FeedDark Water by Chynna Laird (YA Author Interview and Giveaway)
August 30, 2012 in Book Club Possibility, High School Teachers, Journal Writing, Laird Chynna, Young Adult Novels Tags: high school teachers, journal writing, NaNoWriMo, teen books, young adult paranormal novels
Today, I welcome my colleague and fellow WOW! team member, Chynna Laird, with her YA paranormal-suspense novel, Dark Water. Chynna has written a creepy, suspenseful book that also touches on some serious issues contemporary children/teens are dealing with such as a parent at war, PTSD, and death of a loved one. Chynna also has a copy to giveaway, so leave a comment for your chance to win! It’s YA, remember–and I know how many of us adults also love YA!
Margo: Welcome, Chynna, to Read These Books and Use Them. I am so thrilled to host you today and your first YA book, Dark Water. Can you tell us a little about your book?
Chynna: Thanks for having me here, Margo. Yes! Dark Water is a young adult suspense/paranormal. It’s about a sixteen-year old girl trying to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. The deeper she digs, the bigger the mystery seems to get. Here’s the book cover synopsis:
“Some answers are found far beneath the surface…”
Sixteen-year-old Freesia Worth has a mystery to solve—the disappearance of her mother at their family lake house. Her traumatized sister Sage hasn’t said a word ever since that day.
After almost a year, Detective Barry Cuaco has found nothing but frustrating dead ends. Soon he’ll have to let the case go. But Freesia isn’t making it easy for him. She needs answers. Now.
With the help of her secret crush, Rick, and a mysterious Goth girl named Mizu, Freesia learns about an ancient Native legend and a man known as the Watcher of the Lake.
Will Freesia finally uncover the truth? Or will the lake keep its secrets far beneath the dark water?
Margo: Spooky! I hope that Freesia can uncover the truth. (Winks) I read on your website that this was your NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month in November] project in 2011. Tell us a little about the process of Dark Water going from a NaNoWriMo project to a published book.
Chynna: Just before NaNoWriMo, I had this really creepy dream about an old Native man and a ghost he was trying to help. When I got up, I googled Native water legends, and my story came to me. I was so excited about this project, I actually finished it before NaNo was over! After that, I spent a couple of weeks editing and polishing it, then sent it to a publisher I knew who handles several books in the suspense/paranormal genre (Imajin Books). And then Dark Water was born!
Margo:How cool is that! Just goes to show you why we should listen to our dreams! If you had to compare your book to others on the market right now, where would it fit? How is it similar and different from these?
Chynna: I’d have to say that Dark Water is very similar to the works of Chris Grabenstein, Sharon Sala, and Charlotte Blackwell. They all have a wonderful talent of weaving creepiness and fun into their storylines. Dark Water is a bit different in that I also mix in the issues I think that need to be talked about more. Of course, authors have to be very careful when doing this because younger readers do NOT like being preached to. When you write about these issues, you need to make sure that it is at their level and non-preachy. So I hope that I accomplished that. I think I did…
Margo: Great, then let me ask: What are some themes you are exploring in this book?
Chynna: There are several issues I touch on in Dark Water. First, the main character, Freesia, is part of a military family. Her father was killed in a mission in Afghanistan. Another theme I touch on is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Freesia’s younger sister, Sage, lives with it, and I give a sense of what it’s like to live with a sibling who has this disorder. I also touch on mental health issues, specifically Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Before she disappeared, Freesia’s mother was a clinical psychologist who worked with children and families coping with this very difficult disorder. Finally, I touch on how young people deal with the very painful situation of parental loss.
I love to educate and stimulate conversation about these issues by weaving the information within a good story. That’s the best way to digest it, I think.
Margo: I couldn’t agree with you more! That’s the entire reason for my blog. 
How could teachers or parents use Dark Water? Are there certain discussion points that would naturally occur after reading it?
Chynna: I think there would be several discussion points after reading it. Young people may have questions, for example, about what SPD or PTSD is. Teachers can open the discussion to researching and learning about these disorders, how it affects individuals, and what they can do to help raise awareness. Caregivers can use the book to teach tolerance as well as to connect with their children by encouraging questions or concerns. That’s the first step to understanding. =)
Margo: So true! Are you working on any more YA books? I know you’ve written a variety of books—a memoir, a parenting book, a children’s book, and more.
Chynna: Yes I am, actually. I am working on one project that is a YA contemporary (tentatively called Just Shut Up and Drive), a potential action/immortal series as well as a special surprise. ;D
Margo: That sounds great! Maybe one of these days I’ll find a publisher for my YA, and then we can be YA authors together! Anything else you’d like to add about writing for YA and your book, Dark Water?
Chynna: The only thing I’d like to add is that anyone wanting to write in this genre, or already is, should just do it. Research the genre, talk to young people reading these books, and put out the best you can do.
Margo: Chynna, thank you for your time and encouraging words.
Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment by Sunday September 2 for your chance to win!
August 30th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Wow. This looks awesome.
–SueBE
August 30th, 2012 at 11:29 am
Chynna, I so like the inspiration of a dream for this story. Agree with Margo that we should heed our dreams.
Great to touch on these various issues through fiction format, especially at this target reading audience.
August 30th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
@SueBE it is AWESOME! What I especially love about this story is how Chynna wrote it as a NaNoWriMO and then did something with it!
@Patricia–now I just have to have dreams that I can turn into books.
