18-Year-Old Writer Kieryn Nicolas - Writes a Novel at 14, Publishes Her First Novel at 15,

Christal Cooper – 1,437 Words

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*Original article appeared in the Asian American Times in November 2010.  The article has been updated for this blog.

It’s RAINing

http://www.kierynnicolas.com

http://yalitsix.blogspot.com

Kieryn Nicolas’ debut novel Rain was published in May of 2010 by Echelon Press (http://www.echelonpress.com) and has been successful, which is a rarity considering Nicolas was only 14 years old when she wrote the novel in just one draft with revisions to complete. 

She received an invitation from a publisher to read her work and ever since she has been a paid fiction writer who insists on brilliance when it comes to her writing.   

“There are two main types of brilliance that pertain to writing:  brilliant ideas and brilliant wording.  The thing I love about words and stories and writers is this:  the best writers have both.  And on top of that the best speeches, and therefore the best speakers, have both, too.”

Nicolas remembers her first attraction with those brilliant words and ideas:  she was only four years old when she began writing.

“I remember drawing and writing in an old journal my mom gave me when I was four.  I’ve always wanted to write, but in the fifth grade I decided I wanted to be an author.”

Before she could become an author she became an avid and voracious reader.  Some novels she has more than one copy of:  for example, three copies of Pride And Prejudice; two copies of An Old Fashioned Girl, Jayne Eyre, and Wuthering Heights; one copy of Sense & Sensibility and Little Women.  Nicolas admits in her blog that reading is not always a pleasurable or easy thing to do.

“I’d need hours to just sit and read (Jane Austin book’s) and decode sentences, and those kinds of hours became increasing sparse as I got to the age where I would feel inclined to read those kinds of books.  I mean, being totally honest, I want to put them through a sifter. Just to get rid of excess words that confuse me.”

Nicolas knew the importance of reading, the importance of understanding different aspects of reading a novel.  It wasn’t until she read A Tale Of Two Cities that she learned how to enjoy reading a classical novel.

“For the first few chapters of “A Tale Of Two Cities” I felt like I was drowning in half-a-page-long sentences, but then I started to get a feel for the characters, understand who they are, and their role in the story.  I started to piece together plot threads and hints and foreshadowing and symbols and social commentary and suddenly the book was so much easier to read.”

The young protégé gets her ides from watching other people and from her surroundings:  she lives in a rural area with her parents, younger sister, yellow lab, black cat, and ten hens.

“We don’t have neighbors right next to us and we are surrounded by fields and a forest on the mountain behind the house.”

While in 8^th grade, Nicolas would take advanced classes, come home, spend time with family, do her homework, and then, when everyone else was asleep, would write at least one hour per day.

“I write mostly in my room late at night.  I sit at my desk with my laptop and write until I can’t keep my eyes open.  I used to listen to music when I write, but now I just put headphones/ear buds on and leave it silent.  It helps me block out sound so I can focus more on what’s going on inside my head.”

The idea for Rain came to her in a dream. 

“I had a very bizarre dream about spies, Australia and friendship.  The rest was a result of brainstorming the next morning.”

After brainstorming, she found herself captivated by a world of her own making:  a world where babies and children are sent to a special school not to learn spelling or writing, but to learn how to become spies.

Six months and many revisions later her novel was finished.  And then she met Karen, the CEO of Echelon Press.

       “I met Karen at a writer’s conference in 8^th grade.  After we talked for a few minutes she requested I send her my manuscript. I did, and a few months later I was offered a contract.  After that it was editing, editing, and then formatting, the eBook release, and finally the paperback.”

Nicolas was not at her house when the boxes of her book arrived.  But her mother was and she, along with Nicolas’ friends set up a huge surprise for the new young novelist. 

