Cat Galeano
Hello, we’re gonna try this again. Thanks so much for joining us. So sorry about the hiccup. We’re gonna welcome everyone back in. There’s Nikki, I see you. I’m gonna send the request your way. Thank you.

Cat Galeano
Hopefully that went through. Yes! There you are!

Nikki Shannon Smith
I was like, thank you for joining, you’re done.

Cat Galeano
You know what? It happens. This is the first time we froze and came back. So like all the different things that are happening. We’ve had people drop off completely. I mean, that’s kind of like the hiccups of Instagram.

Cat Galeano
But anyway, we’re so happy you’re back. We’re so happy our people are trickling in. I’m sorry.

Nikki Shannon Smith
everyone else.

Cat Galeano
Come back to it. Oh yeah, no, it’s populating already. So we’re good, we’re good. So just to let everyone else know and to kind of repeat what I was saying before, basically I’m gonna start with an intro, then we’re gonna jump into our questions.

Cat Galeano
We’re gonna take any questions from the chat, kind of give you time and space to talk of anything you wanna add. And then our outro and should last anywhere between 25 to 35 minutes, depending on how joyous and chatty we feel.

Cat Galeano
All righty people, let’s get started. Our room is starting to populate. So a big hello to our Highlights Foundation family. We’re so happy to have you here with us today. For those that may not know me, I’m Cat Galeano.

Cat Galeano
My pronouns are she, her. I’m the social media manager here at the Highlights Foundation. Also known as the person most likely re -sharing your post. I always respond with some blue and green hearts.

Cat Galeano
So I’m sort of the human behind all of that. I’m joining you today from Westchester, New York on the traditional lands of the Siwanoi people. And apart from all the fun things I get to do at the Highlights Foundation, celebrating the book birthdays of our community members, faculty and friends is one of my greatest joys.

Cat Galeano
Because all of your wins are our wins. And today I have the honor of celebrating Stranded, the new middle grade novel by our friend and faculty member, Nikki Shannon Smith. We’re so excited to have you here with us today.

Cat Galeano
But before we dive in, I just want to remind our viewers that joining in any Highlights Foundation spaces to do so with no hate, no harm and no harassment of any kind. So let’s get started. It is pub day.

Cat Galeano
Happy book birthday to Stranded and to you. How are you feeling?

Nikki Shannon Smith
Oh my goodness, I’m so excited. I’ve been up since I think 4 .30 this morning, just kind of buzzing around. And as a kid, I used to order scholastic books with the little paper order forms. And then as a teacher, we hosted two or three scholastic book fairs in person on campus.

Nikki Shannon Smith
And I was the teacher who let snuck in with no kids to look at the books. So having my own book come out with scholastic and land and, you know, clubs and fairs is really just a dream come true. So I’m very excited today.

Cat Galeano
4 .30 is early so I hope you maximize your whole day before you crash out eventually or sneak in some coffee but isn’t that is it I just want to kind of harp on a little bit of what you said it’s like this is if anyone didn’t pick up this is a scholastic book so um just sort of that like excitement that I feel so many of us share about what that scholastic paper uh book fair paper in our folders felt like and to know now sort of on the flip side now is having being a writer whose book is in the book fair I mean that must be something that is it’s such a wild dream to even conceptualize so I’m so excited for you and I share in your happiness because as a kid who used to wait for the book fair I’m like I cannot even imagine what it feels like so yay congratulations um so my second question is we’re going to tease a little bit about with the book here um at the beginning of the story your main character’s name is Ava she gets picked on for loving the outdoors and wanting to spend time in nature why was it important for you to write this character and tell this story

Nikki Shannon Smith
Well, I think, you know, I’m Ava in so many ways. It was just her experiences, her loves, her passion for the outdoors, really all came from within me. And I was fortunate in that that was not something I got teased about or picked on for.

Nikki Shannon Smith
But I know a lot of kids are busy trying to define themselves on their own terms. And I really just wanted to write something that showed you can be all of the things, you can realize all of the parts of who you are.

Nikki Shannon Smith
And the best way to be true to yourself is to surround yourself with the people who allow you to do so. So that was the main thing.

Cat Galeano
This was such a beautiful book and your, your detail, like it was so rich, like the describe, like the way you described the outdoors and like the different things Ava was learning. And I’m not going to spoil much, but Ava goes on an adventure.

Cat Galeano
So we’ll leave it at that, but the way you described it was truly, it was such a beautiful read and it felt it also, I think that’s important to touch on. It felt very middle grade too. Like that voice felt young.

Cat Galeano
So I really appreciated that. Cause so often I read something and I’m like, I’m not quite getting that middle grade voice, but the story is beautiful and this truly was kind of the best of everything.

