Shortly after publishing my middle grade children’s book (More Precious Than Rubies) in 2012, a good friend of mine gave me a membership gift for Christmas.
The membership was with an organization called CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators, and Performers).
My friend figured that since I had written a children’s book then I would probably gain insights from fellow children’s authors.
Pre-Covid, the meetings took place in person. People gathered to promote their books but there would always be guest speakers who focused on a particular topic important to writers, illustrators, or performers (e.g., how to develop character). During and post-Covid, meetings have been online which has its benefits. Before, I was attending meetings in Toronto so only people who lived in Toronto or in the GTA could attend. With online meetings, people from all over Canada attend.
In July 2014, I had another idea for a children’s book, this time a YA (Young Adult) novel. Having taught in many schools and observing the idiosyncrasies of students, especially grade 7 and 8 students who I taught often, I thought about this concept:
A substitute teacher is trapped on a deserted island with one of his male students. It seems contrived but there is a lot more to how this situation comes to be.
The teacher has been a centre of attention in the school that the student attends. He keeps to himself and the students become curious about him. On the island, the student learns something about the teacher that he has hidden. Although the two do not bond, they do learn that everyone has private parts of their lives that aren’t always revealed to others.
By July 2014, I began writing the novel. I called it Adrift for awhile, then found that another author had used this title. I chose Stay Above the Storm (If you read the blurb for the book, you will have a better understanding as to why I chose this).
The first half of the novel takes place in the student’s school and home. The second half takes place in Isla Mujeres, an island off the coast of Cancún, and the deserted island. I had travelled to Isla Mujeres in the past and had gone on a snorkelling cruise towards another island, Isla Contoy which is a bird sanctuary. Isla Contoy is uninhabited and only open to visitors who come and go from cruises. A perfect location for my two characters to be stranded on.
