Ellen Jensen Abbott
This week, we’re celebrating Ellen Jensen Abbott’s debut! Ellen Jensen Abbott grew up in the foothills of New Hampshire’s White Mountains—often disappearing for a whole day to build forts, pretend, and read in the fields and forests around her house. She has an undergraduate degree in English from Brown University and a master’s in education from Harvard. When she is not dreaming up stories about Seldara, she teaches English at the Westtown School in Pennsylvania. Ellen, her husband, and their two children like to spend time outdoors: camping and hiking in the summer; skiing and snowboarding in the winter. She and her family live in West Chester, PA with their dog and small flock of chickens.
Here’s a little bit about WATERSMEET (Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books).
From her birth, Abisina has been outcast—for the color of her eyes and skin, and for her lack of a father. Only her mother’s status as the village healer has kept her safe. But when a mythic leader arrives, Abisina’s life is ripped apart. She escapes alone to try to find the father and the home she has never known. In a world of extremes, from the deepest prejudice to the greatest bonds of duty and loyalty, Abisina must find her own way and decide where her true hope lies.
WATERSMEET by Ellen Jensen Abbott
If you had to give your book a movie rating: G through Rated R, which one would you give and why?
PG—There are definitely intense scenes in WATERSMEET—a mob bent on massacring outcasts, a group of really creepy centaurs who collect specific body parts from humans (you’ll have to read to find out what!), and a battle featuring a Worm who oozes poison and can knock down full grown trees with his tail. There are also some deaths that will hit readers hard. But there is no language—hard to imagine in a classic fantasy!—and no sex (though there is the hint of romance!) so it’s out of the R range.
What topics, issues, or themes does your book address? What drove you to write about them?
As a high school English teacher, I spend my days with adolescents and I know what they have on their minds: what does it mean to fit in? How am I judged by others? To what extent do I accept these judgments? To what extent do I judge others? What does it mean when a parent lets you down? What issue might make me stand up for my beliefs against the group? What is worth fighting for? All of these issues, critical to teens, are in the novel, but the novel is a classic fantasy—complete with battle scenes, bizarre creatures, a journey through a hostile landscape, magic, mythological connections. The main character is a strong but complex girl who readers will identify with—male and female, according to the teen reviews I’ve already gotten. The story is fast paced and engaging but also has the “deeper issues” that English teachers love to point out! I find it is often easier for adolescents to think about/talk about these issues if they are presented in a way that removes them from personal experience.
Name three examples of readers who would identify or like your book.
- Girls, ages 12 and up, who—like my daughter—insist on strong female characters who are active and daring.
- Any kid above twelve who loves classic fantasy novels.
- Any kid above 12 who wants to be swept off to another world but likes to see the issues of this world reflected in it.
List a few statistically improbable phrases or sentences one might find in your book. These are phrases or sentences you might never find anywhere else.
- In the leaping flames, the figure of Charach the man, alternated with images of the White Worm.
- You’re holding up some human form, some form of yourself, as an ideal. To me, humans are ugly. Spindly. Weak. Blind.
- The odor was thick here and she inhaled deeply, hungrily, pulling the smell into her lungs. Then the words came: elfwort, feverfew, clover, chamomile, yarrow…
- Her hair dissolved, her bones floated in pools. She would seep into the earth, leaving nothing but bone to mark her existence.
How can your book be used in the classroom?
As a teacher myself, it was great fun to develop a teachers’ guide for my own book! WATERSMEET offers many options in the classroom. Because it is an adventure and has lots of action, it’s an engaging read. So many kids are reading fantasy today that this aspect of the novel will appeal. Once a teacher has hooked kids with the story, there are great opportunities for meaty discussion about prejudice, tolerance, what it means to be an outsider, what it means to accept yourself. It also offers images of some heady things like ethnocentrism, tyranny, and models of governance, but teachers can address these ideas without heavy handedness.
Now tell us about other already-published books that readers of your book might enjoy.
- Lois Lowry’s The Giver, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger.
- Tamora Pierce’s Alana books.
Now whet our appetites with a teaser.
