Liz Michalski

Liz Michalski is the author of Evenfall and a contributor to Writer Unboxed and Author in Progress. A former reporter and editor, Michalski lives with her family in Massachusetts, where she loves reading fairy tales and sometimes, writing them. Darling Girl is her second novel.

My Q&A with the author:

How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?

Depends upon the reader. For the Peter Pan fanatic, the word darling will hopefully bring up an echo of the original story and Wendy, Michael and John. But the book is about more than just Peter. "Darling Girl" is a term of endearment, and the story explores the relationship of the Darling women not just with Peter, but with each other. Also if you read it quickly, the title can be misread as Daring Girl, which I like, since my female characters are all quite brave in their own way. It was Darling Girl from the beginning for me.

What's in a name?

Because I wrote a reimagined tale, some of the names — such as Peter, Tinkerbell, Wendy, and Jane — were obvious. Traditionally, Jane’s daughter is named Margaret, but I felt she was far enough away from the canon that I could change it. I chose Holly because it’s a plant that is evergreen, which worked on several levels — it plays into the idea of Peter Pan not growing up, as well as Holly’s interest in the cosmetics field and beauty. But it also represents hope, which, despite everything I threw at her, Holly always does. And as a bonus, I’d read when researching the plant that indigenous people used it as a heart stimulant, and Holly’s heart is in need of a jolt.

How surprised would your teenage reader self be by your new novel?

Oh Lord, not at all. I was the kid sitting on the floor of the library devouring books about hobbits and magic cauldrons and Merlin and the dark rising. I spent a ridiculous amount of time figuring out a way to bring Frodo back from the Undying Lands. If I was going to write anything, it was going to be this.

Do you find it harder to write beginnings or endings? Which do you change more?

Beginnings are relatively easy — I tend not to write the first few pages until I have a very clear picture in my head, almost word for word, of what I’m going to say. Endings are much harder. I always know where my story is going to wind up, but the road to that final destination changes from draft to draft.

Do you see much of yourself in your characters? Do they have any connection to your personality, or are they a world apart?

There’s probably a little bit of Holly in me — I definitely have that fierce instinct to protect and shelter my kids no matter what, and finding the sweet spot between stepping back and stepping in can be a balancing act. And I have a private snarky Jane side, if you think of Jane as Dame Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey.

What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?

I am a big believer in feeding your subconscious a rich and varied diet and then getting out of the way and seeing what happens. I take inspiration anywhere I can get it. Lots of time in nature, primarily, but also movies, museums, and people watching.

Visit Liz Michalski's website.

--Marshal Zeringue