Hello Friends! You know that I rarely host interviews here, but this one is special. Ammi-Joan Paquette is not only my literary agent and a brilliant author, but also my friend. And I’m so excited for her next book, THE TRAIN OF LOST THINGS.
Joan will be giving away a signed copy of THE TRAIN OF LOST THINGS to a winner on this blog. To win, please leave a comment below on something you once lost that was hard on you. Entries can come from anywhere but the book can only be sent to a U.S. address.
This wonderful book will be released on March 20, 2018 so if you don’t win a copy, you can still get your book now or ask your library to bring it in!
1. How would you summarize THE TRAIN OF LOST THINGS?
It’s a magical adventure about a boy named Marty who is devastated when he loses his most precious possession: a memory-filled jacket given to him by his father, who is terribly ill. But Marty has heard the story of the Train of Lost Things, which flies through the sky in the dead of night, collecting the lost heart’s possession of children. And so Marty sets off in hopes of finding the Train, his jacket, and maybe a cure for his father as well. 
2. You’ve indicated that THE TRAIN OF LOST THINGS is an important book for you. Can you explain why?
This book is the most deeply personal of any one I have written thus far. The idea came to me a bit as a bolt from the blue: We had just returned from quite an eventful family vacation, wherein a string of calamities hit us one after the other. The final straw was the discovery, upon returning home, that my daughter’s beloved jean jacket, for which she had collected pins and buttons across our travels, had been lost on our return flight. This loss struck me in such a personal way, and echoed so many irreplaceable treasures I had lost over the years. Standing in my office in a tussle with despair, I thought to myself, “Some good has to come out of this.” And how does an author turn things to good but in writing?
So I started thinking about lost things, and I wondered, “What if you could get those lost things back? Where would they be and how would you find them?” Just like that, the Train of Lost Things popped into my mind, and Marty along with it. I followed the story from there—and have loved every step of the journey since.
3. Why do you think it’s important for young readers to learn how to deal with loss, or even change?
The fact is that change and loss—whether in the smallest of ways or in larger—is something that no life can be without in some form. I believe that fiction is a safe means of plumbing those depths. It’s a way that those who are going through these times can see that they are not alone. And it’s a way that those who have not suffered those hardships can learn empathy, and can grow in their understanding of their own privilege and stretch their hearts toward others’ needs. (Plus, you never know what lies around the corner in any life…)
4. What are your common inspirations for story ideas?
I’ve had story ideas come to me in just about every possible way. Some spring directly from my own life and experiences—like this one. Others start with a character (as with the irascible Dahlia in Rules for Ghosting), or an intriguing idea concept (“what if a group of kids were given their very own country” became Princess Juniper), or even just a title, as in my newest work-in-progress (nope, not spilling yet!). That’s one of the things I love about being a writer—inspiration is, quite literally, everywhere you turn J
5. As compared to Marty (the main character of this book), what were you like as a child?
I think Marty and I share some traits, but he’s a lot more adventurous than I was. I don’t think I would have had the guts to venture out alone in the middle of the night, magical train whistle’s summon or no! I was serious and bookish, though, with a deep secret belief in the magic underlying everyday life. No wonder I ended up becoming an author J
6. I have many aspiring writers who follow this blog. Since you are also a literary agent, can you comment on what attracts you to a manuscript? Is there anything in particular you’d like to see more of?
Our agency is closed to unsolicited submissions at this time, but I do welcome queries from authors I have met or who have attended a conference at which I’m speaking. In general, I love voice-driven stories with strong pacing, stories that ask deep questions which make you think, and most of all, stories that surprise me in some way—whether an unexpected plot turn, unusual story structure, unreliable narrator, or more. Keep the reader on their toes, and they will follow you anywhere!
7. Now a set of quick answers. No explanations, just the facts:
- Something quirky about you: I have an internal alarm clock and can wake up (nearly) anytime I decide to!
- A movie that always makes you laugh: Joe Vs. the Volcano
- The place your imagination wanders when you want to relax: Into a book…!
- An item near the top of your bucket list: Make a bucket list.
- One thing you’ll admit that you can do quite well: Fresh pineapple upside down cake J
Okay, now that you’re intrigued, leave a comment below: What did you once lose that was heartbreaking for you? I’ll reveal mine when I reveal the winner. That person’s name will be announced on 10 pm EST on March 23rd. Good luck!
24 Comments
I just recently lost a ring that my mom had given me years ago:( Normally if(when) I lose things they turn up a couple days later, but not my ring. It didn’t really have much external value(it was plastic, and the gold coloring had all but abandoned it), but it’s just really special since my mom gave it to to me.
It all happened a long, long time ago. I “lost” my best friend.
So technically I didn’t lose her, but I didn’t know what came of her for the next couple of years (hence the “lost” friend).
