Prior to the early 2000s, Lindsey Leavitt’s view of what a writer is was somewhat distorted — old man, patched elbows, pipe, doctorate in French theory. Because of that, she wrote for herself out of sheer enjoyment, but didn’t pursue it any further.
That changed when she went from being a full-time elementary school teacher to a part-time substitute and stay-at-home mom. It was about the same time that she started reading lots of chick lit. “I remember reading one book (not a great one as it was), and checking out the author bio in the back and seeing a woman who could easily be me,” Lindsey told Cracking the Cover. “For the first time, I realized that anyone from any background can be a writer, as long as they know how to write.”
So it was during nap time and lunch breaks that Lindsey began writing with the intent to publish. She wrote all sorts of stories, and revised, and submitted until, three years later, she finally got a “Yes.”
Lindsey’s first book, “Princess for Hire,” was published by Disney-Hyperion in March 2010. Since then, she’s published three more books — “Sean Griswold’s Head” (Bloomsbury, March 2011); and Princess for Hire books, “The Royal Treatment” (Disney-Hyperion, May 2011) and “A Farewell to Charms” (Disney-Hyperion, June 2012).
Lindsey writes for young readers because she likes them. “Most every job I’ve had since I was 16 involved working with teens or kids (besides waitressing, which we don’t speak of),” Lindsey said. “I think too many adults don’t understand/listen/relate to kids, so I try to write stories that give them a voice and also entertain.”
Substitute teaching was not Lindsey’s favorite job, especially after having a classroom of her own. It was during that time that her idea for “Princess for Hire” was born. “One night, I watched a favorite movie of mine, ‘Roman Holiday,’ about a princess who takes a vacation for a day,” she explained. “I thought, ‘What if she could get someone to fill in for her, sort of like “The Princess and the Pauper.”’ And that’s where the idea for Desi, a substitute princess, was born.”
Lindsey always knew “Princess for Hire” would become a series, but she wrote the first book as a standalone just in case that’s what publishers wanted. They didn’t. Instead, Disney-Hyperion bought three books. That meant a rewrite for Lindsey, but she didn’t mind. “I chopped out the last half of the first novel and rewrote so I could spread out some plot lines throughout the books. I’m so glad I had more books to tell the story. So much to tell!”
The series involved a lot of plotting, and looking back, Lindsey can see how much her writing and her writing process have changed. “When I started the first book, I just sort of sat down and wrote whatever I felt like, which often led me into dead ends. I had to learn to outline, to really consider the importance of each scene and character. I write with more of a purpose now. The longer I do this the more I also realize I have so much more to learn.”
If the successes of Lindsey’s books are any indicator, readers probably think the author is doing just fine. Lindsey thinks the appeal is in the story lines. “Tweens haven’t quite abandoned those princess fantasies, but they need a fresh take on it,” she said. “I also think this story has a good mix of the awkwardness, awakening and self-awareness that is so ripe in the early teens.”
In truth, it’s not hard to imagine yourself as a princess. Even Lindsey knows who she’d sub for if given a chance — Belle from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” “Alone with a nice pet in an enchanted castle with singing cutlery serving me dinner and all the books in the world?” she asks. “Yes please.”
*Lindsey will be at The King’s English tonight, Thursday, July 19, at 7.
**Read a complete transcript of Lindsey’s interview with Cracking the Cover.
