Author Spotlight & GIVEAWAY — Lorraine Hawley
The other day, I was talking with my author mentor, Lorraine, about how to get reluctant readers excited about books. If that’s not hard enough, how do we help parents find good books for their kids at the beginning of a busy school year?
One thing we both agree on is that there’s no time for dinner!
So we’ve organized a GIVEAWAY together, hoping parents like you can benefit from a FREE meal with a good book!
The winner of this giveaway will receive a free copy of Curious World of Dandy-Lion, and a $50 gift card to Grub Hub.
My Review of Curious World of Dandy-Lion
*For middle-grade readers (9-13 years).
For anyone who’s felt like a “dandelion in a field of clovers,” or like Tacky the penguin dancing among his marching penguin peers, this story is for you.
From page one, I was swept into Meredith’s quest to find a friend. As a child I also longed for the kind of friends I could go on epic adventures with, and in Meredith’s case, she needs a friend who can help her save her cursed neighbor. But the world around Meredith seems at odds with her plans — it’s loud, bright and things taste funny. Classmates laugh at her. And a beetle only she can see keeps pestering her throughout the day. Then things get interesting when a peculiar boy named Jax claims he can also see the beetle and her many other imaginary friends.
Curious World of Dandy-Lion is sweet, imaginative, and surprising. It seemlessly blends contemporary with fantasy. I also felt like I was vividly experiencing everything through Meredith’s body like my own (as she says, she’s a Super-Taster, super-smeller, and has extra-sensitive ears and eyes). Her journey to self-acceptance is a powerful message for children who feel out of place with their peers. It also teaches children how varied our experiences are. In the same way Meredith desires empathy, she learns to show it towards others after confronting her own assumptions about them. There are many great lessons to be learned while turning the pages to see what magical surprise is around the next corner.
I hope you’ll give this delightful book a chance, whether or not you win a copy!
Meet the author, Lorraine Hawley
Lorraine Hawley, author
What has your journey to becoming an author been like?
The word “journey” sounds so lovely. I think my path has been more of a crash course in perseverance. I started out writing blog content for marketing, and during those years, I studied technique, grammar, and writing styles until I found my voice. There is no one path to being an author nor a shortcut to writing a novel, at least not one I have discovered. I am still learning every day. But those years spent became priceless the day I reached a child who needed to see herself in a story.
What are your books about?
I write about kids who struggle to fit in with a dash of humor from quirky, fantastical characters. My books share the common theme of self-acceptance and developing your friend circle. I am also a big fan of multi-generational characters and kindness. For those whose grandparents are not close by, exposure to older adults is essential for kids to build understanding and empathy.
What age do you write for?
My books are aimed toward ages 9-13, and I love writing for that group. Tweens are somewhere between the caterpillar and the butterfly, feeling alone in that cocoon, on the verge of transitioning into someone new. It is a challenging time when tweens are vulnerable and curious. Books are essential for their growth because reading allows kids to see outside their experiences. Characters can also mirror them. Realizing they are not alone in their quirks and fears can provide the comfort they seek.
What inspired your MG book, Curious World of Dandy-Lion?
My inspiration comes from my life experience of being that awkward girl who struggled to fit in. Some of Meredith’s sensitivities echo my own. Overstimulation to noise made my grade school experience difficult. Paying attention in a room full of conflicting sounds, especially repetitive ones, felt impossible. Often, the stimulation became so overwhelming that I would shut down instead of deciphering the information I needed to learn in school. I am not alone. Over 15% of the population live with sensitivities. My character’s sensitivities are not “fixed” at the end of my books. They are part of us. My sensitivities are still present as an adult. However, I allow my characters to find coping methods as I have found strategies to help me manage.
Can kids write to you if they want to?
I adore it when kids write to me! I have received the loveliest drawings of my book characters—especially Floss, Meredith’s sidekick (a troublemaking rhinoceros beetle). I was lucky to be partnered with the talented Jocie Salveson. Her illustrations are so fantastic and bring the characters to life that kids are attracted to creating their versions of her drawings.
In general, how would you recommend writing to an author?
I recommend writing an author directly through their website. Most have a Contact Me button. My website is lorrainehawley.com, so please feel free to reach out. My illustrator and I also offer classroom visits in person or by Zoom to share fun tips about writing and illustrating.
Ready to enter our GIVEAWAY??
I will draw our lucky winner from the raffle in two weeks, on Thurs November 9th. You can enter up to five times by…
First entry: Subscribe to this blog & comment at the bottom of this post — feel welcome to share your musings on Lorraine’s interview and her book, how reading is going with your kids this fall, or what you’d like to order through Grubhub if you win :)
BONUS entries: One per action…
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*open to US residents only. You must have a valid email and a US address to receive the prizes.
Spread the word so we can get more kids reading and give a lucky family a night off cooking! Cheers!
Kendra & Lorraine
