From the moment I heard about the movie You’re Bacon Me Crazy, I KNEW it was going to become an instant favorite! When I discovered that it was based on a Scholastic book by the same name, I just knew I had to look up the author and request an interview. Suzanne Nelson was kind and gracious to give me the inside scoop on her life, her career, and this movie, and I am honored to share her interview in anticipation of this weekend’s Hallmark Channel movie premiere of You’re Bacon Me Crazy.

RH: Please tell us about your journey to becoming a writer.

SN: Writing has been a lifelong passion for me. I didn’t just want to write; I needed to write. From second-grade on, I filled notebooks and journals with short stories and some laughably poor poetry. I got better at the stories. These days, I leave poetry to the masters.

Natalie Hall Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

My journey to becoming a published author was long and challenging. Although I’ve been writing for most of my life, it wasn’t until I was thirty years old that my first novel, The Sound of Munich, was published. I worked as a children’s book editor in New York City for eight years while I was writing and submitting my own work, too. I was rejected hundreds and hundreds of times, but I never stopped writing and submitting my work.

I learned so much about the craft of writing by working with other authors and editing their work. It’s difficult to look at your own writing objectively, but I was able to look at others’ with a discerning eye, and this, in turn, helped me with my own plotting, ideas, and characters.

I also learned how important is was, not just to write stories that I was passionate about, but to write stories that other people wanted to read.

Natalie Hall, Michael Rady, Brenda Crichlow Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

What was the first piece of writing that you had published? What are your memories of that experience?

I worked for my school’s newspaper when I was in high school, and some of my first pieces of writing were published in the Westlake High School Arrow. I wrote movie reviews, Op-ed pieces, and some news articles. Seeing my words in print for the first time was thrilling. I suddenly felt that I had a voice being heard by others, and that was incredible.

Knowing that my words might reach readers and impact them positively is what encourages me to keep at it. I receive letters from readers who tell me how much they hated reading until they picked up one of my books and suddenly became avid readers. There’s no greater gift a writer can receive than the knowledge that she’s changed a person’s “reading life” for the better.

Please tell us a little about the books you write. What have been the most significant of the ones you have written so far and why are those considered significant?

I write middle-grade and young adult novels intended for young readers ages 8-12 as well as for ages 12 up. My Scholastic foodie romance novels, like You’re Bacon Me Crazy (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781338099195), are for ages 9 up. So far, there are eight (soon to be ten) books in the foodie series, which began with Cake Pop Crush  (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780545857345) and has grown from there. Shake it Off (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781338339291) is the most recent book in the series.

Each of the books have different characters and storylines, so they can be read in any order. The foodie books are fast-paced, fun, and full of innocent, sweet first-crushes. They also deal with friend and family relationships in familiar school and community settings. They’re perfect picks for mother/daughter book club reads, because they include recipes at the back of the books that families can make together after they finish the books.

My other most recent middle-grade novel is A Tale Magnolious, (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984831743) which is a particularly meaningful book to me because it contains three things I absolutely adore: elephants, magic, and farms. The story is inspired by a real elephant named Mary, who died tragically and needlessly in the early 1900s. I wanted to give Mary a happier ending than the one she had in real life, so I wrote A Tale Magnolious as a way to honor her memory. I come from a long line of farmers, and I’d always wanted to write a book about the magic of farm life, and I got to do that with this story as well. It’s one of the most significant books I’ve written because of the meaning it holds for me personally. I also happen to have a deep and abiding love for elephants as a species, so it was a pleasure to be able to incorporate that into the story as well. My hope is that the story reaches many readers and moves them in the same way I was moved while I was writing it.

Since most of your books are directed at a younger audience, what do you see as the best part about writing for this audience? What are the challenges?

Michael Rady, Natalie Hall, Ian Collins, Olivia Steele Falconer Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

I love writing for this audience. As a child, I had a tight-knit, wonderful family, but my siblings and I also had some challenging divorce dynamics to deal with. My “tween” years were awkward, and I have vivid memories of the friendship and family conflicts I dealt with. I’m drawn to writing for this audience because I remember how important it was for me, at that age, to find myself in the books I read.

