after a while, but it’s been a fun ride. As
for the funniest thing that’s happened
so far, I go back to the editing stages of
my novel, right before I signed my
contract. For a little context, you need
to know that my day job is doing
support work at an elementary school.
One day I was standing in the
playground, chatting with a Grade 5 girl
– a real bookworm – about her favorite
books. During our conversation she
asked about Idyllic. I didn’t delve too
far into details but I told her it was a
science fiction novel set on a different
planet. She asked me what the planet
was called. I looked at her in stumped
silence before finally admitting that the
planet didn’t have a name. It had simply
never occurred to me. That night I went
home and immediately started on
revisions. I will be forever indebted to
the Grade 5 girl who reminded me that
a novel is never done, and that every
detail adds new and important
dimensions to the story. Ideas come
from everywhere … you just have to be
listening. I’m glad I listened to that
Grade 5 girl.
MAER: What fabulous story! Do you
use beta readers and, if so, what
qualities do you look for in a beta?
CHAD: The only people to read my
novel before the editor were my parents
and my girlfriend. Looking back, it
probably wasn’t the best way to go
about it. I’m an extremely private
person and I’ve never been comfortable
having other people read my words. It’s
pretty ridiculous to think about now
that my book is on sale for anybody
who wants it, but I’ve always been selfconscious about my work. It’s
important, moving forward, that I fight
this part of my personality for the
betterment of the work. I see beta
readers as an important part of the
process, but I also realize that too many
voices can be counterproductive. I’ll try
to find the right balance when I finish
my next book. I can tell you that I’ll
definitely be talking to that Grade 5 girl.
She’ll have some valuable insight, to be
sure.
MAER: I’m sure she will! What is a
one lin R7