August 30th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Margo, thanks so much for having me here today. It was amazing chatting with you again.
Hi SueBE! Thank you so much. =)
Patricia: It’s funny as many of my fiction ideas stem from dreams I’ve had (and I have really weird dreams sometimes. LOL!). Yes! We should never give up on dreams. They are what give us hope and keep us moving forward. =D
August 30th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Wow, this book sounds really great! Chynna’s story is very inspirational– I participate in NaNoWriMo ever year and its cool to see that other Wrimos are getting their November novels published!
Way to go!
~Grace
August 30th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Chynna
Nice job. Love it when I see writers following through, turning dreams into goals then into reality. Well done.
Hope Clark
http://www.chopeclark.com
http://www.fundsforwriters.com
August 30th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
What an inspirational person and interview. The jacket art is mysteriously compelling. I would grab this book off the shelf to learn more. Best wishes to Chynna and bravo for realizing her dream.
I’ll tweet this now!
August 30th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Chynna, I sometimes do have dreams I think I should act on. They’re always too scary for me to write about though. LOL I guess I should get over that. I loved this interview, and so intrigued with how you touched on so many educational subjects in your book. Thanks Margo for this wonderful Post. Wishing you great success Chynna.
August 30th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Hi again, everyone! =D
Grace: I’ve done NaNo three years in a row and this is the first Fiction novel I finished! It isn’t easy to commit to writing a novel in one month (especially when you have four kiddos buzzing around you. LOL!) But it’s possible. You CAN do it! ‘Friend’ me this year and we’ll give each other NaNo support! ;D
Hope: OMGosh. Thank you. You are SUCH an inspiration to so many writers.
Clara: Thanks so very much. Isn’t the cover awesome? The cover artist did an amazing job taking my description of the story and creating such an amazing visual. I think it represents what the story is all about.
Susan: Oh boy, can I relate. I have the weirdest and, often, scariest dreams. HA! In fact, my next challenge is writing a horror novel. Go ahead and write stories based on those dreams you have. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next big competitor for Stephen King! ;D And I try to touch on some kind of issue in each of my books. If you create a great story around it, it’s easier to digest. And young people are the ones we need to tap into about these things because they will carry it forward. =)))
Good luck to everyone!
Chynna
August 30th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Wow. This sounds interesting, and I’d love to win it. Although I’ve never written in this genre, I’ve enjoyed reading paranormal and would like to try writing it one day.
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
August 30th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Congratulations, Chynna! I’m looking forward to reading your first YA novel, Dark Water.
I love that you genre hop, but no matter what you write I know it’s you because a lot of the themes you explore are the same (although it looks like there’s new ones too). I think it’s SO great you wrote this during NaNo and actually followed through with the editing and publishing. You always continue to amaze me. 
Great interview, ladies! xo Ang
August 30th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
I clicked on the link to this interview with intention of entering and (hopefully) winning a book I could recommend to my pre-teen Sunday School. After reading about the book and “hearing” Chynna talk about it, I want it for myself. Sounds like a GREAT book!
August 30th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
This book sounds terrific. I love the topics it deals with in the story. Hope I win it!
August 30th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Hi Joyce! YA is such a fun genre to write. You should take that interest in paranormal and go for it! =)
Ang: thank you so very much. You know me…I gotta keep trying new stuff and challenging myself. I think that’s so important for writers. Your comments mean the WORLD to me. <3
Catrina: That is SO AWESOME! =D You read it first then give it to your pre-teen. I hope you BOTH will enjoy it. <3
Ann: Thanks! I hope so too. Good luck to you.
August 31st, 2012 at 6:03 am
This book sounds interesting! I think I would enjoy reading it and sharing it with my coworkers.
August 31st, 2012 at 8:44 am
Chynna! I hope not too late! I love the synopsis of this book–the paranormal, the water, the Native American legend, the mystery. Ummm…wait. Isn’t that what MY Nano book’s about?
(It’s not, really-but those are elements that draw me in to YA everytime. Good on you, Chynna! You’re truly an inspiration.)
August 31st, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Jill: that’s awesome! I’d love for you to share it with your coworkers! =)))
Hi Cathy! Nope. It’s not too late. I think you have until September 2nd.
You had me going for a sec there. I thought, “HOLY MOLY! I unintentionally stole an idea! No WAIT! It WAS my dream.” LOL! ;D Yes, I’m very much drawn to mystery, paranormal and Native legends. And thanks so much for coming by. <3 <3 <3
September 1st, 2012 at 2:17 pm
What an interesting story she is telling. Sounds wonderful. YA is a difficult field
to write and it sounds like she did a wonderful job. So wonderful to learn abut
all these new books.
September 1st, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Hi Margo and Chynna, Wow, you’ve not only followed your dreams, you’ve written and expanded them! I’m also working on MG/YA stories while waiting for my children’s book(s) to be published. It’s hard but satisfying. Keep up the good work!
September 2nd, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Thank you so much to everyone who left a comment. I will announce the winner in Monday’s post. I know you will be super excited to win this book!
September 2nd, 2012 at 10:05 pm
Normally paranormal does not appeal to me but the way so many underlying themes have been woven in make this book a definite add to my list of YA books to read!
September 15th, 2012 at 4:28 am
Hello everyone, it’s my first visit at this site, and article is truly fruitful designed for me, keep up posting these articles or reviews.