About the Book
Night of the Amber Moon
By Helen Dunlap Newton
Synopsis
Izzy just wants to be a normal eleven-year-old kid with friends, less homework and a dad that doesn’t turn mean when he drinks. Having a birthday party would help but how does she convince her parents when there’s never enough money? None of it matters when her family’s house burns to the ground and her father doesn’t escape the flames. Even worse is the guilt she feels, thinking the fire is her fault. Afraid to tell anyone about the cause of the fire, Izzy obsesses about the old brick theater next to the family’s store and the strange noises from deep inside the building. Will an elusive cat, the creepy theater, and a strange old lady guide her to the forgiveness she so desperately needs?
"Choose a character you like or care about, a setting you have some knowledge of, and write a scene based on a real event in your life from your character’s eyes. Then build a plot from that beginning."
An Interview with middle grade author Helen Dunlap Newton
What inspired the idea for your book?
In 2014 I was participating in a writer’s workshop with Anna Myers. She asked us to think of an emotional scene from our past and write it from the view of a fictional character. I had begun developing characters for a story set in my hometown but didn’t really have a good plot. When Anna gave us the assignment, I couldn’t get the words down fast enough. That scene was the beginning of the plot for NIGHT OF THE AMBER MOON and is very close to the way I wrote it in that workshop.
What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
I have written four middle grade novels. Most of them began as a mix of characters, setting, and plot. Plot is always hardest for me. I can have characters who are in the middle of a situation, but I work very hard to find a good plot that pulls it all together. Something that has helped me pull a story together is writing a synopsis of the story. If I can’t write a good synopsis, that’s a fair indication my plot doesn’t work.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I keep a file with interesting first and last names. Beyond that I usually start with a name that just comes to me and then change it if it doesn’t fit. In NIGHT OF THE AMBER MOON, I changed the protagonist’s name several times before I settled on Izzy (Isabel). I sometimes do research from the history of the setting I’ve chosen and use last names for supporting characters.
If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?
Thank you for sharing your story and letting me live in your world for a while.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
A window to see outside and a computer!!! It is like my brain and my fingers are tied together. I also like to have music or
the Food Network playing softly in the background. If I’m really struggling with a scene, I need quiet.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
For fiction, choose a character you like or care about, a setting you have some knowledge of, and write a scene based on a real event in your life from your character’s eyes. Then build a plot from that beginning. Read, read, read other books within the genre you are writing. Figure out what works and doesn’t work then apply it to your work. Watch movies and TV shows with eyes of a writer. Let other writers read your work and be
open to their suggestions. If several people say the same thing, listen.
What’s your favorite book you’ve read this year and why?
DARK & SHALLOW LIES by Ginny Myers Sain—clever plot, poetic imagery, amazing world building, and page turning suspense. I’m not a fan of profanity but Ginny’s use of it fit the characters. It’s the kind of book writers will enjoy and learn from.
Connect with Helen
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