By Jena Benton
Originally published on the following blog:
How do you explain unseen illness, injury, or trauma to a child? Exactly the way this book does!
Darcie Naslund has been fighting MS, a rollercoaster of a battle for many years. Finally, she decided to write this story to explain her invisible owies to her children. She fights for herself, but also for her family. You can learn more about her at her website or follow her on Twitter or on Instagram.
MY MOM IS NOT A SUPERHERO is a story about a little girl whose mother has Multiple Sclerosis. She hears her dad call her a superhero and she knows that’s not true. Superheroes wear capes and fly after all. But as the story progresses, the daughter realizes that her mom is fighting invisible villains every day. The illustrations do a wonderful job of showing exactly what the little girl is visualizing. This is a great way to share about MS in an incredibly approachable and kid-friendly way. It’s not preachy or didactic at all. It’s told with nothing but love. And for those who want less fantasy, more real information about the disease, there is plenty of back matter to help. It’s beautifully done.
Welcome Darcie!
Me: Can you talk a little bit about yourself and your writing journey up to this point? What brought you to this book?
Darcie: I grew up on a section of my family’s farm near Greencourt, Alberta, Canada. I didn’t grow up wanting to be an author. Honestly, I didn’t even realize it was something I could do since I had never even met a real author before. But I loved working with children and always loved children’s literature, so teaching just made sense. I got my degree in Education, and I moved back home, where I taught for a few years and started my family and small farm, all the while being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and struggling with my health.
My writing journey started with a goofy phrase my daughter was repeating. It made me laugh, so I turned it into a story and was instantly hooked. That was in 2019, I believe. I began by searching for author groups, attending author events, and forming two amazing critique groups, for which I am incredibly grateful. The idea for this book came from my daughter always asking questions and trying to understand what was wrong. I tried to find books and other resources to help explain what was happening to young kids, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I wanted something fun and empowering rather than serious and scary. So, I wrote it myself.
After I had several manuscripts written, I started querying, got rejections, and pitched my manuscripts on Twitter during #PBPitch. I got a like and submitted my manuscript to DC Canada Education Publishing. Soon after, I was offered a contract. I am still an unagented author, but I have taken a break from querying to focus on my book release and to write my novel in verse.
Me: I love the idea of superheroes and invisible villains as an explanation for MS from a kid’s point of view. It’s a great comparison! What gave you the idea for this story?
Darcie: As I mentioned earlier, my daughter inspired this book. She was four then and always curious about what was wrong with Mommy and wanted to help. Before writing the book, I would use the concept of superheroes to explain to my kids how the immune system works. When they are sick, the superheroes in their bodies help them feel better. I also explained that my superheroes don’t always do their job or they fight the wrong thing. Because of this, the superhero concept made sense from the start.
This book began with several terrible drafts. My first draft was more of a list of symptoms than an actual story with a beginning, middle and end. It sounded like a commercial for an MS medication. Looking back now, I have no idea what I was thinking. Thankfully, my critique partners helped me accept that I needed to make a change. Then, one day, my daughter asked me where my owies were because she couldn’t see them. Why couldn’t she see them? Suddenly, I had an epiphany and rewrote the entire manuscript.
Me: I absolutely love the way you describe the effects of MS in the story and the activities you gave kids to do in the end to imagine what it’s like. They’re brilliant! Were these details always part of the story? Or did they come about during revision? How many revisions did this story undergo?
Darcie: The backmatter came during the revision process. I intended to make some symptoms easy for kids to visualize or understand. I tried adding lots of descriptions, but it was way too much. The most difficult decision I made with this book was deciding whether or not to specifically mention Multiple Sclerosis or leave it open-ended just as an invisible illness, which was suggested by some agents and editors in rejection letters. After a lot of debate, I decided to keep the focus on MS and go even further by discussing its specific symptoms in backmatter.
Most of what I included in the backmatter were explanations I have used to explain what was happening to my friends and family. Things like “My legs feel like cement,” “I feel like I’m carrying around sandbags.” “It’s like I’ve been spinning in circles.” Some of the inspiration came from the MS Society resources as well. I was recently talking to someone from the MS Society of Canada about my book, and they mentioned having children try on large, heavy boots like the ones firefighters wear. They are very heavy and a perfect analogy for one MS symptom. Although. I can’t add to the backmatter now, I plan to bring fire boots to my author events and have children try some of the activities from the book.
I honestly have no idea how many revisions this book underwent. I have twelve copies on my computer and at least ten more printed copies filled with corrections. I also have a few book dummies that I made.
Me: Wow! What a great idea! What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?
Darcie: The most surprising thing about writing this story was how difficult it was. I mean, other manuscripts I have written had their challenges, but because this one was so personal, I found myself getting stuck a lot more. My critique groups would give me wonderful feedback, as they always do, but then I wouldn’t want to make any changes or would make very few. It wasn’t until one of them told me it sounded too much like an ad discussing MS that I woke up to their feedback. This book wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my amazing critique groups.
Me: The illustrations by Dania El Khatib are perfect for this story. I loved the details she brought to the story as well, like the cat and the chickens. Were there any illustration surprises for you? Any favorites?
Darcie: The biggest surprise was that Dania illustrated my life—everything from the chickens to the cat to me writing on the couch with papers everywhere. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was definitely a surprise. Dania’s illustrations truly made my story come to life. I love them all, but I have two favorites. The most important scene for me is the spread where the main character puts on her X-ray glasses and finally sees what Mom has been fighting. I knew this scene had to be perfect, and thanks to Dania, it is. The other page I want to mention is the spread where the main character is trying to fly amongst the chickens. This one is my absolute favorite. Dania managed to capture my life in just one illustration.
Me: This is such a powerful book to help explain MS to kids. Yet it’s not just a health manual, it’s a story with a plot told from a child’s perspective that is at first contradictory and then accepting. It’s touching in all the right ways. What do you want young readers to take away from your story?
Darcie: I think the most important thing I want readers to take away from this book is that many people are fighting invisible battles that we might not understand, but if we can show a little bit of kindness, understanding, and support, it can make a huge difference. I also hope that it leads to more family conversations. Kids are smart; they know when something is different or not quite right. They just want to be involved, help, and show you how much they love you.
Me: Any advice for other new picture book writers?
Darcie: I would say don’t worry about writing for trends; write what you want to write and make it your own. Take suggestions for revision, but only make the changes you feel are right for your story. And finally, don’t be afraid to write your personal stories. They might just be the most meaningful and powerful stories you will ever write. I have many other manuscripts, but I think there is a reason that this one was published first.
That is great advice. Thank you for stopping by my blog today Darcie.
Dear readers, if you haven’t yet had a chance to check out this book, it’s definitely worth a read. It’s incredibly hard to take a serious topic (especially if it’s one you hold close to your heart), and approach it with love and a fantasy angle! It’s an incredible combination. You won’t want to miss it.
