Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2020, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know these new authors and can offer them your support. Go here for more “Debut You” posts.
Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Funny, awkward, loyal, kind, and imaginative.
I love creating stories, and I’m always thinking of new ideas and characters for my writing. It’s sometimes difficult to shut off my thoughts, and I often get lost in the worlds and drama I’m creating. I love dreaming up new ways to take readers on an unexpected and fun journey while also sparking their own imaginations.
Explain your writing procedure, such as how you come up with ideas, carve out time to write (or, if you can write anywhere at any time during the day), deal with writer’s block, or anything particular or peculiar.
With my full-time job, it’s sometimes difficult to find time to write. I’m an early bird, so I get up before work, maybe 5 or 6 a.m., when I’m on a deadline. I also write in the evenings after work. The weekends are when I’m most productive. I treat the weekends like a workday and will write 8-10 hours. All I need is a comfortable seat, snacks, and silence. I get ideas randomly — while exercising, watching television, eating, daydreaming, or during a conversation. One word or picture can spark an idea for a novel. I also keep a journal of ideas that I refer to when I’m not feeling that creative or need inspiration.
Balance is the key to successful living. How do you balance the act of writing with other priorities, such as your job, family or fun activities, and self-care?
I’m pretty organized, so I like to plan my days and weeks as far in advance as possible. My work can be very busy, so I must factor that in when I have a writing deadline. I try to be kind to myself when I don’t meet a deadline or when I simply need to rest. I make sure to take time to exercise, and I treat myself when I do achieve my goals. When I feel overwhelmed, I allow myself a break, and I’m getting better at saying, “no.” I’m definitely less creative when I’m exhausted or stressed, so self-care is important.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
My middle-grade novel Hide and Seeker is a horror story but also has adventure, humor, and mystery. The book is targeted toward kids aged 8-12, but adults really enjoy it as well. Kids love to be scared, and they also love feeling empowered. In Hide and Seeker, kids must overcome their fears, and in doing so, find the true meaning of friendship and family and also learn to be self-confident. I think these are wonderful messages all kids can embrace. And I really wanted Black kids, in particular, to see themselves as heroes and champions. In this novel, they save the day!
Tell us about your book.
In Hide and Seeker, Justin and his friends attend the welcome home party for a kid who mysteriously disappeared a year earlier and recently returned home. After playing a game of Hide and Seek, strange things begin to occur. A mark appears on the wrist of every person who played the game, and one by one, they begin to vanish. They are taken to another world, called Nowhere, where they not only have to face their greatest fears, but also the Seeker, an evil monster who is determined to keep them imprisoned forever.
Hide and Seeker (Scholastic Press, Middle-Grade, 320 Pages, September 15, 2020) is available now!
Daka Hermon was born in Tennessee and spent her childhood huddled under a blanket with a flashlight, reading and writing fairy-tale and fantasy stories. She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature/Creative Writing. She works in the entertainment industry and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She loves sweet tea, chocolate, cupcakes and collecting superhero toys.
Connect with Daka Hermon | Website | Twitter
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