Below is my interview with Ruthie Davis, a middle grade author whose novel, The Secrets and Peculiar Adventures of Jillian Dangerous, blends history and fantasy and the author’s own personal story into an adventure story featuring a bullied pre-teen girl who finds where she belongs in a school on the other side of the world. Below Davis answers my questions about her book, her writing, and the message that she wants to send out into the world. You can also find my review of her book here!
About the author and book
Name: Ruthie Davis
Book Title: The Secrets and Peculiar Adventures of Jillian Dangerous
Genres: Historical fiction, science fiction, middle grade
Book Summary
Jillian earns her nickname when she drags her roommates 50 years into the past to a boarding school in the Vietnam highlands during the war. Secrets, danger, intrigue, magical events, and real history roll up into a coming-of-age tale illustrating how challenges press a girl labeled as different to become strong and independent.
Book Excerpt
“The ocean waves crashed against the seawall, and as I looked out above the ocean, the sky began to turn a strange color. Not green like a tornado. I had seen that once. This, I’d never seen before. It was purple – not a pretty purple – but like a deep dark bruise from being beat up. I don’t know why, but it gave me a chill down my spine. I looked at my roommates and without a word we started to run. Then the wind began to howl, and we ran faster for the safety of our room.”
From a 12-year-old reviewer: “This was an awesome book because of all the twists and turns. I really liked the relationship between the roommates because they would help each other out and support each other. I also liked how the setting was at a boarding school because it reminded me of Harry Potter. One other thing that was interesting about this book was that when the girls traveled back in time to 1965, Jillian and her mother were friends. There was nothing that I did not like about this book. I hope the story will continue and become part of a series because I definitely want to read more. I would rate this book 5 of 5 stars, and I would recommend this book to ages 10 and up.”
Talking Shop
What is the central theme or message of your story? What do you want readers to take away from it?
This is a story that is intended to both teach and entertain. My heart goes out to adolescents who have so much potential but are minimized by being different. There are so many ways that we differ from each other. Differences can be at the center of being ostracized for a wide range of boys and girls who are struggling to find their way to internal strength and independence. How to overcome and become strong is the underlying fabric of the book, but I also want readers to learn something about history while they are taken on a magical trip through time. I experienced much of the history. So, I found this book both enjoyable and painful to write.
Name a fact or detail about your story that can’t be found within the pages of your book.
Sometimes writing about a painful part of your past is something that you unknowingly avoid. Although I’ve had many readers, none asked me why I didn’t talk about Jillian’s homesickness until Laura asked me that question. So, it was missing but it isn’t now. I went back to add some content and uploaded it on Amazon. I know she was right, because as I wrote I found myself tearful. It took me back all those years. I was suddenly there. It wasn’t fun, but it was necessary.
What’s the best review/compliment that you’ve received about your book?
One was “It’s weird and it’s cool.” And another: “…it reminded me of Harry Potter.” (I happen to be a Harry Potter groupie.)
What is your day job? How, in any way, does it relate to your life as a writer?
I’m the Chief Operating Officer of a large counseling agency. Although I’m all things business, I’m married to a psychologist and am surrounded by therapists at work. I’ve learned that having the courage to integrate feelings with business results in a stronger outcome. Who I am relates to how I write which is why the theme of becoming strong and independent is the underpinning of the book.
How well do you handle criticism, either while writing, editing, or reviews? Do you ever use that criticism to change your story?
I attempt to approach life as a novice so that I can always have a spirit of learning about who I am and how I can best help the world. Accordingly, I welcome criticism in all aspects of writing. Yes, I certainly have used that criticism to change my writing – with gratefulness.
“What If” Scenarios
If your book ever becomes a movie, and you get final say over the cast, which actors would you hire to play your characters?
I’m not familiar with a wide range of 12 year old actors, so I can’t answer the question precisely other than to say what I’d look for in auditions is a sense of vulnerability combined with spunk for Jillian, and she wouldn’t be very pretty.
If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?
I’d like Madeleine L’Engle to read it because I’ve been told it’s like a Wrinkle in Time. I agree to some extent. I’d be interested to hear if I nailed it with weaving the process of “becoming” throughout.
A wealthy reader buys 100 copies of your book and tells you to hand them out to anyone you wish. Who do you give them to?
I’d march straight to the middle schools in the inner cities near me and ask the Guidance Counselors to hand them to any kid who is struggling emotionally and would enjoy an entertaining book. In fact, the more I think about it, that sounds like a really good idea. I’ll have to check my budget and see if I can pull it off.
You are transported inside your book for one day. What role do you play? How do you alter the events of the story?
I would be tempted to be Jillian, because in many ways I already am that character. But I think I would instead choose to be Sam who struggles internally and somewhat unsuccessfully. I’d help her get there not through events, but through the process of friendship.
You’re offered a contract to rewrite your book in another genre. Which genre do you choose and why?
I’d keep the same genre but might write the historical fiction from the perspective of one of the high school students at the boarding school. Their viewpoint would most certainly be different, and I’d be able to reach out to an older reader’s audience about some of the same underpinnings of being different and becoming strong. It’s a tough world out there, and none of us are ready when we graduate from high school.
Just For Fun
Your trademark feature.
Seychelles boots
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
That I helped people find their way to internal strength and contentment.
One year of your life you’d like to do over.
First year of college. I was miserable.
One bucket list item you’ve completed and one that’s still on your list.
Went to Iceland but the flight to Grimsey Island (to cross the Arctic Circle) got cancelled.
Still on the list: Cross the Arctic Circle in Norway. My grandparents moved here straight from Norway as adults. A good trip along the fjords and into the northland would be centering.
Favorite time of/part of your day.
Love, love, love mornings when no one else is up.
Pin it!
Interesting interview and I love the way the book sounds and the message. My stepdaughter is not close to the age of being able to read this but I definitely think it’s a book I’d like for her to have.
Oh definitely. It might be a good book to read together.
As a language Arts teacher who dabbles in social studies, I love that she drags her roommates into a historical event. I’m a huge fan of descriptive writing, so the exercpt from the book caught my attention.
It’s definitely a fun school read, especially because it’s not your average classroom setting. The historical elements were some of my favorite parts of the story.
This book sounds pretty good! You got my interest!