THE
LIVING TREE
We
are thrilled--yay!--to have Lynda Mullaly Hunt as our guest today on the birth
day of her debut novel, One for the Murphy's. How cool is
that? The actual release day?! We couldn't be happier. I couldn't be happier. I
have known Lynda for (how long is it now, Lynda?) for about four years, when we
both signed on with Erin Murphy of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Of course I have
known of her for a time before that...we frequented the NESCBWI
conference together.
One
for the Murphy's is
on my desk, all cued up to be read--I can't wait! I have heard a portion of
the story read by the wonderful Lynda herself, and I can tell you that it
is gorgeous. A story about a foster child who learns to love, it is funny
and heartbreaking and real.
We
asked Lynda to talk to us, of course, about how landscape plays a part in the
story. And here is what she said:
There is something so beautiful about trees. When I was young, I
would often climb them. Sit as high up as I could, swing my legs, and
watch the world. I still remember the feel of the bark—how its coarse ridges
made it easier to hold on. How both the bark and leaves have a smell all their
own, which varies from season to season. How trees smell differently on
sunny days versus rainy ones. Strong and majestic yet vulnerable, too.
They are solid. Something you can count on.
I remember finding out many years ago that leaves don't actually
change color in the fall. The chlorophyll, which gives leaves their
vibrant green color, disappears as the seasonal temperatures drop, so the
brilliant colors of autumn underneath are revealed as the green
fades. That the brilliance and unique colorings of each individual leaf
were there all along—just hidden. The colors’ revelation rather than changing
is an important distinction, I think.
I hadn’t planned to include trees as such an important thread of
ONE FOR THE MURPHYS. To be honest, I didn’t
realize I’d done it until the book was nearly done. But it makes sense that the
trees are there if it’s true that we mine from deep inside ourselves to
write fiction. It makes sense that I would include the trees.
The book opens with Carley Connors in the back seat of a social
worker’s car. She’s on her way to a new foster placement. The winter tree
branches along the road are bare, waving her along as they drive by. When
she arrives at the Murphys’ home, she describes their house as the color of
dirt with tall trees surrounding it like guards on watch. On this day—the
very first one—she, herself, is bare. Raw. Afraid. Vulnerable on the
inside but tough on the outside. However, Carley had extraordinary colors that
had not yet been revealed. Not even to her.
On the second night, when her oldest foster brother’s words cut,
Carley runs from the house and hides in an apple orchard until a Murphy
comes to find her. Later in the book, Mrs. Murphy takes to baking apple pies
for her—she is literally fed by both her foster mother and the trees,
transcending a hunger for merely food. As this family continues to show
her a side of life she didn’t think existed, spring settles in; as the buds
on the trees open so do the gates of Carley’s walls. The branches of a tree are
even used in a creative way to defend the youngest Murphy boy,
four-year-old Michael Eric, when he’s being taunted by the neighborhood
bully. Trees represent life, love, protection, and how sometimes things are
revealed within us that we never knew were there.
The last example I’ll list here is Mrs. Murphy’s love of Shel
Silverstein’s book, THE GIVING TREE--and Carley’s distain for it. Their
individual takes on unconditional love—what it is. And what it isn’t. Readers
will have to decide for themselves who gets it right—Carley or Mrs. Murphy.
Carley also learns that life holds more rain than we sometimes
expect. But storms don’t last. There are always new days. New beginnings.
We must learn to wait out the storms, stay in groups to protect each other,
keep rooted as best we can, and when the gales become fierce it is best to bend
in the wind.
Lynda
Mullaly Hunt is the author of middle-grade novel, ONE FOR THE MURPHYS (Nancy
Paulsen Books/Penguin), winner of The Tassy Walden Award: New Voices in
Children’s Literature. She is also a former teacher and Scenario Writing coach.
Lynda has been Director of the SCBWI-NE Whispering Pines Retreat for six years.
Lynda lives with her husband, two kids, impetuous beagle and beagle-loathing
cat.
Website:
http://lyndamullalyhunt.com/
Group
Blog: http://emusdebuts.wordpress.com/
Group
Blog: http://classof2k12.com/
Facebook:
Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Twitter:
@Lynmullalyhunt
A link to a trailer for the book:
And I am *thrilled* to have Tam host me on my release day. Thanks, Tam for your generosity. For being you! On this journey, getting to know you and the other members of EMLA has been one of the greatest blessings! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to picking this one up!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a must-read!
ReplyDeleteIt is!
ReplyDelete