Time and again, animals have shown humans how our hardships can deepen our connections with others, rather than leading us to withdraw into ourselves. In Susan R. Greenway’s debut middle grade novel, Elephant Touch, Quinn visits an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, still reeling from the sudden loss of her mother. While at first the abuse and suffering the elephants have faced seems like more than she can bear, an unexpected encounter with one of the elephants helps Quinn turn her compassion for them into action–a special connection that helps her imagine a path forward for both the elephants and for herself.
Karen: Your descriptions of the elephants and their interactions with humans and each other were what I found instantly so moving and beautiful about this book. Have you always felt drawn to animals? Did it come naturally to write this way, or did you have to work for it?
Susan: I’ve had a dog most of my life and always felt they had an uncanny ability to understand me. My attraction to elephants was deepened when I was in Thailand at an elephant show and had a moving personal experience with one of the animals. My writing about them was easier because of that encounter, but I still needed to do a lot of research in order to write about them accurately.
What led you to tell this story, based on your real-life experience, through a middle-grade voice?
Good question. First of all, I thought that kids might be more open to this story than adults. But a picture book wouldn’t give me enough physical or emotional room to tell the story. And a YA novel would be too sophisticated. Middle grade seemed just right.
What were some of the steps you took to vividly and accurately represent the Thai setting and culture in your book?
After my manuscript was completed, I hired a Thai woman to do a sensitivity read, specifically to check for cultural and setting accuracy. I was also able to ask a friend who had lived in Thailand for thirty years various questions that came up while I was writing. And, I did online research. I’ve been to Thailand three times, and two of those visits included elephants at a show, and elephants at a sanctuary. I drew from those memories and photographs.
As a former elementary school teacher and reading specialist, how did your background in education influence your writing of a book for young people?
During those years, I was re-introduced to children’s literature, and so impressed by the quality of the writing and the stories they told. I observed first-hand how much a good story can influence a child. It was a natural next step to want to write for children.
This is your debut novel. What was your journey to publication like?
Long! My first stories were rejected. When I finally completed Elephant Touch, I asked a couple of writing friends to take a look at it. With some of their suggestions, and with the help of an excellent book coach, I finally got my manuscript to a place where I felt it was ready to submit. But by then, most traditional publishers were no longer accepting unsolicited manuscripts. I queried agents and had some almost yes’s. Discouraged, I decided to investigate a hybrid publisher, which differs from self-publishing because all manuscripts are vetted before acceptance. I signed with She Writes Press, who now have traditional distribution through Simon & Schuster. However, there was a two-year wait from signing with them to publishing. I’m thrilled that my book is finally coming out, and am gradually growing into the idea that I will be a published author.
Often the revision process involves making tough cuts—dead darlings, as our blog title refers to. Were there any facts or experiences about elephants or elephant sanctuaries that didn’t make it into the book?
I didn’t give all of the horrific details of the abuse captive elephants have experienced. I needed to give a hint of it, but thought it was unnecessary to give too many specifics.
In your book, you describe how much Quinn enjoys the Thai food she experiences at the elephant sanctuary. I saw that your website includes recipes for some of the Thai dishes featured in the book! Have you tried making these yourself? Do you have a favorite?
I tried each of those recipes. It was a fun experience, but took a bit of time. I liked them all. Mango Sticky Rice is especially delicious if you can find a ripe mango!
Elephant Touch (SparkPress, 2024) is available on Bookshop.org and wherever books are sold.
Susan R. Greenway, author of Elephant Touch, is a former elementary school teacher and reading specialist. She is a longtime member of Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and a graduate of the University of Washington Writing for Children Program. Susan is an outdoor and dog enthusiast and lives with her husband and their sweet dog, Willow, in Washington.
