Chelsea Flagg Interview

Does this book have a special meaning to you? i.e. where you found the idea, its symbolism, its meaning, who you dedicated it to, what made you want to write it?

I wrote and dedicated this book to my three daughters, who are my world. I thought a story about a spunky little girl rising above stuff like that to make a difference in her own life would be a breath of fresh air. An inspiration that all kids can be a little light, no matter how small they are.

I feel a strong connection to little Tinsey Clover as a character, too. She was born from a part of me, I think. It makes me really excited thinking about where she’s going to go now that she’s out there in the world.

Where do you get your storylines from?

Like I said, I felt an immediate connection to Tinsey as a character from the very beginning. She guided the storyline in a big way. My first handful of drafts look nothing like my final draft, ha! I wish I could say I had the whole plot mapped out from day one, but that just wasn’t the case. Sometimes the ideas flow out of my fingers as I’m typing, almost like my brain has nothing to do with them.

Was this book easier or more difficult to write than others?  

I wrote and dedicated this book to my three daughters, who are my world. I thought a story about a spunky little girl rising above stuff like that to make a difference in her own life would be a breath of fresh air. An inspiration that all kids can be a little light, no matter how small they are.

Why?

My last book was a humorous memoir, which felt pretty easy to write since it was stories from my own life. I knew the plot already and knew how it ended. TINSEY CLOVER was a bit more of a challenge simply because it was a big, blank canvas. That being said, it was really, really fun creating this world and tweaking it to be just right.

Do you only write one genre?

Again, I started with a memoir. I used to blog a lot, so a memoir just felt like a natural next step. I still love writing humor for adults, but I think I’ve found my sweet spot in Middle Grade.

Give us a picture of where you write, where you compose these words…is it Starbucks, a den, a garden…we want to know your inner sanctum?

I used to only be able to write outside of my house. Writing at home was way too much of a distraction. I’d sit there thinking about how I hadn’t done the dishes or folded laundry, or whatever other chore came to mind. I’d have to remove myself and go to a coffee shop somewhere. I’m in a good enough zone now and have worked my writing muscle enough to be able to get words down on paper pretty much anywhere. In fact, I actually prefer writing at home these days, and you won’t believe how much I’ve saved when I’m not buying a fancy coffee drink every day, ha!

And finally, of course…was there any specific event or circumstance that made you want to be a writer?

I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. I even still have old stories I wrote in second and third grade that I would beg my teachers to let me read to my class. That being said, I never fully delved into it, though. I went on to do plenty of other things, but always found myself drawn toward the writing parts of any occupation I held. After my daughters were born, I needed to find myself again. That’s when I picked up the pen and jumped in. It was the best decision of my life.