Award winning author Han Nolan is joining us here at Ready Chapter 1 today to discuss some of her best novel writing tips and tricks, as well as her new novel, Running Past Dark!
Hi! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your new novel, Running Past Dark?
Hi. Thanks for asking. I’ve been writing since I was a little kid but only started trying to get published after my husband and I adopted three children at one time and I needed to stay home to take care of them, writing only when they were in school.
I’ve written ten young adult novels, including the National Book Award winning book Dancing on the Edge. Other awards and honors include, National Book Award finalist, People’s choice award, New York Public Library best books for YA, ALA best books, Library guild Best books, and Alabama Library Assoc. best YA novel of the year.
My novel Crazy was performed at the Kennedy Center under the title of Jason Invisible. My books have also been translated into several languages. My latest novel is a mystery titled Running Past Dark (Simon &Schuster) and is due out in September 2023. It tells the story of what happens to the twin left behind when her sister was involved in an accident that the police are claiming was a murder/suicide.
What did your journey to publication look like for your debut novel?
I had written two other stories before my first novel, If I Should Die before I Wake was published. The first book sat on an editor’s desk for over a year and a half! Back then you didn’t submit to more than one editor at a time so that was a long hard wait. There was interest but ultimately no offer. By the time I got that rejection I’d written another book, so I shoved that first one under the bed and sent out the next one. More waiting, no offers. It took me four years from the time I started writing to get published, and my first offer. I had sent the manuscript of If I should Die Before I Wake to an editor I’d read about in an article where she had stated she was interested in YA Historical Fiction. My book fit the bill so I sent it off to her and a few months later she accepted it. My whole family and I did the dance of joy. It was so exciting–and it still is. I’m excited every time I see the new cover of my latest book and get to hold that book in my hands and then see it out in the world.
Your books often deal with teens facing difficult situations. How do you ensure you handle these subjects with care?
I care so much about the subjects myself, and I care about the young adult readers I write for, so that makes it a lot easier. Also, I do a whole lot of research.
Your author bio says you often lie awake at night thinking up stories (me too!). Do you usually create outlines for them afterwards, or dive straight into writing?
Haha! We don’t get much sleep, but we do hopefully get some good ideas. Usually all I really have when I begin is a vague idea of what I want to write about–very vague and hard to pin down. I don’t write an outline. I write my first sentence. I keep writing a new first sentence until I find the one that makes me want to write a second sentence and then I write a paragraph. In that paragraph I’m looking for my character. If I can get that first sentence right and then get a sense of who my main character is, I can then keep writing. From there I’ll write about sixty pages and that gives me a much better sense of where I’m going, but also shows me where I’m going in the wrong direction, so I’ll start all over. I’ll do this writing of sixty pages and starting over several times until at last I’ve gotten everything lined up the way that it needs to line up and then I can move forward with the rest of the story.
Do you have any other exciting writing projects on the horizon you can share with us?
Yes, another YA novel set in an arts boarding school. I’m having fun with the main character. I think she’s a hoot! I hope a publisher will be interested in it, but in any case, I’m enjoying writing it.
What is your favorite part about writing young adult books?
I like when I have the whole story written down, so I don’t have to carry it all in my head anymore. Then I can tinker with it all I like, play around with it, fine tune it, and eventually send it out. I also love hearing from people who have read my books. I love the conversations we have, and I love knowing that the story has maybe given them hope or has changed or affected them in some positive way.
Can you provide links to any websites or social channels you’d like readers to follow?
You can find me at my webpage: Hannolan.com, on Instagram I’m Hannolanauthor, and on Facebook I’m Han.Nolan.
