Annnie has been viewing life through the lens of being unlucky.
Sometimes there is a story we tell ourselves about who we are–and sometimes those stories are more accurate than others. She has accepted some part of her story so wholeheartedly that she isn’t fact-checking with those around her–I’m thinking of Dad, JoJo, and Ray–who can all give her some more pieces of the puzzle she’s trying to sort out. Annie may be outwardly brash but she’s hurting on the inside. One of life’s great challenges is communicating our “battles” to those around us. I’m thinking of the quote “Be kind, for everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” (I tried to find attribution for this quote, but it’s murky at best–oh well, I still love it.) I was also inspired by the general idea of there being more than meets the eye with most people in the world.
I was really drawn to the idea of a character who was the opposite–one with so much voice that it sometimes seems as if the people around her might be thinking, “Did you really just say that?” It was incredibly fun to write about someone who tended to be a bit reckless with their thoughts and feelings. In my earlier books, I had written from the point of view of Cat and Meg, who are both (in different ways) struggling to find their voice. I’m curious, did anyone or anything in particular inspire Annie’s character? Her plucky (and sometimes, self-pitying attitude) tugged at my heartstrings. I would say that my stories are mostly inspired by relationships, which are endlessly fascinating to me. I hope that my books feel “true” to kids (and a story doesn’t have to be real to be true). When I write, I’m always thinking of the kid version of myself–I try to tell the kinds of stories I would have wanted to read. The books I read as kid became a part of who I am today. I’ve wanted to write children’s books for my entire life. Thank you so much, Afoma! As a big fan of your site, I’m very excited to chat about books with you! As you know, I’m a huge fan of your books (like ALL of them). Enjoy! Hi Gillian! I’m thrilled to be interviewing you. Gillian and I discuss Annie’s character, writing about small towns, and trusting the process when she writes. In These Unlucky Stars, the protagonist, Annie reluctantly befriends a grouchy elderly woman in her neighborhood, even as she’s trying to find her place in her family. Gillian’s writing is always insightful, especially when she’s writing about relationships, whether that’s between friends, family members, or siblings. I’m proud to say I’ve now read all three of her books (and enjoyed them all).
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