“On Tuesday my friend Katie's mom picked Katie and me up at school. We, along with Katie's sister Sarah -drove to my house because Katie's mom had to "pick something up. When we got to my house I saw the garage--my normal method of entry was closed, so we had to walk around front. The first thing I saw was my mom standing in front of it, phone out, ready to take pictures. That's when I saw the boxes stacked on the patio. I knew what they were immediately, and felt myself stumble backwards. Mom got a few good pictures of me with my hands on my head staring with eyes wider than Bambi's.”

One of the traits that make her novel stick out is not only three-dimensional characters but also the dialogue, which is described as crafty at the very least; but her favorite part of writing is when she is inside the character’s mind.

“If I had to choose another favorite thing about Rain, or my writing in general, it would be writing the scenes/moments where my main character is unsure of herself/himself. I’m inside my character’s head, so I can make the scene as crazy and confusing as I want to reflect the emotions the character feels, and that’s fun.”

She modeled Mel/Amber, the main character of the book after her own self.

“She’s a bit like I was in elementary school – bold, stubborn, contrary, and such a tomboy.”

Instead of eating candy, popcorn, or chocolate, Mel thrives on granola bars.  Instead of dreaming to go to the high school dance, Mel dreams of becoming the best spy she ever could be; even better than James Bond.

The novel starts when Mel is 15 years old, in its wonderful monologue and then in Chapter 1 backtracks five years where Mel first meets Ray/Anthony.

“I’m not sure where Ray came from:  maybe a mix of my friends of the male persuasion, because they all have their respective awesome traits.”

There are also Mel’s friends, some annoying some quite likable.

“Caidy is a funny story.   I have a good friend named Katie, but when I first met Katie (and while I was writing Rain) I didn’t like Katie.  So I based a character off of her.  I laugh now, looking back on it, because it made it so much fun to write.”

The editing process for Nicolas was not always fun:  she had to delete many things; some things she felt were important.

If she could make any changes it would be to revise the story line of Mel and Ray’s relationship, which hints at the romantic.  She would also write more action-sequence scenes for Mel.

       Nicolas has many ideas for novels, including a sequel to Rain, specifically focusing on Mel and Ray.

       “I do have a sequel storyboarded, but I’m not sure if I will finish it.  I feel like Rain ended on a good note for now.  However, Mel is one of my absolutely favorite characters to write, so there is a chance I’ll revisit the idea.”

Photo Description and Copyright Info

Photo 1

Kieryn Nicolas

Photo 2

Jacket cover of Rain.

Photo 3

Web logo for Echelon Press

Photo 4

January 28, 1813 jacket cover of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  T Egerton Whitehall Press

Photo 5

Illustration from An Old Fashioned Girl by Louise May Alcott.  Roberts Brothers 1870.

Photo 6

Jacket cover of Jayne Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.  Publication date 1847.

Photo 7

Jacket cover of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.  1847.

Photo 8

1813 jacket cover of Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen.  Thomas Egerton Military Library. 

Photo 9

Two volumes of Little Women by Louise May Alcott.   Roberts Brothers Press,  1868. 

Photo 10

Cover of serial "Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens

Photo 11

Kieryn Nicolas holding Rain

Photo 12

Kieryn Nicolas holding Rain

Photo 13.

Kieryn  Nicolas.

Photo 14

Kieryn Nicolas

Photo 15

Jacket cover of Rain

Photo 16

Echelon Press logo

Photo 17

Jacket cover of Rain

Photo 18

Kieryn Nicolas with her celebration cake of Rain’s publication. 

Photo 19

Kieryn Nicolas photo.

Photo 20

Jacket cover of the first James Bond Novel Casino Royale by Ian Fleming.  1953.

Photo 21

Sidebar 1

Photo 22

Sidebar 2

Photo 23

Kieryn Nicolas photo.

Guest Blogger: Portuguese-American Poet MILLICENT BORGES ACCARDI

GUEST BLOGGER 

Millicent Borges Accardi

http://www.millicentborgesaccardi.com

“The Luso-Debate –

What’s In A Name? 

Depende!”

In my mind, the world has JUST gotten used to or is starting to realize that there is a place called Portugal which is NOT in South America.


