Debut author Robert Polk's OPERATION TREE ROPER, by Joy McCullough-Carranza

I met Robert Polk on Twitter, where I was drawn to his kind and generous spirit. When he tweeted about working on a query, I offered to critique it, and upon reading the query, I had to read the manuscript itself. Soon after I read it, Rob received an offer of publication and his debut middle grade novel, OPERATION TREE ROPER: AN EYE ABOVE released yesterday from Anaiah Press.

I was barely acquainted with Rob when I read his poignant manuscript about a boy born with one eye who is trying to save his father’s tree roping business, but I remember telling my husband as I read, “This writer obviously has a child who was born with one eye.” I could tell, not only from his clear understanding of the psychology of the character, but also the loving way he unfolded Declan’s story, not sparing him pain, but walking with him through it, the way a father would.

Twelve-year-old Declan Parker was born with only one eye, but all he seems to have trouble seeing in proper perspective is himself. All he wants is for kids to see him as normal before he starts a new school in the fall. To that end, he sets out to make money helping with his dad’s tree care business.

Unfortunately, when his dad lands in the hospital after a climbing accident, Declan’s surgery hopes are wrecked. His only hope remains in a neighbor girl and her uncle, a wounded army veteran. Can they help him save his dad’s business, or will Declan’s once-courageous drive turn into total despair?

Thank you for having me on the blog, Joy. I owe you big thanks for your input during the polishing stages of Tree Roper!

 

It was absolutely my pleasure to read then and I’m thrilled to have you here to celebrate your debut! Tell me about the inspiration behind this book.

Our third child was born with one eye. Ultrasounds hadn’t picked up anything unusual during her development, but when she arrived, she was this fragile and precious winking doll baby. She was subsequently diagnosed with microphthalmia, and as she grew, I noticed her tendency to focus intently on whatever captured her interest. Her intelligence and inquisitiveness were impossible to miss. When she began to interact with the world around her, I saw how she reacted to (and later anticipated) many peoples’ surprised reactions to her face. But it wasn’t until a heartbreaking discussion when she was six years old, that I knew that my dear child had limited herself by her physical appearance.

She and I were driving back into our local community from a visit to her eye specialists when we saw a billboard with Miss America 2011 on it. I said something like “Cool! That could be you someday!” She gave me this nasty, hurtful look and I was like “What?” She jerked a finger to her face and said “No it couldn’t. Look at me.” Or something very close to that. I hurt for her so badly in that moment, I’m not sure how I didn’t cry as I talked to her about how smart, strong and beautiful she was. (I still can’t write about that incident without getting a sore throat.) That’s when I decided to write a book, for her and for everyone.

I can only imagine how much it will mean to her - now and even more when she is older. In this book, you're exploring two worlds you know very well - tree roping and what it's like for a child to grow up with one eye. What are some of the challenges of writing about things that are extremely familiar to you?

The book poured out of me so quickly that necessary background and motivational information for the characters escaped the first draft. Plus, I know both of those worlds so well, that much of the language I used needed to be pared down and defined as I revised. (Not many people would know that an arbor block or double locking carabiner are necessary tools for a professional the tree climber. Nor do most people know that microphthalmia means, essentially, “undeveloped eye”.)

Yes, I've also found there's a bridge to gap between what we know as writers working with very familiar subject matter and what the readers know or need to know. I bet your kids would come to this story quite differently from kids who haven't grown up with a tree roping father or a sibling with one eye. But you've definitely bridged the gap to make it accessible to all readers. I know you're a very active, homeschooling father of many - how many? - kids. Have your older kids read the book yet? What was their reaction? 

So nice of you to say “very active” rather than “ridiculously chaotic”. My wife and I have seven children, five of whom we homeschool. Although the older three kids (9, 11, 11) read all the time, they have not read OPERATION TREE ROPER – yet. I’ve kept it close on purpose and didn’t want them to read it before it was really ready. I hope they enjoy it and I know they will see versions of our family in Declan’s family.

How exciting (and nerve-wracking!) for you when they do read it. 

Onto the business side of things, I know you were querying agents, but then you got the offer from Anaiah off a Twitter pitch party. What are some of the things you've enjoyed about being with a small press?

I was nervous about going with a small and new press, but the editor who contacted me absolutely gushed about TR and I felt that she would be a great champion for the story. I still will seek an agent for future works, but I’m so glad to be working with Anaiah Press for this book. I’ve had personal contact with several of their staff members, from folks in marketing and publicity to the cover design team. Their level of professionalism and consideration of my input has impressed me such that if I write something else that I think might fit their label, I will submit to them again.

That's so great to hear about your experience with Anaiah. They are growing their middle grade imprint, Adventures, and their submission guidelines can be found here. 

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a MG mash-up of a contemporary nature with some magical realism and science fiction. But I’m a pantser, so what I have now will likely be very different three drafts from now. (Also, I draft slowly, seeing as I really only write late at night or in the cracks of the day while picking up children from activities.)

Project Mayhem readers, I hope you enjoy OPERATION TREE ROPER: AN EYE ABOVE as much as I did. You can read an excerpt at Anaiah Press, or find it at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can find Rob at his website, or on Twitter.

Declan and Rob have climbed some pretty impressive trees. I, on the other hand, may never have climbed a tree in my life. (I spent my childhood reading.) What's the tallest tree you've ever climbed?