We were lucky to catch up with Misty Wilson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Misty, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

When I was teaching third grade, my students loved graphic novels. I stocked my classroom library full of them, and one day, I opened one to see what exactly had even my reluctant readers gleefully picking up books and groaning when independent reading time was over. First, I read Raina Telgemeier’s SMILE, as it was the most popular by far, and discovered it was a memoir—a true story about Raina’s experience getting her teeth knocked out and going through middle school with dental issues. I devoured both middle grade and young adult graphic novels (Roller Girl, Real Friends, New Kid, Snapdragon, Go With the Flow, The Prince and The Dressmaker, the list goes on…). I understood why kids loved them—they were fun!

Then, as the school year went on, I had kids crying because they felt like they didn’t fit in. One in particular stayed in from recess because she said she didn’t have anyone to play with outside. Another cried because she wasn’t “popular.” I began to realize that while there will be differences, many experiences are universal. I had a story that these kids might be able to relate to. A story that might help them see that they should be true to themselves and not worry about fitting in with certain people. A story that would encourage them to find the people who understood them and loved them for who they were. So, one day, I went home and asked my husband if he’d want to illustrate a graphic novel—my memoir, a story that, while about being about a girl on the football team, is also about the ups and downs of middle school and friendships.

When the pandemic hit and I was able to take a year off work to stay home with my kids (thanks to the book deal), I started reading more—something I always loved but strayed away from when life got busy—which led to me branching out and writing more. It didn’t take long to realize writing is exactly what I want to be doing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I went to college having no idea what I wanted to do and over the years learned that I wanted to do everything. My first degree was in hospitality management. Although I finished out that degree, before I graduated, I started courses for nursing. While in nursing school, I taught myself how to code websites and did some traveling with my husband (David Wilson, illustrator of Play Like a Girl). I graduated nursing school (as an RN) a couple years later, then worked at a hospital for a year. During that time, I discovered I loved kids and wanted to teach. I went back and got my Master of Arts in Teaching. I’ve worked as a Title I tutor, 4th grade teacher, 3rd grade teacher, and now, I work part time as an intervention specialist’s tutor for 5th grade, which I love.

While teaching, I discovered how much kids loved graphic novels and realized I had a story to tell. I think the thing that’s always in the back of my mind when I’m writing is the idea that this book might reach someone and help them not feel so alone and perhaps even provide hope. Life can be so hard—especially for kids, and especially in middle and high school. And books were always an escape or a sanctuary for me when I was younger. As a teacher, I get to see what kids deal with every day, and I want to write middle grade books that might help kids through those experiences—whether it’s through relatability or laughter. In YA, I want to tell stories about girls who might feel unlovable—ones who deal with terrible boyfriends or awful parents—but come out stronger.

I want to tell stories about love—platonic or otherwise—and hope.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The biggest resource I wish I knew existed as a viable option to learn from is other authors. They are constantly sharing their knowledge, their experiences, and answering questions on Twitter and Instagram. Tess Sharpe in particular is a gem (@ Sharpegirl on Twitter—follow her for her wealth of knowledge).

Other resources include books such as Save the Cat Writes a Novel, Story Genius, The Magic Words, and Ackerman and Puglisi’s writing thesauruses.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a writer has been hearing back from readers—especially those who share that a kid in their life loved the book or has been positively impacted. It’s been awesome to see Play Like a Girl in libraries and classrooms. I nearly sobbed when a parent emailed me the night my book released to tell me that her daughter is the only girl on her football team but also isn’t a reader, but she’d picked up Play Like a Girl that day and at 10pm still hadn’t put it down.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mistywilsonwrites.com
• Instagram: @mistywilsonwrites
• Twitter: @misty_wilson_
• Other: Hive: @mistywilson