Magical Allies: How Debbie Black Found the Perfect Small Press for Her Middle Grade Series SARA AND THE GHOST CLOTHES

First, congratulations on the publication of your middle grade novel DEETJEN’S CLOSET, the first book in the SARA AND THE GHOST CLOTHES series. Kirkus called it an “inventive, intelligently mounted fantasy” with an “engaging young hero,” and this is an accurate description! Could you tell us more about the story and your inspiration for it?

 Thanks, Sangeeta. It’s heartening to see such positive reactions and responses. Being a debut author, I didn’t know what to expect.

DEETJEN’S CLOSET is a middle-grade historical fantasy that I wrote specifically for readers in that sweet spot between ages 8 and 12—especially those who love magic and history. California’s Big Sur coast is where 10-year-old Sara’s own story of challenges, discovery, and courage weaves around true tales of six real-life characters in California history—as told by the clothes that they wore.

Inspiration for the book came when my husband Garth and I stayed at Deetjen’s Inn in Big Sur for our anniversary. Because I grew up in a redwood forest and I’m a total history geek, the100-year-old rustic inn tucked into a canyon of redwoods is like paradise to me.  My imagination runs wild. I looked around the room and thought: If only these old wood walls could talk. Who’s stayed in this room? What did they talk about? What were they wearing? Then I got the idea of having the clothes that would have hung in the closet tell the stories of the people who wore them—real life historical people. I began to write a book that would have fascinated me in elementary school and fed my curiosity about history.

When you first contacted me in fall 2021, you said that you were an active member of SCBWI, San Luis Obispo (SLO) NightWriters, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and the Bookshelf Writers critique group. How has membership in these organizations helped shape your journey toward becoming a published author?

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, I have to say that I wouldn’t have published without the support of my writing group of nine years, The Bookshelf Writers. I’d still be writing but I’d be plodding along by myself. Writing groups keep your feet to the fire, keep you accountable, give helpful critiques and moral support. Joining SCBWI improved my craft tenfold. Because I’m writing mainly kid lit right now, the SCBWI conferences, workshops, resources, and the support of local chapter members have been extra helpful. It’s all about writing for kids. Authors need to find their peeps. I found mine at SCBWI.

Before finalizing your manuscript, you asked beta readers to provide detailed feedback. What was your experience finding these readers and convincing them to comment on your work? Was their feedback similar to other feedback you received, such as from your critique group?

Beta readers need to be in every author’s toolbox. For adult fiction, I found book clubs are eager to help authors and provide feedback. The downside is that some may not like your genre and show no reserve in telling you! But any feedback is good, right? For my middle grade series, the best beta readers have been kids in those grades. They’re direct, enthusiastic, and genuine. Some fourth-grade beta readers for DEETJEN’S CLOSET helped in tweaking the cover design as well as making significant plot suggestions for the next book in the series, McMENAMIN’S CLOSET. Their feedback was from a child’s perspective which is just as valuable to me as the developmental suggestions from my writing group.

Earlier this year, your novel released with Coalesce Press, which you described as “an enthusiastic small local press.” How did you hear about Coalesce, and what were the steps involved in signing with them? Were there any surprises you encountered during the publication process?

Coalesce Press is lovingly owned by Linna Thomas who has been a part of the Central Coast literary community for over fifty years. I had the supreme good fortune to present to her my manuscript for DEETJEN’S CLOSET for consideration. After reading it, she enthusiastically agreed to publish it. Linna’s eyes twinkle with amazing kindness, and her gentle manner was a godsend to a newbie writer with a debut book. She has offered to publish McMENAMIN’S CLOSET as well. You asked about surprises along the way—I’d have to say I was surprised to find it’s true that there are people like Linna who genuinely want to support writers, especially ones who are new to the publishing arena.

Congratulations also on the media hype DEETJEN’S CLOSET has received, including articles in local magazines and ezines, and your guest appearance on a local talk radio show. You mentioned that you’re now in the process of getting your novel into local schools and the county library system, which is “going pretty darn well…but it’s a lot of work!” Did you consider hiring independent publicity and marketing professionals to help with such work, or are you and your publisher handling all promotion and distribution?

It's a smooth cooperative effort. Coalesce handles some of the promotion and my independent publicity/marketing team (Wise Media Group) takes care of setting up media, tracking reviews, etc. And finally, I do a lot of the footwork because I have a marketing background. I guess you could say it’s in my wheelhouse, so I’m comfortable coordinating promotion and distribution to present DEETJEN’S CLOSET in the best light to my target buyers: retail bookstores, libraries, educators, and parents. Honestly, I wish I could just circumvent all of that and spend my time primarily doing school visits. I love interacting directly with the kids!

In addition to DEETJEN’S CLOSET, you’ve written a novel for adults called BRIDGES, along with several short stories and essays, and you’re currenting working on the second book in the SARA AND THE GHOST CLOTHES series. You’re also a columnist for Estero Bay News. Has it been challenging to balance all these projects? To shift from adult to children’s book writing and between creative and journalistic writing? 

I don’t know about other writers who cross genres, but it only takes me about a page or two to become fully engrossed in whatever story I’m transcribing. I say “transcribing” because, more often than not, the stories tell themselves—whether it’s a column for the newspaper or adult fiction or middle grade. That said, I’ll probably just stick to those three genres! The majority of my writing is done while we camp, which we do often. I’ve found Mother Nature offers the best environment for me to let my creative mind loose to toggle between researching/writing articles for Estero Bay News and the stories in SARA AND THE GHOST CLOTHES series.

Do you have any advice for writers in the query trenches who are hoping to land a book deal?

Oh, boy, that’s a tough one. I’d say, first and foremost, be proud of your work and know it’s the best you can produce. That will keep you fighting for it. Then, research agents in your genre and see what they’re looking for specifically. Study query letter samples until one resonates with you. Craft each query letter as if that agent is the only one you’re querying. Make it short and creative.  Send out at least fifty. Don’t get discouraged. Play the long game. While you’re waiting for responses, get creative: enter pitch wars, seek publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts, network with other authors who might connect you with their agent. And start working on your next book, article, or essay. Keep the faith in your good work, and keep writing

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