Quick Summary
Every year the Minnesota Author Project awards three authors for their work in the following categories: Adult Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, and Communities Create. In the seventh iteration of these awards, Mary Bleckwehl, author of Fetching Dreams, won the Young Adult (YA) category.
In the seventh iteration of these awards, Mary Bleckwehl was awarded the Young Adult (YA) category winner for her work, Fetching Dreams. In her own words, she describes this story as:
“A riveting and often heartbreaking story of two girls from very different cultures who find a common purpose to bring change and opportunity to an African village where dreams have trouble surviving and fetching water is a dangerous and time-consuming task.”
You can check out her work for free here, via Indie Minnesota.
What was the most rewarding part of writing this book, and what kept you motivated along the way?
The most rewarding part of writing this book was knowing it would serve as the mouthpiece for those who don't have the means to get the word out about their ambitions and their circumstances. I'm speaking about children and families who not only don't have access to clean water and miss out on education and opportunity, but also lack funds and technology to spread the word about their challenges.
My motivation to finish this story and find a publisher came from within: my persistence. Just as the two main characters in FETCHING DREAMS didn't take no for an answer, I was determined to get this story out to readers.
What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered while writing, and how did you overcome them?
Some of the biggest challenges in writing Fetching Dreams were deciding what grammar and punctuation Neyah should use in her pen pal letters, and ensuring I included accurate and authentic details. Examples: flora, fauna, weather, crops, and how to carry water on your head. With that in mind, I was diligent in seeking out and interviewing women - as well as a high school girl who had lived the experience of fetching water in Kenya or Tanzania. Two of them read the entire manuscript before I submitted it for publishing. Their feedback and input were invaluable.
What do you hope readers take away from your book, and what impact do you envision it having in your community?
The takeaway I hope and expect readers of FETCHING DREAMS to have is to realize the power of purpose. Finding a reason to get excited over something important enough to speak up and act on is very powerful. The other takeaway is about water. According to the United Nations data, there are 7.8 billion people on earth, and over 2 billion do not have access to clean water. Nonprofits who are leading the effort to end the global water crisis feel this is one of the most solvable problems the world faces. I hope readers are inspired by the two young girls in this story to connect to local efforts to protect clean water in their community and, if so inclined, help bring clean water to an area where that is a challenge.
I envision the story of Neyah and Abbey will profoundly affect those who want to make a difference. If two girls from very different cultures can find a common purpose/goal to work on and get it done, others may see it as motivation to try.
Bonus Question: How did you manage stress during this process?
I manage writing stress through exercise, pulling weeds in my garden, and positive thinking. I stressed most about finding a publisher who could help get the word out about the book. It isn't easy having one's book stand out in a sea of wonderful literature. This is why libraries, schools, and social media are my friends.
