October 31, 2022 by McKenna Cook ’25 by Sorell Mcintire ’25
On Sunday, October 23 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library during the Saratoga Book Festival, Lauren Tarshis–author of the I Survived series–held a book signing and discussed her books, inspiration, and writing journey.
The I Survived books are all historical fiction with a target audience of children ages 8-12 years old but have become popular with people of all ages. What most people don’t know is that Tarshis didn’t think the I Survived books would end up selling. Initially, Barnes and Noble didn’t want to buy the books, saying that “kids don’t want to read historical fiction”. Hearing this, Tarshis said she “thought the books would be a dud.” Tarshis decided to go through with the books despite the criticism, and since then her stories have gained global popularity, teaching so many about the world and its history.
During the group discussion, Tarshis said that she never even thought she would end up being an author–she never thought she had a special talent. Now with years of experience under her belt, she advises that, “writing is a skill you’ll get better at, keep at it.” That advice has certainly worked for Tarshis, as it was at the age of 42 that she published her first book.
I Survived the Titanic is the first book in the series. While writing this book, Tarshis said that it was difficult at first to write about the three days before the ship sank. While she was doing her research, she came across a rumor that was circulating at the time that a mummy was somewhere on the boat and would bring doom to those on it. Now, before you go off through a googling rabbit hole, let’s be clear that there was no mummy on the Titanic; the ship’s sinking was not due to a cursed corpse. But when Tarshis heard this legend, she thought it would be an interesting idea if her main character went in search of this supposed cursed mummy while aboard the Titanic.
Although Tarshis is proud of this first release, she says “the biggest accomplishment is really just finishing the first novel, that was never published. And the second biggest accomplishment was deciding that I was going to keep doing this and I really didn’t care if I was published, it was freeing; it was like once that was the goal that’s when things started to go well. I’m going to try to do something that feels important and right to me.”
Writing still isn’t easy. On writing blocks and how she gets past them, Tarshis said,“know that the solution is there but don’t get panicked. I take a break but not too long a break, I also find that listening to a song I love, reading a poem is sort of recharging. Sometimes you do sort of have to walk away.” For people who enjoy writing short stories, this advice is like gold.
As to what specific advice she would give to young writers: “starting and not being afraid to fail, and not looking at it as a failure, but as a step, an important step.” Tarshis also writes about difficult subjects, and said, “because I’m writing for kids, my goal is not to tell them everything but to give them a way in.” Tarshis’ perspective is very insightful–when your audience is younger it’s hard to convey certain things while still shielding them from some heavy matters.
Tarshis’ talk at the Saratoga Book Festival offered Saratogians an inside look into her process and her background. “I am so proud that my work has meaning to kids and to teachers,” said Tarshis.