Beth's Book Basket

I’d like to welcome Indie-Debut 2010 author, Danika Dinsmore, to Beth’s Book Basket today. Danika’s fantasy middle grade novel, Brigitta of the White Forest, released this month. Congratulations Danika! Let’s talk a little bit about Brigitta and your writing. 

BETH: What was your inspiration for Brigitta?

DANIKA: It was originally a screenplay, as that was one of my earlier forms of writing. One day I was store-sitting for a friend. Her store was filled with magical items like renaissance wear, statues of dragons, etc. I found myself surrounded by faeries and thought that I hadn’t seen a lot of films about faeries and decided to create faerie characters that went beyond the Disney concept of them.

The main characters, Brigitta and Himalette, were inspired shortly thereafter while I was working on set with two girls who had a bit of an older/younger sister dynamic. We were filming outdoors on BC’s Sunshine Coast, which is forested, green, mossy – - and definitely a place where faeries might exist. 

The story emerged, fully formed, as if I had plucked it from the ether. The main story has never changed from that first draft, only become richer and deeper. 

BETH: As a author, I know how cool it is when the UPS truck delivers the box of your first book to your door. Describe your feelings the first time you held the book in your hands?

DANIKA: It was a bit surreal – like I couldn’t believe, after all those years, that I was actually holding a copy. I still can’t quite believe it. Ha ha. I also felt extremely grateful. It took the effort and support of many people to launch it. 

BETH: Okay, let’s touch on your writing process. What is the hardest thing for you about writing children’s stories? 

DANIKA: The hardest thing is always finding time to focus on writing! I’ve always been a busy person, with a lot of creative projects on the go. I had never focused on one creative project for so long.

BETH: What new writing projects are you working on?

DANIKA: It’s mostly editing right now. Editing screenplays, editing the second book in the White Forest series. Writing poetry in between when that calls. I did just get an idea for a new screenplay, but I’m going to have to put that on the back burner! 

BETH: Let’s wrap up with a fun, wacky kind of question. If you were a NASCAR driver, what sponsor would you want on your car and why?

DANIKA: Well, I don’t know if they’d sponsor a NASCAR driver, but BookMobile! I’m trying to convince my publisher to print our next run there. The produce all their books with 100% WIND POWER (from local windmills) and all their paper is 30% post-consumer fiber. This would help me to reconcile my environmental concerns regarding book publishing. And I also just think it would be cool to say I had a wind-powered book.

BETH: A wind-powered book is an interesting concept. However, Brigitta and Himalette might have trouble flying with all that wind!

Here is the front cover of Brigitta of the White Forest. To find out more, check out Danika’s blogs, The White Forest and The Accidental Novelist Brigitta can be ordered from en theos press.