 | Hi all! Apologies for the slightly delayed post; this post was originally supposed to go up this morning, but I ran into unexpected computer problems. (However, the Apple Store is kind of a fun place to hang out, even if it's for multiple hours...) But today, we have Danielle Davis on the blog to talk about Zinnia and the Bees! - C |
Hi Danielle!
Thank you for taking the time to sit down and talk to The Reading Nook Reviews! Congratulations on the book birthday of Zinnia and the Bees!
1) First things first – could you tell us about Zinnia and the Bees? I’m sure that I, like many other readers, haven’t been able to get that cover out of my head. So of course, we’d like to hear straight from the author just what the book is about!
Danielle:
I certainly lucked out with the beautiful cover that Laura K. Horton illustrated. I adore it! The story is about a twelve year-old knitter and yarn bomber and the colony of honeybees who mistakes her hair for a hive and lands on her head—both Zinnia and those comical, collective bees get a turn at narration. Its heart is about the search for home.
The bees are agricultural bees, now on the hunt for a natural hive of their own. Much to their disappointment, poor inexperienced Bee 641 scouts Zinnia’s hair, which is certainly an improper choice, something Bee 641 never hears the end of. Meanwhile, Zinnia is searching for the feeling of home in herself and others, something most kids can relate to during the topsy-turvy time of adolescence. In Zinnia’s case, not only do bees land on her head her last day of seventh grade, but her marvelous yarn bomb flops, she feels isolated from her mom, Dr. Flossdrop, as well as her group of friends, and her older brother has left her high and dry for the summer. Zinnia goes on a journey to try and find her brother and to try to get the bees to buzz off. In doing so, she begins to trust herself, her new friend Birch, and that everything can be okay no matter how out of sorts it all might seem.
The bees are agricultural bees, now on the hunt for a natural hive of their own. Much to their disappointment, poor inexperienced Bee 641 scouts Zinnia’s hair, which is certainly an improper choice, something Bee 641 never hears the end of. Meanwhile, Zinnia is searching for the feeling of home in herself and others, something most kids can relate to during the topsy-turvy time of adolescence. In Zinnia’s case, not only do bees land on her head her last day of seventh grade, but her marvelous yarn bomb flops, she feels isolated from her mom, Dr. Flossdrop, as well as her group of friends, and her older brother has left her high and dry for the summer. Zinnia goes on a journey to try and find her brother and to try to get the bees to buzz off. In doing so, she begins to trust herself, her new friend Birch, and that everything can be okay no matter how out of sorts it all might seem.
2) As someone who reviews a decent amount of middle grade fiction, I’m always astounded by just how versatile middle grade fiction can be. It seems like every week, I’m reading a new and wildly inventive tale. As a writer who has incorporated magical elements in Zinnia, what are your thoughts on why middle grade fiction is so versatile, and allows for so much exploration?
Danielle:
Middle grade fiction captures that special stuff of still being a child while gaining independence and of believing in, among other things, hope and the inexplicable. When I think of myself at 10, 11, 12 years old, I think of how much my imagination infused my world and play and outlook. And when I think of my fourth grade teacher reading Roald Dahl books aloud to our class, I think of kid characters who had autonomy and agency as well as belief in the possibility of magic and change. One of the privileges of writing middle grade is getting to tap into that kind of possibility, even when a story is more realistic. Change and discovery and wonder are kind of the name of the game for middle readers as I see it.
3) You’ve mentioned in previous interviews, that you tend to work in seasons. Can you elaborate more on that process for novice writers who might also be looking to work at specific points in the year? How do you make the most of your time?
Danielle:
I don’t necessarily write every day and have always been that way. If I’m deep in a project I’m excited about, I do, or I try to. That’s the best—when I have momentum and am riding that train of creation and can also carve out the time. But if that’s not there, I don’t typically force it (though admire those who do in their own process!). Plus, something I’m trying to do more of—despite the pull of tasks—is the daydreaming part of writing that isn’t technically getting words on the page. I’m going on more walks to drum up ideas and work through story problems, which for me is the best way to figure anything out. I’m taking more breaks in order to give myself the space to have new ideas. I think at any stage it’s important to give yourself permission to do that when possible and to see what comes of the spacious, daydreamy part of writing too. I realize that’s harder to pull off depending on how many responsibilities you have, but I also think the rewards are many and that this part can probably be done while driving or in the shower or on the subway if necessary.
4) If you could have tea with one of your characters, who would you choose and why?
Danielle:
What a great question! Aunt Mildred immediately comes to mind, perhaps because she’s a tea drinker (as I am). Mildred is a character very close to my heart. She’s someone I’d wish for every kid to have in their lives—a caring, supportive adult, the kind who can make all the difference. In retrospect, I think I crafted her character because she’s someone I wish I’d had in my own life as a kid, so having tea with her now would be pretty special. Plus, she’d probably be wearing a colorful outfit, bring us some delicious treats, call me a hilarious nickname, and hopefully have finally made it to her dream city of Paris by now with plenty of stories to share.
5) Finally, what’s next for you? Rumor has it, you have a chapter book on the horizon? Could you tell us more?
Danielle:
Yes, I’m at work on a chapter book that in my mind is a series of comic, friendship adventures. My agent and I are currently polishing it up and I’m super excited about it! Plus, I’ve always got a few picture book manuscripts in my pocket for when the time is right.
Thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us, Danielle! Now, a little more about Danielle's book:
A colony of honeybees mistakes seventh-grader Zinnia’s hair for a hive ― and that’s the least of her problems.
While Zinnia's classmates are celebrating the last day of seventh grade, she's in the vice principal's office, serving detention. Her offense? Harmlessly yarn-bombing a statue of the school mascot. When Zinnia rushes home to commiserate with her older brother and best friend, Adam, she's devastated to discover that he's gone ― with no explanation. Zinnia’s day surely can't get any worse . . . until a colony of honeybees inhabits her hive-like hair!
While Zinnia's classmates are celebrating the last day of seventh grade, she's in the vice principal's office, serving detention. Her offense? Harmlessly yarn-bombing a statue of the school mascot. When Zinnia rushes home to commiserate with her older brother and best friend, Adam, she's devastated to discover that he's gone ― with no explanation. Zinnia’s day surely can't get any worse . . . until a colony of honeybees inhabits her hive-like hair!
About the author:
Danielle Davis grew up in Singapore and Hong Kong and now lives in Los Angeles where she reads, writes, and roller skates. She's earned an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing and her short stories have been published in literary magazines. She's had the privilege of teaching English to middle school and community college students and currently volunteers with literary orgainzations in L.A. Zinnia and the Bees is her first novel.
