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I first came across Jo Knowles through her blog and blog comments, and have been inspired by her insightful comments and positive personality. I recently bought her first novel, Lessons From A Dead Girl, and loved it.
In fact, I was so excited about ordering Jo’s book that I accidentally ordered TWO copies of her book, so I’m giving one away. If you’re interested in entering your name in the draw, please post a comment at the end of this interview. I’ll be doing the draw next Monday.
Lessons From A Dead Girl is a sensitively written story told from the point of view of Laine, a young girl who was sexually abused for several years by someone who was supposedly a close friend.
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What inspired you to write Lessons From A Dead Girl
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I started writing Lessons after I read an article about kids abusing kids. I was working on a nonfiction piece about child abuse and the article stopped me cold. I went home and started writing that night.
How much outlining do you do before starting to write?
Actually, I don’t do any outlining before I start writing. I prefer to just see what happens. When I finish the first draft, however, I do make an outline that I learned from Justine Larbalastier. It’s sort of a spreadsheet, actually, that allows you to see things like how mood, point of view and tense shift from chapter to chapter. I also put together a storyboard (one cell per chapter) that lets me “see” my book as a whole on a single page. This helps me figure out how to tackle my revision.
How long did it take you to write Lessons?
Oh, I get asked this a lot and it’s such a hard question. I wrote it while working full time, and then I’ve revised many, many times. I suppose the first draft probably took about a year but there were many years of revising (between writing another novel, having a baby, working, moving twice, etc.). Sorry not to be able to provide a better answer! 
What is your revision process?
I like to print out a copy of my current draft, then make a storyboard and spreadsheet (see above) and then I just start rereading and fine tuning and cutting and adding and whatever else it takes to find the story and make it stronger. I love revising! Once I feel like I have something that I won’t be too, too embarrassed by, I share the draft with my husband and two good writing partners, Debbi Michiko Florence and Cindy Faughnan. After I incorporate their changes, I send the draft to other willing readers for a green light sort of response. Once I incorporate any final changes, I send the manuscript to my agent. He’ll give me his thoughts and I’ll start the process all over again. When the ms meets my agent’s standards, he’ll submit it to my editor. And then the process starts once more.
What is your typical daily work schedule?
I don’t have a typical schedule because I work part-time as a freelance writer, and I also teach a writing class for Simmons College in the fall. I basically try to write between freelance assignments and on the nights when my husband puts my son to bed. Honestly, I take any time I can get, but it’s sporadic and inconsistent. So far it works out alright though.
How did you find your agent?
He actually contacted me after I won the SCBWI Contemporary WIP grant. He was just starting out at the time and building his client list. I really lucked out!
How long did it take you to sell your book?
Again, it’s so hard to say since after being with one editor for over two years, I let the ms sit for nearly that long again. I finally decided to dust it off when Cindy Lord encouraged me to submit the first 10 pages to the PEN New England Discovery Contest. I was shocked to win! Part of winning meant I could submit the manuscript to Candlewick, and the rest is history.
Did you get discouraged at all during the whole creation/selling process? If so, how did you overcome that discouragement?
Oh yes, I think we all get discouraged. Rejection is so hard. And you have to wait such a long time between editors, sometimes it seems like you’ve been on the road forever. But I think the wait is worth it!
What is Class of 2k7? How did you get involved? How useful has it been to you?
The Class of 2k7 (www.classof2k7.com) is a group of first time novelists with YA or Middle Grade books published in 2007. We joined together to share marketing efforts, but the group quickly became a source of support, a place to make friends, and a place to share valuable information. Even though our year has come to an end, we still continue to keep in touch via our group e-mail list. It was a true gift to be able to be a part of such an amazing group of writers.
What are your upcoming projects?
My next novel, Jumping Off Swings, will be published in 2009 with Candlewick Press. It’s another contemporary YA novel about four friends and how their lives change in unexpected ways when one of them finds out she’s pregnant.
Jo Knowles currently teaches Writing for Children at Simmons College and is a volunteer writing mentor at a women’s prison in Vermont. You can find out more about Jo at www.joknowles.com and jbknowles.livejournal.com.
Other interviews with Jo Knowles:
Debbie Michiko Florence’s interview
Becky’s Book Reviews
Slayground interview
31 responses so far ↓
Lesha // Apr 21, 2008 at 6:17 am
Great interview!