Abisina scanned the crowd through her tangle of dark hair. So many! The widows and their children had all been brought by the same rumor that brought her: the village Elders would be sharing out portions of cheese. Abisina’s empty stomach clenched. Cheese! She could feel its creaminess on her tongue, taste its sharpness. When was the last time she had tasted cheese? I will be last, she thought.
Are you offering authors visits to schools, libraries, or other organizations?
Yes.
Are you willing to speak nationally?
Yes.
List a few example titles of presentations, talks, or workshops you might give for an author visit.
- Finding your Voice: Female Authors/Female Characters OR Finding Your Voice: My Publishing Journey
- Group Marketing: How Joining Forces Can Increase Book Sales
- World Building: How to Create a Believable Unbelievable World (writing workshop for students)
- Folklore, Mythology, and Archetypes: Tapping Ancient Stories for Modern Inspiration (writing workshop for students)
- Fantastic Characters! Creating 3-D Characters (writing workshop for students)
This concludes our interview with our latest author, Ellen Jensen Abbott. We wish her much success with her debut novel WATERSMEET. To see what Ellen is up to these days, visit her blog at www.ellenjensenabbott.com.
*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Ellen is giving away three signed copies of WATERSMEET to three winners. Tell your friends and leave a comment for the author! Enter by May 4th, 2009 11:59 PM CST.
Your email address will not be displayed publicly and will only be used to contact you if you win! And don’t forget to participate in our other AuthorsNow! giveaways.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED! Thanks for all the interest in the contest to win copies of Watersmeet. I was especially touched by all the folks who wanted to share it with their kids! (Boys do like it!) I have book group guides and teacher guides on my website (www.ellenjensenabbott.com).
I have chosen the three lucky winners: Ann Fantom, Beth Shepherd (and her daughter) and Susan Ledet. I hope the rest of you will check out Watersmeet at your local bookstore! Thanks again!
Related posts:
- WATERSMEET by Ellen Jensen Abbott
- Connect with Ellen Jensen Abbott: The Call of Fantasy
- Connect with Ellen Jensen Abbott: The Writer as Knitter
- The Class of 2K9 Early Bird ARC Giveaway (01/08/09-01/24/09)
- Author Spotlight: Cindy Pon, SILVER PHOENIX : BEYOND THE KINGDOM OF XIA (Giveaway Alert: Now – 05/08/09)
Comments
1 Lesley // Apr 27, 2009 at 10:10 am
Wow! The book sounds fantastic! Please put my name in for the drawing! Thanks!
2 Debbie // Apr 27, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Sounds like a great book. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9@verizon.net
3 Tess // Apr 27, 2009 at 8:42 pm
The book sounds great! I cannot wait to read it.
4 Carol Thompson // Apr 28, 2009 at 12:02 am
If the giveaway is open worldwide, then please enter me.
Thank you.
Carol
5 FredTownWard // Apr 28, 2009 at 7:37 am
It definitely sounds like something I’d like to read and review.
6 Aaron Steel // Apr 28, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Hi teacher Ellen,
This is Aaron Steel from 6th grade Literature class at Wesstown School. I really enjoyed your presentation to us. I can’t wait untill I can get a copy of your book , it sounds really brilliant. Im definately going to your book signing at the Chester County Book Store.
P.S.
Can you enter me into the Giveaway Contest?
Sincerely,
Aaron Steel
7 Steph Su // Apr 28, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Wow, thank you for the giveaway! I’d love to be entered. I have heard good things about Watersmeet, and I think it’s fabulous that the author has thought about how the book can be used in the classroom.
stephxsu at gmail dot com
8 rebecca herman // Apr 28, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Please enter me! This book looks really interesting.
9 Jenn S. // Apr 29, 2009 at 8:50 am
This sounds like a book my daughter and I would both enjoy reading.
10 Amelia // Apr 29, 2009 at 8:54 am
This books sounds amazing. Please enter me
11 Jenna // Apr 29, 2009 at 9:59 am
Wow! This seems like a great read! I can definitely see myself passing this one on to a bunch of friends and family members. Please enter me in the giveaway!
