This week YA author Susan L. Reed took over our Twitter as a part of our weekly Thursday Twitter Takeover. Susan L. Reed is the author of Mermaid Tears. (See YEM’s interview of Susan L. Reed here.) See highlights from the takeover below.
This is author Susan Read for #YAAuthorTakeover. I decided to write my book Mermaid Tears because in my 40 years as an educator, I’ve seen so many kids struggle with mental health https://t.co/7m9HU4D1T0
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Middle school is an especially tough age. Kids face so much pressure. But I didn’t see much coverage of these issues in middle grade fiction. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
We’re facing a youth mental health crisis that is only getting worse. According to Stanford, suicide is now the third leading cause of death in young people ages 15 to 24 https://t.co/uSFIYjGEVg #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Earlier this week the US Surgeon General noted a “devastating” uptick in mental health challenges for young people. ER visits for suicide attempts in girls rose 51 percent in early 2021, from the same period in 2019 https://t.co/qFlrWHg9iL #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
According to the Surgeon General: "Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real, and they are widespread. But most importantly, they are treatable, and often preventable.” #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Mental health warning signs are often overlooked in younger kids, and getting the necessary treatment can be extra challenging. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Part of treatment and prevention is awareness. The core message of Mermaid Tears is “there is no such thing as normal.” #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
In the middle grades especially, kids face so much pressure to be just like their peers. Feeling different, or “not normal” is a challenge in itself. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
This sense of feeling different from peers, and the challenges of reaching out for help, make mental health issues especially challenging for young people #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
If kids and parents know that these challenges are part of life, they’ll know how to recognize and treat them when they arise #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
I’ve always loved books, but working as a middle school librarian encouraged me to branch out into middle grade books. And seeing the sparse discussion of mental health at that age led me to think a book like Mermaid Tears was sorely needed #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Though the book was inspired by decades of experience as an educator, it’s also inspired by my own life. In many ways, the main character Sarah is me, and writing the book was a therapeutic experience in that sense #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
I could feel her pain because it was my own pain. I wish the writer I am now had been able to help the child I was then, so I really hope this book will help other kids in pain #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Writing the book was a four-year process. I wanted to publish a high-quality book, and that meant working with an experienced editor. I worked with Jennifer Rees, who was amazing, and had years of experience with Scholastic authors #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
If I have any advice for would-be authors, it’s to work with an experienced editor who knows your audience. Be open to their suggestions, and willing to learn. #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Don’t try to do everything yourself. I worked with Izzard Ink Publishing, who built a team including my editor, cover designer, interior designer and publicist. They helped coordinate their efforts and walked me through the process #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Instead, focus on the writing process. For Mermaid Tears, I created a draft with the main story events to build the flow. I moved things around, adding and removing when I had new ideas. Then I got feedback from my editor and made changes #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
The process took about four years, including eighteen months working with my editor. It was worth it to get it right #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
When I was young, it was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis that first inspired my love of literature, after a teacher read it aloud to the class. I’ve since reread it countless times #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Other authors that helped inspire Mermaid Tears include Peter Brown, Victoria J. Coe, Elly Swartz, and Jarrett Lerner. My favorite author for adults is Robert B. Parker #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
Several of Robert B. Parker’s book covers were created by Andrea Ho, who also designed the cover for Mermaid Tears #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
I lived in New Zealand until I was 43, working as an elementary school teacher and principle. I moved to Massachusetts—just six days after 9/11, on the first plane after airspace restrictions were lifted #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
In addition to being an educator and author, I love animals! I’m a dog rescuer, and have close relationships with my very spoiled rescue dogs #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
What are your favorite middle grade authors? And what do you want to see more of in middle grade books? #YAAuthorTakeover
— Young Entertainment Magazine (@YoungEntmag) December 9, 2021
