Author James Mihaley is a British American novelist living in Los Angeles. His travels to Asia prompted him to become a writer. His debut young adult novel, You Can’t Have My Planet, But Take My Brother Please deals with tough environmental issues in a fantastical way, emphasizing how kids will most probably save the day. The protagonist- a geeky preteen poet named Giles- gets help from an alien mad scientist and a cute blue attorney to try and prevent humans from getting evicted.
Jim let me interview him on his travels and upcoming book.
EKB: Tell us about yourself!
JM: I write children's books. I'm also poet and a dancer. Dancing has become very important to me. I believe in the mind/body connection. Writing doesn't exactly burn carbs. You're always sitting. Dancing helps provide balance. My girlfriend is also a writer and a dancer. So it works perfectly. We live in LA.
EKB: You spent some time in Taiwan. How was that experience and how did it impact your life?
JM: I spent a summer in Taiwan during my college years. It was in Taiwan that I discovered that I wanted to be a writer. That exotic world did something beautiful to my imagination. I found the people to be extremely friendly. The food was amazing. I almost OD'd on papaya milkshakes. I remember going into a bank one day. When the Taiwanese employees saw a westerner walk in, they all stopped. Silence filled the air. The bank manager came rushing over, shook my hand, showed me to his office, offered me some tea like I was big shot about to make a one million dollar deposit. I was just there to exchange fifty cents into Taiwanese currency. After all, I was a broke student. When the manager found out that I was all I wanted, he burst out laughing. So did I. Along with everyone else in the bank. It was a classic moment.
EKB: You've traveled quite a bit in Europe and the Bahamas, as well as the UK. Can you relay any moments that stand out in your mind from your travels?
JM: I visited the Bahamas several times in high school. My stepfather was in the boating business. He participated annually in the Miami-Nassau sailboat race. I've always been close to nature and the beauty of that emerald water cast a spell on me. Once I tried to sneak into a casino on Paradise Island to play the slots and a seven foot tall security guard escorted me, a fourteen year old kid, out of the casino. I was a bit mischievous.
EKB: Your book You Can't Have My Planet But Take My Brother Please is coming out in April. What inspired you to write a YA novel?
JM: When a children's book hits the mark, there's nothing like it. That's why the best ones have endured for centuries. I have a fondness for fantasy. That drew me like a powerful current into the world of YA. The imagination of a child is probably the most vibrant thing in the universe. It's a great place to plant seeds that grow into stories that grow into life lessons that will turn, hopefully, into lots of inspiration for readers of all ages.
EKB: YCHMP deals with a lot of serious issues our world faces. Do you think kids will end up saving the day?
JM: This a fun book with lots of humor that does look very seriously at the environmental problems on this planet. A thirteen year old boy named Giles finds out that we humans are merely renting Earth and are about to get kicked off the planet because we're such lousy tenants. Armed with a lease signed by Adam and Eve, he and his buddies embark on a quest to prove that we are capable of stewarding the planet. I do believe that children have the power to turn things around. I believe that strongly.
EKB: Can you give us a glimpse into other books you are working on?
JM: I'm working on a sequel to You Can't Have My Planet. I'm also working on a chapter book series and another middle grade novel. I'm also writing lots of poetry and song lyrics.
EKB: You've mentioned before that keeping a positive mental attitude and using spiritual principles (such as the law of attraction) have helped you. Can you elaborate? What books specifically helped you?
JM: The Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu had a big impact on me. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. The poetry of Rumi and William Blake. The writings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Here in LA, Marianne Williamson gives lectures once a week right around the corner from me. I have found her to be very inspiring.
EKB: What advice do you have for other writers and artists looking to succeed in their niche?
JM: I think it's important not to pay too much attention to publishing trends. Write the story you want to write, the one in your heart that won't leave you alone, that keeps whispering in your ear day and night, "Please write me!"