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Terry Trueman was born on December 15, 1947in Birmingham, Alabama, but grew up in Seattle. He attended the University of Washington, where he received his B.A. in creative writing. He also has an M.S. in applied psychology and an M.F.A. in creative writing, both from Eastern Washington University. The father of two sons, Henry and Jesse, Terry Trueman makes his home in Spokane, Washington, where he has lived since 1974. His first novel, STUCK IN NEUTRAL was a Printz Honor recipient. INSIDE OUT, his second novel was released in August 2003. In October of 2004, his third novel CRUISE CONTROL was released -- a companion to STUCK IN NEUTRAL that tells brother Paul McDaniel's intimate side of the story. Hodder Books released SWALLOWING THE SUN, which follows a teen’s heroic efforts to save friends and family after his Honduran village is destroyed by a devastating mudslide, in October of 2003 (only in the UK) and NO RIGHT TURN, Trueman's fourth US and fifth all-around novel was published in 2005. Trueman's hobbies include his Sea Ray boat and his 1976 Corvette Stingray, and his Corvette, firy red! One of his heroes is poet Charles

TERRY TRUEMAN:
THE PRICE OF HONOR

By Kelly Milner Halls
(Originally published in the Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market, 2002)

With steady sales and advice from mentors Chris Crutcher (Whale Talk) and Terry Davis (Vision Quest) to encourage him, 54-year-old first time novelist Terry Trueman felt confident he could brave the pressure of writing a follow-up book. Then came the American Library Association’s 2000 Printz Honor announcements.

In the twinkling of an eye, “Stuckin Neutral” became much more than a proud debut. The Spokane, Washington author’s first stab at young adult literature was suddenly awash in ALA acclaim. Trueman and his second novel now stood in the shadow of unexpected Printz Honor fame. Has the weight of success been overwhelming? “If I had any sense it would be,” Trueman laughs. “But mostly it’s been really, really fun.”

With obvious talent and veteran HarperCollins editor Antonia Markiet (who once worked with the legendary Charlotte Zolotow) in his corner, Trueman’s optimism is undoubtedly warranted. As her other writers – from Maurice Sendak to rising star Alex Flinn – would certainly agree, a great team can work together to build a great book.

How did a teacher from the Pacific Northwest win the Printz Honor and stellar editorial assistance? As this interview reveals, Trueman credits hard work, good solid advice, and an extra helping of beginner’s luck for his good fortune.

Question: When did you begin to recognize you could be a “successful” writer, and is there a distinction?
Trueman: To me the distinction has more to do with having the time to do what you want to do with your time. If what you want to do more than anything else is write, and you get that gift through the writing you undertake, you’re a success. In other words, whether I make $24,000 a year or $50 million (no, I've never seen anything like that kind of money), if I can pay for my writing habit/addiction, I’m a success.

Question: Was “Stuck in Neutral” your first “first novel?” Or did others actually come before it?
Trueman: I wrote a number of bad novels before I reached the emotional, spiritual and intellectual maturity to finish “Stuck in Neutral.” Each effort taught me something about what NOT to do. One of them, a terrible story entitled, “Confessions of a Balding Boy,” taught me the greatest secret of all, which is--find some way to tell the truth. “Stuck in Neutral” came about because I am the father of a profoundly developmentally disabled son, like the character Shawn from the story. Living through this "worst-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me" experience gave me insights into the story that I would not have otherwise had. Would I trade the success of “Stuck in Neutral” for my son Sheehan to have a normal life? Of course. I'd trade my life for that (although that’s easy to say because it's not a realpossibility). But that’s not how life works. So instead of saving my son, I hadto settle for saving myself. “Stuck in Neutral” has been an enormous step towards doing that.

Question: Did you have any idea that “Stuck in Neutral” would be so well received?
Trueman: It was a surprise. I had hoped it would find an audience. And I knew it was pretty good – compelling, powerful and a "big" theme kind of story. But you never really "know" what will happen. I had a great team around me who had more faith than I did.