Cat Galeano
So I spoiler alert got the book a little early. So I did get to enjoy it before, before the world got to, so I can’t thank you enough for that opportunity. Um, my next question is what was your process to get this on the, the page?

Cat Galeano
Like talk to us about when it started in your head to basically today, now that it’s out in the world.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So I think initially it was just the concept of a girl out in the wilderness who’s where she’s always wanted to be and then that just goes completely awry, right? And having never been stranded, thank goodness, but having spent a lot of time outside whether that was in the redwoods, I’m in California.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So the redwoods and Sierra Nevadas, hiking, camping, all the things that I did, those things came naturally. So that process really just involved tapping into those experiences and the feelings I have when I’m outside doing all of those things.

Nikki Shannon Smith
But then the other side was that it was set in the Adirondack Mountains. So I also had to do a lot of research to make sure that while the emotions I was pretty comfortable with and her experiences, I wanted to make sure that I honored that land and animals and the wildlife there and made sure that as her story unfolded, it would ring true for people reading on East Coast.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So that was a big part of the process.

Cat Galeano
That’s amazing. Did you end up coming to the Adirondacks at all? Or was it?

Nikki Shannon Smith
On my I’m on my way. Hopefully like knock on all the wood pretty soon.

Cat Galeano
yay because that was my first question i was like in my head i’m like i wondered if nikki made it out here because it just feels so real i mean i haven’t been spent much time in that arandex i’ve pretty much just driven through them i’ve spent more time in the cat skills than in that arandex but i was just like i wonder if she’s been here it feels so real

Nikki Shannon Smith
Part of my process with research is to just fully immerse myself. So I looked at live cams and videos and pictures until I felt like I was there. So for saying that, that was one of the things I was a little worried about because you always want to write an authentic story.

Nikki Shannon Smith
Of course.

Cat Galeano
So talk to me a little bit more, I’m just like curious. So then all this research and then how did you were like, how did Ava come to life? I mean, you said a little bit that Ava was you, but like, how about like, Auntie Raven, like how the sisters, like, without giving away too much, because obviously the book is called Stranded People, so you can only imagine what happens, but without giving away too many details.

Cat Galeano
I feel like the cast of characters was just so delicious and was just so vibrant and like, I loved the sisters and their sort of dynamic and that was so interesting to me. Anyway, so just like kind of harp a little bit on that.

Nikki Shannon Smith
but I’m really in love with the concept. There will be a part that’s sort of a given. So in this one, it was the setting was already there and characters will just, sorry for everybody who sounds strange if you don’t write, but the characters will just start to kind of talk to me and come to me and walk with me.

Nikki Shannon Smith
And that’s how this one came to be. So Ava, you know, I knew she was a city girl. I’m from Oakland, so I’m also very much a city girl. And I wanted to think about what that would be like for her in Manhattan, which that is some place I’ve spent time in and what kinds of friends she would have.

Nikki Shannon Smith
And then from there, just the idea of what was her family going to be like? In living in York, I knew sort of what their household might look like. I always wanted brothers. I didn’t have brothers until I got married.

Nikki Shannon Smith
Now, you know, now they’re my brothers too, but the dynamic of an older brother, younger brothers, twins, we do have some twins in my family. I have friends who are twins. And then I wanted to play with that a little bit.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So she’s got younger twin brothers, but then her mother is a twin. And the twins are a little bit at odds with each other. And I wanted to kind of play with that because some people see twins and think, oh, you know, they’re just alike, especially if they’re identical, but I wanted them to be their own people and have that close tie that you hear about, but then also have something in the way.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So that was all just kind of brewing. And as I wrote, something would pop into my head regarding their relationship and then I’d weave that into, so.

Cat Galeano
We all the characters don’t

Nikki Shannon Smith
Sorry, I have a special auntie. I mean, just, you gotta give a girl an auntie.

Cat Galeano
I mean, first of all, aunties are the best and this auntie was the best and it just, but it also just like your characters felt so 3D, like sure she was the best, but like also like Ava was upset with her at points where it’s like, it just, all the characters felt so 3D to me and I think that’s such a gift and I was, I felt so immersed in that world and I was like, oh my God auntie Raven, how could you,

Cat Galeano
you know, like, you know, I want to hear like rooting for my girl Ava and totally feeling the feel. So I just felt like you did such a beautiful job with that too, like the characters, the characters, I mean, apart from like the world feeling so real, the characters truly felt so, felt so 3D.

Cat Galeano
So you did an awesome job there. So my next question is talking a little bit about the Highlights Foundation. Can you tell us about your journey and how the Foundation has played a part in it?

