When an author can embed the emotional core of their connection to a story, it’s easy for readers to connect and bring something special from it to their own lives. Author Cathy Ogren is really good at mining her memories, and in this post she shares how that played a role in writing WINTER SOLSTICE HILL.
GIVEAWAY! 🥳 Be sure to leave a comment after the post to get in on the GIVEAWAY for a copy of WINTER SOLSTICE HILL from Cathy!
Congratulations to Christine Van Zandt, the winner of NO BRAIN THE SAME from Keila Dawson!
How Past Memories Helped Me Find the Emotional Core of WINTER SOLSTICE HILL
By Cathy Ogren
When I began seriously writing with the hope of being published, I wrote humorous stories. Early on, I had two early readers published, but as years passed, I wanted to write something more than tickle-your-funny-bone stories. I wanted to create characters, text, and dialogue that would resonate with young readers on different levels and elicit emotions to tug at their heartstrings.
With that in mind, I took a deep dive into my past to recall memorable moments that I might use in a story. I was very close to my paternal grandparents, who settled in Wisconsin after coming to America from what was then called Czechoslovakia. They brought many holiday traditions, which my family still celebrates. We lived in Wisconsin on and off for many years, and in each house, we were surrounded by dairy farms, rolling hills, and, in winter, lots of snow. At one point, I taught in a four-room rural school. To get to the school, I drove up and down country roads, past farms and cows, and occasionally got caught behind a manure spreader, heading to farm fields. (PEW!) There was one special farm that fascinated me. The farmhouse was on relatively flat land along with a cow barn and corn fields. Behind the farmhouse was a huge hill. It was a picturesque scene, and I often wondered what was on that hilltop.
The memories from above sparked an idea. I had a setting and wanted traditions to be included in my story, but who were the main characters? I noticed on previous visits to my daughter’s home that one of my granddaughters liked to spend time with my husband, talking, laughing, and reading together. My daughter mentioned something this granddaughter told her. It went like this: “Mama, Did you ever feel you had a special bond with a grandparent? I feel like I have a bond with Poppy. I love when he ruffles my hair. I wonder how it happened. When was it made? I love Poppy!” That’s it! I thought. The emotional core of my story would be the special bond between a granddaughter and grandfather and would include themes of family and holiday traditions centered around the winter solstice.
Before I began writing, I jotted down story elements followed by notes to keep me focused on the storyline. I took a trip back in time to recall different emotions I had at seven years old, and I made a list. My goal was to have readers connect with Ella and Gramps through the text. I want them to feel Ella’s excitement as she and Gramps climb Winter Solstice Hill to celebrate family traditions, her disappointment when a snow squall ends her special day with Gramps, and the magic moment she feels at the end of the story. When I thought I had all the notes and information I needed, like Gramps in WINTER SOLSTICE HILL, I took a deep down-to-your-soul breath and began my first draft. There were many drafts, revisions, and editor rejections. My critique partners were extremely helpful with suggestions, and even though editors passed on my manuscript, some left useful comments. I continued to revise and submit until one editor saw the potential in my story.
I’m amazed at how the book turned out. Rebecca Evans, my illustrator, knew exactly how to pair my text with gorgeous illustrations that tug at readers’ hearts. I hope readers, both young and old, love this book as much as I do.
🥳 Don’t forget to leave a comment below to get in on the GIVEAWAY—a copy of WINTER SOLSTICE HILL! (US addresses only, please. Winner announced 8/28/26)
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Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 