Eventually I found her and she was my close friend again 🙃
I lost my grandfather who died of a heart attack while getting my grandma a Sprite during his mothers funeral. If you mean an item that I lost, I once lost my baby blanket when I was five, and it was named Golden Boy. That was really sad for me, and tbh, it still is, xD.
Wait, where did you announce it, and who won?
Not yet! I’ll announce tomorrow…
This book sounds so fresh and adorable! I love it! Seems like a wonderful book for my sister, so I will enter for her. I believe the item I lost that was most heartbreaking for me was a pair of earrings gifted to me from my Grandma. However, the most heartbreaking loss for me is my father.
I can’t recall any material possessions I’ve lost that has broken my heart, but I did lose my sweet cat. Tink(cat) was the sweetest cat I’ve ever had and was funny too. She loved sour cream and onion lays(ones in the can), now I know onion is bad for cats, and would attack you for that or any other junk food by grabbing your hand and bringin it to her mouth. I swear whoever thinks a puppy face is bad has never seen a kitty face, cats can just get the cutest and most heart melting look on their face. She was also very shy till later in her life when we got really close, because of this she started standing up to the dogs. I remember on one occasion she was in the bedroom in a suitcase(she loved sleeping in there so I left one out of her), the dog of course starts trying to get her. I grabbed his coller and started bringing him out while he reluctantly followed. Little did I know Tink was planning to get revenge right then and there… as me and Bo(dog) are walking past the bed, Bo yelps and I look down to see Tink digging into his leg, very close to the tendon, with her teeth and claws. I get her off by shooing her away and quickly try to get Bo out when she charges again. I barely stopped her by putting my hand in her face and shutting the door as soon as we got out. She was such a love bug too and would lick you or bite your feet while sleeping.
Tinkhad been with me while being left by people who “loved” me or them just being really ridiculous and me having to leave. I didn’t necessarily rely on her when I was shedding tears on these matters, but looking back I can see she brought me smiles when I desperately needed them. That’s why when she got cancer of the lymph nodes it hurt me so much. One of the cancerous nodes was pressing on her throat and it started with a raspy voice, to being much quieter than normal, and ended with her being silent. I contemplated chemo, but the vet didn’t think it’d do much and I didn’t want to put her through that. She lived for several months after this and I believe she lived longer than they thought she would, but one day I knew it was time. She stopped eating and was hiding from me. The next morning I took her in and said my final goodbye.
Granted she isn’t soemthing I lost in the terms that was probably meant, it is by far the hardest loss I have ever had. I cried every day for months and it hurt so bad, the type of pain medicine can’t fix. After every thing I’d been through, this was the absolute worse.
This being said, I went to the local shelter after 4 months. Entering there I found an orange kitten. At the shelter she ran into the litter box and was trying to run out, but ended up hitting her head on it instead. She peaked out and looked around like “nothing happened”. She also got stuck behind the litter box and I had to get her out. I decided to get her.
That must have been one of the best decisions of my life, she’s absolutely insane, but her and her mother(yes, had to go back and get her mother) taught me to smile again. She brought me laughs and smiles that I didn’t think I had anymore, she still does on days that nothing else can make me smile. Her name is Phoenix and she isn’t in love with chips like Tink, but she does love to eat plastic and other non-edible things(*sigh).
Through this whole experience I’ve learned a lot and if I were to just focus on what the kitties taught me it’d be this. I learned the pain of losing someone you love and even though it (thankfully) wasn’t a person I cared about, I feel like I can now understand better that pain and perhaps help others who feel it more so now. I also learned that there is always something to make you smile in life. Whether it be a funny video or a psycho cat. Make it a goal in life to smile at least once a day, that way you never have a day that is absolutely horrible. In the end, it makes me happy that I can now smile about my memories with Tink and not cry, but the tears did help me realise just how much I loved her. She’s a cat that’ll I’ll never forget and I hope to meet her up above someday.
P.S. I did have a great support system through all of this, but I still think I may have never smiled again or would have taken much longer if I didn’t get Phoenix. Love the little psycho!
I forgot to say anything about the book! Doi!
This book sounds amazing and right up my alley. I love imaginative reads and this seems just like that. So I’ll definitely get this even if it’s not as a giveaway!:D
I only had him a day, but when The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe first came out McDonald’s had a series of Happy Meal toys for the movie. I remember first seeing the fawn Mr. Tumnus toy with shocked disgust (I had wanted Lucy, the little girl I could identify with, at the time I had not seen the movie yet). My dad, to keep me from throwing a fit, started to convice me Tumnus wasn’t that weird, and he was the good friend of Lucy. Plus the figurine doubled as a whistle. That night though was my brother and my surprise party at a hotel. After the commotion was over Mr.Tumnus was nowhere to be found. I am sure I cried and I’ve never forgotten him. I love the Narnia movies and books, and my borderline obsession with mythical creatures probably stemmed from that toy. Sometimes I still bring him up, and my family groans, my mom can’t believe I still remembered him. Recently though I did have the luck to find a Tumnus toy on ebay, and while it’s not the same I don’t pester my family anymore.
