Basil's Search For Miracles

Basil and I have definitely have some things in common – for example, being into writing from a young age, being mystified by religion and loving to trek through forbidden woods – that sort of thing. But having three younger sisters, three daughters and no brothers or sons, I would say that maybe Basil is more like the little brother or son I never had.

Did creating Basil seem a daunting prospect at first? How long did it take to develop Basil into the character he became?

Daunting? Yes, definitely. At the time I started working on the book I’d never written a novel before, and for years I didn’t even see myself as a fiction writer – I was and still am a journalist by trade. That said, I decided to try my hand at writing a novel after giving birth to my first child. The book looked totally different back then, though -- Basil started out with a different name and was much older at first. Basil as a character has definitely evolved since I created him. The book, as well, has come a long way from what it once was.

What is the main thing that you hope preteens will gain from this book?

I hope, if nothing else, that the story will inspire its readers to learn more about the world around them. I’m not hoping to necessarily save any lost souls with my work or convert anyone to eastern Christianity, but I do hope that my book’s readers will find in themselves a hungering for more stories like the ones presented in Basil’s Search for Miracles, stories about the infinite power of God and about the ancient mysteries of the Judeo-Christian faith. Ideally I hope the book, like any good piece of literature, will inspire them to ask questions and to search for meaningful answers.

Do you think Basil is a typical pre-teen? What are the typical struggles a teenager faces today?

I think Basil’s struggles are definitely typical. He comes from a broken, single-parent home, like many kids today. As a pre-teen he’s searching for his own identity apart from his mom’s, which is also typical of kids in his age group. When you hit your tweens and teens, you know you’re not a little kid anymore. You see the world differently, distinctly from your parents for the first time. You see your parents as being more human, more flawed than they appeared to be when you were little. You realize your own mortality – you realize that people die. You discover your body changing, growing, becoming more complex. Everything changes. And with all the choices and temptations facing young people today, it’s an important and difficult time in a kid’s life.

Do you believe in miracles?

Absolutely! I think miracles are one of the most under-discussed and important parts of the Christian faith. Sure, we hear a lot about faith healings and praying for miracles and such, but it seems to me like people today, with our need for scientific proofs for everything, don’t seem to take miracles very seriously – they are mocked at worst and relegated to Hallmark Channel movies at best. I think few people realize how deeply mystical miracles actually are. They represent a very real way for humans to interact with God – not just because they provide so-called “proof” of God’s existence or a way for us to magically get what we want out of God, but because they reveal how present God can be in our lives, if we ask him to be and if we sincerely believe that He really can guide and heal us.

I haven’t personally been healed of a serious illness (not to my knowledge, anyway!), nor have I witnessed the kinds of miracles Basil has; however, I have seen God answer my most earnest prayers. He responds almost immediately when I ask, and when what I ask for isn’t asked for selfishly but as a part of doing God’s work. It never ceases to amaze me when it happens.

What were some of your favorite books when you were growing up? The first chapter books I remember loving were Beverly Cleary’s motorcycle mouse stories. I also loved Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia books, David A. Adler’s Cam Jansen mysteries, Shel Silverstein’s poems and later Judy Blume’s novels. In high school I fell in love with the classic American and English literature I read. Now I just like it all – I love well-written fiction, whether contemporary or classic, and whether written for adults or kids. My favorite children’s authors right now are Louis Sachar (author of Holes) and Frank Cottrell Boyce (author of Millions). Oh, and of course, how could I not mention Roald Dahl and C. S. Lewis? They’re both beyond great. I wish I had more time to read!

Can you compare Basil’s Search for Miracles with any books that you have read? Well, I’m not quite sure what Basil is *like*, but I can say what it is NOT like. It’s not fantasy like The Chronicles of Narnia or the Harry Potter books. It’s not straight-up coming-of-age realism like the stuff Judy Blume writes. It’s not the kind of feel-good, all-the-good-guys-find-Christ-at-the-end inspirational fiction offered as an alternative to mainstream literature. It’s kind of its own thing – I like to call Basil a “spiritual coming of age story,” if that makes sense.

Do you have any future projects in the works?