Middle grade author Veronica del Valle chats with me today about her new MG novel, The Book of Four Journeys.
Bio:
Veronica Del Valle is the author of The Word-Keeper and The Book of Four Journeys. She grew up in Argentina, but life eventually led her to live in London, the city that was her home for many years.
She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University, UK, and currently live in Buenos Aires with her husband Ale and their daughter Tomiko. She has been an editor and writer for several news organizations and magazines, both in London and Argentina; and she has taught creative writing at Universidad de San Andrés.
Her books bring to life stories that sit between the impossible and the possible, where wildly unlikely adventures spark the hunger to discover joy, hope, and courage.
Welcome, Veronica. What do you enjoy most about writing short stories for kids?
Because children haven’t yet mapped the wild territory of life, the world remains to them a place of mystery, promise, and wonder. Writers for children hold a rare gift: the privilege of guiding them toward the hidden richness of the world, waiting to be discovered. As a middle-grade writer, you can open secret doors to the power of hope, friendship, love and justice.
Can you give us a little insight into a few of your short stories – perhaps some of your favorites?
The Book of Four Journeys brings together four stories, each following a very different character on their own path into the unknown. There’s Alfalfa Spooly, a postman who dares to cross into an uncharted realm to complete a menacing delivery. Mumik and Pimnik, a brother and sister separated by strange circumstances, must explore mysterious lands to find their way back to each other. Neboo McCloudy, a grumpy creature, ventures beyond his fears to uncover a secret, otherworldly treasure. And Lincoln Jax, an orphan girl, sets off on a quest to find a lost kingdom that might hold the answer to everything she’s searching for.
What genre are you inspired to write in the most? Why?
I write middle grade fiction because it’s the age when stories still have the power to shape how we see the world, and ourselves. Children at that stage are standing on the threshold between innocence and awareness: they question, imagine, and believe all at once. Writing for them feels like an act of companionship, a way of walking beside readers as they begin to navigate awe, fear, courage, and belonging. It’s a chance to offer hope and meaning just when they’re learning that the world is larger, stranger, and more beautiful than they ever knew.
What exciting story are you working on next?
I’m currently working on another middle grade fantasy novel —a story about family, friendship, and the strange ways the world asks us to grow. It’s still in its early stage, but it has been a joy to watch it slowly take shape.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always had fondness for words, language and the magic of storytelling, though I never really thought of being a writer. But as it turned out, about 15 years ago I started writing fiction by accident and I fell in love with the craft.
How do you research markets for your work, perhaps as some advice for writers?
My main focus is to write the kind of story that would have spoken to me as a child (something true, imaginative, and emotionally resonant). Of course, I stay aware of what’s being published in the middle grade space: I read widely, follow what publishers are excited about, and listen to what teachers, librarians, and young readers respond to. But in the end, I believe the most lasting stories come from an honest place, not from chasing trends.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I’m not sure if it counts as a quirk or if it’s very original, but I write every day in complete silence, with mate (a traditional Argentine tea) always by my side. When I get stuck, I go for a walk; movement somehow frees the story.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child, I never imagined I would become a writer. Instead, I was fascinated by jobs that came with a uniform. There was something awesome about the idea of being an air hostess, a policewoman, or anyone whose work came with a sense of ceremony. And, in my most whimsical moments, I longed to be Lunlun, from the Japanese anime Lunlun, the flower child (花の子ルンルン).
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
What I hope most is that my stories inspire people to respect one another and the world we live in. I also hope the children (or adults) who read my books will be inspired to be be resilient, honest and brave, come what may.