Meet Middle Grade Author Beth Overmyer

Today we welcome Middle Grade author Beth Overmyer to Carpinello's Writing Pages. Beth, an Ohio native, writes for middle graders and young adults. Her debut novel In A Pickle was published by MuseItUp Publishing, and she has had shorter fiction published in various e-zines

Why did you choose to write books for Middle Grade readers?

I really enjoyed Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and I related well to the voice and the characters. I have a younger sense of humor and fun. A sense of what a youthful audience would like is important. It’s also important to like it yourself

What types of books do you like to read?

I like anything from Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy to Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt, and a lot in between. Books that help you escape, help you find yourself, or simply entertain…all have merit and help you grow on some level, even if they show you what not to do.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

The cliché answer: I like reading, and chilling with my family and my cats. I also enjoy good music and dancing when no one is watching.

Tell us about In A Pickle and how the story came to be.

In A Pickle came about in a random sort of way. I’ve always liked time-travel, so I thought “Wouldn’t it be interesting to have a cat that time-travels?” Well, the cat didn’t make it to print, but his owner, Charlie, did. And once I had the character in my head, his adventure took off from there, and the story almost told itself.

Here's a peak at In A Pickle: 

Charlie Pickle can't stay put in the year 1920 due to an annoying habit of time-traveling. On a trip back to 1910, he meets a man with a secret. Murder makes the headlines that day, and Charlie's new friend knows who the guilty party is. Now, not only does Charlie have bullies and murderers to contend with, he's got some history to fix.


Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them. 

In A Pickle is my debut. I’ve had various short stories published in e-zines and anthologies, though, which ranged from comedic horror to speculative humor (A Fairytale Intervention, for example.)

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story? 

I’m working on a middle grade novel about junior high students who develop superpowers. There is something different and special about them, but that’s a surprise I don’t want to give away. I also have some young adult projects and one or two screenplays and stage plays on the backburner.

What advice do you have for other authors? 

Keep writing. Read. Read A LOT, in and out of your genre/age group. And be sure to edit your work, even if you think it’s all that and a bag of chips.

Where can readers find you and your books? 

They can purchase In A Pickle in e-book form through my publisher’s website http://museituppublishing.com as well as Amazon.com. It should also be available from Barnes and Noble’s website sometime in the near future.

More Summer Reading for Kids

If you are still searching for middle grade novels to get your readers and reluctant readers involved in over the summer months, here is one series that will surprise readers and one great horse story to consider.

Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix is the first book in the Shadow Children series of novels that explore the lives of children who were not supposed to be born. In this world, families are forbidden to have more than two children.

Luke, the third child in his family, has only spent a few hours outside his house. He has never attended school and spends his days inside keeping to himself. He must be careful never to let himself be seen. Then he discovers a girl like himself living next door. The two meet and scheme to get the government to change the ruling. The compelling nature of children being forbidden and forced to remain in hiding engulfs young readers and hooks them to the end.

War Horse

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is a story of Joey, a farm horse, who finds himself in the middle of WW1. That fact alone hooks many young readers. Told by Joey, this story follows his journey into war and explores his relationships and friendships with the many people that come into his life. Along his journey, Joey encounters adults and loving children. His view of war and people present readers with unique views. From his beginning friendship with Albert, to his new master in the army, to the young girl in the French countryside, Joey's story holds young readers' attention.

These books, written for ages 8-12, treat readers to fast paced adventures and protagonists close to their own ages. All three novels novels have strong boy and girl characters. The concepts of friendship and trust presented in each story are ones easily understood by young readers. These books are sure to entice reluctant readers.

Web Sites for Middle Grade Authors

I came across these fun websites for authors Riodan, Delaney, and Flanagan.

Riodan's site offers a section on Percy's Adventures as well as a section for More Worlds to Explore.

Delaney's website is suitably named The Spook's Mistake. The site offers visitors a chance to see if they have what it takes to be a Spook's Apprentice. There is also a place to sign up to receive the Spook's email newsletter.