The train of lost things…sounds interesting. I would like to read it.
When I showed my younger siblings your response to my first question — they were awestruck! They were like Jennifer Nielsen answered your question! XD I really liked their reaction.
❤️
I dont know if you could understand me Ms. Jen haha but I can say that the most heartbreaking is losing my kiddo years or somehow more like the time where I was not aware of the things in life most of it are shocking and saddening and I am just thinking of all happy things. As I have read in my most fav book that wisdom may really cause you to get sad. But yeah, I know that God designed that I became aware of things so that I can mature 🙂
When my son was a young toddler we lost his special blanket that his grandma had made for him on a trip. He had another very similar one, but it wasn’t made by his grandma (although he still insists that it is)
The thought of losing something is throwing me off track. What do I say I lost? My childhood?
Obviously, everyone loses their childhood, but for some it is a bigger deal. When I lost my childhood I became very upset. I used to hang outside every single day if possible. I loved to run around, playing with the ball or riding my bike. I feel that when I started to grow up doing those things were ‘childish’ so I stopped doing them.
For a while I lost my love for reading. If you are a person with a hobby, you never want that to go away. At a certain point it basically defines you. I always loved to read, but at some point (maybe when I couldn’t find the right book) I stopped reading. It upset me because everyone knew me as the type of person who would be continually reading a book. Then, people asked and I would say nothing because I didn’t find the enjoyment. Some things are lost forever. I would say these are one of the luckier times, that it wasn’t lost forever. I found my love of reading again when I found the right book.
I never really gave any thought into something that I lost that was heartbreaking. Maybe because I always thought of losing something as an actual object like a pencil or stuffed animal. Losing something can mean anything from an object to something imaginative.
These are the things I felt I lost the most of. One last thing I also lost was my grandparents. Both my grandma and grandpa died last year. I knew them very well. I was very close with them and when they died my whole world felt like it was falling apart. They were a big part of my life, so they were definitely something I lost that was thoroughly heartbreaking to me and my parents/family.
I lost my Precious marked-up Bible when I was fourteen. I still long for it.
That’s really exciting!! I can’t really think of anything, I mean I’ve lost plenty of stuff, but I can usually find it pretty quick. Um, well when I was little I got this really cool book about fairies that came with a necklace. But the day I got it or maybe the day after I lost the book somewhere. I was really sad and felt really bad that I had lost it so quickly. But I searched everywhere and eventually found it in my brothers room. I had went in there and forgot it in there. So yeah, it not something super special, but it was important to me then.
Where to start; I´ve lost so many things that I´ve also lost most of my memories of these poor objects.
This summer I lost my flip phone sometime while I was camping. For weeks I turned bags inside and out, carefully cleaned the family truck, and even checked the cooler. Finally, I decided that some racoon must have it. So I started saving up to replace it. Then, many months later, my family went on another trip in the truck and low and behold right in front of me in the seat pocket, my phone sat safely in its case. What´s funny is that in a long crowded car ride, that was arguably the safest most logical place to keep it safe. Just a little too safe. 😉
Ugh! I hate thinking about it but I had a collection of watches from my childhood, and they are all gone.
My dad…😢
I once lost the first pair of earrings my mom ever got me. They were the piercing earrings, and expensive. I loved them, but I was so scared of losing them that I made a stupid decision that led to me losing them. I’m still sad about those 🙁
The most heartbreaking losses are of living things – my dogs when they passed, my grandparents who have passed away. These are irreplaceable.
There are two things that I lost. The first were little cloth baby diapers. You may wonder why that hurt me so here is why: my grandma gave them to my mom when I was born since she didn’t really understand how much better disposable diapers were. As my mom used disposable diapers though, she instead every night put it under my head to catch my drool. Ever since then I could never sleep without those little rags and still cant😂.
The second thing I lost was my innocence. Having a big brother who is other by almost 3 years sorta impacted that but my friends still say that I’m the most innocent person they know.
Anyway! That’s pretty much it! Hope I win!!!
Losing my Grandma Jane was the hardest thing I have experienced in my lifetime. As a kid, I would go to her and Grandpa’s farm on the weekends and spend many summers helping with the garden. I believe she is watching over us.
One time I lost my soccer ball because my babysitter kicked it into the neighbor’s yard, where the mean German Shepherd tore it to shreds. Later I saw it lying in the grass looking more like a Frisbee than a soccer ball. 🙁
The Train of Lost Things sounds really good!!! 😀