Part of a series introducing the Mentors for the 2019-2020 SCBWI-WWA Mentorship Program. This post introduces two Middle Grade Mentors, Dan Gemeinhart and Ailynn Knox-Collins. To apply for the mentorship program visit here: https://wwa.scbwi.org/2019-mentorship-program/. Application Deadline: July 30, 2019.
Mentor: Dan Gemeinhart
Dan Gemeinhart is a teacher-librarian and father of three daughters. His debut novel, The Honest Truth, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection, an Amazon.com Best Book of the Month, and an Indie Next List pick. His follow-up, Some Kind of Courage, was met with critical acclaim, garnering two starred reviews. Dan’s other ravely reviewed books are Scar Island, Good Dog, and The Remarkable Dan lives with his family in Cashmere, Washington. Visit him at dangemeinhart.com.
Q: Why do you like to mentor aspiring writers?
My road to publication was a frustrating, inspiring, discouraging, incredible experience. It can be a daunting endeavor to be sure, but definitely worth the work. I’d love to be a part of helping someone else on their journey of telling their own stories.
Q: What does being a successful published professional look like to you?
It looks like a lot of work, a lot of joy, a lot of struggle, and a lot of constantly learning and improving. I don’t think you ever feel like you’re really “arrived,” but are always still on the journey. There’s always more to learn about the craft, and about the business, and about yourself.
Q: What can a mentee expect from your mentorship?
They can expect a hands-on, passionate person by their side. I’ll always let you know what I think you’re doing well, but also what I think you could work on. I’ll work hard to help you tell your stories, in your way, the best that you can.
Q: What are you reading?
I’m reading constantly! Mostly middle grade, but also plenty of YA and even some grown-up stuff. Right now I’m reading a few books that are coming out later this year, and they’re wonderful.
Q: What are you working on these days?
I’m hard at work on my next middle grade novel, which will come out in January 2021. It’s another emotional journey adventure story, but this time with a futuristic, post-civilization sci-fi setting. I’m having a blast writing it!
Mentor: Ailynn Knox-Collins
Ailynn Knox-Collins started working life as a lawyer, then moved on to be a teacher, and is now a writer of children’s books. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. She mentors young writers through the Society of Young Inklings and has been a member of SCBWI-WWA since 2008. She has published a series of six MG science fiction books called Redworld, and is working on two more for another series, coming out next year. She has a graphic novel, and a nonfiction picture book out in the world, seeking a home.
Why do you like to mentor aspiring writers?
Mentoring gives me a chance to meet other writers, and to be a sounding board for their story. We need other eyes on our stories, to see the issues that we, as writers, sometimes don’t see. To have another person know the story as well as the writer does is helpful, and I’m glad to be of help. I also learn a lot about improving my own writing through these interactions.
Q: What does being a successful published professional look like to you?
I honestly don’t know. For me, if I have books to write, deadlines to meet, that makes me feel like a writer.
Q: What can a mentee expect from your mentorship?
I am happy to meet in real life or online. I’m available for questions and discussions much of the time. I hope to form friendships through mentorship too, ones that last beyond the mentorship period. I can be pretty blunt about issues I see in a book, but I make it clear that it’s the writer’s story, so he/she is always welcome to disagree. And I enjoy a good debate. Oh, and I will call out what I think is insensitive writing, re: #ownvoices issues. No apologies there.
Q: What are you reading?
I read several books at once. Right now, I’m reading Circe, and I just finished Pachinko. (I haven’t read ‘adult’ books in a while, so I thought I should). I read one middle grade and one YA at a time — now it’s Grace Lin’s When the Sea Turned Silver, and Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh. I’ve been reading books by Writers of Color this year (and, of course, books written by my friends/fellow graduates of Hamline).
Q: What are you working on these days?
I am revising a YA science fiction story, and drafting a middle grade speculative fiction book. I have three commissioned works to finish this summer — middle grade mystery and YA dystopian.