Flanagan's website is The Ranger's Apprentice. The site offers in-depth accounts of the characters, heroes and villains alike, as well as maps of the different countries traveled through in the series.

Adults and young readers will enjoy exploring each of these sites.

Great Books for Young Readers

With summer just around the corner, it's time to start thinking of books for summer for those young readers. Here are some excellent choices from the many middle grade novels out there.

Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson Series

These action-packed novels feature the young hero Percy Jackson, half Greek God courtesy of Poseidon, and his friend AnnaBeth, half goddess courtesy of Athena. Together they battle to save the world today from all kinds of threats from the still existing ancient Greek Gods. Mythology has always been a draw for kids of all ages, and Riordan's adventures pull students in immediately with the first chapter of each book. Chapter one in the Thief is titled, "I Accidentally Vaporize my Pre-Algebra Teacher."

• The Lightning Thief
  
• The Sea of Monsters
  
• The Titan's Curse
  
• The Battle Of The Labyrinth
  
• The Demigod Files
  

Joseph Delaney's The Last Apprentice Series

Thomas Ward is twelve years old and the seventh son of a seventh son. As such, it falls to him to become the apprentice to the local Spook who fights evil and evil creatures. In Revenge, he becomes friends with Alice, the youngest of a witch family, and this complicates his learning because the Spook imprisons witches in a pit to keep them from hurting others.

Each book ends with the current journal entries of young Ward.

• Revenge Of The Witch
  
• Curse Of The Bane
  
• Night Of The Soul Stealer
  
• Attack Of The Fiend
  
• Wrath Of The Bloodeye
  
• The Spook's Tale and Other Horrors

John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice Series

Readers meet fifteen-year-old Will who is chosen to be apprenticed to the mysterious Ranger (a modern day spy) in this medieval series. He must learn how to move around the kingdom without being seen, fight for his life only when there is no other choice, and recognize dangers to the kingdom and its people. His enemy from Battle School presents his first challenge. Lots of adventure lurks between the pages.

• The Ruins Of Gorlan
  
• The Burning Bridge
  
• The Icebound Land
  
• The Battle For Skandia
  
• The Sorcerer Of The North
  

All of these series are suitable for readers in the Fifth grade and up (even adults!). They are lively enough for children as young as seven or eight if read aloud.

And don't forget about Guinevere: On The Eve Of Legend due out in April 2009. Further details will be forthcoming.

Why I Write Middle Grade Fiction

A high school English teacher for 20 years, I repeatedly became frustrated when students, most often but not always boys, would not be interested in reading, not even when given a choice of what to read. At first, I decided that I was not using the right avenue to reach them. Many years later, I came to the conclusion that by the time these students reached me, there was little I could do to change them into readers. Mind you, some did change and thanked me later, but the majority of them just did not like to read, not even non-fiction.

That's when I decided to write for reluctant readers. These students can read, but along the way have made the choice, for whatever reason, not to. I knew that I would have to focus on the lower grades (4-6) and find some topic that would interest them at that grade level and maybe, just maybe, keep them reading beyond elementary school.

I chose the world of King Arthur because I am passionate about everything in that world. In my 9th grade English classes, I taught "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White. The students explored the ideals presented and eagerly searched to find those ideals in their worlds. They (boys and girls) loved the adventures of Merlyn and Wart. The ones who didn't read the whole book listened to their peers talk about the book and became involved that way. So, I knew that this would be where I would start my writing. My subject for this first book evolved when students did not know anything of Guinevere, or only knew that she cheated on King Arthur and caused the fall of Camelot.

I set about to write a story that would acquaint elementary students with Guinevere and show them what she was like at their age. The story leaves students understanding that Guinevere was not the sole or even main cause of King Arthur's failure. It teaches a lesson that I must have had buried in my subconscious and never realized.