The highly anticipated follow-up to Kim Spencer’s acclaimed middle-grade debut, Weird Rules to Follow, has hit the shelves. In I Won’t Feel This Way Forever, Mia’s beloved grandmother gets sick and Mia has a summer of exploration, family, self discovery and loss. Read on to hear from Kim Spencer about writing the book!
I Won’t Feel This Way Forever is the continuation of Mia’s story from Weird Rules to Follow. Did you know how her story would continue when you were writing Weird Rules to Follow?
I didn’t. Because of the way it ended, I didn’t think there was anywhere for the story to go. Things felt final, and I wanted to keep it that way. I didn’t want to ruin Mia and Lara’s story by revisiting it. When there was talk of a sequel, I was grateful for a dear friend’s suggestion that there should be more about Mia’s grandmother and her family and the greater Indigenous community.
What does your writing process look like? Do you know which vignettes you want to include in advance, or do you think of vignettes as you start writing?
I cut a few stories from Weird Rules To Follow for flow, so I had those to build on. And because I often write from childhood memories, stories come to me relatively easily. I also rely on music playlists from the period I’m writing from. That’s where I get a lot of ideas. I think about, jot down notes and have the stories well in mind before sitting down to the page.
Mia’s relationship with her grandmother is so beautiful and rich. Did you draw on your own family relationships to create this lovely connection?
All the stories about Mia’s grandmother were based on life experiences. I was lucky to have such a loving grandmother and to spend so much time with her.
Mia is excited to discover a basketball camp in Vancouver, and it helps bring back some of her old spirit. Do you have a similar love of basketball?
The camp was fictional; however, I did play basketball as a child. It’s a big part of Indigenous peoples’ lives here in the North. Even though I no longer play, I still love the game and occasionally grieve quitting so early.
I Won’t Feel This Way Forever deals with difficult emotions like grief along with the challenges that come with growing up. How did you find a balance between those strong emotions and the joyful moments Mia experiences?
It was hard to find that balance because the illness was so serious. Even things like shopping felt frivolous or indulgent at such a time. But children are resilient, and especially back then, it was easier to find joy in the simple things in life.
What do you hope readers take away after reading I Won’t Feel This Way Forever?
Because Weird Rules to Follow is historical fiction, some stories were left on the page. This novel addresses some of those questions that may have lingered. It sheds light on the injustices faced by Indigenous people in this country. And how those events shape individuals, families and communities. It also highlights the important role grandmothers play in our culture, and the fact that a strong sense of place existed for Mia. She had strong family and community ties that shaped her resilient spirit. I’m hoping that readers make that connection.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I’ve been asked if there are more Mia stories. While there isn’t anything official, there are many, many stories still to tell.
Kim Spencer is an award-winning, bestselling author. Her debut novel, Weird Rules to Follow, received a Kirkus starred review and was a 2023 Governor General’s Literary Award finalist. The book won multiple awards, including a 2023 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, a 2023 Jean Little First-Novel Award and a 2024 Pacific Northwest Book Award. It was also on the IBBY 2024 Honour List and the USBBY Outstanding International Books List in 2023. Kim is from the Gitxaała Nation and lives in northwest BC.