Every child hopes to recognize a piece of themselves, or their family and friendship dynamics, in stories. It’s reassuring to know that you’re not alone in your emotions, that someone else has gone through similar experiences. I try to incorporate realistic family and friend conflicts into all of my books. My dream is that readers finish my books with a measure of confidence that they’re going to make it through the difficult, awkward times, and come through on the other side as the people they were meant to be.

The main challenge with writing for this age group is making sure I keep up with all of the current cultural and social trends important to kids today. I have three children of my own, and two of them are tweens right now, so I can go directly to them as primary sources of information, too. They roll their eyes at me when I ask them about current trends, but I think they secretly like being called my resident “experts.”

I believe You’re Bacon Me Crazy is the first book you’ve ever had adapted into a movie. Please tell us how this came about for you.

The process has been so exciting and fun! Never in a million years did I ever imagine that any of my books would become movies. It felt like dreaming Don Quixote’s “the impossible dream.” So when my editor told me You’re Bacon Me Crazy was being considered for possible film production, I could barely believe it. Of course, I smiled over the possibility for weeks, and could barely sleep from excitement. Much of the early stages of the process were top secret, and for a long time I didn’t know whether a movie would actually happen or not. Once my editor told me that the Hallmark Channel movie was really happening, I was thrilled! I’m so grateful that the Hallmark Channel and Scholastic Entertainment loved the book enough to want to turn it into a movie. I still have to pinch myself to make sure it’s not all a delicious dream!

While I realize most authors aren’t involved once a contract is signed when it comes to their book being made into a movie, but how did you keep up with everything going on while the movie was being filmed?

I’m so fortunate to have wonderful editors at Scholastic, Aimee Friedman and Olivia Valcarce, who did their best to share updates with me whenever they could. The entire team at Scholastic and Scholastic Entertainment has shared in all of the movie excitement along with me, and that’s been terrific. It’s been fascinating to learn about the steps that went into the movie-making process. I’m so thankful to the Hallmark Channel for making such a delightful movie based on the book, and for sharing in the enthusiasm for the book as well. I’m just as thrilled as everyone else to be tuning into the Hallmark Channel on April 4th at 9 p.m./8c to watch the You’re Bacon Me Crazy movie. To celebrate, I’m having a pajama party with my family in the coziness of our own home. My friends will all be watching the movie in their homes, too, and we’ll be sharing our enthusiasm virtually in cyberspace. I’m still cooking up some bacon-themed goodies for my family PJ party. I can’t wait!

I understand there are many changes in the movie adaptation. How would you describe the differences between your book and the movie (without revealing any spoilers)?

Natalie Hall, Olivia Steele Falconer Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

In the book, You’re Bacon Me Crazy, the story focuses on the tween character Tessa and her experience working at her Aunt Cleo’s food truck. The movie focuses more on adult character Cleo’s story, although Tessa is in the movie as well (played by the delightful Olivia Steele Falconer…Hooray!). I love that we’re going to get to see an extension of Cleo’s story in the movie. Cleo was actually one of my favorite characters from the book. I loved her determination and feisty personality, and I’m thrilled that Natalie Hall has the role of Cleo in the Hallmark Channel movie. She’s a perfect Cleo!

Michael Rady Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

I’m also thrilled that her food truck rival in the movie is played by Michael Rady. I remember when he played Kostas in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies, and I’m a big fan!

When I wrote You’re Bacon Me Crazy, I imagined several futures for Cleo after the book ended, and now I’ll get to watch one of those possible futures unfold in the movie. I couldn’t ask for a greater gift! The book and the movie combined are like getting to enjoy two delicious sweet treats together! Foodie rivalries and sweet romance abound in both the book and the movie, so it’s double the foodie fun for reader and viewers.

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

My ninth foodie book for Scholastic, Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life, will be published on September 1 and is available for preorder https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781338640489 right now. It’s a festive, fall read full of cozy coffee shops, sweet crushes, hayrides and pumpkin patches.

