Finding Wild

It’s been 10 years (!) since Finding Wild was published. It feels like only a minute ago that Megan’s manuscript arrived in my inbox.

To celebrate, we’ve interviewed each other about our experiences with the picture book. Below, you can read my questions for Megan and then after that, Megan’s questions for me.

The short answer is that I was reading a list of one-word writing prompts and the word “wild” just really stuck out at me. I was in a weekly writing critique group at the time, and I needed something to share at an upcoming meeting, so I quickly wrote a rough draft of what eventually became Finding Wild.

The longer version is that I was raising young kids at the time and it was really important to me that we spent a lot of time outside. I had been reading books like Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv and had big dreams about hiking and camping as a family, etc. And yet I was also finding that sometimes our most meaningful time with nature was found in the simpler, smaller moments, like pausing to pick a dandelion or playing at the closest park. I think I was drawn to the prompt “wild,” and ultimately had a lot to say about it, because I had already been mulling over the topic, and trying to apply it to my life, for a long time.

Did you have a favorite part of the process?

Honestly seeing the text placed into the illustrations was incredibly exciting! I didn’t make any art notes in the manuscript, so seeing the different ways you interpreted and brought life to the text, and also brought in a layer of storytelling with the children and the swirling leaf, was just amazing!

How has your writing changed or stayed the same in the last ten years?

The biggest change for me is that I began learning how to write graphic novels soon after Finding Wild came out, and my first graphic novel, Allergic, came out five years ago. I still love writing picture books and novels, but graphic novels like Allergic, Squished, Winging It, and the Super Pancake series, have become the biggest part of my career.

It’s interesting to see how I’ve been drawn to some of the same subjects throughout the decade — Winging It, which came out last fall and is illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter, is about an indoors-y girl’s journey to connect with the outdoors, and through nature, connect with her mother — who passed away when she was little--her distant grandmother, and her new home. It really is one character’s path to finding wild!

Do you have any dreams for the future direction of your work?

I hope to continue writing books that are meant to be illustrated, like picture books and graphic novels. Working with illustrators to tell stories is a process that I truly adore, and I feel so grateful when an illustrator is willing to put in the time and effort to collaborate with me. I also hope to write more novels, as I want to keep challenging myself to tell stories using only the power of words, as well. And I’ve been increasingly drawn to reading mysteries and learning about history lately, so I’m excited to see where that leads me in my writing. I love trying new things and writing in different ways, in different genres, and for different age groups — it’s what keeps the job interesting for me. One recent development that I’m very excited about is that I wrote the American Girl 2027 Girl of the Year novel Daisy Davenport Saves the Day. It comes out on September 15th (when the doll will be released, too), but can be pre-ordered now. As a lifelong American Girl fan, working on this project was truly a dream come true!

What’s your favorite way to get outside and “find wild”?

Experiencing the changing of the seasons on walks around my neighborhood. It’s a simple everyday thing, but that’s a good thing, because it brings me joy every day!

Illustrator: Abigail Halpin
Website: theodesign.com
Instagram: @halpindraws

Why did you decide to illustrate Finding Wild? What resonated with you about the project?

The decision to illustrate Finding Wild was almost instantaneous. I remember reading the manuscript and knowing I absolutely had to illustrate the story. Having grown up in a rural area, with so much of my childhood outdoors, the manuscript instantly spoke to me.

Did you have a favorite part of the process?

I painted the final art for Finding Wild the winter of 2015 which was one of the snowiest, longest winters I’d ever experienced. Painting all of those outdoor scenes was such a joy after being faced with what felt like a never-ending winter.

How has your art changed or stayed the same in the last ten years?

Finding Wild marked a stylistic shift for me. Prior to that, most of my work had been heavily digital, brighter colors, less traditional materials. While I’d enjoyed that, it didn’t always align with the personal work I was creating. Finding Wild came much closer to the art that I made for fun and it gave me the confidence to keep moving in that direction. In the past couple years, though, I’ve been doing more with printmaking and find that’s begun to inform a lot of what I’m doing lately.

Do you have any dreams for the future direction of your work?

I’d like to move into writing and illustrating some of my own projects. I’ve been working on an illustrated middle grade historical fantasy set in the aftermath of the Irish Famine. It’s been a long process, but things are getting there. And I have a couple of picture book ideas that I keep chipping away at.

What’s your favorite way to get outside and “find wild”?

I love camping! I grew up visiting state and provincial parks throughout New England, Québec and the Maritimes and still thoroughly enjoy camping as an adult. I’m happiest in front of a campfire, listening to loons crying in the distance.