The Magic of MG Fantasy with Author Candice Zee

Candice Zee, author and educator, introduces her award-winning upper-middle grade fantasy novel, The Munchkins. In this suspenseful tale, thirteen children with mysterious powers and their loving adoptive father face off against an evil neighbor. Inspired by childhood stories, Zee brings her vivid characters and adventurous plots to life, aiming to entertain and inspire young readers. The Munchkins and its sequel, Capricorn’s Journal, are both available now.

Could you share a little about yourself and your current middle grade novel?

I’m Candice Zee, I live in Cleveland, OH, and I’m the author of a multi-award-winning upper-middle grade fantasy novel called The Munchkins. I’m an educator as well, and I’ve taught for over twelve years in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and primary grade classrooms. I am now studying to be an occupational therapy assistant. I’ve also been a vegan for over 25 years and a long-time social justice advocate. The Munchkins was my debut novel, and it’s a suspenseful story about thirteen children with mysterious powers and the inability to age, their loving adoptive father, Casey Munch, and their evil neighbor, Big Boss. In the book, Capricorn Munch and her 12 siblings suddenly appear outside a children’s home, and no one, including themselves, knows who they are or where they came from. At ten years old they stop aging, and she and her siblings develop powers that give them incredible abilities, like healing wounds and manifesting objects. They strive to live a normal life, hiding their powers, until an evil neighbor moves in next door. As the dangerous neighbor encourages them to be reckless with their powers, the siblings realize he’s up to something more sinister and they need to find out what—before it’s too late. The Munchkins was published in October 2021 and has since gone on to win four literary awards, including the Gold Award in the Teen Category of the 2021-22 Reader Views Literary Awards.

What inspired you to start writing middle grade fiction?

I tell this story a lot, but the idea for The Munchkins was in my head since I was a young child. When I was a kid, my younger brother and I would make up our own make-believe stories and play pretend all the time, acting them out. Our favorite was one I dreamed up about kids with magic powers who never grow up, and the bad guy who wants their powers named Big Boss, and we called it “Munchkins.” I always remembered it as I grew up, and I thought to myself it would actually make a good book. It kept getting refined and more detailed in my head as I grew into adulthood, and then I just started writing the story. At first, I was writing just for fun, then I looked at it and decided to publish it. The rest is history.

How do you approach crafting characters that resonate with middle grade readers?

Since these characters have always been in my head, I already had their names, personalities, and voices with me, so it was easy to bring them to life. I just had to take them out of my head and let them live on paper. In a way, these characters are more real to me than some of the people I know. As a teacher I’ve worked with kids most of my life, and I’ve always thought of myself as a big kid or at least a kid at heart, so I feel I’ve internalized much of the natural mannerisms, exchanges, and conversations that kids have with each other. 

Do you have a favorite middle grade book?

I really liked Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. I thought it had a very intriguing and fun, fantastical plot while also giving voice to characters that have been more traditionally excluded and marginalized in children’s literature. I think it’s very important for all children to be represented and to “see themselves” in stories. As a kid, my favorite middle grade authors were Lois Lowry (especially the books The Giver and Number the Stars), Beverly Cleary, and Judy Blume.

Can you share any tips or advice for aspiring middle grade authors?

Never give up and if you face obstacles to success going about the traditional way, don’t be afraid to go the untraditional route. I ended up self-publishing because I didn’t want to wait through the traditional publishing process that could often take years, and if you want more creative control over your story, self-publishing is best. Be prepared to do a lot of research on how to professionally publish a book yourself, though, and to put a lot of time and investment into it.

How do you incorporate humor and adventure into your middle grade stories?

I incorporate humor through the characters and the things they say and do. One character in particular, Allie, has a very witty personality and sarcastic sense of humor, and she is a lot of readers’ favorite character for that reason. When things get more intense and serious later in the book, Allie can be counted on to provide comic relief with some quick-witted comment. As far as adventure goes, the story has plenty of suspense and exciting twists and turns, and there are multiple mysteries that will keep readers guessing.

What upcoming project can readers look forward to from you?

I actually just released the sequel to The Munchkins on March 5th! Part 2 of The Munchkins is called Capricorn’s Journal: My Family’s Fight for Survival, and due to the darker and more intense subject matter, unlike the first book, this one is YA, and recommended for kids aged 12 years and up only. Capricorn’s Journal picks up right where the first book left off. In the book, Capricorn and her siblings are trying to flee from Big Boss, but then their escape comes to a grinding halt because their father, Casey, goes missing. As the kids search for their father, they suddenly find themselves in a fight for their own survival, as Big Boss preys upon them and they struggle to find food. They find some support from new friends, but uncover a sinister plot against them that goes much deeper than they ever imagined. Capricorn’s Journal is now available in paperback and e-book through most online retailers.

Is there anything else you’d like to share that I haven’t covered in the interview?

If you’d like to know more about The Munchkins series, visit my website at www.munchkinsbooks.com You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Thank you for the opportunity to share my book with you!