MK Schiller: Childhood inspirations and secrets

MK Schiller, author of A Girl By Any Other Name from Totally Bound's new What's Her Secret? imprint, introduces us to a childhood friend and inspiration ...

MK: Stan and I met when we were in fifth grade. We took the same bus and lived in the same apartment complex. We walked the half-mile stretch from the bus stop to our residence every day, and in that time, we shared secrets and laughter. We built a fort in the woods, inviting new members on an exclusive basis and creating such specific rules you'd think we were constructing a utopian society (or in hindsight, maybe it was a dystopian one). We sat on the front steps of our building, watching the world go by and wondered what part we'd eventually play. If there is one regret I have of childhood, it's all the countless hours I spent imagining the women I'd grow up to be and not appreciating the kid I was. I remember this one late spring day in particular, we watched the high school kids snapping prom photos.

"The girls look so pretty in their gowns," I said wistfully.

"We'll go one day," he replied.

"You better learn how to dance," I warned.

"You better learn how to wear a dress," he retorted, shoulder-bumping me.

Stan was a part of my childhood and as such, he represented many firsts for me. The first boy I liked, the first male I hugged who wasn't family, the first time I was asked out on a date (OK, prom was many years away, but I still counted that).

The first funeral I ever attended.

Stan never made it to sixth grade, we never finished our fort, and of course, we never went to prom. All of Stan's potential was stolen in one brief moment, thanks to a drunken driver who never noticed the tall, lanky boy crossing Union Street, even though it was the middle of the day. I reconnected with Stan's family recently, and it got me thinking about those special moments of simplicity before the self-indulgent, overanalytic angst of adolescence took over. This became the inspiration for A Girl By Any Other Name. I wanted to honor the strength of the bonds we form in our youth, and show how love never really dies.

I'll tell you a secret. I write in chaos. I don't draw out plot points, make detailed outlines, or form an ending before I begin. My story starts in my head, and it stays there, often screaming at me, until I spill the contents to paper. My premise for this book began the same way, except I made Caleb's sarcastic, sweet personality very similar to my childhood friend, Stan. I didn't even realize that until I looked over the edits. I'd made most of the book from Cal's POV, too, which was unusual for me. That's why I'm honored to be a writer, because every story is personal, like a secret I get to share with the reader. The rest of the novel came in slow snippets of a loosely threaded premise of what I hoped would eventually be a believable but engaging plot. I imagined a small Texas town, a boy with a big heart, and a troubled girl. An unlikely friendship emerges, a deep connection binds the characters, but secrets meant to protect can also destroy.

Is a secret a lie or an act of omission? Is it meant to guard the people you love or is it the armor with which you shield yourself? These are some of the questions my heroine, Sylvie Cranston, had to ask herself. Add in the fact that she was only 10 years old, suffering a tragic loss, and you have a recipe for trouble. Enter one Caleb Tanner, all-around popular kid with model hair and a penchant for swearing.

I had no idea what I was writing when I started, but I wanted to show how that first love of childhood is special and unforgettable. The first time a boy calls you pretty, the first kiss, and the first realization that the world isn't fair, but beauty is found everywhere … even in pain. I finished the book, feeling lighter now that my characters were on paper. Then my publisher e-mailed me about a new super secret imprint they are launching. The premise is a heroine with secrets. Surely, this was fate's way of shoulder-bumping me. After all, I had just typed The End on a book like that the week before! It is an honor to be a part of this special imprint, and bring these characters to light.

I'm also thankful to have had a special childhood bond myself. Even though Stan was taken away unjustly early, I'm grateful for the brief, wonderful times we shared. I'd love to hear if anyone else has a tale or comment about the impact of childhood friendships.

Here is the blurb for A Girl by Any Other Name:

Everyone tells him he needs to move on, but how can a man function without his heart?

Ten-year-old Caleb Tanner wants nothing to do with Sylvie Cranston, the annoying weird girl who moves next door to him and gets him in trouble for swearing. But at 12, they become friends when he teaches her how to hook a fishing line and she shows him the value of a selfless act. At 14, he falls in love with her.

At 16, she dies.

Or so he's told. But Cal never believes it. Sylvie has become part of his soul. He knows her like the steady beating of his own heart. He'd know if she was dead. Cal looks for her, prays for her and finally he just waits for her.

Nine years later, she walks into the community college English class Cal is teaching. Only this girl claims her name is Sophie Becker and she doesn't know him. Cal knows better. He's determined to get the girl he loves back—and protect her from the danger that took her away all those years ago.

Find out more about MK and her books at www.mkschillerauthor.com.