Kirsten Miller on Writing with
Jason Segel and Conquering Nightmares On and Off the Page
by the Brightly Editors
Kirsten Miller is the co-author of Brightlyās Book Club for Kids pick, Nightmares!, a seriously scary and wildly fun novel about a boy who ventures into a dream realm to save his younger brother. We chatted with Kirsten about the fun of writing with Jason Segel, how the duo found the balance between telling a creepyĀ tale and frightening readers too much, and what kids can learn from Nightmares! about conquering their fears.
Click hereĀ to learn more about Brightly’s Book Club for Kids, discover Nightmares!-inspired activities and tips for discussion, and join the reading fun.Ā
Youāve had a co-author, Jason Segel, for this middle grade series. What is it like to writeĀ with another person?
Jason is the first person with whom Iāve co-authored a book, so it was a totally new experience for me. I must admit I was a little apprehensive at first. I wasnāt sure if I was the sort of writer who couldĀ āplay wellā with others. But in all honesty, working with Jason has been an absolute dream. Our senses of humor are remarkably in sync. (Think: poop jokes. Lots of them. And monkeys with Portuguese accents.) Iād say our talents as writers complement each other perfectly. Iām great at scene-setting and world-building. Jason adds the humor and charm ā and heās a whiz when it comes to dialogue. Itās been a wonderful, fulfilling partnership. In fact, weāre already hard at work on a second book series!
Nightmares!Ā is a little scary. How did you walk the line of presenting a creepy story without totally freaking out your readers?
I think most kids love to be scared. I know I did. I still do! (I also sleep with the lights on, unfortunately.) But Jason and I certainly didnāt want to give kids terrible dreams or leave them emotionally scarred. So we made the decision early on to avoid blood and guts. (Though there are a few gnarly looking zombies.) However, in the end, I think the ālineā was relatively easy to walk with the Nightmares! series because all three books focus on the importance of facing oneās fears. Jason and I wanted to empower our readers to figure out what scares them ā and then find the courage to fight it.
What were some of your worst nightmares as a kid, and how did you deal with them?
Jason had horrible nightmares as a kid, but I was largely spared. The only nightmare I can remember from my youth involved aliens landing in the woods behind my house. I donāt recall being too tormented by the dream, but I do think it inspired a lifelong interest in UFOs and extraterrestrials. I find the more you know about certain subjects, the less likely they are to haunt your dreams. I haven’t had a UFO dream in years!
Processing grief can be a difficult and complicated experience ā and Charlie struggles with some complex emotions related to the death of his mother. Can you talk a little bit about Charlieās journey over the course of the book?
At the beginning of the Nightmares! series, our protagonist, Charlie, is furious. His mother has died, and it seems as if a witchy new woman is determined to take her place. Charlie lashes out at his family ā and his stepmother in particular. He simply doesnāt know how to deal with the misery and terror that are fueling his rage. Over the course of the series, he learns how to face his biggest nightmare ā saying goodbye to his mother. And he figures out how to keep his mom with him, even though sheās gone. I do think itās key that thereās never a perfect resolution to this storyline. Charlieās sadness doesnāt completely disappear. Heās still a kid growing up without the person he loves most. But by the end of the third book, heās ready to help others deal with similar grief.
Is Charlieās experience based on something personal from your or Jasonās life?
Neither Jason nor I have lost a parent, thank goodness. But weāve both had to say final goodbyes to people we loved. So we built on those experiences ā and I spent a great deal of time thinking about my daughter, who is approaching Charlieās age, and imagining how she might deal with my loss. Not the most pleasant thing to ponder, I assure you. Iām tearing up as I write this!
Thereās humor threaded throughout the book despite its ominous setting and weightier themes. Even as Charlie enters the depths of the Netherworld, readers will find some laugh-worthy moments. What message do you hope to send about humor in the face of darkness?
Iāve found that a good sense of humor is the best defense against what Charlie calls the darkness. Without my sense of humor, Iād probably be huddled up in a corner or hiding under my bed right now.
All of us, at some point in our lives, get a good taste of the darkness ā and if you let it, that misery will fill you from head to toe. But every time you open your mouth to laugh, a little light gets in. So you have to find reasons to laugh ā especially at those times when life seems bleakest.
Which personality trait of Charlie’s do you really appreciate?Ā
I admire Charlieās bravery.
I think the Nightmares! books contain a very important message about what it means to be brave. Bravery is not the same thing as fearlessness. In fact, I believe that most people whoāve acted bravely in the face of danger will admit that they were absolutely terrified at the time. And thatās something kids should know! Thereās no shame in being scared. Real heroes feel fear ā and do the right thing anyway. Thatās what it means to be truly brave.
There are so many wonderfully odd characters in the Nightmares! series. Which was your favorite to create?
Oh, definitely ICK and INK, the evil ā or are they? ā twins who pop up in The Sleepwalker Tonic and then reappear to play a big part in The Lost Lullaby. I love the idea of two prim and proper British schoolgirls wreaking absolute havoc in a small mountain town. We had a lot of fun coming up with all of their escapades. (Yes, the baking soda in the ketchup bottle prank really works, in case any kids out there are wondering.)
The twinsā backstory was inspired by tales that my late father-in-law told me. He was a young boy in Glasgow when the city was bombed during WWII. I still marvel that he managed to live through that nightmare and grow into the wonderful man that he became. ICK and INK are a tribute to him.
And to evil twins everywhere, of course.
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Books in the Nightmares! Series:
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Kirsten Miller grew up in a small town just like Cypress Creek, minus the purple mansion. She lives and writes in New York City. Kirsten is theĀ New York TimesĀ bestselling author of the acclaimed Kiki Strike books, the Eternal Ones series, andĀ How to Lead a Life of Crime.