THE SCRUMPTIOUS LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE written by Nikki Shannon Smith
Growing up I could not get enough of chapter books. I’m definitely dating myself when I say that I ate up the NATE THE GREAT series, BOXCAR CHILDREN and ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN.
Okay, confession: nine times out of ten, I just looked at the answer in the back.
If you’re like me, then you must add Azaleah Lane to your library and introduce her to the kids in your life. You must. Today, Nikki is sharing her revision journey of THE SCRUMPTIOUS LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE, illustrated by Gloria Felix.
And, lucky reader, it’s available now!
Nikki Shannon Smith is the incredible author of this fun series. She has worked in elementary schools for more than 25 years and was a principal for three years. And, fun fact, the first story that she remembers writing was called Lizard Guts.
I really wish I could read that story.
And now, the interview...
Nikki, thank you so much for sharing your revision journey! I’m especially excited and I’m sure other readers will be as well because you’ve published several chapter book series. What is the story behind your story? What sparked your story concept?
THE SCRUMPTIOUS LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE is the third book in a chapter book mystery series, so the main characters and setting were already fleshed out. In some ways that made developing the next book easier, but in other ways it presented a challenge. I wanted to find a fresh angle for the third mystery, yet be true to the series.
The first book was set at Azaleah’s house, and the second took place at her big sister’s school. This time I wanted the setting to be Azaleah’s Auntie Sam’s house. I knew Auntie Sam’s personality and lifestyle would add fun to the plot. But that was all I knew. I had no idea what kind of mystery would pop up at Auntie Sam’s. I was stuck.
For these books, I do 10-chapter outlines, so to get “unstuck” I asked myself why Azaleah and her sisters might stay at their auntie’s for the weekend. I sent their parents on a trip to a food truck festival (Mama is a chef and restaurateur). Then after an “aha” moment I knew that Azaleah’s mystery would be a cooking mystery. It helped that I had already established in the first book that Auntie Sam doesn’t cook. I had also planted seeds in the previous books for why Azaleah would want to bake cookies for her parents. Now the real work of developing the mystery could begin!
That is brilliant, especially when you plan out a chapter book. How long did it take from idea to book?
Almost exactly four months.
WHOA! That is lightning quick. What was your revision timeline?
Warning: This ride travels at high speeds with twists and turns. (All dates are in 2020.)
January 14: Outline Draft 1 submitted to editor (Due by 1/15)
January 17-27: Lots of email conversations to work on mystery plausibility and pacing
January 29: Outline Draft 2 submitted to editor/outline approved
March 5: Manuscript Deadline Extended from 3/11 to 3/18 (long story, no big deal)
March 13: California Shelter-in-Place Order due to COVID-19
Note: This was my birthday and I took the day off. It was also Friday the 13th. Also, I’m a fourth grade teacher. So, yeah, school shut down while I had a substitute.
Daughter who has come home from college for my birthday is stuck at home indefinitely—as in, still here. She is devastated. Meanwhile, 17-year-old son is thrilled, because there is no school.
I attempt to act like none of this is happening because I have a book to finish.
March 18: Manuscript Draft 1 Submitted
March 19: Move daughter out of dorms
March 23: Manuscript Draft 1 feedback from editor received
April 6: Manuscript Draft 2 Submitted, Distance Teaching and Learning begins
April 17: Manuscript Draft 2 feedback from editor received
April 30: Manuscript Draft 3 Submitted and Accepted
Okay, I have to say...if I had pearls on, I would have been clutching them the whole time. You are a mega superstar for writing and juggling all of that during 2020! What was the hardest part of revising?
Honestly, the hardest part was revising the outline! Since this is a 10,000 word book, I had to develop a story arc that would fit the word count, mind the pacing, and make sure the mystery was not too complex or too obvious for young readers. It took a while to get everything to work just right, but I was really happy with it when I finished and it made writing a lot easier.
Did you have an ‘ah-ha!’ moment with your manuscript during the revision process? If so, what triggered it?
I did have an “aha” moment! Luckily, I almost always do.
(It’s funny how these ideas come to you right when you’re about to throw your computer out of the window.)
Since this book involved an outline, one of my biggest aha moments came as I was working on the outline revision. I needed to beef up the mystery and also add a bit of a twist. I thought about cookies A LOT.
Then it hit me—I’d had an experience when I tried a new cookie recipe and it provided the perfect twist for this story.
It is funny that the ideas often hit us when we least expect it and thankfully saves us from sacrificing computers to the revising deities-that-be.
What advice do you have for other writers? Are there any resources you would recommend to help with the revision process?
Common advice doesn’t apply to everyone, so my first bit of advice is: DO YOU.
Your learning/writing process is unique to you. Maybe you should wing it and blast through the first draft. Maybe you should outline. Maybe you should do something in between. I was advised to write every day, but that doesn’t work for me. For many, it’s impossible. In other cases, it might make you hate writing.
Once you figure out how you work best, keep moving forward. Be flexible; be patient with yourself; but DON’T STOP.
Current favorite resource to use for revision: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
And now, a first snippet from THE SCRUMPTIOUS LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE…
I love how small tweaks can really improve the flow. Here’s a favorite snippet:
By the time we were all dressed, I was really hungry. We hadn’t even eaten lunch because of the cookie mystery and the surprise.
...and the final line.
By the time we were all dressed, I was really hungry. Between the cookie mystery and Auntie Sam’s surprise, we’d forgotten to eat lunch.
Some revisions may seem small, but they definitely add up!
If you aren’t following Nikki on Twitter (@Nikki2Smith) or Instagram (@NikkiShannonSmith) or getting the latest updates on her books at her website...what are you waiting for?
Don’t forget to purchase her lovely series including THE AMAZING LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE, THE DRAMATIC LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE, and THE SCRUMPTIOUS LIFE OF AZALEAH LANE.
Even better?
You can buy all of Nikki’s awesome chapter books at her Bookshop list here!
Thank you, Nikki! I can’t wait to see what other characters you’ll introduce us to in the future and I look forward to hopefully more adventures with Azaleah!