Author Interview with Anne Ursu

The DMS was lucky enough to interview Anne Ursu, author of the middle grade novel Breadcrumbs. Fairday reviewed this heart-warming story, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours! We are excited to learn a little bit more about the story behind the story. So, without further ado... take it away, Anne! 

What inspired you to write Breadcrumbs?

I read Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen," which is about a small boy named Kai and girl named Gerda who are best friends until one day Kai gets a shard of magic mirror in his eye, and then he's cruel to Gerda and goes off with The Snow Queen. It struck me that this story was about losing friends as you grow up--except in this case, Gerda fights to get her friend back-- and I wanted to write about that, using contemporary kids. I started making notes as soon as I put the fairy tale down.

 How long did it take you to write Breadcrumbs?

I ended up writing the first draft in kind of a fever--it took me about 6 weeks, and the draft was about 180 pages. It sat for awhile, and then I had a furious bout of revising, and then another one, and the book grew about 80 more pages. All in all the process took about 10 months.

What was your inspiration for the characters Hazel and Jack?

I have a writer friend who once got a report card that read, "She is doing better in class, but still has a tendency to stare out the window and look stupid." That's Hazel--the girl who's looking out the window, thinking great thoughts and imagining wonderful things, and no one around her gets it. I wanted Jack to be imaginative and fun, someone who could bring out the real Hazel in a way no one else could.

What are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were there any specific authors who inspired you? 

A great deal of my identity has been shaped by Anne Shirley. I also loved Noel Streatfeild's Shoes books. Of course, I read every Judy Blume book a million times, and I'm sure she's responsible for a good deal of the way I think about middle grade fiction. I also liked stories with a bit of magic to them--contemporary kids with real powers, like Lois Duncan's A Gift of Magic. I probably had that one memorized!

If you could live anyplace real or fictional, where would it be? Why?

Maui, because it's impossible not to be relaxed and happy when everything around you is so beautiful. Then again, I'd probably never write anything again, because I would be too relaxed and happy. 

If you could befriend a character from a fairy tale, who would you befriend? Why?

The Beast, from Beauty and the Beast. Men suffering under the weight of a terrible curse are highly attractive. 

If you could sit down and chat with the Snow Queen, what would you want to talk with her about?

The fairy tale doesn't really make clear why she took Kai in the first place, and I'd be curious. Also, when Gerda arrives at the Snow Queen's palace, the queen has just gone off to vacation in a warmer climate, leaving Kai on his ice floe. This seems a strange choice to me, especially for someone who calls herself, "The Snow Queen." I have questions.

Where can we purchase your books?

Why, at a bookstore near you!

Amazon ☞ Barnes and Noble 

Connect with this author:
Author Website ☞ Facebook ☞ Twitter

Read the reviews!

✭ Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of Breadcrumbs, plus a signed bookplate!         
  
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