1 Author, 7 Questions: Lynn Painter
We got to sit down with the Lynn Painter to talk about her latest book The Wish Switch! And maybe you’ll just get a hint of what she’s working on next!
What was your initial inspiration for The Wish Switch?
I wanted to write something fun with magical possibilities, the kind of book where the reader isn’t sure if actual magic is happening, or if it might all be a giant cosmic coincidence. Those were always my favorite kinds of books!
Can you describe your writing process? Are you more of a pre-plotter or do you let the plot develop as you write?
I am a MESS. I start with a very loose plot and let it roll as I write. Often times the finished product is not AT ALL what I’d intended when I began. 😉
This is your middle grade debut, and you so perfectly capture the ups and downs of middle school. How did you decide to write a novel for this audience? Has the experience been different than writing YA or adult?
I’ve always wanted to write a MG novel because that was the genre that made me fall in love with reading. It hasn’t actually been very different than writing YA, mostly because I just get lost in my wild imagination and follow that until the end.
The AT3 keep their eyes peeled for hints that their wishes are coming true. Do you think that when you’re looking for magic, you’re more likely to find it in your everyday life?
Absolutely. Life is chaotic and busy, and if you don’t look for the magic, you might miss it completely!
Okay, we must ask: if you had four wishes, what would they be?
I mean, the truth is very boring. I’d probably wish for all my kids to be happy or something very vanilla like that. So in the name of magical whimsy, here are the four things I’d wish for if I already had all the important things like world peace and happy children:
- Perfect hair that NEVER gets messed up; can you even imagine?
- The ability to eat whatever I want – whenever I want – and never experience pesky side effects like unhealthiness
- To no longer be allergic to cats and dogs!! I would own ALL THE CATS and my house would basically be like a live-in cat refuge. Probably wouldn’t smell great, but I’d be so stinking happy. 😀
- One more wish
What are some books you’ve been reading recently or would recommend?
I just read Young World by Soman Chainani and it was SO GOOD!! It comes out next year, but it’s the story of a teenager who gets elected as the US President and I couldn’t put it down. Think Hunger-Games-meets-John-Green; it was amazing.
I also just finished All Better Now by Neal Shusterman and duuuude – that guy never misses. Absolutely incredible.
What are you working on now? Any exciting ideas you can share?
I am just drafting my next middle grade novel, so it’s in the super fun stage where anything is possible. It’s about a girl named Annabelle who has a wild idea that backfires…can you even imagine? 😉
Emma Rockford knows it will take bonafide magic to make middle school everything she wants it to be. Luckily, before Emma’s beloved Nana died, she left detailed instructions on how to access an ancient, secret, magical wishing well. Emma follows each step and plans out every moment…except for the one where the obnoxious new kid, Jackson, tosses in wishes of his own that literally knock her wishes off course. When seventh grade starts, Emma discovers that her wishes are starting to come true, alright. But not for her…for Jackson.
Which, the two quickly discover, could have disastrous consequences for both of their families, and cost Emma her best friends. Can they set everything straight in time to prevent full-blown catastrophe?
With the trademark wit and heart that have earned her legions of fans, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lynn Painter delivers a laugh-out-loud story of friendship, family, and wishing—with a delightful dash of magic.