I hate it because it feels so cruel. After I’ve spent all that time with a character (months, or even years for a longer story), I don’t want to torment them.
But I’ve learned that if I don’t torment them, there’s no change, no drama, no story.
In our new book, the “all is lost” moment comes when I have the hero, Moldylocks, lying on her back under a table in the middle of her school’s lunchroom. She’s just betrayed someone she cares about, she’s been humiliated by her arch-enemy in front of the whole school, and she feels alone in the world.
She has to answer the key question any story asks its hero: “Are you going to revert and die or change and live?”
Given that the book is a novel for grade-schoolers, I don’t think I’m giving anything away by saying that Moldylocks opts for the latter.
I hope you like the book. It’s called “Moldylocks and the Bear.” But I’ll be the first to admit: The premise is bonkers. Heh. It’s about a zombie girl (in a zombie town) who’s trying to win the lead role in the annual musical.
Her best chance of success is to get coaching from the new kid at school — an outsider. A bear.
The crucial question for Moldy comes down to trust.
Will she give in to fear, or will she listen to her heart?
Isn’t that the question we all face?
Shoutouts to my illustrator, Madeline; designer, Jennifer; proofreader, Dana; book shepherd, Robert; and business partner, Bob.
To celebrate the book’s launch, we’re selling it at cost this week: $7.66.
The price will bump back up to $11.99 on May 3.
You can get the book on Amazon or read it free on our Storyblog.
And if you want a PDF — for your class, for a zombie-crazy kid, for whatever — just email me. I’ll send you a copy.
