We chat with debut author Katherin Nolte about Back to the Bright Before, which is a magical adventure about two brave siblings determined to find a treasure that could save their family.
Hi, Katherin! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! Sure. I grew up in Ohio, attended college there, and then moved to Iowa to attend the Writers’ Workshop. I live with my husband and four children, who, thankfully, love books as much as I do!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. In elementary school, my sister and I would make books together, complete with covers and photographs. I still have one that we made that’s an informational book about cat care, featuring pasted photographs of our own pets. In high school, I focused on poetry, but switched to short stories in college and have been writing fiction ever since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading is My Secret Hiding Place, which I got from the Troll Book Club.
Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is what made me want to write for children.
I just finished Helen Phillips’ The Need, and I keep thinking about how surreal and spooky it was, especially the deer mask.
Your debut novel, Back to the Bright Before, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Siblings search for ancient coin.
What can readers expect?
They can expect a magical, heartwarming adventure about an eleven-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother, who, alongside a borrowed chicken and a stolen pony, secretly run off to a nearby abbey in search of a hidden treasure. If Pet and Simon can find the treasure, they’ll save their family from financial ruin—but only if they can outwit a dangerous neighbor desperate to claim the prize for himself.
Where did the inspiration for Back to the Bright Before come from?
When I decided to write a children’s novel, I thought about all the stories that my children and I had read together. Books featuring characters on a mission are some of their favorites, and so I knew I wanted my own characters to go on a quest. About a year before I began writing the book, I happened to visit an abbey. The grounds were so beautiful and expansive—I thought it would be the perfect place to set a story.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
To be honest, I loved writing the whole thing! I loved imagining Perpetua, wandering the abbey, so determined to help her family, and it was so much fun to write the dialogue between her and her little brother Simon, who can only say one word: cheese. Every time I sat down to write, I looked forward to leading the siblings on their journey.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey of getting Back to the Bright Before published?
I wrote the book rather quickly, working seven days a week, over the space of a couple months. I wasn’t sure what my literary agent would think about it, since I’d never written for children before, but she was completely on board when I sent her the manuscript. It took about two months for my editor to acquire the book. And then it was two years waiting to have it published!
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on my next middle-grade novel, which will be published in 2024. It’s called The Wonderful Wishes of B. and is about a girl with eight cats, five wishes, and an unusual classmate who promises he can help her make her dreams come true.
Lastly, are there any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?
On the middle-grade front, I’m excited to read Daniel Nayeri’s The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams. For adults, I’ve got The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz in my must-read pile.
