Engaging Books for Older Military Kids
Can you tell us a little about your background in the military community and what inspired you to write your book?
A common thread between my connection to the military community and what inspired my book is, unusually, my background in architectural design!
Growing up, I was always interested in architecture out of my love for secret hideouts and passageways. Cannondale, the namesake mansion in my book, was a real place from my childhood with actual, real secret doors and passageways! It always felt like something extraordinary could be waiting just around the corner in old houses like that. So I was inspired to write The Secret Doors of Cannondale, really, to give my twelve-year-old self the adventure I always wanted.
Fast forward to adulthood and I am a licensed, civilian architect. The first half of my career was focused on residential design, but I've committed the second half to improving service members' health and well-being using an uncommon strategy. I am a leading DoD expert in salutogenic design: I specialize in lowering service members' stress and improving their resiliency just by designing our buildings differently. The positive effects of my work have been astounding, and it's been profoundly fulfilling for me to serve those serving our country in this way.
When I started writing The Secret Doors of Cannondale, my work in salutogenic design inspired me to continue giving back to the military community. I think military kids are often overlooked and underappreciated for their own acts of service, so I chose to make a military child the star of my book.
What message or themes do you hope to convey through your book, particularly to military families and individuals?
The Secret Doors of Cannondale is a thrilling fantasy adventure with themes about friendship, belonging, and finding your place in the world. But one of the biggest messages that I hope to convey in my book is: Military kids deserve to be the hero of the story!
Since the book's release, I've been shocked to learn that there really aren't many other mainstream fiction books whose star is a military child. I think it's important for young readers in military families to see themselves portrayed as the hero--just as it's important for others to see these kids in this way. Exposing young civilian classmates, for instance, to how cool military kids are through a fantasy adventure story I think can open eyes, conversations, and doors that may have otherwise been unrealized or ignored or closed.
In what ways do you believe your book can resonate with and provide support to military families facing similar challenges?
Adeline Perle, the main character, is a reluctant loner who feels like a constant outsider, and it's been moving to see how much she resonates with young readers in the military community. Her external journey is largely dictated by things outside of her control, whether it's being moved from place to place every few years with her military family--or being unexpectedly thrown into one magical realm then another after another. Her internal journey includes issues of self-esteem, loneliness, and even loss.
These are all feelings and issues that, in real life, can make us (especially young readers) feel alone and unseen. But I think books can be a great source of support through this, where you can journey alongside a character who's also having these experiences. Especially as a military child, Adeline can relate, make these issues easier to talk about, and even show ways of getting through difficult times. This can be even more meaningful if you're reading this book with younger kids (8-10) or co-reading it with older (10-14) kids to help open up a dialogue. I think seeing yourself in the most important character of a book, and then seeing how that character articulates feelings, overcomes challenges, and thrives can do anything from support to really empower readers.
Were there any specific challenges or rewarding moments you encountered while writing your book that you would like to share?
Oh, there have been so many! Writing's always been fun for me, but I didn't realize the part right after writing would be so rewarding. Since The Secret Doors of Cannondale released in late March, I've engaged with hundreds of students--largely on military bases--who have told me how connected they've felt to Adeline, and sometimes in ways I hadn't expected. It's heartwarming, and so fulfilling, to hear that Adeline is befriending readers in meaningful ways--and then to watch that translate into camaraderie among young readers who now have a new mutual friend through my book!
What impact do you hope your book will have on readers, and how do you envision it contributing to a sense of unity within or understanding for the military community?
I want readers to walk away from my book feeling like, even in their hardest moments, they are connected to others and aren't alone. I wasn't a military brat myself, but my husband was, and in writing The Secret Doors of Cannondale, I realized two things: one, how our journeys were so importantly different, but two, how they were so similar! I wanted to carefully balance Adeline being special as a military kid...but in many ways the same as all the other kids around her; to celebrate differences and simultaneously celebrate similarities. With this balance, she bridges a divide between military and civilian kids, connecting them, and I think this can develop empathy in readers that extends beyond the page. To this point, it's been incredibly meaningful to me that military and civilian readers are united in seeing themselves in Adeline: she's support to military kids, as well as anyone who can relate to themes of acceptance, feeling valued, and the emotional impact of friendships.
Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives related to your book or future writing plans that you would like to share with our audience?
Yes! The Secret Doors of Cannondale is the first book in a trilogy--and there's so much more adventure yet to come! You can follow upcoming release news, cover reveals, etc. by signing up for my newsletter or following me on Instagram or Facebook.
I'm also especially active giving author events for military-affiliated schools and libraries: I cover my STEM career as an architect, the process of writing a novel, and my own childhood tales of real secret passageways in my program. This is not your typical author talk, and these events are happening in-person and virtually, to connect with military students and families anywhere. I am enthusiastic to share The Secret Doors of Cannondale with fantasy readers on bases all around the world!
- The Secret Doors of Cannondale (Book One of the Cannondale Chronicles) is available internationally in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook wherever fine books are sold! [US Amazon link]- Event contact info, parent/teacher resources, sign-ups, and more: http://stephaniebrick.com/secretdoors
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