I guess it’s my reaction to the superhero craze. I don’t know about you, but I spend most of my day trying to do stuff that I would never win a prize for. Vacuuming comes to mind right away. Or painting the bedroom. But I keep trying. 

Dan Jordan – 8 December 2018

The Back Flap

In this first book of Don Jordan’s series, the feisty Snappy sets out to prove that he is the fastest snail in Latimer Bay, and in the process creates an enduring event for the whole community.

About the book

What is the book about?

The Great Snail Race is the story of a feisty snail who sets about to satisfy a personal goal, but ends up engaging his whole undersea community to create an event that will go on to delight the inhabitants for years to come.

When did you start writing the book?

I began writing the book in the summer of 2012, while I was on vacation – by the sea, of course.

How long did it take you to write it?

The Great Snail Race is one of a series of five stories that I worked on for about a year, give or take.

Where did you get the idea from?

I like to put characters in places where they have to do things that they’re really not good at. I guess it’s my reaction to the superhero craze.  I don’t know about you, but I spend most of my day trying to do stuff that I would never win a prize for. Vacuuming comes to mind right away. Or painting the bedroom. But I keep trying.  Maybe our aspirations have nothing to do with reality. Or maybe they will lead us to places where we never intended to go. So, a snail race just seemed like it would make a really good story.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Oh yes! The most difficult part of writing this book was keeping it short. I wanted the book to have a strong story and interesting characters, I wanted it to create a fantastic world where readers’ imaginations can roam, I wanted it to have several themes, and I wanted it to be funny – and all this in about 1,000 words! That meant that every word really had to count. Each word had to serve double or triple duty, while still being meaningful and evocative to a child who may be just learning to read.

What came easily?

The easy part was creating the characters and finding their roles. After so many years of watching these creatures, I felt like I knew them all personally. Of course the snail had to be proud – anyone who moves that slowly must be very sure of himself.

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

Yes, Latimer Bay is based on a real place. Yes, I do have a son named Luca. And, yes, he did spend a lot of time looking off our dock every summer, although nowhere near as much time as I spent when I was his age. And yes, we did watch snails and blue crabs and barnacles and fish and even sea cucumbers. However, in the interest of privacy I have taken some poetic license and changed all their names.  For example, just between you and me, Snappy’s real name is Bartholomew, but that just didn’t sound zippy enough for the story.

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?

I owe a tremendous debt to two of my favorite writers: Mark Twain and Miguel de Cervantes. Both writers drew on the rich treasures of folklore, both had what I call a “comic” view of the world, and both used humor to reveal the deep humanity that ties us all together. But most of all, they were both writers with a tremendous respect for nonsense!

Do you have a target reader?

The Great Snail Race was written for children around 4-7 years of age, more or less. I hope that it will have something to say to adults, as well.

About Writing

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

I do a lot of writing when I’m not writing. I spend a lot of time exploring ideas while I’m going about my daily life. I may even write some of the actual text in my head while lying awake at night. Unfortunately (or maybe not), ideas come to me from out of the blue, and there is very little method to my madness. When I do sit down to put things on paper, I tend to work slowly, picking my words and reworking phrases as I go along. I’ll get up and interrupt my work frequently, and often get the “right” idea while fixing my cup of tea. Indeed, I find physical activity is a great stimulus for ideas.

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

I seldom do an outline. I do, however, do a lot of preliminary ruminating, and have a pretty developed idea of where I want my story to go before I begin to write. Much of my writing depends on something I call the “leap of the imagination” – a point at which the story jumps beyond the bounds of reality and everyday logic. This moment is key, and I can’t really start the story without knowing what it is going to be.

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

Both. Extensively. I identify with a painter friend who once told me “My biggest problem is knowing when a painting is finished.” In my theater work, I’ll keep revising a play long after it has been in performance. It drives my actors crazy….

Did you hire a professional editor?

No. And I can’t imagine wanting to.

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

No, I don’t. This is probably because I write songs as well, and the music would start me off on some other journey.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. No takers.

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

In my theater activities I’ve always worked independently, and I prefer it that way. It really allows me to follow my imagination, wherever it leads, without any thoughts about what “the market” may be looking for.

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

My illustrator did the cover as well.

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

After trying to do my own marketing, I realized that I neither know enough nor have the kind of personality to market myself, so I hired a publicist.

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

I wish I had some, but it would be the blind leading the blind. My primary advice would be, get lots of help. The whole publishing scene is changing so fast, and it’s very hard to know what actually works and what is just whistling in the wind.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small town in Connecticut.

Where do you live now?

I’ve travelled quite extensively, and have spent many years living in Italy and other parts of Europe. I mention this not only because living in Europe affected my writing, but also because being an artist in Europe was quite a different experience, and really helped me grow and find a voice. I now live in western Massachusetts in a community that is very special in that it offers both great natural beauty and a lively arts community.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m a clown by profession. No, I mean really.  Who else would write about a snail trying to win a race?

What are you working on now?

I direct Nutshell Playhouse, a small, independent theater company dedicated to creating and performing theater and music for family audiences. We are currently touring two original works and are in the process of developing a new piece. Our work draws on clowning, mime, masks, puppetry, dance and music to tell stories in new and engaging ways.

End of Interview:

For more from Don, like his Facebook page.

Get your copy of The Great Snail Race from Amazon US or Amazon UK.