Thank you to debut children's author KIM RACKHAM for stopping by my blog to discuss her new verse novel for young readers, HANNAH BACKWARDS (published by Riveted Press).
1. Kim, what prompted you to write your debut junior fiction novel HANNAH BACKWARDS? How did you get the idea and what was the writing (and rewriting!) process like? In 2023, after moving on from my teaching job, I found myself in the wonderful position of having time to write and, more importantly, creative space in my head. I knew I was going to write something, but I didn't know what. When I started Hannah Backwards, I was experimenting with writing in verse, and I turned to my childhood for ideas. From my memory of carrying a worry stone (Shiva Shell) in my pocket as a child, I slowly built up a sense of Hannah and her family, then I added a friend, and a teacher, and some classmates... That's when I started to feel that I had something worth continuing with. I started wondering what 'problem' I could give Hannah, so that I could turn a handful of characters into a story. Once I was on the way, Hannah lived inside my head and I loved writing her story. I am a 'pantser', so I don't work with a carefully thought out idea in my mind. I like to let my creative side run a little wild. I worked in Scrivenor, so it was easy for me to write verses from any point in the story, then order them and make sense of them later when I was ready to be more structured. For me, that's when the real work starts. I didn't share my work with anyone until I felt it was pretty close to finished. At that stage, the feedback of other writers (a sister and a friend) is always so valuable. The final re-writing was hard, because at heart, I love it when things are peaceful and loving, and I avoid conflict whenever possible. My story was a bit too saccharin sweet, and while I'd introduced the sense of conflict at one point, a writer friend gently urged me to make it stronger. So I threw out a little of the calm, added in a bit more tantrum, and it definitely made my story better. I am forever grateful for the advice of first readers, who are able to remain more detached from the story than me! 2. Why did you choose to write the book in verse? What were the joys, and challenges, of writing in this format? I have loved reading verse novels for many years, since I first discovered Love That Dog by Sharon Creech in the early 2000s. Then along came many more writers of children's verse in Australia, and their books now fill my special verse-novel-bookshelf. I had considered trying some verse of my own, but was overwhelmed with the idea that I might get it 'wrong'. Then finally I had more time on my hands. Instead of writing with the aim of producing something publishable, I just wrote. I experimented with verse and I stopped listening to the negative voice in my head because I was just playing. And once I got further in and my confidence built, it felt right to me. I realised also that there are so, so many verse novels and they all do it in their own way. They don't have to fit a formula. The kind of verse I like to write is made up of lots of short poems, over one to two pages at most. I don't punctuate - I love the look of the words on the page in all their simplicity. It feels and looks poetic to me. And it's okay for me to do it that way when so many authors do it another way. So I think my biggest challenge—the fear of getting it 'wrong'—became my biggest joy—the freedom to do it my own way. 3. How did HANNAH BACKWARDS find a home with Riveted Press? What was the publication experience like for you? My journey was a little like yours, Brenton! I entered the JWFK Pitch It! Competition in late 2023, partly because some writing friends had entered and I thought why not? It wasn't until I was shortlisted that I actually started to think this might help me get the break I needed - that very tricky thing of getting your work in front of an editor in the first place. I eventually came runner up, and crossed fingers that the first place getter did not choose an assessment by Rowena Beresford, from Riveted Press, as their prize. I felt my work was best suited to her, and I was lucky—I got that chance. The publication process felt loooooong in the beginning, because nothing much happens when the book is first contracted. It sits and waits its turn. But once edits were happening, and now that release is close, time is flying. I have enjoyed seeing my work go through the process, and the absolute biggest thrill has been seeing the cover art and internal illustrations by Heidi Cooper Smith, and the overall design by Rowena. I love the way my book looks—I couldn't be more thrilled. 4. What have you learnt about the experience of publishing and being a debut author that surprised you, challenged you and excited you the most? Being a debut author is exciting, and also a huge relief, because this is something I have been working towards for many years. It is finally happening! Sharing the news with family and friends was so exciting, and I feel justified for having spent so many years working on something that is so, so important to me. As this is a novel, not a picture book, I wasn't prepared for the feeling of 'sharing' the finished product with others. I knew it would be illustrated and edited and designed, but I didn't expect the feeling of absolute joy I got when I saw the cover and illustrations and the way everything works together. