The DMS was lucky enough to interview Tonja Drecker. Lizzy recently reviewed Music Boxes 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 her awesome stories. So, without further ado... take it away, Tonja!
Read our review of the book
What inspired you to write Music Boxes?
Honestly, I wish I knew. I was out in the garden pulling weeds…blackberries with nasty thorns…and the thought of a ballet teacher with rows of creepy music boxes danced through my mind and stuck with me. Since I drove the kids to three different schools at that time, I’d use the opportunity to tell them stories during the drive. That’s when the idea blossomed into an entire plot.
How long did it take you to write Music Boxes?
Once I sat down and typed it into my computer, the first draft was done in about four weeks. But I’d already worked the story out in my head by then thanks to those hours in the car. The first draft was by no means the story it is today. It went through dozens of edits and had a long, rocky road before it became the story it is now. From idea to published book, it’s taken five to six years.
What is your writing process like? Do you listen to music? Write in a special place? Edit as you go or write and then edit?
My writing process is a bit like the rest of my life—go with the flow. When I wake up in the morning, I’m never sure what the day will bring. So, I snatch writing time where and how I can get it. I never listen to music—silence is golden and something I treasure. I do have a writing office but rarely see it and tend to write at the dining room table or…thanks to a Christmas gift…at a standing, portable desk in front of the fireplace during the winter. I tend to get chilly fast.
As to editing while writing, I have the world’s most vicious inner-editing monster. I do edit while writing the first draft and find it very hard to continue to a new scene. I also believe it’s better to fix problems immediately when I notice them and not wait until the story is done. It makes for a very long writing process, though.
What are some of your favorite books from childhood? Were there any specific authors who inspired you?
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein was and is one of my favorites. I loved The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Clearly. In the fifth grade, I decided I was too old for children’s books (a silly, odd rebellion thing bookworm style). My father took us to the library every Saturday, and I insisted it was time I graduated to the adult section (I remember how amazing it felt to step into that part of the library!) The first book I grabbed was Dune by Frank Herbert, and I fell in love with that story.
If you could live during any time period in history, when would it be? Why?
I wouldn’t want to live during any other time period but visiting one would be nice. During a camping trip to Italy, we discovered the Etruscan pathways near Pitigliano (Via Cava)—hundreds of miles of twisting paths hand-carved into the rock. Some are 50 feet deep and miles long. Creating them was a monumental task, and it’s a mystery as to why they were made. Today, a parade of torches marches through a section of them once a year. It’s mystical as well as spellbinding. I’d love to have the chance to learn why so much effort was put into these paths. It’s simply something I’ve always wondered about.
If you could befriend a character from your book, who would you befriend? Why?
Bridget, Lindsey’s little sister. She’s a violin prodigy. Lindsey is jealous of her and everyone thinks Bridget’s entrance into Julliard is the best thing that could ever happen to her, but if the reader pays attention, they’ll notice that Bridget isn’t always as excited as they are about her situation. She’s a sweet, little girl with a big heart and is up against more than she might be ready to handle. She’s a little afraid of it. The parents don’t see this. Nor does Lindsey. Still, Bridget sucks it in and goes at it with the best attitude she can. It’d be a treat to be her friend.
Is there anything you’ve learned along your path to publication that you would like to share with new writers?
Editing is where the real magic happens, and don’t give up. Writing is not an easy path, and there isn’t a secret formula to make dreams come true. Personally, I’m still searching for that magical jar of pixie dust.
Where can we purchase your book?
Music Boxes is available as of March 5th, 2019 on the usual internet sites: Amazon, B&N & more. Visit the author's blog to learn more.