12 Jenna // Apr 29, 2009 at 10:03 am
Whoops! Forgot my email: [EDITED. We receive your email address when you complete your form. You do not need to include it in the body of your message, too. Thanks!]
13 desiree kelley // Apr 29, 2009 at 10:39 am
would love to read it
14 babygirlG // Apr 29, 2009 at 11:14 am
I would love to read this book!
15 DeeAnn S // Apr 29, 2009 at 11:35 am
Thanks for the great interview. This book will definately make the round among friends. I look forward to reading it.
16 Sherrah // Apr 29, 2009 at 12:33 pm
The book sounds amazing! I can’t wait to read it. Please enter me in the contest.
17 kim pickett // Apr 29, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Please enter me. this book sounds like it would be so fun to read! Different from what I normally read, but I’d love to give it a try!
18 Amber G // Apr 29, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This book looks fascinating. It is going to the top of my To-Read list. Please enter me!
19 Ann Fantom // Apr 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Your book sounds very interesting. I’d like to read it.
20 Cheryl F. (The Lucky Ladybug) // Apr 29, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I’d love to read this
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
21 valerie mabrey // Apr 29, 2009 at 1:51 pm
count me in to win
22 Paradox // Apr 29, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I want to read Watersmeet so badly! It is in my Top 20 2009 Books TBR List (out of about 150 books or more)! I am a fantasy lover and it sounds so good!
23 Katie Johnson // Apr 29, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Enter me! I can’t wait to read this! =]
24 MRS.MOMMYY // Apr 29, 2009 at 7:45 pm
please include me..thanks
25 Djp // Apr 29, 2009 at 8:23 pm
sign me up
26 shannon Baas // Apr 29, 2009 at 10:25 pm
It looks like a great book.
27 Derrick // Apr 29, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Sounds like a wonderful book even if I dont win i will have to pick one up.
28 Thalia Chaltas // Apr 29, 2009 at 11:09 pm
A signed copy!!! Please-o-please-o-please!
(And I have to say, Ellen, I just read Gathering Blue for the first time this last week. I can’t understand why I missed that one but read the others.)
29 david basile // Apr 30, 2009 at 6:06 am
book sounds great
30 Rebecca // Apr 30, 2009 at 11:38 am
I would love to read this book! Please enter me in your drawing.
31 mindy // Apr 30, 2009 at 12:56 pm
sounds like a great read thanks for the giveaway
32 David // Apr 30, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Please count me in, thanks.
33 Linda Chaput // Apr 30, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Looks like a very interesting read.I’ll have to order online unless it’s in the Canadian bookstores.
34 beth shepherd // Apr 30, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Thank you for a great giveaway! This would be a great read for me and my daughter. Thank you!
35 Vicky Boackle // Apr 30, 2009 at 6:19 pm
i would love to read this book.
36 Carol Lawrence // May 1, 2009 at 4:22 am
This is a book that I would like to read.
37 Letter Garden // May 1, 2009 at 8:12 am
I’d love to win the book!!!
38 Polo.Pony // May 1, 2009 at 9:45 am
This looks like a great book! I love reading the part of the interview about what you think it would be rated as a movie and the examples of readers that would like it! Thanks!
39 Deedles // May 1, 2009 at 10:20 am
Sounds like a great read. Please include me.
40 Jason // May 1, 2009 at 3:19 pm
This sounds to be a very interesting book. Thanks for the chance
41 stirling bennett // May 1, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I can’t wait to read this–if I don’t win this contest, it’s gonna have to go on the to-buy list.
42 Pamela S // May 1, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Sounds like a great book for my teenage daughter (and maybe even my teenage son!!!). Thanks so much for the giveaway.
43 christopher h // May 1, 2009 at 10:31 pm
this sounds great, love to win it
44 ALLY in WA // May 2, 2009 at 5:34 am
What an interesting book. One that I think my teenage daughter would love. Thanks for the insightful interview.
45 Christina Brunetti // May 2, 2009 at 6:42 am
I would really love to read this.
thanks for the giveaway and great interview.
