Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Alyssa Colman (WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW)!
Meet the Author: Alyssa Colman
Alyssa Colman is the author of Where Only Storms Grow, The Tarnished Garden, and The Gilded Girl, which won the 2021 Northern Lights Book Award for middle grade fantasy. Publishers Weekly called the story “a thoughtful and imaginative exploration of friendship, internal change, and perseverance” in a starred review. Alyssa lives in northern Virginia with her family.
About the Book: WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW
For Fans of the I Survived series and The War That Saved My Life, this gripping middle grade novel is set during one of the most dangerous storms in American history.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
During the early days of the pandemic, I was researching which masks to buy online and stumbled across an article about another time Americans were asked to wear masks: the Dust Bowl. I read about the epic storms and the rise of dust pneumonia—a form of silicosis, similar to black lung in mines, but contracted simply by breathing the air. Realizing how little I knew, I began reading voraciously and developed a deep respect for those who lived in the Great Plains in the 1930s. At the time, I’d been toying with an idea for a historical novel about a girl with scoliosis. In that magical way stories evolve, the two ideas merged and became Where Only Storms Grow.
YABC: What research did you do to write this book?
Like many people, I assumed the Dust Bowl was a particularly bad drought. Through my research, I learned that it was the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history. One thing I know about kids is that they are detailed readers. They will know if you’re making too much up and call you on it! I wanted to make this book as accurate and lived-in as possible, so I relied heavily upon primary sources. I read memoirs from farmers in the Great Plains and newspapers from the area, and I listened to over a hundred hours of oral histories from survivors. For anyone who is interested in learning more about the Dust Bowl, I would highly recommend Ken Burns’ documentary on the subject as well as The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. My husband watched the documentary with me and his jaw was on the floor the whole time. At the end, he turned to me and said, “How do more people not know about this?” I hope Where Only Storms Grow will introduce more readers to this fascinating time period.
YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I’ll stick with historical fiction. There are thousands of years with fascinating stories to tell!
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
In Where Only Storms Grow, readers will find a historical adventure story reminiscent of the I Survived series with an emotional depth, a la The War that Saved My Life. There’s also a sprinkle of the twin relationship from Jacob Have I Loved. One of the characters falls in love with a book of Emily Dickinson’s poetry and tries his hand at writing himself, so there are poems both familiar and brand new. There’s a wonderful teacher and a goofy older brother mooning over his first girlfriend. At the heart of the story, though, there’s a family that loves each other and will do just about anything to stay together. Oh yes, and there’s a delightful chicken named Ruby who tries to sneak indoors at inopportune times.
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
Even though this is a story for children, it is set during the Dust Bowl and characters get hurt. I mentioned dust pneumonia earlier. I don’t know if this is a tease or a spoiler, but a character doesn’t survive it. It was difficult to balance the emotion and action while keeping it an accessible story for young readers. Part of that was a decision that I made to have it happen “off stage,” so to speak. But the scene where my characters learn about the death and process their feelings was a challenge to write. I’ll be curious to hear how readers feel about that part of the plot.
YABC: What other age group would you consider writing for?
I say that my books are for middle graders and the grown-ups who love them, so I feel like I already write for a range. Maybe I’ll try my hand at a book just for those grown-ups someday.
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
The tricky thing about writing historical fiction is that it’s very easy to procrastinate and tell myself that I’m still researching. Sometimes I have to cut myself off from reading and get back to writing. My other procrastination tool is cleaning. If my closets are very organized and tidy, I should probably be writing…
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I recently devoured Island of the Forgotten Gods by Victor Piñeiro. I couldn’t put it down! In addition to being an exhilarating adventure story, it also feels like a love letter to Puerto Rican culture.
YABC: What is your favorite writing space or routine?
Though I have a desk, I find the best creative energy at my dining room table. I make a cup of tea and plunk away at my keyboard while my dog, Daisy, snores at my feet. It’s lovely.
Title: WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW
Author: Alyssa Colman
Release Date: 8/19/2025
Publisher: MCPG/ Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Genre: Middle Grade
Age Range: 8-12
