This week, Editor-in-Chief Sheila Wright is pleased to host a Q&A with author Clara Gillow Clark! For a chance to receive a signed copy of one of Clara’s books in her acclaimed Hattie series, see our newest giveaway!

Clara Gillow Clark


Clara Gillow Clark is a critically acclaimed author of six novels of historical fiction for middle grade readers. Her recent work includes Secrets of Greymoor. In addition to many of her books being shortlisted for numerous State awards, her novel, Willie and the Rattlesnake King won an International Reading Association Young Adult Choice Award, and her novel, Hill Hawk Hattie was a Bank Street College Best Book of the Year 2004. Clara studied writing at New School for Social Research, and has taught writing for over twelve years for the Writer’s Institute.

Welcome back to CWG, Clara!

Sheila Clara, at what point in your life did you decide to become a writer?
Clara The desire to write came after I finished reading The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame when I was in 5th grade. I remember how much I wanted the story of Ratty and Mole and their friends to never end. It was then I knew I wanted to be on the inside, be a writer of stories, and not only the reader. Dulce Domum.
Sheila Was there a special event or person in your life that formed your desire to write?
Clara There are so many. Teachers, mainly–my mean 2nd grade teacher who made me stay in at recess to write a story or a poem to go along with my drawing of a rabbit (my first published piece); an English teacher in H.S. who submitted a poem I’d written to a national contest and it was accepted and reprinted several times; and Author Patricia Reilly Giff who encouraged me and saw promise in the draft of my very first attempt to write a novel. The book was never published, but whenever I see PRG, she asks why I don’t work on it again and send it out.

In my twenties, I read an interview with Judy Blume in Writer’s Digest magazine. Judy said something like this: If you read good books, write a lot and don’t give up, you’ll start to catch on, and that made sense to me; it was something I could do on my own. So I’d go to the library and check out an armload of books and read, read, read, and then write on an old typewriter using the hunt and peck method, and gradually I caught on. Learning to write has been a series of Aha! moments of catching on.

By the author (2nd Grade)

Sheila How would you say that your writing today differs from your writing early on in your career?
Clara I started out trying to write early readers like Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel, probably because my son was in lower elementary school when I first attempted to write for children. My stories tend to grow darker as I grow older. I’m working on a YA historical novel now that may or may not have ghosts in it.
Sheila How would you characterize your writing?
Clara Character driven, psychological. The act of writing itself, although often a struggle, feels dreamy to me.
Sheila What do you think are the driving themes of your work?
Clara What springs to mind first is separation or death of a parent(s) except for Annie’s Choice.
Sheila Of the books that you have written, which are your favorite and why?
Clara Annie’s Choice. Hill Hawk Hattie. Hattie on Her Way. Annie because it’s based on my mother’s childhood and set in a time and place that feels like home to me. Hill Hawk Hattie because I love her character and I loved bringing the history of the old time rafting era on the Delaware River to life–it’s an important part of history for NY, PA, and NJ, but not something kids study in school. Hattie On Her Way because I love the complex characters, the richness of setting and the dark psychological family mystery, and I like that it’s completely fictional–well, almost.
Sheila Do you have a favorite character in any of your books? Please explain.


Hattie On Her Way, by Clara Gillow Clark

Clara Please don’t ask me to choose. However, a favorite supporting character is Mister Horace Bottle in Hattie On Her Way and Secrets Of Greymoor. He’s a good friend to Hattie, but he also lightens the dark atmospheric mood of the story. He’s enormously creative and sensitive–truly memorable and lovable.
Sheila Do you think that the children’s writing industry has changed much since the beginning of your career? How so?
Clara It’s enormously different. When I first started submitting to publishers, the children’s market accepted unsolicited manuscripts with a cover letter and SASE, and they responded! For the most part that’s no longer true. There are exceptions like Boyds Mills Press. I don’t think I need to mention e-books, self-publishing, self-promotion, amazon. . . The list goes on. That’s not to say those changes are bad, but it is change and writers like myself who started publishing over two decades ago need to adapt and reinvent ourselves. Working on that!
Sheila What advice would you give to writers today?
Clara Love the journey. Persevere. Read, read, read good books.
Sheila If you could travel to any place on earth, where would it be?
Clara I’d like to travel into the future to see what happens here on earth after I’m gone. I can study the past, but only imagine the future.
Sheila What books would you take with you on this journey if you could only take three?
Clara Only Three? I’d take a reader and download at will. Classics would get top billing.
Sheila What are three things that you dream of doing, but have not yet done?
Clara Yoda could answer this. There is no try there is only do. I set goals and do what I dream of doing.
Sheila What are your hobbies?
Clara Reading, poetry, walking, gardening, sewing, knitting, crocheting, baking. . . I love to experiment with recipes and patterns. TRAVEL. Quantum Mechanics. SCIENCE.
Sheila Do you have a “philosophy” of life?
Clara The Golden Rule. Love, kindness, forgiveness. My creed is: Always be kinder than necessary.
Sheila Who is your favorite author?
Clara When you read as much as I do, it’s not possible to choose. Chekhov has been a great teacher for me. Here’s a writing tip from him:
When describing nature, a writer should seize upon small details, arranging them so that the reader will see an image in his mind after he closes his eyes. For instance: you will capture the truth of a moonlit night if you’ll write that a gleam like starlight shone from the pieces of a broken bottle, and then the dark, plump shadow of a dog or wolf appeared. You will bring life to nature only if you don’t shrink from similes that liken its activities to those of humankind.
Chekov
Sheila What would your ideal day consist of?
Clara The fictive dream–going for long walks on dirt roads and through the woods to dream my stories! Spending time with people I love.
Sheila What would you change if you could change only one thing in the world?
Clara Hate or Fear. They go hand in hand.
Sheila What is the best thing about being a writer (vs. the downside)?
Clara Writing! Being surprised by what comes out on the page while I’m writing that I didn’t see coming. Serendipity. The fictive dream. The downside: Never being as good as I wish, but since I don’t know my limitations, I keep trying.
Sheila Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Clara Thank you for asking! I’m excited about starting up my blog again. (Find it here: claragillowclark.blogspot.com ) For the holiday season, I’m hosting a group of local authors who talk about their writing process. Each one is giving away an autographed copy of one of their books to one lucky reader who stops by and leaves a comment. (Of course, I hope readers will follow my blog!) We’ve also formed a group and call ourselves the WrdWzrds. Once we have a brand, I’ll feature our group and our mission statement. Stay Tuned.

Thanks so much, CWG, for inviting me to talk about my books and writing.

Thanks for offering your experiences and insights, Clara!

Sheila Wright
Sheila is a Co-Founder and President of The Children's Writer's Guild, and Editor-in-Chief of CWG Online. She provides professional editing services, and is pursuing a graduate degree. Learn more about Sheila!
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