303: A Survivor Story as a Middle Grade Novel in Poems — Interview with Sonja K. Solter

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sonja K. Solter.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sonja graduated from Stanford University and earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University, with a critical thesis on writing trauma in middle grade and young adult realistic fiction.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She is currently a creative writing mentor to youth with the Society of Young Inklings and enjoys writing poetry and prose for children of all ages.</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">When You Know What I Know</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is her gorgeous debut novel. Visit her</span> <a href= "https://www.sonjasolter.com/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">website</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">and follow her on</span> <a href= "http://twitter.com/SolterK"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Twitter</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">and</span> <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/sonjaksolter/"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Facebook</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode Sonja and I discuss:</span></h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The inspiration behind</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">When You Know What I Know</span></em></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plot points in a character-driven story</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Writing a book in verse instead of prose</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How an ensemble cast effects the main character</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Writing about trauma in middle grade and YA</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How attending a conference led to publication</span></li> </ul> <h4><em><span style="fon