Nikki Sheehan
I am super excited to welcome the second YAtopia guest for July who is the brilliant author of three moving, touching, and engaging novels. Today she's talking about her latest YA novel.
Nikki Sheehan is a former convent school girl who studied linguistics at university before becoming a subtitler on the Simpsons and then a journalist.
Nikki now lives in Brighton with her husband and three children, and works as a journalist, author, and a story facilitator for the Brighton branch of the Ministry of Stories. She loves dogs, adores reading, and is never happier than when she is talking to kids about stories.
Is this your first published book?
No, astonishingly, it’s my third!
What’s it called?
Goodnight, Boy
Which genre?
Contemporary, slightly literary (in that it’s in poetic prose)
Which age group?
YA/adult crossover
Is it a series or standalone?
Standalone
Are you an agented author?
Oh, yes. I couldn’t do it without my agent, Julia Churchill at
AM Heath in London
Which publisher snapped up your book?
Rock the Boat, the children’s arm of Oneworld.
How involved have you been in the whole publishing process of
your book?
I don’t know how to answer that! I’ve had a lot of discussions
about cover and layout, and I like to be active around publicity, but beyond
that it’s not really my job.
Do you have another job?
I’m a freelance commercial writer and journalist too. But
nowadays a lot of my time is taken up with school visits and events.
Did you receive many, if any, rejections prior?
I expect so, but thankfully my agent doesn’t bother telling me
bad news if she doesn’t have to!
What created/what were you doing or watching when the first idea
for this book sneaked up on you?
I was at home alone with my dogs. The book is set partially in a
dog kennel, and, while it explores how the main character, a 13 year old
Haitian boy became locked in the kennel, a lot of it is focussed on what it’s
like to live with and love a dog.
How long did you plot/plan until you started writing it?
I don’t really plot much beforehand. I know the characters,
setting, and ending and then write until I get stuck. Then I plot out what I’ve
done, make adjustments, and carry on. It’s only the finding out what happened
that keeps me going!
Once you started, did the story flow naturally or did you have
to step in and wrestle it into submission?
All of my books have been slightly unruly - but I’ve found that
if they’re not it’s because I’m not thinking deeply enough, and trying to
overly control the story. My best ideas come from the ‘back of my head’, rather
than the more conscious part of my brain.
How many drafts did you write before you let someone read it? Who was that someone?
Probably two or so. Then it went out to four writer friends, who
all came up with very similar comments, which made further changes very easy.
Did you employ an editor/proofreader or did you have a critique
partner/beta readers before
I used my four friends (above). But I’m also in a crit group. We
meet every three weeks, so they also heard parts of it, which was helpful.
Because my main character is black, and I’m white, I also used a wonderful
sensitivity reader, which was essential.
Roughly how many drafts did it take before you sent the
manuscript off into the real world?
Maybe four? But this is my third novel, so I’m a bit more used
to what I need to do now.
How many drafts until it was published?
Not many. Unusually for me, the book was in a pretty good state
by the time I sent it to my editor. My second book however, took about 20
drafts - but that’s another story!
Has the book changed dramatically since the first draft?
Yes, in format. I rewrote the fragmented text between the boy
and the dog in an iambic rhythm because I loved how empty and yet whole it made it feel. I also added
in a lot of white space around the text, so some pages only have a few words
on, to show the passing of time.
Are there any parts you’d like to change even now?
There are always parts I’d like to change! When I read out from my books I
always change something, and, realistically, if it was possible I’d keep on
editing all my books forever, but you have to learn lessons, move on and write
the next thing.
What part of writing do you find the easiest?
The part where I’m buried so deep inside a story that I forget
who I am. Is there a technical term for that? That’s the easiest and also the most
weird and wonderful.
What part do you find hardest?
The first read through of an editorial letter. I find that I
have to read it and close the document a few times until I can bear to hear
what it says. After a few days though, I usually realise that the editor is
right.
Do you push through writing barriers or walk away?
Both. Sometimes I need more time to think. And by think, I mean,
not actively dwell, but to process. Other times I stop and write a different
scene. This often unblocks me, and stops me from losing confidence in myself as
a writer.
How many projects do you have on the go at the same time?
I write poetry as well, so usually a story and some poems. And,
of course, there’s a ton of half started books languishing on my laptop too.
That’s normal.
Do you think you’re born with the talent to write or do you think it can be learned?
That’s a hard one. My instinct is that you have to be a born
story teller with a sensitivity to language. But, I’ve known a few people make
such astonishing progress as a writer that I’m not sure anymore. Basically I
think the only prerequisite is the drive to write. If you can’t not write, then you’re a
writer.
How many future novels do you have planned?
Oh, God, none! I’m too busy thinking about the one I’m currently
writing.
Do you write other things, such as short stories, articles,
blogs, etc?
Yes. It’s part of my job. You have to be versatile.
What’s the highlight of being published so far?
A school recently made one of my books, Swan Boy, into a musical.
It’s hard to see how anything will beat sitting watching my words come to life
on a stage.
Give me one writing tip that work for you.
Shitty first drafts are supposed to be shitty. You’re doing it
right, even when you’re getting it wrong.
And one that doesn’t.
You have to write a certain number of words a day. Discipline is
good, yes, but be kind and flexible with yourself too.
Can you give us a clue or secret about the next book?
It’s essentially about fear and I had
to stop writing it because it scared me too much. Yes, my own book scared me!
What question have you always wanted to be asked but never have?
What would the answer be?
Q: Would you like to do a book tour of Australia?
A: Hell yeah, where do I sign?
Wonderful! Thank you for joining us today, Nikki, and for your words of wisdom. I for one feel better about my shitty drafts and poor plotting! We wish you heaps of luck with Goodnight Boy, as well as your other fantastic novels, and hope to see plenty more novels from you in the future.
If you would like to know more about Nikki and follow her writing journey, the following links might just help!
And if you're keen to get your mucky mitts on a copy of Goodnight Boy, try these!