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts! I am so thankful to Heidi and Rowena for their part in this team effort - it is our book. And the challenges? For me, it is most definitely the idea of self-promotion. Sometimes I would like to go and hide in a cupboard. Of course, that's not possible, and I am working at building my social media presence, while trying to find a balance that works for me. It's really important to me that I don't let the pressures of the 'writing admin tasks' steal the creative space in my head. So for an unstructured, non-planner like me, the challenge is to plan my time better so that there's room for everything. 5. Do you have a typical writing process? And what is your writing space like? In late 2022, I started meeting up with a couple of writing friends on a Wednesday. Cuppas, cake and a chat, followed by a couple of hours in the library. We talk about what we plan to write, we debrief midway, and we celebrate and commiserate together. Wednesdays have become absolutely central to my writing process, because they are protected time. Whatever else happens in my life, my Wednesdays are booked. These sessions keep me accountable and inspired, and they force me to sit still at least for a little while. It is on these days that I make the most headway, and create the momentum to keep writing when I'm on my own. At home, my writing space is made up of whichever surface I lay my laptop on. Perhaps this is partly because I'm a fidgety person and not good at staying in one seat for long. I can start at the table, transition to laptop on knees on the couch (NOT good for my neck!), then pace around the house while I problem solve in my head. While the lack of library discipline means I don't sit still and focus in the same way, it serves a different purpose. This is where I'm most likely to nut things out when they're tricky, and movement helps me to do that. 6. What is in the pipeline? Can you share anything you are working on next? The time ahead looks very exciting to me. Hannah will appear again, this time in Izzi's story as she moves to her new home up the coast. Izzi Upside Down will be published by Riveted Press in 2026. I can't wait to have the pair of books in my hands, and I'm glad that Izzi will have her own story too. For now, I'm working on another junior fiction verse novel. I'm still at the fun, discovery stage, where I'm free writing a lot and not so worried about putting everything carefully into place. That harder part is just around the corner. And in 2026, I'm thrilled to be heading to the Blue Mountains for a Varuna Residential Fellowship, to work on another verse novel that I am sitting on for now. The idea of having my own space, but also sharing space, with other writers is both amazing and a little scary, and I can't wait! 7. Anything else you would like to add, at all? The kidlit community is one of the most supportive communities I know. All writers are hoping so hard for a chance to be published, or published again, and to have some level of success. And yet, the community shares its wisdom and knowledge and opportunities, and freely supports other writers. Thanks so much for the chance to 'speak' about my book on your blog—another opportunity for a writer to be seen and heard. And I hope you enjoy Hannah Backwards!
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   1. Catriona, congratulations on your latest YA release "Good Luck And Other Lies". How did you get the idea for the story? What was the process of writing it and then finding a publisher like?
The story of Good Luck and Other Lies came from a conversation I had with my daughter, who was unwell at the time. We were discussing what it would be like to win a lot of money. We had recently moved to the Sunshine Coast and were renting a house at the height of the rental crisis in Queensland. My eldest and her partner could no longer afford their rent, so they had temporarily moved in with us. But then the owner needed our house back for a relative, and we couldn't find an affordable house big enough for us to all move into. It was a difficult time for our family. I guess finding the money to buy a house was prominent in all our minds. As we discussed what it would be like to win a lot of money, I suggested I should write a book about a group of teens who win the lotto, and my daughter thought it was a great idea. So, using our situation in the midst of the rental crisis, I started writing Good Luck... It can take a long time to write a YA novel, and it can be complicated keeping the story in your head! In Good Luck..., there were a lot of characters to keep track of, research to do about AI, and a lot of research to do about what teenagers can and can't own without an adult's input. It was also complicated to find out legally what would happen if teenagers did win the lotto, since there were no case studies I could find in Australia where it had happened. I submitted the novel to my publisher, they appraised it, and agreed to publish it. It can be a bit easier to get something published once you're already established as an author, as the publisher you're with is already familiar with your writing style, and knows it generally matches the type of stories they publish. 