Interview with Andy Hueller author of "Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth"

Today I am happy to participate in the "Skipping Stones at the Center of the Earth" blog tour set up through Cedar Fort Publishing.

We have a character interview by the main character, Calvin Comet Cobble.  He is a young man who has had a difficult life and is living in an orphanage at the center of the earth.  To find out how that came to be, I would suggest that you grab a copy of the book and find out.  :0)  It is a middle grade novel that does not lack for imagination.  You can see my review that was posted yesterday.

Thanks Calvin and Andy for stopping by today!

 What were your first thoughts when you entered Hidden Shores Orphanage?

Honestly, I didn’t know what to think. It was all so . . . unusual. I guess I still don’t really have any experience with a traditional family unit, but Hidden Shores still surprised me. The first person I saw, the one who met me as I dropped off the helicopter—that was Mr. Bruno. He walked me up to the front door and winked at me.
Maybe it would have been comforting, except that he was rolling a cigarette at the time, which I’d never
seen anyone do, and then Principal Warden was shouting at me (I don’t remember what), and then I
was told to climb a fire pole, and I wasn’t very strong and had never done it before. I remember being
scared and confused, more than anything.

 There is a lot of scrutiny and teasing about your hair. How do you view your hair problems? 

As far as I know, my hair’s always been this way. I don’t think it’s as weird as other people do, I guess. I mean, it’s just red-orange hair. I’m not the only one with hair that color. I don’t know why I can’t get it to go
straight, though.

 You have two best friends. One is a seven year old girl and the other am adult male. What makes a

good friend?

I guess, you know, it’s someone you can trust, who’ll be honest with you. Belinda—maybe

she’s young and has pigtails, but she definitely always says what’s on her mind. My other good friend,
well, he’s not so severe as Belinda, but I always know he’s looking out for me. I know I’ll always do that
for them, too.

 Running into the dark side of the Island was either a crazy or brave thing to do. What made you

decide to go there?

 I’m not sure it was a choice. I honestly believe Hector would have killed me, if he would have gotten up and caught me. There was something about that day, too; it was MY day. I skipped a stone that morning, and I kicked Hector out of a tree. It seemed like there was no place for me back at the orphanage and if I was ever going to see what was really in the Shadow, that was the time.

 You have faced the fear of standing up to a bully and journeying through the dark. What advice

would you give others about facing fears?

 Hmm. I don’t like giving anyone else advice. I mean, what do I know? But what worked for me was to trust my instincts and trust my real friends. That will probably work for most people. I guess above everything else I know I’m an okay person and when I’m patient and honest with myself I usually know what’s right. Maybe we all know which fears are worth facing when we give ourselves time to think them through.

 Will we ever find out what happens to your dad?

 I don’t know. I’m waiting to find out myself. I hope everything works out and the whole world will know our story.