Middle grade is a “sweet spot” in children’s literature, says Tess Hilmo.
“Sandwiched between early chapter books and teen novels, middle-grade stories are quite often the first novel length works we read in our youth,” the author of “With a Name Like Love” told Cracking the Cover. “As such, they have a special place in a child’s life. It is a sincere privilege to be able to write for this age group.”
Set in the 1950s, “With a Name Like Love” is the story of Ollie Love, the oldest daughter of the Reverend Everlasting Love, a traveling preacher. When their family arrives in the Southern town of Binder for a three-day revival, no one expects anything to be different than other towns they’ve visited before. But on the first day in town, Ollie meets Jimmy Koppel, whose mother is in jail for murdering his father. Jimmy says his mother is innocent, but proving that may be difficult. Even if Ollie can convince her father to stay and help, there may be no way to save her.
Tess says it’s “important to acknowledge the journey publication is for most writers.” Long before she even thought about writing as a profession she was working as a litigation specialist for an insurance company and considering law school — though she says that endeavor was “more about my love for words and forming stories (which they call arguments) than about the actual practice of law.”
It was when Tess was put on bed rest with her second child that she first considered writing something long enough to be a novel. “I had watched television for two weeks straight and was sick and tired of that kind of bed rest. I decided if I was going to be on my back for an extended period of time, I might as well be productive.”
“With a Name Like Love” was indirectly born out of that experience. It is Tess’ debut novel, though it’s not the first one she’s written. It took nine years and three completed novels before getting published. “The first two are what I call ‘practice novels’ and are shoved in a drawer somewhere, never to see the light again,” Tess said. “I say completed novels because there are another five or six stories that I began and never felt inspired to finish.”
Tess did, however, feel inspired to finish “With a Name Like Love.” Tess “adores” classic Southern gospel music. Songs like “Amazing Grace,” “Go Down Moses” and “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” have always spoken to Tess on a deep level, and she remembers singing them around a campfire with her family when she was a little girl.
As an adult, Tess wrote “Lead Me On,” which she patterned after those old classics. After hearing the song, Tess’ mother suggested writing a story to go with it. “With a Name Like Love” is that story.
“It is a celebration of love and family and those songs that have always helped me believe in myself,” Tess said. “What’s fun is that my original song is actually featured in the novel!”
With its roots in gospel music and a main character who is a preacher, it’s understandable that “With a Name Like Love” has many spiritual elements to it. But finding the right balance wasn’t easy. “The challenge was writing about an itinerant preaching family in the South without having the novel be too much about their faith,” Tess said. “It is a slice of Americana that intrigues me and I found it a natural setting for the story I wanted to tell, but this novel is not about faith. It is about a faith filled family and keeping that line clearly delineated was a constant thought.”
Tess says she never intended to write a novel that featured faith on any level. She wanted to write about a family’s experience helping someone in need. She worked hard to create distinct and individual characters and constantly worked within the bounds of each person.
“In the end,” she said, “I think it was these efforts that allowed their faith to come across as genuine instead of preachy or separate from the story. Besides, you simply can’t write a novel set in the South without a few “Dear Lord’s” or “Sweet Jesus’.” That is what makes Southern literature so fun!”
*To listen to the song that inspired “With a Name Like Love,” go to Tess Hilmo’s FAQ page. A free downloadable discussion guide is available.
**Tess took a lot of time and care to answer Cracking the Cover’s questions. Read a complete transcript of her interview. Also, read Cracking the Cover’s review of “With a Name Like Love.”
***Enter to win a copy of “With a Name Like Love.”
