Exploring Children’s Literature

Published April 1, 2025

Part 2 – A Chat with Darby Karchut

Welcome back, dear readers. In January, I began my “Exploring Literature with Children” blog series. Today, I will continue it as we delve into the world of Middle Grade (MG) fiction. 

Several beloved titles come to mind when I think of the MG genre. J.K. Rowling’s HARRY POTTER series takes readers on a magical journey through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where friendship and bravery are tested against the backdrop of a battle between good and evil. Katherine Paterson’s BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA explores the themes of friendship, loss, and the boundless power of imagination as two young friends create their own fantastical kingdom. Natalie Babbitt’s TUCK EVERLASTING delves into profound questions about life and immortality, inviting readers to ponder the value of time and the natural cycle of existence. 

These books captivate the imagination and evoke a deep connection with their characters and themes. I have fond memories of reading these books, along with many others, either with my sister or at school, while I ignored everyone in the old-fashioned way–book in hand. Lately, I’ve been focusing on this genre the most. My children are 11 and 14 years old, and we often enjoy read-aloud sessions together. I also read for research because I plan to write middle-grade novels eventually.

MG fiction encompasses a wide range of genres similar to those found in adult literature, such as horror, science fiction, action and adventure, fantasy, and humor. It is specifically aimed at readers aged 8 to 12. Typically, MG books are between 30,000 and 50,000 words long (approximately 100 to 250 pages), although the precise length can vary based on the genre and the target audience.

I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to interview one of Pikes Peak Writers’ own MG authors, Darby Karchut. (My youngest is currently enjoying her DEL TORO MOON series!)

Meet Darby

Darby serves as our Sweet Success Coordinator and a Contributing Editor to our blog, Writing from the Peak. She specializes in Middle Grade and Young Adult stories that often feature fantastical adventures, the love of wilderness, and the power of family. Her work has earned her several prestigious awards, including the Colorado Book Award, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the High Plains Book Award, and the Will Rogers Medallion Award. When she isn’t writing, you may find her running in a blizzard or biking in a lightning storm. 

Q&A

Trista: Hi, Darby. We are delighted to have you as a part of our team here at PPW. Your presence makes a positive difference, and we’re excited to see all the amazing things ahead for you in your writing career. Thanks so much for joining us today.

Darby: A pleasure to be here, Trista.

Trista: A lot of your books feature rural children. Could you share why this is important? 

Darby: It is simply another form of diversity in juvenile literature. Rural (and small-town kids) need to see themselves reflected in books. To be shown they, too, can be heroes and heroines in stories, and that their way of life is just as valid as a child’s of the city or suburb. These books also provide windows for urban and suburban readers to experience a different lifestyle.

Trista: Do you believe that including father figures in middle grade stories is essential?

Darby: Maybe not essential to every story, but certainly more prominently and more positive than they have been. In current media (books, TV, movies, etc.) the trend has been to portray fathers or father figures as either inept or clueless or even wicked. And, sure, some are. But to always depict those men in that way is lazy storytelling at best and stereotyping at worst. Not a healthy message to send to young readers. As an author, I strive to write juvenile characters who are complex, realistic, and reflect the culture and times around them. I strive to do the same with the adult characters with a deliberate focus on fathers and father figures. 

Trista: There is something truly special about reading a story where the author’s feelings resonate with your own. It’s also important to read stories that present views opposing your own. Do you consider this when writing your stories?

Darby: I thought about this question for a long time, Trista. I decided to just be honest: I simply write the stories I like to read. Heck, I can’t even figure out what the theme of my book is until I finish writing it. And even then, I’m suspicious of labels.

Trista: How do you weave poetic devices into your writing to make it come alive? What creative techniques do you use to enhance your writing and captivate readers? 

Darby: I’m always trying to improve this aspect of my writing: To make the language deeper and richer. To me, this fine-tuning is the most enjoyable part of the writing process. I get a kick out of taking common idioms and colloquialisms and giving them a unique twist that reflects the core essence of the story. Since so many of my stories take place outdoors, I make sure I use all the senses to describe the setting, especially smell and temperature. In my books featuring horses, I try to embed a one-two-three “beat” in the action scenes to mimic the drumming you would hear in a horse’s gallop. Also, I like the punch of a single line paragraph.