Question: Did your editor give any indication she thought “Stuck in Neutral” was something special?
Trueman: Toni (Antonia Markiet) loved the book, or I should say she loved the book she saw hidden in what she first received. She made me prove I could cut a third of the novel before she offered me a contract. But she was absolutely right about what the story needed. I think she had high hopes for it, but she's very wise, intuitive and, I think she would agree, superstitious. So she never let me talk about the possibility of winning any significant awards.

Question: When did you know you'd been nominated for the Printz?
Trueman: I knew I was on the list of "final nominations" -- over 250 titles -- a few weeks before the January 15th vote. I didn't figure I had a snowball's chance in hell of actually taking homean award. The competition was incredibly stiff. There were all these amazing writers -- Gary Paulson, Walter Dean Meyers, Jerry Spinelli; and all of these terrific books -- the newest Harry Potter, the late Tupac Shakur's poems, Lance Armstrong's courageous book. I figured if that was the competition, I was extremely unlikely to medal or honor.

Question: Was there any buzz prior to the official nomination?
Trueman: The only “buzz” you hear about when you live inSpokane is from a bee [laughter]. That makes Spokane sound pretty bad doesn't it. I don't mean it like that. But the kind of buzz that tips a book into that kind of success doesn't reach Spokane. We're more about meatloaf and Jell-O molds, god bless us!

Question: You teach at a community college in Spokane. What was the reaction from your colleagues?
Trueman: It's interesting. Many of my colleagues have been enormously supportive and happy for me. But a few became more distant. I don't know if that's about jealousy or the simple fact that I am an amazingly lazy, lackadaisical, sloppy person. I've always been the guy least likely to deserve, much less achieve success. I was a lovable loser and then I became an overnight success. That appears to have been too large a paradigm shift for a few of my colleagues. So be it. My students -- every one of them – have been thrilled, excited and supportive at all times and in all ways.

Question: You have an impressive stable of support from other YA novelists. What has been their reaction to your honor?
Trueman: You’re talking about Terry and Becky Davis and Chris Crutcher. I've met lots of other terrific YA writers since “Stuck in Neutral” started doing so well, but Terry, Beck and Crutch were ALWAYS there, from the very beginning. I could never have done it without them.

Question: Now the hard stuff. How did it feel to know David Almond took the award?
Trueman: David who? Just kidding. I think both “Skellig” and “Kit's Wilderness” are marvelous books--brilliant and powerful. I'm honored to be mentioned in the same breath as David Almond and delighted that “Stuck in Neutral” is linked to his book through the Printz awards. It's funny, but the Printz gold medal award is given to the best book, in the judgments of the voters -- then whether ANY honor books exist is decided afterwards. The first year of the awards, only three honor books were named. It's not really like the Oscars, where four out of five big winners suddenly become "losers." "And the winner is . . . ." Give me a break! If you get a nomination you're a winner!

Question: How do you top the nomination? Your screenplay project?
Trueman: I'm not sure the screenplay tops the Printz nomination, but working with Craig T. Nelson to co-author a screenplay based on MY novel? Yeah, that's a pretty good start! [laughter] No, nothing will ever top the Printz honor because it was so unexpected. A first novel by a 50-year-old rookie? I mean, who’d have thunk it? Still, I suppose winning an Oscar would be pretty cool (sorry Antonia. [laughter] I know, I know, I've cursed my luck!).

Question: How did Nelson find out about “Stuck in Neutral?”
Trueman: Craig's nephew Bobby is my accountant. Small world, huh? He gave his uncle the book and Craig loved it. His production group Family Tree Production bought the option for a TV movie-- and we may still end up there -- but for now we're looking at a feature film.

Question: Has it been tough fine-tuning your second novel, after the overwhelming success of “Stuck in Neutral?”
Trueman: If I had any sense it would be. But mostly it’s been really, really fun. I do think that "Stuck in Neutral" set the bar rather high. But David Almond’s “Skellig" only won an honor in 1999 then came back and won the gold medal in 2000. I could live with that! [laughter]

Question: Where do you hope to be in ten years?
Trueman: God, I'm 54 now. I hope to be healthy and sharp enough to be writing better than I am today, better than I ever have. I hope to be like the poet Bukowski, who didn't start earning his living as a writer until he was fifty either. I'm only afraid of death because I'll miss some people, and because I won't be able to write anymore. But ten years from now? I don't know. Ask me the same question then.