Fall in love with your characters. Find compassion for the evil, nasty ones. They, too, have a mother.

Ellen Plotkin Mulholland – 28 November 2013

The Back Flap

Three boyhood friends find themselves in the last week of junior year and in the midst of too many secrets. Miguel can’t keep his feet off the soccer ball; he also can’t keep his pants on and mind in his books. Jesse has a girl, for the moment, but her eyes seem to be wandering, and after she spills a secret about his best friend, Jesse isn’t sure she’s the girl for him. Then Jesse’s dad tells him what really happened the night his uncle died in a car accident 17 years ago. Finally, there’s Matt, the brains of the trio; Matt is also in need of a major dose of confidence. He’s never met the right girl for him, and as junior year comes to a close, he begins to understand why. His attention turns to the kind smile of the basketball team’s star player. His secret seeps out in the library, and this small town has ears, and at least one resident has a very big mouth.

As the stories unfold, the boys must come to grips with the true meaning of friendship. More importantly, they must understand what it means to be a man. Courage comes in many forms, but can a 17-year-old boy actually find enough of it to stand behind his beliefs?

About the book

What is the book about?

Birds on a Wire follows three best friends through their final 72 hours of junior year. When we meet Matt, Jesse and Miguel, they are talking about finishing off high school and making plans for life after college. Over the next few days, several secrets spill out, and the boys must choose how to respond. The biggest secret is who Matt has a crush on. When the friends learn that it’s another guy, they scramble to make sense of the boy they thought they knew. Matt must also decide how much he’s willing to risk in order to be true to himself. The boys must step up and be men; but they don’t know how. Birds on a Wire is kind of a coming of age coming out book.

When did you start writing the book?

I started the book about a year ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me about ten months.

Where did you get the idea from?

I work with teenagers. I’ve been thinking a lot about what kids go through when they decide to come out. I wanted to write a story that was more about the friendship between boys and less about being gay. There is so much pressure on boys to be “real men.” Being gay is still a stigma. I wanted to write a story that made it more normal.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Oh, yes! Writing dialogue between boys when I am a woman was very challenging!

What came easily?

The themes of love, kindness, and honesty.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Any author would lie if she said all her characters were completely fictitious. Of course, sometimes we just don’t know where a character’s personality truly came from.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Stephen King has influenced me in the importance he places on the back story of characters. I find that when I am stuck in my writing, if I just spend some time developing a minor character, the plot begins to move in a direction that I never expected. It’s like magic!

Do you have a target reader?

This is a YA book. I originally wrote it for boys, but it’s really for anyone. Even adults.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I do spend time sketching out my story, themes, plot, and characters. I’m probably a bit old fashioned with it, but it works for me. Sometimes, I take a white board and map out dates and events and locations, just to take in the big picture (which can often get lost in the writing process).

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I don’t outline. I do jot notes for each phase of the story – it keeps me on track.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I edit as I go and edit after I finish and edit and edit and edit!

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

When I was writing the scene in Birds on a Wire where the character Miguel is dancing in the street, I found it helpful to actually play some C & C. Usually, I like some classical or new age music in the background. For the book I’m working on right now, I am trying out some Baby Brain music. I like it.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I used to. Now that I’ve found a small publisher, I’m happy to work with him.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I like the indie/small publisher world. It’s more green and intimate.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

My publisher connected me with an awesome graphic artist, Tim Sunderman.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Haha. We have a small plan that is one feather shy of a wing.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Don’t give up. If you love to write, write. Remember that you are telling a story, someone’s story. There are many people out there who will connect to it. Tell it with your heart. Fall in love with your characters. Find compassion for the evil, nasty ones. They, too, have a mother. (Unless you are writing Sci-Fi, perhaps).

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in San Bernardino  – a small town northeast of LA.

Where do you live now?

I live in Northern California.

What would you like readers to know about you?

My writing is constantly evolving and improving, just like me.

What are you working on now?

I am writing another YA. This one involves a girl who hears voices and is totally obsessed with Michael J. Fox and Back to the Future. She’s searching for her dad, but she’s lost in herself. Unfortunately, she deals with her anxieties in a way that might just get her arrested.

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of Birds on a Wire from Amazon US (paper or ebook) or Amazon UK (paper or ebook).