Written by Teralyn Mitchell
Rebekah Crane’s new novel, Postcards For A Songbird was such a powerful and moving story! Our contributor, Teralyn, had the pleasure of talking with Rebekah about her new release, writing, and much more. Check out the interview below!
Can you tell our readers a little about you?
I’m an extrovert, which means I’m a unicorn in the writing world. I love people and hugs and parties. I’ve lived all over the US (NYC, Boston, Chicago, to name a few). I was a high school English teacher, but I didn’t write a single word until I was thirty years old. In fact, I didn’t like to read growing up. I much preferred watching soap operas. I’m a devout yoga practitioner, coffee drinker, kale eater, and I married the guy I dated in high school.
What made you want to become a writer?
I fell in love with young adult books! And the more I read, the more I wanted to add to the voices. I wanted to be a part of the story telling.
Postcards For A Songbird was such a powerful and moving story! Can you tell us a little about the book?
The story follows sixteen-year-old Wren, whose sister has recently left Spokane, WA under a veil of secrecy. Wren is left to put the pieces of her life back together, while trying to solve the mystery of her sister’s disappearance. In the process she meets two boys—Wilder and Luca. One encourages Wren to stay safely hidden away from life. The other challenges her to break out of her shy shell and face the world as it is. Wren must decide what and who she wants, while slowly piecing together the truth about her past and the uncertainty of her future.
What was the inspiration for the story?
The novel started as a simple writing exercise. I was in the middle of editing another novel and I needed a break, so I sat down and wrote a scene between two sisters. The scene was from the perspective of the younger sister, who is in complete adoration of her older sister. And to counter the somewhat boring editing I was doing, I made the scene as vivid and imaginative as I could. That’s how Wren and Lizzie were born.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
In the simplest terms—whatever they need. That’s the power of books. They are an examination of the human experience and affect us all in different ways. Whatever the reader needs, I hope they find it somewhere in my pages.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Wren lives within me on such a deep level, mostly because she is so different from me. Imagining her life was a blessing, a journey to great depths, and an exploration of my own imagination and for that I’m so grateful. She reminds me what a joy it is to be a storyteller.
If you had to describe character Wren in three words, what would those three words be?
Imaginative, intuitive, compassionate
What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
Persistence and patience, two qualities that, depending on the day, I have in abundance or am completely lacking. I’m also a stickler for realistic dialogue.
What comes first: the plot or characters?
For me, it’s always the characters. I love crafting the voice and personality of each of my characters.
Writing can be an emotionally draining and a stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?
Read a lot. Read a variety of books. Find an author who inspires you. Keep writing. Get rejected and move on. Get rejected some more. Keep writing. Read a juicy romance novel. Watch a movie and eat popcorn. Sit at a park and people-watch. And finally, carry a notebook with you at all times. You never know when inspiration will strike.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
All that soap opera watching you did as a kid will pay off. Thank you, General Hospital!
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with us?
I am! But I’m going to keep it a secret for now. Most likely, the book will publish in 2021.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
I read a lot and quite a variety. These are the books that have stuck with me lately.
YA contemporary: Opposite of Always
General Fiction: Where the Crawdads Sing, Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Daisy Jones and the Six
Nonfiction: How to be an Antiracist, Factfulness, Women Who Run with the Wolves
Romance: One Day in December
Historical Fiction: The Alice Network
Memoir: Educated, Becoming, Between the World and Me
