Joy Lynn Goddard is the spectacular Canadian author of the Northview Tales series. Her novels include "Daredevils", "Charlie's Song", "Hello, my name is Emily" and "Jazz" which are all coming-of-age stories.
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A Garden of Books: Thanks for doing this interview with me! My first question is: why did you decide to write your first novel, "Daredevils"?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Well, a girl I once taught when I was teaching Grade 7 played on a hockey team and she was constantly being bullied. At the same time one of my friend's sons fell head first in the Niagra Falls so I connected the two. Actually, I wrote "Daredevils" in the bathroom.
A Garden of Books: Okay . . . why?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Because at the time I was living in my parents home and the only three-pronged plug was in the bathroom.
A Garden of Books: Wow, you must really have been motivated! You are also a mother and a teacher. That's great! So, how do you find time to write between your family and your teaching?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Aaagh! My husband does a lot of the marketing and buys the produce and everything so because of him, I somehow find the time to write. I also make sure that every Sunday and Saturday and during the holidays I wake up at around 5:00 a.m. and write for 5- 10 hours.
A Garden of Books: I've noticed that, so far, all of your novels are young adult contemporary fiction. Why do you write in that genre instead of, for example, science - fiction?
Joy Lynn Goddard: I guess it's just because I have these pictures in my head and there is a stoey to be told. They're probably contemporary fiction because it has to do with what's going on around me.
A Garden of Books: Do you have a favourite book that you wrote?
Joy Lynn Goddard: For sure it's "Jazz" because of the part that includes refrences the the Underground Railway, which is absolutaly fascinating to me. I can't believe how poorly they treated those people! I really wanted to teach kids about this but kids don't like to be told facts so I put it into a story.
A Garden of Books: Which one of your characters are most like you?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Om my goodness. I don't know . . . As I kid I was flighty so I was probably most like Alex. I was very interested in a lot of different things . . . I guess there is a bit of me in all of my characters.
A Garden of Books: Do you have a favourite book?
Joy Lynn Goddard: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
A Garden of Books: Can you give us a sneak peak of your next book, "Mrs. Maloney's Garden"?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Sure. It's a book about a group of boys whose baseball lands in a little old ladies backyard and the boys believe there is a dead body buried in the backyard. They also believe the lady is a witch because she does such strage things. This novel also talks about how to keep your own flower garden. *
A Garden of Books: If one of your books were to be made into a movie, which one do you think would be the best choice?
Joy Lynn Goddard: "Daredevils". I think it would make a good movie.
* "Mrs. Maloney's Garden" is for ages up to 10.
Joy Lynn Goddard: Well, a girl I once taught when I was teaching Grade 7 played on a hockey team and she was constantly being bullied. At the same time one of my friend's sons fell head first in the Niagra Falls so I connected the two. Actually, I wrote "Daredevils" in the bathroom.
A Garden of Books: Okay . . . why?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Because at the time I was living in my parents home and the only three-pronged plug was in the bathroom.
A Garden of Books: Wow, you must really have been motivated! You are also a mother and a teacher. That's great! So, how do you find time to write between your family and your teaching?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Aaagh! My husband does a lot of the marketing and buys the produce and everything so because of him, I somehow find the time to write. I also make sure that every Sunday and Saturday and during the holidays I wake up at around 5:00 a.m. and write for 5- 10 hours.
A Garden of Books: I've noticed that, so far, all of your novels are young adult contemporary fiction. Why do you write in that genre instead of, for example, science - fiction?
Joy Lynn Goddard: I guess it's just because I have these pictures in my head and there is a stoey to be told. They're probably contemporary fiction because it has to do with what's going on around me.
A Garden of Books: Do you have a favourite book that you wrote?
Joy Lynn Goddard: For sure it's "Jazz" because of the part that includes refrences the the Underground Railway, which is absolutaly fascinating to me. I can't believe how poorly they treated those people! I really wanted to teach kids about this but kids don't like to be told facts so I put it into a story.
A Garden of Books: Which one of your characters are most like you?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Om my goodness. I don't know . . . As I kid I was flighty so I was probably most like Alex. I was very interested in a lot of different things . . . I guess there is a bit of me in all of my characters.
A Garden of Books: Do you have a favourite book?
Joy Lynn Goddard: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
A Garden of Books: Can you give us a sneak peak of your next book, "Mrs. Maloney's Garden"?
Joy Lynn Goddard: Sure. It's a book about a group of boys whose baseball lands in a little old ladies backyard and the boys believe there is a dead body buried in the backyard. They also believe the lady is a witch because she does such strage things. This novel also talks about how to keep your own flower garden. *
A Garden of Books: If one of your books were to be made into a movie, which one do you think would be the best choice?
Joy Lynn Goddard: "Daredevils". I think it would make a good movie.
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Thanks for letting me interview you, Joy! I had a brilliant time! You can visit her website here.
* "Mrs. Maloney's Garden" is for ages up to 10.
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1 comment:
I love the Chronicles of Narnia.
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