46 pag // May 2, 2009 at 10:31 am
love to read would like to win
47 Diane Baum // May 2, 2009 at 5:01 pm
It sounds very interesting and like a book I want to add to my must read list!
48 Susan C // May 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm
The teaser paragraph sounds wonderful!
smchester at gmail dot com
49 Heather Goldsmith // May 2, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Must. Have. Books. (gasp)
50 Hesper F // May 2, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Looks like a fantastic read!
51 SMD // May 3, 2009 at 12:40 am
This book sounds really interesting. I love outcast stories. Really do.
52 Christina // May 3, 2009 at 1:20 am
I’m certain that at times EVERYONE has felt like an outcast, even if they don’t in their everyday lives. I felt partially this way, since my parents had just come from Ukraine when I was born in New York City, and there was always a tug to be Ukrainian, and another strong tug to be American. (Although now I’m glad I did learn all the Ukrainian cultural symbolisms, dances, art, cuisine, etc., but at the time it didn’t seem like fun! Even having learned to read in Ukrainian and English at the age of 2 helped!) I think it takes a lot to make a story like this appear realistic, and from what I’ve read here you’ve succeeded! Thanks for the chance to win!
53 blodeuedd // May 3, 2009 at 2:18 am
What an interesting book, a must read, so if it’s open internationally then I’d like to enter
blodeuedd1 (at) gmail (dot) com
54 Ann // May 3, 2009 at 3:59 am
It sounds like a terrific fantasy. Thanks for the chance to win it!
55 Kim H. // May 3, 2009 at 9:43 am
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for sharing!
56 jennifer cecil // May 3, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I think it’s great that you’re offering authors visits to schools and helping to inspire children to read.
57 Gabriel J. // May 3, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Great read, great contest!
58 Jennifer Hedden // May 3, 2009 at 2:30 pm
enter me
59 Susan Smith // May 3, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Sounds like a good book
60 Sherri B. // May 3, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Sounds like a great read for my teenage daughter! I love the way it addresses teen issues such as feeling like an outcast with the supernatural. Thanks for the chance!
sherri419 at gmail dot com
61 Susan Ledet // May 3, 2009 at 8:03 pm
This looks like a “must read” book.
62 Denise // May 3, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I need a summer read. I would love to have this! Thanks!
63 Renee G // May 3, 2009 at 10:07 pm
This sounds like an interesting book. I would love to read this.
rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(dot)c0m
64 Marie // May 4, 2009 at 10:19 am
This sounds like a great book, I would love to read it!
65 dorothy l // May 4, 2009 at 10:38 am
please enter me in the book giveaway
66 Veronica Garrett // May 4, 2009 at 11:17 am
This book sounds great. My daughter would love to read it.
67 Matt // May 4, 2009 at 11:46 am
Ellen,
This book sounds very cool. But I’ve already told you that! Congrats on the accomplishment! You should be very proud. And we are lucky to have a cool new book to read.
68 Laura // May 4, 2009 at 3:05 pm
This books sounds like it is right up my alley, and now that the spring semester is over, I actually have time to read for fun!
69 kathy pease // May 4, 2009 at 3:41 pm
these look really great
70 john ferris // May 4, 2009 at 6:09 pm
This sounds like a fabulous book.
71 Chrysa // May 4, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Looks like a great book!
72 CINDY // May 4, 2009 at 8:16 pm
LOOKS LIKE A GREAT READ
73 K. Cleaver // May 4, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I’d be interested in reading this.
74 Janet // May 4, 2009 at 8:41 pm
looks like a great book:)ty 4 the awsome giveaway and 4 the entry:)
75 R Hicks // May 4, 2009 at 9:23 pm
This is definitely a good read!
76 bridget3420 // May 4, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I’d like to read this.
77 Tammy // May 4, 2009 at 10:25 pm
My daughter is a huge fantasy reader, it’s tough to keep her in appropriate books for her age. Since we homeschool, I would be interested in a teacher’s guide for this book as well, it would be great for our Language Arts class!
78 Lily Kwan // May 4, 2009 at 11:52 pm
This book looks very interesting! I will definitely check it out.
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