2. Your YA novella "Ways to Die Right" is a part of the Rhiza Shorts series. Can you share with our readers a little about what prompted the idea for "Ways to Die Right"? What was the process of writing and rewriting it like as well as a part of the Rhiza Shorts author 'stable'? Ways To Die Right is about a teen who is putting together a science project about the environmental damage traditional burials can cause. I got the idea not long after my mum died, and I was contemplative about death and burials. Somehow, I came across a Ted Talk about Green Burials; I found the concept fascinating. I guess I was also thoughtful of the volunteers in our society who keep our cemeteries clean, as we were visiting the local cemetery a bit. I wrote the first couple of chapters and submitted them to the other authors in our Rhiza Shorts team, and they thought it was a great idea. Joel, my main character, has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, so that made the story idea pretty interesting as well. 3. What do you know now about the publishing and writing industry that you wish you knew when you first began? I guess I have become increasingly aware of what a wonderful community it is. I had to learn pretty early on that you can't write in isolation. You have to put yourself out there, joining groups, attending workshops and seminars, and you need to talk writing with other writers. The same continues once you're published; it doesn't stop, the circles can just change a bit. But you still need other writers and authors in your boat, so to speak. 4. Do you have a typical writing routine? And what is your writing space like? I actually don't have a typical writing routine! I listen to a lot of podcasts and read other authors' books which inspire me, so I write when I'm feeling that inspiration. I often write the bulk of a story in the school holidays, so I can have a block of time to concentrate and pour into the story. My writing space is just my lounge room. I have a laptop, so I can move to other areas of the house if I need some space to concentrate on a difficult piece of writing when I need to. But mostly I love to write with my family around me. If I hide myself away in a room somewhere, I feel isolated and I don’t like to be interrupted. So I write where I expect to be interrupted, and am happy to be interrupted, and that works for me! 5. You have another Rhiza Short "The E-Revolution" coming up. What else is in the pipeline? Can you share anything else you are working on next? I'm really excited about my E-Revolution novella. I studied History and Politics in my Bachelor of Arts, so this story gave me the opportunity to do a little underlying teaching about the Australian political system, and how teens can be advocates for change. I use the issue of e-scooters to give teens a voice and hopefully some tools to stand up against decisions they don't agree with at the government level. My current work-in-progress also gives me scope to draw on my university studies, as it is a time-travelling adventure! It is historical fiction, set during the Vietnam War. It is an intrusion fantasy, which basically means it doesn't use your typical science fiction mechanisms for time travel. Its working title is Private. My main character, Lenny, is sixteen years old. He would rather game or hang with his deadbeat mates than deal with real life—especially now that his estranged grandfather has moved in, disrupting his space and privacy. While his mates encourage him to make money stealing from shops, Lenny thinks he might make a quick buck from his grandfather’s Vietnam memorabilia. But when he puts on a set of identity discs he finds in a box marked Private, Lenny suddenly finds himself transported to Vung Tau, Vietnam, 1970. Far from home and far from his gaming console, Lenny is forced to face the real human cost of war. His experiences challenge him to take responsibility and think beyond himself. Nicknamed ‘Private’ by his RAAF squadron, he begins to learn the true meaning of mateship. But it's only when he shows courage and self-sacrifice that he is returned to 2026. Back home, Lenny begins to see his grandfather differently—and realises the one of the most important bonds he made in Vietnam was with someone he already knew: his grandfather. 6. You are passionate about writing authentic neurodiversity and inclusivity into your stories. Why is this important for teen readers? Are there misconceptions about neurodiversity you wish to counteract by way of writing about it in your books? I think teens love to read about themselves and their friends in books. They like to see the world in a different light, from a different perspective, and then align it to their own - even if they're not aware that's what they are doing! By including teens with different forms of neurodiversity in my novels, I'm giving them that option. Medical specialists today are increasingly aware of the ways neurodiversity impacts people, and hence, more people are finding they are neurodiverse. So having neurodiverse teens represented in my novels is just normal, everyday life that teens can relate to. The neurodiversity of the teens in my novels is not the focus; it's just a part of who the characters are. It's not something to be solved or overcome, but understood. Which is the way it needs to be in general, everyday life, too. If anyone wants to discover more about how I write about inclusivity and neurodiversity into my stories, they can look at my website, which has a page dedicated to it: catrionamckeown.com 7. Anything else at all you would like to add? Thanks so much for the opportunity to be interviewed, Brenton, and I wish you all the best with your own writing and publishing journey. Thanks for having me! |
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