2021 Mentee Interviews

Tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, what do you write, and what are you working on right now?

I’m an ESL teacher, drummer, and writer, and I live in Arizona. I love Middle Grade---reading it and writing it. I mostly gravitate to fantasy, but I like contemporary, too. Right now, I’m playing around with poetry. I’ve published a couple poems in literary magazines, but I also write practice poetry on my website, and just for fun, my current baby-work-in-progress, which I have not finished or shared with my mentors, is an attempt at a book in verse. To learn more, check out my blog: https://kassielamro.weebly.com/

What kind of stories are you interested in exploring in your career as an author?

All of my projects, including the one I worked on with my mentors, explore family relationships, so I imagine my career will include stories that do more of that. I’m also interested in stories about belonging and walking that line between childhood and growing up.

What's the best thing about you as an author?

I am persistent. You have to be in this industry! I’m also inquisitive---about my characters, world(s), writing process, etc. I’m a discovery-writer, but open to plotting. I’m also open to critique from trusted mentors, critique partners, and beta readers.

How have you developed as an author during this mentorship period? Is there anything that you didn't think before about the craft that you think now?

It’s challenging to sum up 3-4 months of work in a few sentences, but, generally speaking, I’ve learned a lot about myself and my writing process. Lori and Silver asked good questions about my characters, their motivations, and my thought process behind each scene. They also introduced me to some helpful resources. For example, Story Genius by Lisa Cron had activities that challenged me to think about and identify my story’s “third-rail.” I don’t think I changed my ways of thinking about the craft so much as learned about my preferred styles communicating and receiving feedback from others.

If every book is a book baby, then it takes a village to raise a book. Are there any people who stand out to you as people who helped you in your writing journey?

I’d have to say my husband, for sure. I’m an extrovert, and writing (if you haven’t noticed) is an introvert activity. So after a long writing session, I often talked his ear off—but in doing that, I talked through plot points, character arcs, and impostor syndrome. I also talked with my good friend Kathy and my college friend Malina, who both brainstormed ideas and supported me in my very slow process. As far as revising and shaping the story, once I had a draft, I’d say my creative writing teacher Josh Rathkamp as well as all of my beta readers, especially a friend from high school, Christa, who amazingly agreed to read my work despite the fact that we hadn’t talked in a long time, made some really important contributions to my writing journey. It was also encouraging for Silver and Lori to pick my book for this mentorship and cheer me on as I continue this crazy journey towards publication.

What do you think is the biggest necessity for a group of writing friends? (This answer can be anything from "trust and communication" to "a sweet slack server")

A love of the craft, a love of the process, and a love of each other.

Any parting words for young writers looking for guidance, or a community?

Look, finding a community of writers isn’t that hard, especially today. When I was a kid, I had to beg my neighborhood friends to read my made-up stories under the shade of my parents’ tree, but today, finding a community of writers is literally at your fingertips. You could start by participating in NaNoWriMo, which happens every November, but there are other opportunities via social media and the Internet. Or, you could explore free writer workshops via your public library or local independent bookstores. For example, Bookman’s in Arizona, does a young writers competition every year. I would also encourage you to (when old enough) to take classes at your community college. In every experience, be open, flexible, and giving. Remember that the writing process is a series of trial and error, so don’t be afraid to take risks and be okay with making a few mistakes along the way. Finding your people and learning about the craft is great, but remember that the best way to get better is by reading (a lot!) and writing (a lot!)!

What about your own craft, interests, and abilities drew you to your mentee and their work?

We were attracted to Kassie Lamro’s novel Until Sundown primarily because of the subject matter—a child dealing with death and grief, a difficult subject that Lamro handled beautifully via a fantastical journey through the afterlife with the aid of zodiacs—a highly creative concept with a subject always needed in the MG space. The strong writing that accompanied the concept made it a solid choice for us.

Do you have a message for anyone interested in your mentee's work?

Our mentee’s work has a lot of heart and soul. Her MC’s definitions of grief and death are handled delicately and are at a level consistent with middle grade parameters. Her passion for her work radiates on every page. We are looking forward to seeing this story on the bookshelves!