Author Interview with Wylde Scott

The DMS was lucky enough to interview Wylde Scott. Lizzy reviewed SEASIDE, and it was great to share our thoughts about it and hear yours. So, without further ado... take it away, Wylde!

What inspired you to write SEASIDE?

Seaside is an entirely true story as told to me by the very people who were there. A long time ago I was the proprietor of a Giggle Shoppe in the market square, just next to the baker. The events that take place in the book occurred just before I arrived in Seaside. The very first time I met young Robert O’Malley and Walter I asked how the two unlikely friends had met. In writing Seaside the book, I tried very hard to recall the story as they described it. 

How did you come up with your characters, Bobby and Walter? 

It was easy. I knew them both personally and I used the names their mothers had given them. 

SEASIDE is told from different points of view. What was the most challenging part of weaving together both sides of the story?

Telling great stories is always challenging in that you want to share all of the best parts and not leave anything out. In writing Seaside I don’t think this was actually intentional. The day that Bobby and Walter told me the story, they were frantically speaking at nearly the same time, each stepping over each other to tell me each of its bits and pieces from their point of view.  I think the style I used in the book simply reflects the way I remember it being told. I have been telling stories verbally since I was a child. Growing up in a gypsy caravan we did not have televisions or phones or any of the stuff children use today so storytelling was a big part of what we did. I learned how to tell stories from my grandfather. He was always so visual and descriptive and took the time to tell all about the people and places in the stories. Now when I sit down to write a story as a book, I try and remember what it was like to sit in front of a fire and listen to him.

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

I am a relentless reader, so I am inspired by many writers. I would have to say that two writers likely had the most impact on me. Charles Dickens, because I was very familiar with the worlds he created and they always spoke to me personally, and Raold Dahl, because his imagination was so unlimited. I knew he was going to take me on a fantastic journey. My own childhood was rather unique so I was always drawn to books with children in very unique situations. 

If you could become a sea creature for one day, what would you want to be? Why?

Of course I should like to be an octopus as they have so many arms to work with. I would love to know what that is like. In fact, Bobby and I made up a game where we pretended to have as many arms as Walter. We played it all of the time and had lots of fun, but I think Walter found it boring. 

If you could befriend a character from one of your books, who would you befriend? Why? 

Walter and Bobby are still two of my very closest friends. I don’t want to spoil the end of the book but Bobby became quite the seaman. We had many adventures together.

I think I should like to meet Bonicelli’s father, who was long gone before I came to Seaside. He was said to be the greatest fisherman the town had ever known, and I would have liked to been with him on some of the fishing expeditions the town talked about for generations after he passed. He must have been something extraordinary! 

What is your favorite color? How about smell? 

If you haven’t already figured it out, I have a very particular shade of blue that I am very fond of. My grandfather used to wear a hat very similar to mine that was made of this color and it reminds me of him. All of my favorite colors are other shades of blue. 

My favorite smell in the whole entire world is cotton candy. 

Are you currently working on a new book? Can you tell us a little about it? 

I will be coming out with two books next year and am working on a new one currently: 

The Fun Olympics is a picture book that talks about my first time attending the event and how I became Champion. 

Starship Diwicki is my next chapter book for young and middle grade readers. It’s a comical adventure that follows eleven year old Tyler Diwicki, who leads his family into a modern day gold rush in space. Caught between a universe full of dangerous criminals and corrupt villains, the family must stay alive and find their way home. In the process, the Diwicki’s unexpectedly become heroes, and the saviors of an entire race. 

So many people have been asking me about my childhood, so I am going to tell the story from the earliest events I remember. It’s likely going to be several books, but I will start with the story that changed everything.

Authors, Stephanie Robinson, Wylde Scott, and Jessica Haight

It was awesome to meet Wylde Scott at the BEA this year, and we are happy to spread the news about this seaside adventure.

Enter the rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a signed hardcover edition of this new middle grade book!  

Read the reviews!

 


Enter the giveaway and leave us a comment below: What sea creature would you want to become for a day?

 

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