BooksChatter: ℚ Tinsey Clover - Chelsea Walker Flagg

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Chelsea Walker Flagg to talk about Tinsey Clover (29 November 2018, Chelsea Walker Flagg, 218 pages), a Middle Grade Adventurous Tale.

"Tinsey Clover is a fantastical children's story written by Chelsea Flagg. [...]

One of the greatest aspects of Tinsey Clover is the way the author used the unique situations as an educational tool to teach young readers valuable lessons; to help them make better choices in their future. I was very surprised by each of the twists and turns that led to the final plot. [...]

This book was awe inspiring, easy to follow, and hard to put down, making it one of the best children's stories on the market for youngsters to read. - Anthony Elmore for Readers' Favorite

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || The Series || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome back to Chelsea Walker Flagg; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Tinsey Clover ?

"I started this story with a special niche of readers in mind: those early readers who are advanced enough and done with the picture books and easy chapter books. They want something more adventurous and exciting, but maybe aren’t quite developmentally ready for the scary, sad, complex issues a lot of Middle Grade books contain.

I carefully crafted TINSEY CLOVER to be an exciting fantasy that’s wholly appropriate for that younger audience. "

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Someone asked me which of my three daughters Tinsey is based on. I shook my head and said, “none of them.” Tinsey is me. Her quirks, her voice, her longing for more than what’s right in front of her... I feel so connected to little Tinsey Clover in a way that made writing her story come so easily and naturally."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Tinsey Clover - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I’m so glad you asked! I couldn’t be more thrilled with the cover.

Kelly Angelovic is a fellow Coloradoan, and an amazing artist. I fell in love with her work years ago when I wrote my first book. She normally does greeting cards and prints, but I reached out to see if she’d be interested in trying out a book cover. She happily accepted and was great to work with.

Naturally, I chose her again for this cover and I love it so, so much. We focused on bright, captivating colors, while making sure we included the main characters hidden in their forest scene."

Why should we read Tinsey Clover and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"TINSEY CLOVER is a relatable tale. I’m finding kids all over the place really connecting to the characters and the storyline.

Like I said earlier, it’s an easy plot to follow, without much complexity or intensity, which works well with a younger audience (ages 5-10). I’m a fairly comedic writer, so you can expect to find lots of funny gems peppered throughout the story, which resonates with kids.

And, as you’ll discover when you read it, there’s a lot of potential for more adventures and stories for Tinsey and her friends. I’m excited to jump into them!"

Can you tell us something quirky about Tinsey Clover , its story and characters?

"The names were important to me. I wanted each name to truly represent its character.

For Tinsey, I searched and searched for flower names. She’s only the size of a squirrel, and lives in a forest, but she’s also bold and can’t be ignored.

Clover comes from the visual of a four-leaf clover that’s tiny, but also packed full of luck and power. Her brother, Aspen, is stoic and firm, like a tree. Judder, the troll, is a made up name, but just sounded so perfect for a clumsy, solidly-built troll, you know?

All the names of the places are Icelandic words, or combinations of Icelandic words, since the story takes place in Iceland."

Who would you recommend Tinsey Clover to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"Again, this book is really well suited for readers aged 5-10 who are ready for an adventurous tale and characters they can see themselves in.

There’s one mildly scary scene, but I’m very confident in saying that it’s suitable for all ages."

If you could / wished to turn Tinsey Clover into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Oh man! Great question.

To start, I’d stick Tina Fey on the writing, because she’s a genius.

Hopefully Emma Watson would want to play Tinsey, because she’s bold and powerful, just like little Tinsey. I’d have to think about it from there... maybe Zac Efron as Aspen, because he’s got the right eyes and smirk. This is gonna be fun!"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"My debut novel was a funny memoir. It felt like a natural first book for me, since I blog and already had a lot of my chapters written that way. I really love writing humor.

TINSEY CLOVER is my first attempt at Middle Grade, and I truly think I’ve found my voice here. I’ve gotten that exact feedback from agents, editors, and everyone in between, too, so I must be doing something right! I’m excited to continue writing in both those veins! I love them both."

What is your writing process?

"I wish I could say I was the type of person who outlines everything before sitting down to write, but I’m just not. I try to have a general idea of what I’ll be working on when I sit down, but it usually turns into my fingers taking over and typing what ever comes out in the moment. Sometimes it’s trash, but sometimes it’s really good.

For this book, I like to think little Tinsey was my muse. I came up with her character before the plot formed. I think she helped tell her own story."

What is in store next?

"I’m thrilled to start a TINSEY CLOVER sequel! I haven’t put pen to paper on it yet, but I’ve been brainstorming a lot, and am planning to set it in winter this time around.

I’m looking forward to playing around with that different scenery and exploring what changes - new animals? Definitely new friends (and enemies.) I don’t know... we’ll see what comes out!"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I’ve always loved cats - like, obsessively so as a child, but we don’t currently have any pets. I’m actually grateful for that. I feel like my hands are full enough with three kids.

So, I’d say my special something has got to be my three daughters!"