Interview: June 2008

Ingrid Law's debut novel, SAVVY, is an imaginative coming-of-age tale about a gifted family whose members are given a supernatural power when they turn 13.

In this interview with Kidsreads.com's Chris Shanley-Dillman, Law explains what inspired this innovative storyline and discusses the similarities and differences between herself and her protagonist, Mibs. She also describes how she infused the book with life lessons she's learned the hard way, shares details about an upcoming sequel and reveals what kind of savvy she would choose for herself if she was ever given the opportunity.

Kidsreads: What inspired the idea for your amazing debut novel, SAVVY?

Ingrid Law: When I began writing SAVVY, I wanted to create an empowering story about extraordinary kids using my own brand of tall tale, Americana magic…and I didn’t want to use the word magic.

KRC: Why did you decide to name this coming-of-age talent a “savvy”? Why did you choose for the savvy to appear when someone turns 13?

IL: The word “savvy” actually has its origins in American slang --- which I thought was appropriate. It was first used as a noun meaning “practical sense, or intelligence” as early as 1785. The first recorded use of “savvy” as an adjective didn’t come until 1905. So, I didn’t think it was completely out of line to use the word as a noun for my own creative purposes.

Turning 13 can be a big deal to any young person. It’s the first official “teen” year, and the transition between our childhood and our teens is a big one, filled with all sorts of changes and issues. These may not manifest as actual storms or electricity as they do for the characters in SAVVY, but they can feel just as powerful and out of control.

KRC: Your characters have such refreshingly creative names, like Mississippi, Fish and Rocket. How did you come up with them, and why did you elect to take this unusual route for names?

IL: The talents of the Beaumont children are more exaggerated than the more everyday (yet still important) talents of the other characters, like Will and Bobbi. So, I wanted the Beaumont family’s names to be unusual and quirky, and yet still somehow suit them in one way or another. I think it’s funny that Fish can’t get too close to water, and that it’s a big deal for him to try to go swimming. I chose to give the main character an even more unusual nickname --- Mibs --- because I wanted her to stand out even more from the rest of her family.

KRC: How are you similar to the character of Mibs? How do you and Mibs differ?

IL: Like Mibs, it’s sometimes a challenge for me to weed out other people’s voices from my head and to listen closely to what my own heart or head or gut is telling me. I also love little hotel soaps. But Mibs has a bit more gumption than me. And while I loved dresses when I was her age, it takes a lot to get me into one now --- even if it has pretty ribbons.

KRC: Of all the possible savvies in your imagination, why did you choose this one for Mibs?

IL: SAVVY is very much about heart. Mibs’s particular savvy begins as a challenge --- an unwanted talent that she must come to terms with when she’s really hoping for something very different. But her particular ability allows her to access the hearts and minds of the other characters in the book. This provides both Mibs and the reader better insight into her companions and their motivations.

KRC: Can you tell us more about your intriguing character of Samson? Why is he so quiet and reclusive?

IL: Samson is one of my favorite characters. My daughter and I both tend to be a bit reclusive ourselves. We often shy away from noise and crowds to find our own small safe havens so that our energy doesn’t get too drained by the things going on around us. Yet the power of human contact is undeniable and important --- Samson demonstrates that in his own way.

KRC: Mibs has two younger siblings that haven’t yet reached 13. Have you thought about possible savvies for Gypsy and Samson?

IL: Oh, of course! I already know what both Samson’s and Gypsy’s abilities are --- as well as a few cousins and aunts and uncles. But I love getting feedback from kids when I visit schools and libraries, and I love hearing from kids who are emailing me with their guesses! So I’m not ready to give everything away yet, though there are many clues in the book already.

KRC: Mibs starts out on a quest to save her dad, yet her adventure expands to include a journey of self-discovery. How did you use this to shape Mibs’s character and the characters surrounding her?

IL: Every challenge we face in life offers us the chance to learn something about ourselves if we pay attention. In the story, the conflicts, the larger-than-life abilities and the adventure are all just ways of exploring what it feels like to grow up. Thrown together in an almost literal whirlwind, the characters in SAVVY learn from each other as well as themselves, and Mibs gains confidence in herself and her own heart.

KRC: Share with us your inspiration for the wild pink bus and unusual pink Bibles?

IL: Sometimes ideas come to mind that at first may feel random or out of the blue. Part of working creatively is trusting your own imagination to give you what you need, even if what it gives you might seem a little odd at first. I think that the pink bus and pink Bibles are simply another way of showing both ordinary and significant things in an out-of-the-ordinary, unexpected way.

KRC: The Beaumont family is a close, protective and loving one. Was your family like this growing up?

IL: Growing up, my family was smaller than the Beaumont family’s, and our extended family was always far away. But dreaming and creativity were always encouraged and supported, and even with the usual family ups and downs, love and laughter usually came out on top.

KRC: If you could have any savvy for yourself, which would you choose? What amazing accomplishments could you tackle with this savvy? What possible disasters could occur while trying to master it?

IL: If I could choose, I would want to fly or breathe underwater. Either one of these abilities would allow me to see beautiful things from new perspectives, and let me retreat from the hubbub of the world a bit. The potential for disaster while trying to master either one of these things? Falling would be a big one. Sharks might be another.

KRC: What do you hope your readers to get out of SAVVY?

IL: SAVVY is not just a book about magical children. It is a story that shows that everyone has something amazing in them. And that some of the most extraordinary things in life are not always big and flashy: friendship, love and courage may be quieter than big storms and electric sparks, but they are just as powerful, if not more so.

KRC: You have done an amazing job of cleverly weaving in words of wisdom without sounding preachy --- for example, taking one’s time in a relationship, the importance of family, the damage other voices can do to a person. How did you accomplish this? Are some of these lessons you’ve learned in your own life?

IL: Some of these things are lessons I’ve learned (usually the hard way). Others are lessons that I am still working on. I like mazes and mysteries. And while I know I’ll never solve the puzzle of emotions, choices and reactions that come along with being human, that doesn’t usually keep me from trying to figure it all out anyway.

KRC: Has writing always been your dream? While creating this enchanting story, was there any time that you felt doubt about being able to finish? If so, how did you deal with it, and how did you boost yourself back into accomplishing your goals?

IL: In the last year of junior high, I took one of those personality tests that attempt to tell you what your best career choice might be when you grow up. My test indicated that I would be either a good fashion designer…or a firefighter.

I dabbled in a lot of different things throughout the years. And now I prefer to interpret that old junior high test differently: I love beauty and creating things, and I’ve always wished to be a strong person who can conquer her fears and contribute something that benefits others.

But there have always been stories in my head, and once I found that I could get those stories onto paper, and that my words could be beautiful and fiery and constructive, I knew that I was on the right track and doing something that I love.

Doubt is inevitable, and writing is hard work. I rely a lot on friends and family to boost my spirits when things get difficult. And I remind myself that everything has its ups and downs.

KRC: What are your current and future writing plans? Is there going to be a sequel to SAVVY?

IL: A sequel is in the works! It is told from the perspective of an all-new character --- someone readers did not meet in SAVVY. But don’t worry, there will be plenty of familiar characters along the way as well! Stay tuned…