And, after a trip to Lisbon in the summer of 2010 for Disquiet (International Literary Program) (http://disquietinternational.org), my personal focus has been to spread the word about Portuguese culture, as best as I can: through poetry, through posts on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MillB), through book reviews and public readings.


However, there are issues. Starting with, the name. Does the term Portuguese-American include or exclude?
It is a hard call to make and one which muddies the waters, but what is the proper name for what I had previously used as a moniker for myself: Portuguese-American (PA for short) or Lusophone? Iberian? Or, something else?


Luso-North-American is certainly not as short and sexy as Portuguese-American. And, unless you are an academic or consider yourself Luso, you probably don’t know that the term Luso is derived from the Lusitanians, one of the first Indo-European tribes to settle in Europe.


So are we Lusitanics? Are we Hispanics? Still others feel the correct term to describe those of Portuguese descent is Lusophone. Heck, even the government is confused. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines Hispanic as, “persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central or South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin” but the U.S. Office of Management and Budget excludes Portuguese.


Thus, when I organized a public off-site reading for the Associated Writing Program’s (AWP) (https://www.awpwriter.org/) conference in Chicago in March of 2012, I agonized over what to call “us,” this group of wonderful writers who had bonded together and found each other the summer of 2010 in Portugal. It was a reading that would technically be the first time any Luso-esque writers had gathered together during AWP.


As far as the conference, our announcements appeared in places called Portuguese American Journal, the Portuguese-American society, The Azorean Nation, Portuguese American Review. Early on, I tested the waters with the term Luso, and it did not resonate with a general population. Not one of the 500 members in my online Poetry Group knew what the heck a “Luso” was.


And, essayist Oona Patrick (http://www.shewrites.com/profile/OonaPatrick) told me she once posted flyers in Provincetown and had to go around crossing off Luso and writing in P-O-R-T-U-G-U-E-S-E A-M-E-R-I-C-A-N because the local Portuguese denizens had no clue about Luso!
The Italian-Americans have this issue too. With Sicilians versus Italians. And I have never heard the term Italian-Canadians, but that is my own ignorance I am sure.


As a way to make peace with the issue for the AWP book fair logo. I went with the simple label of “Portuguese-American Writers” against the red and green flag of Portugal and the famous o galo de Barcelos (colorful rooster symbol of Portugal).
However for the public reading, I adopted both terms, with this title, “Kale Soup for the Soul, Luso-writers present work about family, food and Portuguese culture.” That description, I felt would include everyone. Of course with letter scramble “soul” easily becomes “luso,” a fact that was pointed out to me by my clever husband!


There is a rather large PA population in Chicago, so we were hoping to attract a non-AWP audience. And, if I listed everything as American and North American and Canadian and Brazilian and Portuguese for the Book Fair, I was afraid of scaring off potential customers who would leap away from our booth like rats on a sinking ship–if our sign was too erudite, academic and confusing.


The best brands are short and completely describe the product. Like 7-Up, the un-cola. Seven ingredients, a clear, sweet bubbly beverage.


I long for THAT level of simplicity.


Now, I also have my own issues with definition since, technically, my family is from The Azores NOT the mainland. So am I Azorean-American (not very catchy)? Then there is Angola. Then there is Macau.


Heck, Europeans don’t even use the term “Hispanic” To them, if you are from Portugal or Spain or Italy or France or Romania, you are lumped into the “Latin” category. And “Hispania” is just an ancient name (23 centuries ago) for the Iberian Peninsula, so, essentially, then, the only true “Hispanics are those from Portugal or Spain?


At any rate, this whole debate is MUCH larger than me and my opinions.


Perhaps a reason why we Luso-Portuguese-Azorean-North-Americans are still unknown and isolated IS related to the whole definition of what and who we are?


