Q&A with John J. Bonk, author of Dustin Grubbs: One Man Show
Q&A with John Bonk, Y/A Author
John J. Bonk, author of Dustin Grubbs: One Man Show has kindly offered to answer questions for readers about writing Young Adult and Middle Reader novels and the publishing world. Dustin Grubbs: One Man Show has recently been optioned for film. Join us as John J. Bonk answers our questions.
Q: Where did you get the idea for Dustin Grubbs: One Man Show?
A: Dustin Grubbs: One-Man Show is loosely based on my own quest to be an actor while attending an elementary school that never put on plays. “Write what you know” the pundits say, so I followed their advice.
Q: Tell us a bit about the book and whom it will appeal to.
A: The book has been described as “a laugh a minute testament to the show must go on.” Sixth-grader, Dustin Grubbs dreams of being a professional actor and is determined to get through at least one successful performance of the school play without fire alarms going off or scenery collapsing. Enter Jeremy Jason Wilder, a real live Hollywood child actor who moves to Buttermilk Falls after his sitcom is cancelled, and transfers into Dustin’s class. Dustin is elated at first, and chooses Jeremy over his best friend, Wally. But Jeremy reveals his true colors at the end and Dustin learns a thing or two about friendship and even celebrity. Add to the mix the wacky Grubbs Family, including a tormenting teenage brother, a tell-it-like-it-is grandmother, and a runaway standup-comedian dad, who may or may not make it back to town for Dustin’s big opening night.
Dustin Grubbs: One-Man Show is targeted to 8-12 year old boys, however, some of the biggest fans of the book have been girls. Adults seem to find it hysterically funny as well.
Q: Approximately how long did it take you to write the book? Over what period of time?
A: I began writing One-Man Show in my online writing class-and there were so many revisions along the way that the total time it took to complete the final book is a big blur. I’m guessing anywhere from a 18 months to two years.
Q: Did you have an agent? Did you obtain an agent? If so, what was the process in getting an agent?
A: I do have a wonderful agent by the name of Steven Chudney of the Chudney Agency, who sold my book to Little, Brown. I was recommended to him by a woman in my writers group who he represents. First he had me submit a synopsis of the novel and a few sample chapters, to which he responded favorably; then he asked me to send him the entire manuscript. After a few nail-biting weeks, I got an email from him saying the book made him “laugh out loud” and he attached a sample contract to peruse. (Woo-hoo!) The real contract came via snail mail shortly after that, and a few signatures later I was officially his client. There were quite a number of changes he suggested I make to the manuscript before he sent it out to publishers. Apparently, some agents take an active part in the creative process-and some don’t. I was more than happy to receive his professional critique.
Q: How easy/difficult was it to sell Dustin Grubbs: One Man Show?
A: I believe the book was rejected around five or six times before being accepted by Little, Brown. In retrospect, it doesn’t sound like many, but every single one was like a kick in the shins-with tap shoes.
Q: Were you able to get another book contract after selling Dustin Grubbs: One Man Show?
A: Little, Brown offered me a two-book deal when they accepted Dustin Grubbs: One-Man Show. They wanted the second book to be very similar to the first-very funny with a quirky male protagonist-so I wrote a sequel.
Q: What is the title of your second book and tell us a bit about it.
A: Dustin Grubbs: Take Two! was published in October 2006. In this follow-up to One-Man Show, Dustin’s school is putting on a musical and he’s faced with a whole new set of challenges: namely, singing and dancing. His ego was through the roof after starring in last year’s production, but he gradually discovers that he’s no “triple threat.” In fact, he’s kind of a klutz who’s only ever sung in the shower-badly. Making matters worse, a battle is brewing between the jocks and the drama geeks due to a controversy over school funds. Dustin is also dealing with a lot of personal changes-puberty, friends with new interests, his Aunt Olive getting married and moving away. A fieldtrip to Chicago becomes a turning point in Dustin’s life, when he meets up with his discontent, divorced dad and accompanies him to a commercial audition where Dustin gets “discovered.” He returns to Buttermilk Falls with high hopes for his parents’ reconciliation and his own ultimate stardom. Of course, nothing goes as planned, but Dustin rises above the turmoil to save the play and save the day, and is awarded some juicy surprises at the end.
Q: What are you working on now? If it’s sold, when will it be out?
I’ve written a zany, rhyming picture book called Lunch On the Queen (Or The Royal Gesundheit) that is being submitted to publishers now. No contract yet, but my fingers are crossed. I’m also working on a third novel tentatively called Boondoggle, which follows a brother and sister’s misadventures during a visit to New York City, and centers around a mystery in Grand Central Station.
Q: Is writing your full time job? If not, what is your ‘day job’?
A: Writing is not my full-time job. (I wish!) I also work from my home as a transcriptionist. (What’s a trancriptionist, you might ask?) I basically transcribe sound files into hardcopy. Everything from celebrity interviews for magazines, to focus groups about baking soda, to courtroom proceedings. I get a lot of great ideas for my books from these transcripts.
Q: What advice can you give authors who write Middle Reader/Young Adult novels?
A: Revise, revise, revise. And when you think you’re absolutely, positively finished, revise again. To quote Flaubert, “Words, like hair, shine with combing.” Oh-and never give up. Rejections from agents and publishers can take the wind out of your sails, but remember it only takes a single YES! to change everything.
Q: If you could interview any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?
A: Hmm, that’s a tough one. I’d love to hear what Barbara Park had to say. I’m a big fan of her Skinnybones books. Interviewing Lemony Snicket would be fun because he’s created such a colorful persona for himself. I’d also like to interview Julie Andrews-just because she came from a musical theatre background and is now a full-fledged children’s book author, so I can kind of relate. Besides, who doesn’t love Julie Andrews?
Q: What drew you to the genre of Middle Reader/YA?
A: I originally set out to be a picture book writer-illustrator because I have somewhat of an art background. What I had little experience in was writing (except for school assignments and grocery lists). So I started taking writing classes and discovered I liked the writing part of it more than the illustrating part. I began reading many young adult novels basically as learning tools-and was so tickled, moved, and mesmerized along the way that I realized I had discovered my niche. I’d still like to write and illustrate a picture book someday.
More information at author’s web site: http://www.JohnJBonk.com
Thank you John for this interesting look at getting a young adult book published. We will eagerly look for your story “on the big screen.”