My very first picture book, Over in a Stable, will be published on October 6 by ZonderKidz and is also available for preorder (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780310761129). I’m very excited about this Christmas counting book that focuses on the Nativity, because Christmas is my favorite holiday. I hope families with little children will enjoy curling up with the book in front of their Christmas trees next year.

There’s also a tenth Scholastic foodie book coming in 2021, but the title is still a secret, so you’ll have stay tuned to my website and social media feeds for more information on that coming soon.

What is one genre you would like to write but have not yet? Why?

I’ve never written anything specifically intended for an adult audience before, and I think it would be so much fun to write an adult historical romance novel someday. I love stories of sweet romance, which, of course, is why I’ve always been a huge fan of the Hallmark Channel. Also, I’m drawn to certain periods of history, especially the mid to late 1800s. I recently read and loved Susanna Aikins’s We Shall See the Sky Sparkling as well as Susan Holloway Scott’s, I, Eliza Hamilton. It would be fascinating to write a historical romance based on a pivotal female figure like that. Maybe I’ll tackle the challenge someday.

Michael Rady, Natalie Hall Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

In your free time, what do you like to do?

I love art and painting. I recently discovered alcohol inks and acrylic pour painting. For me, painting is such a restorative and relaxing activity. Usually, right after I finish a manuscript deadline, I’ll spend a couple of days rejuvenating with artwork. Last year, I painted a 21-piece ceramic nativity set for our family. I put on fun music and painted for hours. It was fantastic.

I also love DIY crafting. As a Christmas gift for my daughter this past year, I spent hours and hours building a fairy house out of hat boxes and birch bark. I had the best time getting crazy with the glue gun constructing teeny-tiny fairy furniture! (I posted a how-to on my author blog. You can find it on my website at www.suzannenelson.com). I wish I had more time for arts and crafts, but it’s always a challenge finding a balance between my crazy schedule as a full-time writer and mother and my hobbies.

Olivia Steele Falconer, Natalie Hall Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Hugh Tull

I also enjoy inventing recipes for my Scholastic foodie books. In fact, I’m posting bacon-themed recipes on my blog each week leading up to the movie’s premiere on April 4th. For anyone interested in making some of treats for a You’re Bacon Me Crazy movie night, you can find the recipes on my website.

What is your advice to others who may wish to be writers?

To be a writer, you must write regularly and steadily. The only way to get better at writing is to practice and work at it. Some days I write two pages; other days I write ten. Sometimes it’s fun; sometimes it’s difficult. Even on the days when I’m dreading sitting down at my desk, I still write. Ideas come and words are written. It’s not always easy, but it’s very rewarding.

Reading is also vital to being a writer. Reading is how I study and learn from other people’s craft. If you want to be a writer, then write and read as much as possible, and don’t give up. Persist, persist, persist. And, of course, chocolate (and bacon…ha ha) always help, too!

I cannot even imagine how thrilling it must be to make a living doing that about which you are most passionate, but to also watch a dream come true that you probably couldn’t have imagined in a million years. Suzanne has labored for all these seasons of her life creating stories that resonate with young people, and now we adults have the opportunity to luxuriate in a new Hallmark movie based on one of her entertaining tales! In the midst of everything that appears to be wrong with this world, it is a soothing balm to my soul to discover and feature an author as engaging and as delightful as Suzanne. I sincerely hope this is the start of a beautiful association between Suzanne and the network, and I greatly anticipate watching this weekend’s offering.

I invite all of my readers to tune in on Saturday, April 4th to the Hallmark Channel (or the W Network if you’re in Canada) for the premiere of You’re Bacon Me Crazy, a movie that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and allow you to escape to a universe of bacon, love, and joy. In addition to this, I invite you to visit Suzanne’s links below and follow her where applicable. While I am unfamiliar with her work up to this point, I certainly will endeavor to check out her writings in the near future for a winsome virtual vacation to a world of baking and fun. Her perpetual support of the movie, the network, the fans, the cast, the crew–everyone involved–is a delight to behold, and I hope to virtually watch it with all of my readers on Saturday evening. 

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