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This edition of NEW VOICES featured author Candie Moonshower, author of THE LEGEND OF ZOEY (Delacorte).  Candie is an Army brat who taught herself to type the summer she turned eight, knowing even then that she would write. Writers type. She saw it on TV, so it had to be true! {mosimage} Now a graduate student at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, she studies English Literature and writes both fiction and nonfiction. In April 2004, she signed a contract with Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House, for her middle-grade novel, THE LEGEND OF ZOEY. It debuted July 11, 2006–a dream come true! She writes regularly for BUSINESS TENNESSEE magazine, a state-wide glossy, and She is freelancing for other regional and national publications as well. Candie lives in Nashville with her ever-supportive husband, Carl Johnson, and her two youngest (of her three) children.

Can you describe THE LEGEND OF ZOEY for our readers?  
THE LEGEND OF ZOEY is a middle-grade time travel told in a tandem journal entry format between Zoey Saffron Lennon Smith-Jones, a thirteen-year-old girl of the new millennium, and Prudence Charity Keeler, a thirteen-year-old girl in 1811, living in what was, then, the wild western frontier of the country, the Chickasaw lands in West Tennessee. Zoey is thrown back in time to December 1811, during the start of the New Madrid Earthquakes, which went on for months and, eventually, formed Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee. Zoey has things to learn (and miles to go before she sleeps) while in 1811, and, oh yes, the job of saving not only Pru's family, but her own, eventual, family! No biggie. All in a day's work for today's middle schooler! I have a special affection for Zoey, because she is the young me that thought all the things she has the courage to say.

Who were your favorite authors growing up? Who are your favorite authors today?
I loved Eleanor Estes, who wrote the Moffats books, about four kids living with their mother. There was no father. My father had been killed overseas, so while I didn't realize it at the time, I think Estes' Moffats books showed me that life can and does go on. I read those books over and over again. Two of my other favorite books were HEIDI by Johanna Spyri, and JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte, and thinking about that, just now I've had an epiphany! There are no visible fathers in either of those two books, although there are fatherly replacements, some better than others. Interesting . . .  I also loved Beverly Cleary books, and the Trixie Belden mysteries.  About the time I was 12, during what was probably the best job of my life, working as the assistant to the librarian at St. Bethlehem School (even for free, it was one of the best jobs ever!), the librarian gave me a Scholastic paperback edition of a Rosamond du Jardin teen romance (that had originally been published in the 1940s) called WAIT FOR MARCY. I immediately embarked on a journey with teen romances by du Jardin, Betty Cavana, Beverly Cleary, and others (what they now call "girls fiction" or "maltshop books"). I also began reading adult novels—those big archaeological/historical doorstopper books by James Michener (that I still enjoy), and gothic novels by Phyllis Whitney and Dorothy Eden. My mother belonged to every book club known to man, so I read a lot of varied stuff. 

These days, wow. As far as books for children and teens, I'd have to say that I am so enjoying the new crop of books out there for young folks—all the work of my peers, from picture books through YA! And I'm also reading a lot of stuff I missed out on when I was a kid. So I'd be hard pressed to name any one author, because I feel like I'm discovering someone new every week! As far as stuff for adults goes, I'll tell you here that I continue to love some of the biggies out there in romance and horror—Eloisa James, Nicole Byrd, Stephen King, John Grisham. And from my literature studies, I still enjoy reading the dead white guys, the medieval and other women writers coming to light now, and the wealth of multicultural writers that are seeing shelf space these days. Oh, oh, and I enjoy reading nonfiction on just about any historical subject.

How do you approach a new story? Some authors plan, some don't. Some outline, some don't…
I tend to jump in when I have that glimmer of an idea or thought about a plot, or when I'm lucky enough to have a character leap into my mind, fully developed, which Zoey did. After I've written through that first exciting wave, I stop and start thinking about my plot. I don't do massive outlines with Roman Numerals (or any other kinds of numerals, and Heaven forbid, decimals), but I do tend to break my plot idea up into that old standby, the Aristotelian three-act structure, which gives me a feeling of parameters and control. 

Is there anything special you like to wear or do while you write? Where is your favorite place to write?
I have this old red sweater that I wear. My first husband bought it for me at an Estate sale in Indianapolis, and I'm certain that sixty years ago, it was a very expensive sweater, because it is still holding up! I've had "The Sweater," as it has come to be known amongst family and friends, since 1983, and for whatever reason, wearing "The Sweater" makes me feel like writing. And in case anyone knocks on the door, I usually wear jeans and a shirt WITH "The Sweater." Summer is hard because, in Nashville, to wear "The Sweater" when it is 95 degrees and 100% humidity, is to take one's life in one's hands. Thank goodness for air conditioning, which I jack WAY down in order to wear "The Sweater." Usually over my swimsuit.

Besides my office, I love to write at my local café/bakery, City Limits (waving to all my peeps there!). It is very busy, and I do see a lot of people I know, but other than saying hello, no one bothers me, the coffee is good and plentiful, and they do a mean panini sandwich. And the folks that work there are genuinely excited about my writing career, which is a plus. It's nice to have an appreciative crowd! I hang out there one to two days a week with my writing buddy, Shirley.  

What are your plans for your next novel? Can you give us a peek?
I have three or four manuscripts stacked up, all different, and a couple of which are out there with my agent. And several in various stages at home. I'm not sure what will happen, but it's fair to say that I'm writing both middle graders and young adult, and I also am working on adult romance as well, both contemporary and historical. And nonfiction. And a picture book. If you really want to pin me down, I'm exploring some war issues, both through my personal experience in Vietnam, and with the Iraq war now. The theme of fatherlessness is one that I'm constantly looking at, even when I don't intend to. I have a YA-in-progress, too, that is neither war- nor fatherlessness-driven. I'm all over the place, really.

Are you interested in visiting libraries or schools? If so, how can interested teachers and librarians contact you?  
Absolutely! I've already done a few school visits, and I had a load of fun. I've visited book clubs where the kids (and septuagenarians, in one case) have read my book, and we discuss. That's always a trip, because kids ask the best questions! Also, I've done several writing workshops with kids of various ages, from fifth grade to high schoolers, and I really enjoy that, too. We laugh. A lot! I have several "programs" I've worked up that apply to the various age levels, and my inner thirteen-year-old is always ready to make an appearance! Folks can e-mail me at CandieMoonshower at AOL dot com, and find my "Speaker's Page," with information on how to contact me, on my Web site at www.CandieMoonshower.com. Or contact me through my blog at http://c_moonshower.livejournal.com. And I'm in the book.

 What is a question you wish interviewers would ask—but never do?
 "Where did you get that fabulous SWEATER?" Or, better yet, "Can I give you a pot of money for that magical SWEATER?" Or, perhaps best would be: "Oprah called, and she wants you to come on the show—and bring 'The Sweater.' And your book, too!"