Librarian and Children's Book Author Sandra Novacek

This week’s Writer Wednesday features author and librarian Sandra Novacek from Detroit!

Sandra enjoys both fiction and non-fiction writing and is the author of “Charles’s Bridge,” a children’s book that takes place during World War II and is based on true events! Read more about her below!

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I’m a librarian and lover of lifelong learning so doing research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I do a huge amount of research for writing both fiction and nonfiction. I love finding the details that make a person, place or event come alive for the readers or listeners. Discovering and reading primary sources is exciting!  

What does your writing workspace look like?

I live on the second floor of an historic 1904 building in Detroit. My workspace is in a secluded alcove partitioned from my living room by a room divider with a blown-up cover of my current book. A large favorite watercolor painting hangs on the facing wall. 

I write on the desktop computer with a large screen, keyboard and a printer/scanner sits on an antique oak library table surrounded by writing paraphernalia, shelves of treasured books, notebooks, files and art.  

Natural light and sounds from the neighborhood stream through the alcove’s west window.  

What did you enjoy most about writing your children’s book?

The research! My children’s picture book “Charles’s Bridge” is based on actual events in my husband Charles’s life as a boy on the brink of World War II in the former Czechoslovakia so I scoured through his personal papers and memoir and historic documents of the time. 

I also traveled to the Czech Republic to visit the town of Náměšť nad Oslavou, the main setting for the story. Using Google maps, I pieced together the locations, landmarks and paths Charles wandered and followed and photographed most of them – his home, his school, his hideouts and his bridge… 

For me there was no substitute for “being there.” 

What is your favorite non-writing hobby?

Photography. I love taking pictures in my ever-changing Detroit neighborhood. 

What is your favorite piece of writing advice?

I like what Neil Gaiman said, “Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that — but you are the only you.”

What writing projects are you currently working on?

I have a few picture book manuscripts in various stages. One is an autobiographical story with a touch of magical realism that takes place in and around an historic Detroit building. Another is a picture book biography with a story I stumbled upon doing research on my husband. It’s about one of his childhood heroes, a gifted 18th century musician, a girl who achieved fame for her musical prowess at a time when very few girls were recognized for their accomplishments.  

Follow Sandra on Instagram at @charlessbridge and Twitter at @czechresistance.