Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m excited to have debut
author Elaine Kachala here to share about her MG
nonfiction Superpower? The Wearable-Tech
Revolution. It sounded fascinating to me after I read the first
sentence of the blurb.
Here’s the blurb from Goodreads:
Imagine being able to run without getting
tired. Or travel to the moon to observe Earth for science class. The
technologies that could make these things possible are mixing into our lives
faster than we realize. The stakes are high. In Superpowers: The
Wearable-Tech Revolution, young readers will discover how technological
innovation can help people survive and thrive, but the book also asks readers
to question whether it should. What if super strength results in endless work?
What if hackers can read our thoughts? Meet the inventors, designers,
engineers, scientists and young people navigating the next tech frontier.
Hi Elaine! Thanks so much for joining us.
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a
writer.
I work as a health policy researcher,
writer, and advisor for government and health agencies. Together with
journalists and editorial teams, we'd talk about "our reports having
legs" so they'd inspire people to make improvements in the healthcare
system. Early on, we discovered the power of stories to explain complicated
topics to governments and the public instead of just laying out the facts. It
is satisfying and exciting to research a new topic, distill the information,
and then write about it in a way that compels people to want to take action.
I'd never considered writing for kids,
but I was looking for a creative outlet about six years ago. I love picture
books; they're brilliant pieces of art. Why not write a picture book? I
revealed this goal to my family, and they bought me Anne Whitford Paul's, A
Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication for Christmas. Many
courses, conferences, and manuscript drafts later, I was at a workshop when I
found myself discussing STEM/STEAM topics for middle readers. I'd started down
the road of writing picture books, then, in one conversation, everything
changed!
We talked about the impact of technology
on people and the world and what would be the hook for this age group. I'm
intrigued by STEM/STEAM topics because I have two daughters who work in these
fields, and I'm always trying to understand their work. In my job at the time,
I was learning about incredible technologies underway to improve people's
lives, especially those with disabilities. But I didn't want to write a book
merely about technology; I was curious about the implications of technology.
Suddenly, many threads came together, and this book was born!
2. That’s great your family bought you a book
that inspired you. Where did you get the idea for Superpower? The Wearable-Tech
Revolution?
My earliest drafts were about many
different technologies. The style was descriptive, and there was too much
information; I had to sharpen the focus and needed a narrative arc. I reflected
on what I saw in healthcare and dug deeper into the research. I read books like
Klaus Schwab's The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Shaping the
Future of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Tools and Weapons: The
Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age by Microsoft's Brad Smith and
Carol Ann Browne. I was learning about the importance of the responsible design
of technology and what that meant. I researched the children's market. While
there were many brilliant STEM/STEAM books and books that explained
technological advancements and their impacts on society, I didn't find any
current books that combined these themes.
After more research, the topic of
wearable technology cast a spell on me. Why was I suddenly so invested?
I realized two things: That deep down, this multifaceted topic has to do with
health, well-being, and equity—issues that are important to me and are at the
core of my professional work. Beyond the blow-your-socks-off cool factor, our
society faces many challenges with wearables as these incredibly sophisticated
devices go mainstream. Writing a book that explores how wearables are changing
our lives and that delves into the pros and cons of technology is the book I
wanted to write. I wasn't seeing these issues reflected in books for young
readers, yet kids have a significant role in helping steer the world toward a
better future. Also, when I interviewed youth for the book, I was seriously
impressed by their thoughts, insights, and passion for creating technology for
a better world; I had to write a book that included their ideas and opinions.
Your Writing Process
3. Tell us about
the research process that you used in writing this book. What advice do you
have for other writers about researching for a nonfiction book?
·
I delved into the literature, focusing on
primary sources (e.g., books, scholarly journals, government documents), then
reputable websites (e.g., professional associations), and magazines (e.g.,
WIRED, Harvard Business Review). I also watched video presentations (e.g.,
TEDx) and listened to podcasts by experts (often, they produced YouTube videos
or did TEDx presentations or podcast interviews). All of this research helped
me understand news issues, learn about the technologies, and identify experts
to interview. I found podcasts, presentations, websites, and magazines
especially helpful for clarifying information with highly technical topics.
·
Read MG books of the same genre not only
to learn about the market and what topics were covered and where there were
gaps but to see how authors that I admired presented the information.
·
I delved deeper into the research and
ensured I had a clear structure for the book and a better sense of what I knew
and needed to know.
·
After I had a clearer sense of the
outstanding questions, I finalized my list of experts and did more research on
them and their work, and prepared questions. Always do your due diligence
before reaching out; experts have limited time.
·
I conducted interviews. A couple were by
Zoom; others were via email; in all cases, I sent my questions in advance. (It
was during covid; I couldn't visit people). I was specific about why I wanted
to talk to them in my outreach email.
4. It sounds like your research was extensive. How did
what you learned when doing your research affect your narrative?
The research directly shaped the
narrative. I was learning how wearable technology changed how we live, learn,
work and play. As I continued researching and reflecting on this point, it hit
me that wearables weren't just changing how we live but were changing and
augmenting us as human beings, and developments were happening fast. Experts
were speaking out about this and the pros and cons of technology; they were
asking whether innovation can go too far and questioning the "move fast
and break things" mindset that was common in the tech industry. While the
benefits of wearables were huge, in many ways, this technology was crossing
into some crazy ethical territory, and there were risks and challenges. The
questions that struck me most were: how do we innovate and design technology
responsibly? How do we reap the benefits but still protect against the harms?
The book's structure followed my learning process and the information I found.
5. What tools did you use to stay organized?
For reference management, Zotero saved
me! Initially, I'd tried Scrivener, but it could have been more user-friendly.
