Lucille Abendanon: 'Never underestimate middle grade readers – they can take more than we give them credit for'
BY Emily Powter-Robinson
17th Jan 2024
Lucille Abendanon was a student on our three-month Writing YA & Children’s Fiction course in 2019. Her debut middle grade book The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree will be published by North Star Editions on the 23 January 2024.
We discussed her time studying with us, the family history that inspired her story and the best piece of advice she received from Writing YA & Children’s Fiction course tutor, Catherine Johnson.
You took our three-month Writing YA & Children’s Fiction course in 2019. How did your time studying with us impact your writing journey?
The CBC course was the start of everything. I always knew I would write my grandmother’s fascinating WW2 story one day, and it lived in my head for ten years at least. The one thing stopping me was I had no idea what form the novel would take, adult or children’s. I think deep down, my heart has always belonged to middle grade, but I did toy with writing it as an adult book because Oma was 23 when she was taken prisoner. When I saw the advert for the CBC course I made myself a deal: If I got accepted on to the course, I would write my grandmother’s story as a middle grade novel. I wrote three thousand words and hoped for the best. When I was accepted, I was elated … and then realised I had an entire book to write. It certainly was a steep learning curve.
Many of our students find lifelong writing friends on our courses. Are you still in touch with anyone you met during the courses?
I am! Our group is called The Pinklings (named after The Inklings, the Oxford group that included Tolkien and CS Lewis). There are eight of us, and we are an international bunch (Italian, American, South African, Irish, Pakistani and British). We all live relatively close to each other, so we meet regularly and chat every day. We critique each other’s work, cheer each other on, and stick together through the tough times. These ladies are so talented. Two have won the Times Chicken House competition!
Your debut middle grade book The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree will be published by North Star Editions on the 23 January 2024. Inspired by true events, The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree is a mesmerizing novel of belonging, hope and survival set in Indonesia during World War Two. Can you tell us a bit more about the story behind the book?
Songbird is inspired by my Oma Emmy who survived a Japanese prisoner of war camp in The Dutch East Indies (modern day Indonesia). She spoke very openly about her experiences. I would visit her in The Hague and we would talk for hours about her life in Batavia (modern day Jakarta) before and during the war. She and my Opa (who survived the infamous death railway camp Pakan Baru) evacuated after capitulation in 1945. Even after everything she went through, it broke her heart to leave Indonesia. She was born there and it was her home. I have tried to remain true to her stories throughout the book, and have portrayed life in Tjideng camp exactly as she described it, from the food crawling with weevils, to the chronic over-crowding, to bowing for hours in the hot sun. She was a remarkable woman who not only survived, but went on to lead an incredibly adventurous life living all over the world.
The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree is based on historical events and includes real issues such as death, violence, and war. How do you deal with these topics in a way that is sensitive for younger readers?
I think I kept two things in mind. One: to never underestimate middle grade readers. They can take more than we give them credit for. They’re at that wonderful age when they are beginning to work out how the world works, and question why things are the way they are. I was determined not to shy away from the tough realities of war because children face challenging, painful situations too. There were thousands of children in Tjideng and other prison camps across the region during WW2, innocent children caught up in the wars of men. Their stories are important.
The second thing I kept in mind was to always hint at hope. This is ultimately a story of overcoming adversity, and the darkest scenes are balanced with gentle moments: a kind word, the characters rallying around each other, a sunrise, the smell of the jungle, a memory of home. Writing in first person, seeing everything through Emmy’s eyes, allowed me to be truthful but also to keep things appropriate for middle grade readers.
What’s the best piece of advice you received from your tutor Catherine Johnson during the three-month Writing YA & Children’s Fiction course?
Catherine has the most wonderful energy. She exudes enthusiasm and a love of writing. It was as entertaining to watch her talk about writing for children as it was informative. In our first one-on-one call where she critiqued my chapters, one thing stood out, and it’s something I will never forget. The chapter was about a train journey through the jungle, as Emmy and her father try to escape the invading Japanese army. A bomb explodes on the tracks, and the expected chaos ensues. I thought it was exciting, immersive, real edge of your seat stuff. But I just remember Catherine, gesticulating wildly, saying, ‘Where is Emmy’s growth? She’s exactly the same when she gets on the train to when she gets off. How has she changed, how has this experience affected her? Where is her GROWTH?’
Catherine taught me to write with depth. She taught me that an excellent book is a fine balance between plot, character and setting. Each element has to be nurtured, but not in isolation lest the other elements lose their colour.
Needless to say, the jungle train scene didn’t make it into the final novel.
Do you have any tips for the aspiring authors reading this who are thinking of applying to a writing course?
Courses are a great way to take your writing to the next level, to be exposed to industry professionals, and for quality feedback. That being said, I think there is a balance to be found between doing courses, and just getting on with writing. I chose the CBC course because it was selective, and I wanted to see if I had the chops to write a novel. But an equally valuable part of any course is learning how to critique other people’s writing. It teaches you to hone your editorial eye so your own writing gets stronger. I would say choose a course run by a respected author, and one where participants interact. The friendships you make can be lifechanging.
How are you celebrating publication day?
Our writing group is having a get together over the weekend to celebrate, and I’ll spend the 23rd with my family.
Finally, what’s next for your writing journey?
I’m finishing up my second novel, a middle grade mystery which takes place at the very end of WW1. It’s set in England this time but the main character has lived in South Africa for most of her life, so there are familiar themes of finding your place in the world when ‘home’ is complicated. She returns to England to be reunited with her injured father, but soon discovers that his injuries are more serious that she has been told…or are they? There is a family mystery, a magnificent horse called Valerian, and a race against time across the wintry countryside.
The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree will be published by North Star Editions on the 23 January 2024.
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