In my research on this topic I found MANY Brazilian sites online and none of them include Portugal. Not the meet-ups or the film clubs or even the associations. Except for one, bookseller Elena Como (founder of Atlantico Books) (http://www.atlanticobooks.com) who stocks Portuguese-Portuguese as well as Brazilian Portuguese books in her online bookstore and includes those from all Portuguese-Speaking countries in her blog-posts about Portuguese language activities, such as literary events and films series, that happen in New York City. Most Brazilian associations and businesses, concentrate ONLY on Brazil. There does not seem to be much discussion about whether or not to include poor little Portugal. In fact, since many people think Portugal is IN Brazil, why bother?


Though, personally, I find Brazil VERY different. And I have, for most of my life, felt more akin to and closer related to the Latino(a) culture than Brazilian. In junior high, I was bused across town because of my Hispanic last name, Borges. And I made fast friends in that community.


My childhood experiences as a second-generation Portuguese-American are similar to my Mexican-American and Cuban friends: Catholic festivals, family picnics, spicy sausages. And since Portuguese and Spanish are Latin countries, and speak neo-latin languages, does that make us “Latino.”? My counselor in elementary school pointed out that my family came from the Iberian Peninsula, which made me Hispanic. So am I “Iberian”? or “Hispanic” or both? Or neither?


To be sure, created in 1143, Portugal is one of the oldest countries in the world and technically Spain was part of Portugal, which really confuses things. Plus, Spain is 450 years younger than Portugal. And Brazil, like Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, St. Tome, Principe, Angola and Mozambique; and Macau are former Portuguese colonies.


There was a time when Portugal ruled the world. We were known as the navigators. Just look at what Magellan accomplished.


So, what to do now, though.


If there were an easy label or brand which included everyone, I would have used it for the two events at AWP. Also, I am wary that in America, we seem possessed with the idea of American-made. American-born. The Good Old US of A. America the Beautiful. People are never Mexican-North Americans. They are Mexican-American. One hyphen being the limit.


I don’t know. The term to define us and its definition are problematic. Like I think it was the poet Carolyn Forche, who said her grandmother called the colander “the bowl with the holes that makes the spaghetti go out” presumably because of the lack of a word for colander in Czech. And, I feel we run the risk of not appealing to anyone if our description for ourselves is too long and convoluted for deciphering by the very public we wish to attract and educate about all things literary and Portuguese.


Heck, it was only after years of individual self-identification and growth that a group of cultures (Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spanish) grew together to form Latino(a), a group that I personally feel very much a part of. But, even THAT is a debate and another story.


There are many talks to have. In the meantime, preciso de verdade e da aspirina! Or, I need the truth AND an aspirin. 

Photo Description and Copyright Info

1

Millicent Borges Accardi facebook logo photo.  In Lisbon. 

2

Disquite web page logo.

3

Map showing the main pre-Roman tribes in Portugal and their main migrations. Turduli movement in red, Celtic in brown and Lusitanian in a blue colour. Most tribes neighbouring the Lusitanians were dependent on them. Names are in Latin.

4

AWP poster for March of 2012.

5

Oona Patrick’s webpage logo photo.

6

Millicent Borges Accardi, left, and poet Lori May (http://www.loriamay.com) at AWP in March 2012 in Chicago.

7

Advertising poster for “Kale Soup for the Soul, Luso writers present work about family, food, and Portuguese culture.”

8

7 up logo.  Public Domain.

9

Flag of Portugal, created by Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro (1857-1929), officially adopted by Portuguese government in June 30th 1911 (in use since about November 1910).  Public Domain.

10

Elena Como facebook logo photo (https://www.facebook.com/elena.como)

11

Jacket cover of Injuring Eternity, published on December 1, 2010 by World Nouveau (http://www.worldnouveau.com/World_Nouveau/World_Nouveau_Inc..html)

12

Jacket cover of Woman On A Shaky Bridge, published in 2010 by Finishing Line Press (http://finishinglinepress.com)

13

Carolyn Forche announcing the five 2010 National Book Critics Circle finalists in poetry on January 22, 2011.  Attributed to David Shankbone.  CCA3.0UNP

14

Millicent Borges Accardi.  Web