I found it too time-consuming to learn when I was learning so many other
things. When I learned of Zotero, I tried it and found it easier to understand;
Zotero helped me with reference management, which was huge. Otherwise, I worked
in WORD and EXCEL and had many folders.
6. What was a challenge you faced in writing this book?
How did you overcome it?
Since Superpower? was my first
book, the entire project was a sharp learning curve. My top challenges were
managing version control, keeping references organized, controlling word count,
and ensuring accuracy.
As the drafts evolved, I found it hard to
keep track of older ideas; I'm still trying to figure out how to have the best
version control system. But for reference management, Zotero saved me! I
learned about this software for managing bibliographic data from a presenter at
an SCBWI conference, and I'm ever grateful.
The last chapter is called How Do We
Design Responsible Technology? SET UP! RISE UP! TEAM UP! Initially, each was a
separate chapter, and the overall word count was too high. My editor asked if
I'd consider condensing them into one chapter. I had a moment, but then I said,
no problem! She was right. Condensing, SET UP! RISE UP! TEAM UP! into one
chapter helped me restructure the material, present ideas more clearly and
concisely, and reduce the word count. When I read it now, nothing important is
missing! Always listen to the editor!
Finally, I did an insane amount of
research on this topic; I had over 500 references, including expert interviews.
I was meticulous about ensuring accuracy. I'm so grateful to the experts who
reviewed the manuscript. They'd made some recommendations, but overall, I'd
been accurate, so my research paid off! Getting expert eyes on the manuscript
is essential.
Your
Road to Publication
7.
What was your road to publication like?
Thrilling! Nerve-racking! Fun! It was
filled with lots of emotions and challenges. It was also a heartwarming
experience. For example, becoming part of a community of children's writers was
amazing. I can't believe everyone has been friendly, supportive, and welcoming.
Working with Orca Book Publishers has
been an incredible experience. They are a fantastic publisher. All aspects,
from editorial support to illustration and book design and promotion, have been
incredible. It was truly a collaborative experience. They're so professional
and friendly, and supportive, and communication was easy and timely. I couldn't
have asked for a better first-time experience. I hope I can work with Orca
again.
8.
That’s great that your publisher was so good to work with. What is something
that surprised you in the process of getting a book contract or working with
your editor? Why?
Since this was my first book, I was
curious to know what it would be like to work with an editor. What surprised me
most was that she gently presented revision ideas but didn't change anything
independently. I really appreciated that. Of course, I took all of her
suggestions!
Marketing
9.
You live in Toronto. How are you planning to market your book in the United
States?
A few ways:
1. Orca Book Publishers markets their books in Canada, the
USA, and Internationally. Orca staff also attend conferences such as the
American Library Assoc, pitch festivals, and sends direct newsletters to
teachers, librarians, and schools.
2. From a warehouse near Bellingham, Washington, Orca
distributes its own titles and those of other Canadian publishers throughout
the United States (to schools, libraries, boards, wholesalers (e.g., in US
Follet, Baker & Taylor; Amazon).
3. Orca connects directly with clients to pitch books.
4. Sometimes clients put out calls for specific books, and
Orca responds to the call.
5. I had a Discussion & Activity Guide developed for
educators. It was created by a US STEM educational consultant and is aligned to
Common Core & National Generation Science Standards Grades 4-7.
6. I am doing interviews with contacts in the American
literary community, such as yourself, ReadingWithYourKids, and others.
7. I'm also reaching out to contacts that I have in the
US.
If you have other ideas, I'd love to hear
them!
10.
One idea would be to have a blogger who schedules blog tours schedule one for
you to reach new audiences. What advice do you have to other debut authors getting
ready for the release of their book?
Be prepared for the considerable time
commitment that goes along with marketing and promotion, so start early and
make a plan! I was new to the publishing industry and had no M&P
experience. So about ten months in advance, I started researching and attending
workshops. You'll be better prepared to work with your publisher, you won't
miss opportunities, and you'll be able to plan and budget because if you do it
right, there will be costs; it is an investment.
Thanks
for sharing all your advice, Elaine. You can find Elaine at:
Website: https://www.elainekachala.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elainekachala
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elainekachala
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainekachala/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainekachala/
YouTube
Book Trailer https://youtu.be/hvbNOG7V48Y
Giveaway Details
Elaine’s
publisher is generously offering a hardback of Superpower? The Wearable-Tech Revolution for
a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via
the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave
a comment by November 19. If
your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to
enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.
If
you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and/or follow me on
Twitter or Elaine on her social media sites, mention this in the comments and
I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to
enter. The book giveaway is U.S and Canada.
Marvelous
Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating
blogs on his blog.
Upcoming Interviews and Guest Posts
Tuesday,
November 8 I’m participating in the Super Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Hop
Monday, November 14 I
have an agent spotlight interview with Adria Goetz and a query
critique giveaway
Wednesday, November 16
I’m participating in the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop
Monday, November 23 I
have a guest post by author Jessica Vitalis and a giveaway of her MG fantasy
The Rabbit’s Gift
Tuesday, December 6 I’m
participating in the Winter Is Coming Giveaway Hop
Wednesday, December 7 I
have a guest post by debut author Deeba Zargarpur and a giveaway of her YA
contemporary House of Yesterday and my IWSG post
Monday, December 12 I
have an agent spotlight interview with Kelly
Dyksterhouse and a query critique giveaway
Friday, December 16 I’m
participating in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop
Monday, December 19 I
have an agent spotlight interview with Savannah Brooks and a query critique giveaway
Hope to see you tomorrow!