Nikki Shannon Smith
Yeah, so first everybody watching anybody watching if you are not familiar with highlights, please follow them on all their social media For riders for shops, please take one through them. Go visit the campus in pennsylvania Um, so highlights i’ve read highlights magazines, you know as a young person, but I didn’t really realize How fully developed highlights was as a foundation until about 2021 And it started with me being a member of amplified black stories,

Nikki Shannon Smith
which was a program that highlights sponsored Uh, the brown bookshelf was part of that It was a call to action to elevate the stories and voices across cultures and especially in the black culture And so I ended up online, of course, it was like covet times So a lot of it was online and then as part of that program, I got to attend a virtual highlights Workshop and it was a fiction one And I was an attendee in that workshop,

Nikki Shannon Smith
but by the time it was over I just knew there was just a feeling even I say in the room. I mean, we know it was a zoom room There was a feeling in that room that you just don’t get everywhere and I wanted to be a part of it So I reached out within I think a week or two And I just said how can I be a bigger part?

Nikki Shannon Smith
How can I be involved? So that’s how it started And then you know fast forward a little bit and I got to come to the campus and um Although i’ve been in the wilderness because i’m in california. I had never seen fireflies before And on this visit I mentioned that and it’s almost like you’ve never seen fireflies, you know, it was there nor I can’t believe I’ve never seen fireflies and then someone else was like well,

Nikki Shannon Smith
we call them lightning bugs And so people literally led me out to the meadow At highlights at like a group of maybe four friends flanked me and led me to this meadow and they were just like be very quiet You know, everybody’s phone was off Nobody was trying to film it or document it and we just stood in the quiet and those As you know started to come on and that actually made its way into the book where ava gets to see her first fireflies so

Cat Galeano
So jumping off of that, I read that. So I was told this story previously about how Nicky experienced the fireflies in real life on campus. So when I read that line in the book, I literally just squealed and I said, no way, this is like the direct, direct like life experience of Nicky in this book.

Cat Galeano
And A, I’m honored I knew that like fun fact before I read it because it just made that moment so special, but also too, it’s like kind of a, of what a writer is, like you implant so much of your life experiences in your story.

Cat Galeano
So, so knowing that about you and then reading it directly in the text was just something so I think unique. And I haven’t really experienced that before, like knowing a specific bit of information and then seeing that line directly in the text.

Cat Galeano
So oh my God, that was such a joyous experience for me. And so whenever you get to that Firefly line, now you know exactly how Nicky was feeling about experiencing fireflies in real life.

Nikki Shannon Smith
That way when I think about it, it was just absolutely magical. And there’s another little scene in the book that I won’t spoil.

Cat Galeano
So talk to us. We were talking about campus a little bit. I do know that you were on campus a little longer than a retreat this summer. So talk to us about what you got to do.

Nikki Shannon Smith
Yes, I got to be the writer -in -residence on campus in August, for most of August, and it was a combination of writing and taking care of writing -related business. I actually drafted a picture book, so it’s not about the wilderness, but maybe I’ll have another one that I can say this was born at highlights.

Nikki Shannon Smith
And then there were several different groups on campus during my stay. So, we had the Native Creative and Community Retreat was on campus, the Neurodiverse and Community Retreat was on campus, there was an agency on campus, several personal retreaters.

Nikki Shannon Smith
I feel like I’m forgetting someone. Oh, and the whole novel group was also on campus. So, I got to sit in on some things as an audience member, I got to be on a panel, I was just honored to be in company with some of those groups who were there.

Nikki Shannon Smith
It’s such a safe place, Highlights is a place where you can come and be and know that you’re accepted and loved, and I was honored to be folded in to some of those very personal experiences. And I got to support and help as needed, and eat lots and lots of good food, and have lots of good conversations, and just be inspired as part of the community, so it was wonderful.

Cat Galeano
That’s wonderful. And I always tell people that like a mini retreat in terms of like three or four days is great, but there’s something to be said about a little longer of a stay on campus. I mean, I think my longest stay has been maybe three weeks, maybe two and a half weeks, I think at the peak when I was there for RA -ing, but there is something so different about being there for like an extended period of time,

Cat Galeano
because often I find that when we’re in retreat, and in my case, the retreats I’ve been to most recently was the Latinx retreat last year. It’s just such as like three or four days, but you’re in community and so you want to connect and you want to be with people.

Cat Galeano
And so you don’t necessarily get to your craft so much. So when you’re with like a little bit more of an extended time, maybe even upwards to a week, it gives time for like both. So you get to like kind of connect with people, but you also really kind of get to have your butt in the chair moment and get those words out.

Cat Galeano
So there’s something to be said about staying a little longer.

Nikki Shannon Smith
Some of stranded I got to write on campus as well.

Cat Galeano
Ooh, look at that! That’s a fun fact. I like that fun fact. What do you hope kids will take away from this book?

