Interview with Tracy Holczer, author of Brave In The Woods

Brave In The Woods by Tracy Holczer

on February 2021
Genres: Middle Grade
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Critically acclaimed Tracy Holczer returns with a heartrending tale about a girl descended from the Grimm brothers who sets out to break what she thinks is a family curse.

Twelve-year-old Juni is convinced her family is cursed. Long ago, her ancestors, the Grimm Brothers, offended a witch who cursed them and their descendants to suffer through their beloved fairy tales over and over again–to be at the mercy of extreme luck, both good and bad. Juni fears any good luck allotted to her family she used up just by being born, so when she wakes up in the middle of the night with the horrible feeling like antlers are growing from her head, she knows something is wrong. The next day she learns her older brother Connor has gone missing during his tour in Afghanistan.

Her family begins grieving his loss in their own ways but Juni can’t help but believe that his disappearance means the family curse has struck again. Juni is convinced the only way to bring her brother home is to break the family curse and so she sets out on a quest to do just that.

From Charlotte Huck honoree Tracy Holczer comes a stunning new novel about the power of stories, the enormity of grief, and the brilliancy of hope.

1. This is your third published book. How has this writing process been different than your
   previous books?
   This book was the only one that came with most of the plot elements in place as I was
   envisioning it. With my first two books, there was only a character and a voice and I had to
   figure out what sort of adventure we were on as I wrote and imagined and chased rabbits down
   long, complicated pathways. I don’t want to say it was easier. Writing books isn’t easy! But it
   meant I could spend time figuring out the details earlier in the process.
2. What was your inspiration for writing Brave In The Woods?
   It’s so hard to trace back to an original inspiration at the end of the process. I really should keep
   notes as I’m writing a story to help me remember (you have inspired a new habit!). My books are
   always a blend of many inspirations that I find along the way. Because I don’t plot properly, it
   feels like hunting for treasure. The first notion I had of this story was when I read something in
   an article about a man losing his watch in his car and never finding it. I immediately envisioned a
   girl going out to her brother’s car at the same time every day to listen to a watch alarm go off.
   Why was she doing that? Where was her brother? How did the watch get lost in the car? Story
   inspiration always comes in the form of questions I have to answer. There were other inspirations
   along the way – a documentary about a pet cemetery, the Grimm’s fairy tale of Little Brother,
   Little Sister, and the restaurant that eventually became Hickory’s Miracle Café. That is a story all
   in itself.
3. How has the pandemic impacted your writing and creative process?
   In the spirit of transparency and for the kindred spirits out there, it has been the worst thing that
   has ever happened to my creative process. I am an empty well at the moment, although I’m
   starting to get brief flashes of inspiration again, so all is not lost. I’m taking my time and being
   gentle with myself. My muse has gone deep underground, but I know she’s still there. I had a
   good friend tell me recently that I have to show up every day. That’s all I have to do. I don’t
   have to write, I just have to show up and be ready to write.
4. You write so realistically of love and family and relationships. What events have been most
   influential on your writing?
   I had a bit of a Grimm childhood, which forced me to grow up fast. And pay attention. To
   everything and everyone. Paying attention combined with curiosity – why do people do what
   they do? – has been fundamental to writing realistically about love and family.
5. What are three things you learned about yourself during this pandemic?
   I would never make it in a zombie apocalypse.
   I will no longer waste time on anything that doesn’t bring me joy.
   No one gets tired of chocolate chip cookies. Ever.
6. How do you take your potato? Oh, potatoes. I eat them with all the fixings. After air frying them.
7. If Brave In The Woods was a color, what color would it be?
   Teal.
8. Do you have a favorite book or author you turn to for inspiration?
   Another problem with the pandemic is that I haven’t been able to read novels for about a year.
   So, I have turned to poetry. I’ve been inspired by Mary Oliver. A dear friend has been sending
   me Instagram poems and they have kept me going.
9. What was the first line you wrote for Brave In The Woods?
   Oddly, the actual first line, which doesn’t happen often. Juniper felt it when her brother
   disappeared.
10. What new project are you excited to share?
    The project I’ve been thinking about involves an orphan and a starfish and the way they save each other.
    Think My Octopus Teacher only for a middle grade audience.

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Find music from the book on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Ks5m56q1sAFQcyhzBpJoY?si=fbe562ff95cd4c85

Praise for Brave in the Woods:

★ “This is a beautiful tale of love and grief, friendship and family, and of hope. . . Give this to readers who loved Ali Benjamin’s The Thing About Jellyfish and Kate Allen’s The Line Tender… Holczer’s use of humor, thoughtful imagery, and magical realism elements makes this a wholly unique blend of modern fairy tale, hero’s quest, and coming-of-age story. A suggested purchase for all middle grade collections.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Holczer’s clear, gentle prose allows the emotional and descriptive elements of the text to shine in this multilayered road-trip story… A thoughtful exploration of grief, family lore, and human connection.” —Kirkus Reviews

“By turns heartbreaking and humorous, this is a story that hints at the possibility of magic while remaining rooted in real-world problems and relationships. There is love and hope amid the grief and confusion, just as the Grimm tales contain both wonders and horrors in their own right. A heartfelt lesson on the power of love and the tales we tell ourselves.” —Booklist

“Holczer has crafted another heartrending story of familial loss, grief, and healing… The imagery-rich text… [and] well-developed secondary characters help readers better understand Juni and the relationships she cherishes, while supporting her journey toward accepting the truth and finally letting go.” —The Horn Book

Also by Tracy Holczer
THE SECRET HUM OF A DAISY
EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE
Find out more at tracyholczer.com
Autographed copies available from Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, CA

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Mon May 17 – Kid Lit Frenzy http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com

Tue May 18 – Instagram post by @the_readers_antidote https://www.instagram.com/the_readers_antidote/
Throwback Post: Unleashing Readers – Review and Discussion Questions http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=22362

Wed May 19 – Librarian’s Quest http://librariansquest.blogspot.com

Thu May 20 – Instagram post by @pasadenalovesya https://www.instagram.com/pasadenalovesya/
Throwback Post: Teach Mentor Texts – Writing with Brave in the Woods http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2021/02/writing-with-brave-in-woods.html

Fri May 21 – Read Now Sleep Later https://www.readnowsleeplater.org

Mon May 24 Throwback Post: Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook https://mrsknottsbooknook.blogspot.com/2021/02/brave-in-woods-book-review-21921.html

Tue May 25 – Nite Lite Book Reviews http://nitelitebookreviews.com

Wed May 26 – Instagram post by @readnowsleeplater https://www.instagram.com/readnowsleeplater/
Throwback Post: ReadWonder – Review and Reflections https://readwonder.blogspot.com/2020/10/brave-in-woods-by-tracy-holczer.html

Thu May 27 – The Windy Pages – Interview with Tracy Holczer https://thewindypages.com

Fri May 28 – Instagram post by @jeninthebookstore https://www.instagram.com/jeninthebookstore/
Throwback Post: Nerdy Book Club – Guest post “On Found Objects, Creativity and Beginnings by Tracy Holczer https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2021/01/06/brave-in-the-woods-on-found-objects-creativity-and-beginnings-by-tracy-holczer/