Trista: Are you intentional about selecting particular words to expand your readers’ vocabulary?

Darby: I don’t know if I’m intentional per se about my vocabulary choices, but I always try to write up for my readers, which means I use words they may not know. Yet. In the future, they may come across that same word or phrase again and now have two chances to own it. I do try to use context clues so readers can suss out meaning. I also make a point of inserting historical references that tie logically to the storyline. As humans, we dance on a timeline which includes the past, both our own and our culture. Good, bad, ugly—it is our past and part of who we are. Most importantly, I trust the reader will bring something to plate.

Trista: Which Middle Grade authors have sparked your creativity and inspired you on your writing journey? I’d love to hear whose storytelling has had a significant impact on your work.

Darby: A tough question, because there are so many and I keep discovering more. I will start with the author whose writing and world-building has had the greatest influence on me, both as a reader and as a writer: J.R.R. Tolkien and his THE LORD OF THE RINGS books. I re-read the trilogy almost yearly. For just plain fun storytelling, John Flanagan’s THE RANGER’S APPRENCTICE series and Lloyd Alexander’s THE PRYDAIN CHRONICLES are favorites. And I will read anything by Fleur Bradley and Megan E. Freeman, two Colorado authors I admire.

There are, however, authors of adult books who have influenced me as a writer just as much. Ivan Doig, best known for ENGLISH CREEK and DANCING AT THE RASCAL FAIR, showed me the poetry found in prose. Naomi Novik demonstrated the power of blending two completely different genres in her TEMERAIRE series. I’m also a fan of Craig Johnson’s LONGMIRE series and Kevin Hearne’s THE IRON DRUID CHRONICLES. 

Trista:  How do you stay connected with your readers and their interests? Are there middle-grade children in your life, or do you draw from your own experiences at that age?

Darby:  I taught fifth grade and seventh grade social studies for 20 years and still draw upon those days in the classroom. But as Flannery O’Connor so famously stated: “Anyone who survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his life.”

Trista: What has your writing journey been like? Did you always intend to be a writer?

Darby: I never wanted to be a writer. Never even crossed my mind until I turned 50 and started playing around with fan fiction. At the time, I was infatuated with the BBC’s series, FOYLE’S WAR. I tried my hand a few fan fiction pieces based on that show and was instantly hooked. I thought, what the heck? Maybe I could create my own characters, so I started a YA novel about teen guardian angels. That was the summer of 2009. After 30 plus re-writes and 102 submissions to editors and agents, it became my debut novel, GRIFFIN RISING, released in 2011.

Trista: How has participating in PPW transformed your experience? 

Darby: It was my first PPW Conference in 2011 that introduced me to fellow writers and opened my eyes to the publishing industry. I was so intimidated that first morning, but by noon, I knew the reputation PPW had as the friendliest conference around was well earned. The more I leaned into PPW, the more I learned, and the more I met some fabulous people. Writing is such a solitary sport, so it’s a straight up delight to get a chance to hang with writery folks.

Trista: Your book, THE HORSE WHO CARRIES THE STARS, recently won the 2025 Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Juvenile Fiction. Congratulations! Could you tell us a little about your book and the award?

Darby: My 18th book, THE HORSE WHO CARRIES THE STARS was my first attempt at writing a female protagonist (I’m mostly known for my boy characters). This contemporary MG story, set in rural Colorado, features 13-year-old Reece Harding, who is navigating growing up (in spite of her wishes otherwise), some multi-generational family drama, and training an Appaloosa mare who’s all go and no whoa. Oh, and I threw in a wildfire just to keep things real. When I found out the book had won the 2025 Western Writers of America Spur Award (Juvenile Fiction), I was over the moon and beyond. According to their website, “Western Writers of America annually honors writers for distinguished writing about the American West with the Spur Awards. Since 1953, the Spur Awards have been one of the most prestigious awards in American literature.”

Thank you, Darby, for this wonderful interview. I appreciate your time. Readers, if you would like to learn more about Darby and her books, please visit her website: https://www.darbykarchut.com/