Shannon Hitchcock is the author of five middle grade books and three picture books. Before she became an author, she had several other occupations, from accountant to office manager. After a tragic accident struck her family, Shannon decided to pursue writing full-time when she realized life was too short to not follow her dreams.
We’re so excited to have you on our blog! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your books?
I grew up in North Carolina on a hundred acre farm. My rural background and large extended family both influence my stories. I lived in Tampa for thirteen years (2007-2020), and met Fred through SCBWI. I currently live in Asheville, North Carolina, (we moved during the pandemic). I have been married for many years and have a grown son who’s in graduate school at Georgetown. I write middle grade novels about tough topics and picture book biographies set in Appalachia. Here’s the complete rundown:
The Ballad of Jessie Pearl–set in the 1920s during the tuberculosis pandemic. (Namelos, 2013)
Ruby Lee & Me–this one tackles school integration. (Scholastic, 2016)
One True Way--two girls develop a crush on each other during Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” campaign. (Scholastic, 2018)
Flying Over Water–co-written with Muslim author, N.H. Senzai, FOW looks at the experiences of a Syrian refugee family during Trump’s Muslim Ban. (Scholastic, 2020)
Saving Granddaddy’s Stories–Ray Hicks, the Voice of Appalachia–this was my first picture book. It tells the story of oral storyteller, Ray HIcks. (Reycraft, 2020)
She Sang for the Mountains–The Story of Jean Ritchie, Singer, Songwriter, Activist--the second book in my storytellers’ series. This one is about the life of ballad singer and dulcimer player, Jean Ritchie. (Reycraft, 2021)
Story Quilts–Appalachian Women Speak–This book pays homage to Appalachian quilters. (Reycraft, 2022)
Of Words & Water–The Story of Wilma Dykeman, Writer, Historian, Environmentalist. This book is forthcoming in the spring of 2024 and has a strong environmental/clean water theme running through it. (Reycraft, 2024)
Dancing in the Storm–co-written with Amie Darnell Specht, a young woman born with a rare genetic disorder called Fibrodysplasia Progressiva, (Penguin/Random House, 20204)
When was the first time you thought to yourself “huh- maybe I’m an author?”
The first time I truly felt like an author was the first time I saw my name in print. I had sold a magazine article to Pockets magazine and nearly had a heart attack when they sent author’s copies.
You’ve always loved reading and storytelling, but had several other jobs before becoming an author. What gave you the final “push” to chase that dream?
My sister died in a car accident when she was 34 years old. Her death was a wake up call that life is short, and if there’s something you want to do, the time to do it is now. I had wanted to write for many years, but never found the time to make it a priority.
You’ve written several books about difficult topics, including the Civil Rights movement of the 60s and a middle grade romance about girls who like other girls set in the 70s. How do you approach these topics in order to do them justice?
I only tackle topics that call to the deepest part of my heart. I lived through school integration and my school’s first African American teacher taught me to read. I wrote about the first crush between two girls to honor my sister. So…I start with a personal connection, then I read everything I can get my hands on about the topic and take notes. When I’m chock full of information, I start to write, and I always have sensitivity readers offer feedback. I used sensitivity readers before I had ever heard the term. I just sought out writer contacts with a similar life experience to the characters I was writing about.
What do you think is the hardest part of breaking into the industry as a debut author? How can an aspiring author combat this?
The hardest part about breaking in is like with anything else–no experience. I gained confidence by first writing for children’s magazines. I’m not saying that is the only way to go, but it helped me. The other piece of advice I have is to take workshops, attend conferences, and pay for professional critiques. All of those things will strengthen your writing so that it’s good enough to catch the eye of an agent or editor.
What habits have you implemented to improve your own writing?
I am an early morning writer. I set the clock for 6:00 am and try to put in a couple of hours each morning when my mind is fresh. I am also an avid reader of middle grade novels, and I read with a writer’s eye, dissecting what works and sometimes what doesn’t. I also have trusted beta readers. I would never turn in a novel to my agent until several people have offered feedback.
Shannon Hitchcock and her books can be found here.