Nikki Shannon Smith
I, you know, as a teacher and as a reader, I just really want kids to read. So my main goal with any book that I write or that I put in anyone’s hand, whether I wrote it or not, is just, I want them to find in a book, whatever they came looking for.

Nikki Shannon Smith
I don’t write with that type of agenda. There are things that are very, that I hope, you know, maybe someone will notice or maybe it is what someone is looking for. In this book, what I hope is that kids see an example of someone who was determined to be themselves and was willing to speak up and advocate and be self -reliant because of her situation and eventually had to be willing to accept that they needed some help.

Nikki Shannon Smith
And I think out when that aspect probably came in, I’m very bad about asking for help. It’s very hard for me to do. I’m super independent, you know, talk about grit, especially in our young, girls. And so I wanted her to have that, but also life is humbling and we can’t do it alone.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So I wanted her to have to ask for help and to also realize that even when it seems like people don’t accept you or like you’re different or you don’t fit in, there are people who love you and you’re really never alone.

Cat Galeano
I think that’s the main reason why I think this book struck such a chord with me too is because I’m sort of in line with you of I’m hyper -independent, I don’t like to ask for help. So the asking for help and for it to be okay to ask for help and to be basically caught because sometimes asking for help is too scary because you don’t know who’s going to catch you if you’re falling.

Cat Galeano
That idea of being caught and carried is something that I still, you know, am working with and struggling with. So that part of the story really grabbed me and I was like, you know what? It’s okay to ask for help and it’s okay because somebody will be there to catch you.

Cat Galeano
So thank you, thank you for this story, thank you for that message. And that’s all for my question. So I would like to ask you if there’s anything you’d like to add, if there’s anything we need to know and then in the meantime, I’m going to look through our comment section and see if there’s any questions.

Nikki Shannon Smith
well I think you know first just thank you for doing this thank you highlights for your role in all of this thank you Scholastic I got a shout out the Scholastic team it was a dream experience and I thought yay but you know definitely came from me but it also came from the absolute joy in the creative team process so I was very very fortunate in that so you know I definitely want to help them out because I’m really really grateful for that you know I guess I would just say be yourself for those of you who are writers keep going my journey has been long and windy don’t compare yourself to other people your journey is yours just like you are who you are so keep it pushing you know keep keep doing what you do and just don’t ever give up

Cat Galeano
Well, I don’t see any questions from the comments. Just lots and lots and lots of love for you, for your messaging, for this story that’s out in the world. And I also just want to echo all of that love.

Cat Galeano
I have had the immense honor of monitoring your classes in the past as faculty. And oop, question just popped up, actually, as I’m wrapping this up. Are you writing any more middle grade? I saw that one pop up.

Nikki Shannon Smith
I am. I am. I have a couple of things in the works that I cannot. It’s so hard. I can’t see that. You can’t talk. But I do. I have a historical fiction in a historical fiction, middle grade nonfiction, which is something kind of different.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So that is in the works too. And then I’ve got some picture books I write all across the board, which is part of just me being myself and being true to myself. Whatever story is speaking to me is what I write.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So there are things in the works. I think most people at this point, because I’ve been shouting it from the mountaintop, know Prince book coming out in about a year and a half. Prince artist, just to clarify, a little golden book.

Nikki Shannon Smith
So those are some of the things that I have happening in the works.

Cat Galeano
And of course, please follow Nicki to keep up to date on all the latest projects and when things are coming out. And maybe we’ll see her over here again soon in the next book birthday, who knows?

Nikki Shannon Smith
I see some friends from Oakland in here.

Cat Galeano
Well, thank you to all those friends for coming on in and joining the Highlights Foundation live. We’re so happy to have you here with us. So basically, that’s the end of our conversation, so I’m going to lead right into our outro, which is, once again, congratulations on this beautiful new book.

Cat Galeano
I had the immense honor, as I mentioned, that I got to read it early, it was on my Kindle. I’m just glad it’s out in the universe now, so all of you can get your hands on it, too. If you would like to order a copy, you can always purchase at our virtual bookshop powered by Bookshop .org.

Cat Galeano
Nikki, I’m not sure if you are working with a specific indie or whatnot, but if that information you have later on, you can always email me and we’ll add it to the blog. You’re also going on tour, I do know that.

Cat Galeano
So, catch Nikki in real life across the country if you want your personalized copy. Thank you so much. I am so lucky that we got to share time and space as I was your monitor at some point in the past for your online classes and now getting to be here as your pseudo online friend hosting this very special book birthday.

Cat Galeano
Thank you. Thank you so much for choosing to celebrate with us. And thank you so much for this book. I can’t wait for everyone to read it and thank you to all of you for joining us from all over from Oakland, from New York, from everywhere else in between.

Cat Galeano
Thank you everyone and have a great rest of your day. Thank you.