A couple of weeks ago I wrote a review of a charming, middle-grade book called Gleam: Semma and the Secret of Stuffmore by new author Kurt Christiansen.

Today, I have an interview with Kurt.

He has some tips and inspiration for writers and an upbeat and hopeful view of the future for all of us.

If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll order a copy of Kurt’s fun, funny, and fantastic book.

On to the interview:

Telling Stories: Good morning, Kurt.

Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to chat with me.

Where are you writing from today?

Kurt Christiansen: I work from home, in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles, California, where we get a lot of sunshine, traffic, and new ideas for healing.

TS: All of that is so true.

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley.

So besides enduring the blissful sunshine and rotten traffic, you said you worked on Gleam for over a decade.

Not every writer has the fortitude to continue as you did.

What was the idea that sparked the project in the first place, and, equally important, what propelled you to continue?

KC: At Christmas one year, I was being playful with my nieces and nephew, and wrote on their gifts that they were from Larry Bumbrain.

Well, of course, they were confused and wanted to know who this was.

So, unprepared for this, I had to make up something on the spot.

My answers led to more questions and, over time, it grew into a thing.

Forget Santa, they wanted to know about Larry Bumbrain—this strange man sending them letters from far-out cultures like Ka Ka Koo and GoolenGaggenGiggen.

They really got into it.

Then I got the idea to turn all of this into a book.

Being a psychologist, I wanted to make it meaningful as well—helping kids in a non-didactic way learn some emotional skills and develop empathy while helping them be aware of the dominant materialistic worldview (without shaming it) and the potentials and pitfalls of it.

TS: That’s funny—or maybe natural—that such an idea would come to you at Christmas time when the country goes crazy for a few weeks buying, buying, buying.

What did you have going on in your life at that time?

KC: I started writing it when I was slogging through my dissertation.

I needed to.

I needed to write something with heart and soul and fun and imagination to get me through the dissertation.

I really enjoyed writing [the book], but I also had a career, so time wasn’t always abundantly available to write.

So it took years.

TS: Did you ever submit the manuscript to agents?

KC: I submitted to agents a number of times—hundreds to be exact.

I have yet to get a request to read the manuscript.

TS: I can’t believe the story didn’t get picked up!

KC: I’m not sure why.

I did many versions, paid for help, and…nothing.

It’s not that they don’t like the story; it’s that they haven’t given it a chance…yet.

!W#?%T!@! I can’t get past the query letter.

TS: Ugh!

The writer’s lament.

Query letters are a necessary evil.

I’m so glad you took matters into your own hands and published it.

What did you do while you were waiting to hear back from agents?

KC: After a few drafts, I would submit to agents, get no response, and while I waited, I would work on another draft, deepen the characters, and expand the world-building.

That kept the excitement alive over all these years.

TS: Tinkering.

Writers are good at that.

So I can guess what your least favorite part about writing is (query letters).

But what is your favorite thing about writing?

KC: For a few quiet hours in the morning, I love having my coffee with no plans or demands on me.

I can be by myself and dream up new ideas and worlds while trying to create a story that is fun, “depthful,” and socially relevant.

TS: That’s a great way to start the day.

What happens for the rest of the day?

KC: I work as a psychologist in private practice specializing in treating adults with childhood trauma.

I also dabble in art.

TS: I’ve seen your work on Instagram.

I’d say you do more than dabble.

KC: If anyone’s interested, here’s my site: www.kurtchristiansenart.com

TS: I love the phrases that your characters use in Gleam, especially Uncle Bumbrain.

Did you by any chance have a relative who spoke so colorfully like him?

KC: I wish I had a relative like him!

I think a part of me wants to be him.

He represents my playful, colorful, curious side.

I’ve always had fun playing with words, making up rhymes and funny little songs about deep things and nothing things like petting my cat in the closet in the morning or having to pee more frequently as I get older.

TS: Haha.

I think you and Phoebe from Friends should get together and put on a concert.

Is Uncle Bumbrain your favorite character?

KC: Semma is dear to my heart because she is the protagonist and oozes goodness, but Uncle Bumbrain is my favorite.

He holds the childlike wonder, curiosity, and adventure that drives the story and that the other characters follow.

TS: I liked him, too.

What was your favorite childhood book?

KC: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

TS: Oh, I loved that story and then the movie with Gene Wilder.

I can completely see the influence on Gleam.

KC: I fell in love with the world Roald Dahl built and, of course, characters like Willy Wonka.

So colorful, playful, wonderous.

And I love chocolate.

I’m eating some right now.

TS: Inspirational snacking.

It’s a necessity!

Besides chocolate, what inspires you?

KC: I think what inspires me most is the future.

I know many people are very pessimistic about humanity’s future right now.

I’m not.

I believe in the resiliency of people.

I think we have to make some major changes, but I think we will.

We always have.

I can’t wait to see all the inventions we come up with and the new potentials and abilities that emerge in people.

My writings are an attempt to help bring about a future that is more caring and a trustable world for more people.

TS: I love that.

I can also see that viewpoint in your art.

How do you balance all your projects: writing, art, your psychology practice?

KC: Every day, I write.

Even if it is just for an hour.

Mornings work best for me, before I see clients.

Coffee, feet up, cat on my lap.

It’s a great way to feed the soul and start my day.

TS: You’ve made a room of your own to enrich your life.

What advice can you give to kids and others who would like to write books?

KC: Don’t waste your time.

AI will be writing all the books soon.

I’m kidding, of course.

I hope.

I would say, firstly, get a cat.

TS: Ha!

Agreed.

KC: It’s very important.

Then, just start writing.

Write often.

Take some classes to learn structure, world and character building and things like that—get your foundation down.

Get feedback, support, mentorship.

And write something that lights you up and not what you think is going to sell.

TS: Write the book that you want to read.

And get a cat.

KC: If you don’t have a cuddly cat, everything will be much harder.

TS: Are you able to share what you’re working on now?

KC: I’m working on two books.

One non-fiction and one fiction—the second book in the Gleam series.

Semma, Uncle Bumbrain, and the gang bolt off to the rule-crazy world of the Ordero in hopes of saving the Seven Worlds.

I’m super jazzed about where the story is going.

TS: I’m excited, too.

Now that you’ve got this writing thing down, you should be able to publish the new book in WAY less time!

Thank you for the interview, Kurt.

This was fun.

To get in touch with Kurt, his websites are www.kurtchristiansenart.com and www.EmpathyWorks.net.

On Instagram, find him @kurtchristiansenart

Until next week,

~ Gail

Countdown: 31 more weeks of 2024

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