCONES AND SENSIBILITY a particularly fun read was Polly’s delightful narrative voice- she speaks and thinks like a character in an old school Jane Austen novel even though the story is set in contemporary times.  

I got ahold of Lindsay Eland for an interview. Lindsay was born in  Cincinnati, Ohio but grew up in several places all around Pennsylvania, including Pittsburg and Punxatawney. She spent what she calls her “growing up years” in State College where her family resides.  Lindsay now lives in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Can you share a favorite childhood memory?
I have so many amazing childhood memories that it’s hard to pick just one! But I’d have to say it would be sitting at the big wooden table at my MomMom and PopPop’s house eating mashed potatoes and peas and listening to the stories that my parents and aunts and uncles told. That table and those stories hold just as much magic for me now as they did when I was eight.

I get a strong vibe from reading SCONES AND SENSIBILITY that you're a Jane Austen fan. What is it about Jane Austen's work that appeals to you?
Yes, I adore Jane Austen. And really, everything about her work appeals to me. The atmosphere she creates, the characters she develops, the dialogue, the elegant romance, her witty humor. I just adore it all.


In SCONES AND SENSIBILITY, the protagonist Polly has such a distinctive voice. She is prim and proper, a little pretentious, and at the same time, she really means well and wants to help others. How did you get the inspiration for such a character and voice?                                                                                  
My inspiration for Polly came in a variety of ways. First, I adore both Jane Austen and the character Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables. Polly is a modern-day version of those two. My daughter also has a friend who, at the time, was very Polly-esque and I got such a kick out of listening to her. I also had a deep desire to come up with a heroine who didn’t have an ounce of tom-boy in her. 

There is also a fun baking theme in SCONES AND SENSIBILITY. What tip(s) do you have for writing a story where food plays a "supporting character?"
I think food is a very important element in writing that can add that bit of humanity, universality, and detail to any story. We all eat. We all need to eat. And, if you’re anything like me, you LOVE to eat.

What do you like to bake besides scones?  
I love to bake just about anything! Pumpkin bread, chocolate Ă©clairs, chocolate-chip cookies, brownies, cakes (chocolate preferred…are you sensing the pattern? 

What books did you like to read growing up?
I adored Roald Dahl (still do), Katherine Patterson, and any story about animals.

Are there any other projects you'd like to mention? 
Yes! My next book with Egmont USA titled A SUMMER OF SUNDAYS will be released on July 9th, 2013. It is the story about a twelve-year-old girl who is stuck, smack-dab, in the middle of her large family and spends her summer vacation trying to make her mark on her world. It’s a story full of friendship, laughs, and mystery. 

Thanks so much, Cynthia!

You're welcome, Lindsay! 

15 comments:

Lynn Proctor said...

oh i just adore this title--looks like a real jewel!

David P. King said...

Awesome interview! My wife can't get enough of Jane Austeny stuff, so I'll have to tell her about this one. Big fan of scones, too. :)

Paul R. Hewlett said...

Thanks for a great interview! Sounds like a great book! I love middle grade novels and this sounds like a MUST read. Thanks for sharing & best of luck to Ms. Eland.

Paul R. Hewlett

Anonymous said...

It's great that this interview is running Thanksgiving week, because it's making me hungry! Nice job, and great book.

Anonymous said...

So proud of you Lindsay!! - Aunt Linda

Joanie said...

What an AWESOME interview !! So looking forward to your next book !!

Nicole said...

What a fun idea for a book! Great interview, too. Now I want scones. ;)

Robin said...

What a fun interview and a great concept for a book. And food, you can't go wrong with food. I'm adding Scones and Sensibility to my TBR pile (Great cover, btw and I love Roald Dahl too!)

(Thanks for visiting my blog)

Ella said...

Cynthia n' Lindsay, what an enchanting interview!
This sounds like a fun read! I can already see the main character, lol
Thanks for sharing and I will add you to my list!
Congrats Lindsay! Thank you Cynthia :D

Julie Dao said...

Scones? And Jane Austen? And Anne of Green Gables?!? Where has this book been all my life?!? This sounds like just the sort of book I'd love to read. And what a pretty cover, too! Thank you both for such a fun interview. Can't wait to pick this one up.

Stephsco said...

What a cute cover for Scones and Sensibility! Sounds like a great mix. I also love that artwork in Roald Dahl's books. I still have my childhood copy of The Twits, and underrated gem!

Anonymous said...

sounds adorable. best of luck to lindsay, and great interview, cynthia!!

Nick Wilford said...

This sounds like a lot of fun. Congrats to Lindsay!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I love Anne of Green Gables, and Polly's voice sounds delightful! My daughter's the least tomboyish girl I've ever met, which adds a different element of fun to this story.

Shannon at The Warrior Muse

Cynthia said...

Thanks, everyone, for stopping by!

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