Grandfather’s Key received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Amanda Dauvin.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Grandfather’s Key, April 2021
What’s the book’s first line?
“Eva waved goodbye to her mom as she closed the front door behind her.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Grandfather’s Key is a heartfelt story about a spirited girl named Eva who receives a small key on her birthday that opens something special belonging to her grandfather. She searches high and low for the lock to which her key belongs until she realizes the answer has been right in front of her all along.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I am a parent, teacher, speaker and writer, and in each of these fields I have encountered countless children who feel overwhelmed and at times, numb, by the heavy issues often addressed in children’s literature and curriculum. While literature is a fantastic medium for children to learn and often cope with the situations occurring around, and at times to them, I wanted to publish a book that would offer a temporary reprieve from conflict and adult themes. While subsequent books might delve into more serious topics, I enjoyed writing a story that feels good to read, from beginning to end.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Children will enjoy the playful mystery of Grandfather’s Key, while adults will appreciate the deeper themes of love and devotion woven into the story.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Eva’s spirited determination. I find it a refreshing quality that most children demonstrate when they have an exciting mystery to solve.
While many have assumed Eva is a manifestation of my younger self, she is actually a future depiction of my daughter. I sent a picture of my daughter at four years old and asked Floyd Yamyamin to imagine her at seven. Now six, my daughter looks more and more like Eva, which speaks to Floyd’s incredible talent as an illustrator.
When did you first decide to become an author?
My childhood was synonymous with instability and upheaval and throughout this tumultuous time writing served as a survival mechanism, helping me work through each problem, one word at a time. One day, when I was staying at a women’s shelter with my mom, I had a fantastic story idea. There was very little for a child my age to do there at the time, so I sat in their dining room from sunup until sundown writing my story, even missing dinner. Once finished, I put it in the hands of anyone who would give it a read – the staff, the other women staying there, and they all agreed I should pursue writing when I was older. I’m sure they were just being kind at the time, but I tucked their words away like little seeds of possibility, waiting for the chance of Spring. Fast forward to a few years ago, when I was in an unusual, but serious car accident. After taking a wrong turn and ending up on the freeway, a dog suddenly appeared out of nowhere, darting into traffic. While the dog came out unscathed, myself and a few other drivers were not as lucky. During recovery I was forced to take a step back and re-evaluate my life goals, and it dawned on me that while I had been writing for years, publishing still remained a dream.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
I’ve written several books, but this is the first one I considered publishing.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m a public speaker and educator. I feel it’s important to use the gifts we are given to make the world a better place, and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to use my voice and experiences as a platform to reach the hearts and lives of others.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
When I set out to write, I usually do so in the afternoon and allot an hour to an hour and a half. After that I get extremely restless. But I also read and write for at least a half an hour most nights before bed. And full disclosure, there are sticky notes all around our house. In every room. It drives my husband crazy! But you never know when and where you’re going to get the next great idea. Like at 11:00 pm in the shower.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part of being indie is I can write whatever I like. That suits me right now since I enjoy writing stories across multiple genres. And while it leaves me to do much of the legwork, which some would say is the hardest part, I’m enjoying the process. I’ve had several unusual and interesting jobs in the past and with each I learned invaluable life lessons that helped shape who I am today as well as open doors to new opportunities. This really is no different.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
There is a lot of pressure to do everything yourself when publishing a book and I think it’s that mentality that holds people back from making it to the finish line, or in some cases, starting in the first place. Don’t be afraid to outsource. Hiring an editor was one of the best decisions I made along the way.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Yes! That has always been the dream, mainly because I love the idea of collaboration. I know that some people would rather not have their ideas imposed upon, and that is understandable, but I love the opportunity to work with others toward a similar goal. In my experience, most people in the book industry share the same creative aspiration of designing a product that will enrich the lives of their readers. With the right publisher, I think we could make magic.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
While I definitely would not shy away from fame or fortune, what motivates me is an intrinsic drive to do the best I can at everything I do. Whether it’s something as mundane as loading a dishwasher or as charged as getting in front of hundreds of people and speaking about matters of social justice and equity, I believe quality is important. I can still remember the feeling of being homeless as a child and the struggles associated with that scale of poverty. I learned early on to show up in life and that approach continues to serve me well.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
Bryce Courtenay’s The Power of One.