Angie Frazier // Apr 21, 2008 at 7:30 am
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jo at a novel retreat, and she is such a nice person. It was great to read this interview and see inside her process. Thanks!
Melody Platz // Apr 21, 2008 at 7:44 am
Thanks for posting this. I just spent a week at the Romantic Times Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. Before the convention, I had no idea how willing to answer questions published authors can be. Now I’m seeing helpful authors everywhere. It’s like I’ve been reborn. Hehe.
Becky Levine // Apr 21, 2008 at 8:55 am
LESSONS is an amazing book. Definitely, please, enter me into your contest!
Heidi Renee // Apr 21, 2008 at 8:58 am
Thank you for the the head’s up on this book. As a woman who was raped in childhood and loves JF I find many young girls who navigate too my story, it will be good to read and to have the opportunity to pass this on.
stephanie boman // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:32 am
I liked your questions, they were the exact ones I would have asked. I’ve been following her blog, but learned a lot from your interview.
jama // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:52 am
Lovely interview! Lessons had me enthralled from page one — it’s beautifully crafted throughout.
Marlene // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:53 am
I am a middle school teacher and would love to win this book.
Swapna // Apr 21, 2008 at 12:29 pm
The interview is great! I’d love to be entered in the giveaway.
Nicole // Apr 21, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Well, I’m definitely interested! I’d love to be entered in the drawing!
Rebecca // Apr 21, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Oooh. That sounds really interesting. I’d love to be entered in the giveaway.
P. Bookworm // Apr 21, 2008 at 2:41 pm
That book sounds really good. Please enter me in the giveaway!
jadedmetaphor // Apr 21, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Yay, Jo! Great interview. And what a cool giveaway. Enter me, please.
Little Willow // Apr 21, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Fantastic interview, incredibly kind author.
Thanks for the link.
whiskersink // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Great interview Deb! But look at what great material you had to work with…Jo!
Please enter me in your drawing
Karen // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:32 pm
It’s my first time visiting. Thanks so much, I loved the interview!
Jane // Apr 22, 2008 at 6:27 am
Great interview! (and great site btw).
I’d be interested in entering the draw, too.
vivnow // Apr 22, 2008 at 6:58 am
I just took out Lessons from a Dead Girl from my local library. I’d love to have a copy.
R.J. Anderson // Apr 22, 2008 at 7:00 am
Great interview — and encouraging too! I’d love to be entered in the draw.
Joelle C. // Apr 22, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Great interview– plus we share our (nick)name!
I would love to be added to the giveaway, it sounds like a fantastic book!
Kristina Springer // Apr 22, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Great interview!!
Sammie // Apr 22, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Great interview. I would love to be entered into the giveaway. And even if I don’t win I will def. be getting this book.
But I hope I win!
Lauren // Apr 23, 2008 at 5:42 am
This book souns seriously awesome. Please enter me in the drawing!
Reesha // Apr 23, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Thank you for the interview. I’ve tried other author’s ways of producing a book before but this is something I think might actually work for me. At the least it inspired me to keep on writing.
I haven’t read Lessons yet, but it reminds of Jodi Picoult’s book “My Sister’s Keeper”.
Shoshana // Apr 23, 2008 at 9:08 pm
great interview!
i just finished reading a borrowed copy of the book and loved it!
please enter me!!
Ronni // Apr 24, 2008 at 12:12 pm
What a nice interview. I always like to read other authors’ processes. I have never used a storyboard or a spreadsheet, but then again, she’s published and I’m not, so I’m thinking she is on to something.
At any rate, I read LESSONS a while ago and loved it, and would love to win a copy.
Richie // Apr 25, 2008 at 8:03 am
Add me to the list. Makes me think of “A boy called It.” Another abuse book.
Thanks, Debbie.
Sakena // Apr 25, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I so want to read that book now. Sign me up.
Daniel // Apr 25, 2008 at 10:49 pm
nice interview.
enter me?
Mel // Apr 28, 2008 at 9:18 am
Always nice to see interviews from people who’ve had success in publishing. It gives the rest of us hope! I really liked that she said she likes revising. I’m revising a novel right now, and there are days that frustration gets the best of me. Thanks for the post!
Stephanie // May 4, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Enjoyed the interview. In particular, I love to hear other writers’ views about how they find the time in their daily lives, their muse and tackling that sometimes (or always)painful outline process!! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only person who prefers at least initially to go with the flow and see what happens…good luck Ms. Knowles on your second book!
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