Interview: Sarah Hetu
- Little Thoughts Press
- Mar 22
- 5 min read
Sarah (Sezza) Hetu loves thunderstorms, beaches, rockhounding, and finding just the right word. Her poems and other writings may be found in several magazines, with a publication forthcoming in High Five. She won a young authors award for her story, “The Avocado Seed,” in elementary school, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She is grateful for her two magical critique groups, her two amazing kids, and her two mischievous cats. By day she works as an optometrist in nursing homes across New Hampshire, and by night she and her kids (14, 10) kick-butt in American Kenpo Karate.
Little Thoughts Press: Your poem “Recycled Fashion” is full of fun, and at points delightfully outlandish, descriptions of recycled and repurposed clothing items. Some of the visuals (like the melted down cookware) call to mind the sort of imaginative ideas that young children often create. As we grow and especially if our writing is more based in and directed to the adult world, it can become difficult to untether ourselves from a need for realism. Do you have any tips or techniques you can offer to fellow writers, particularly those who may be new to kid-lit, about how to break free from the constraints of reality and infuse their writing with more oddness, imagination, and childlike whimsy?
Sarah Hetu: Sure! Here are three of the rules I live by:
First: Spend time around kids! I feel like I cheat—I have a fourteen-year-old and a ten-year-old, and we’re always playing imagination games. So not only do I get to spend time with kids, I get to brainstorm with them. My kids and I love to create crazy stories by building on “What if” questions. Sometimes we’ll tell a tale by taking turns, each adding one sentence—or even one word—and going around until we have a whopper of a story.
Second: My daughter is crafty, and I believe that creativity builds upon creativity, regardless of medium. So (should I admit this??), I save junk. I have a bin full of cool junk that my kids and I make things out of— all sorts of creatures and contraptions. Although I haven’t tried actually melting cookware down—but only because I’m really good at setting accidental fires, both in and outside of the house.
Third: When writing creatively in general, I like to follow the “No idea is stupid” rule. Accept all that silly and outlandish stuff that runs from your brain onto the paper, and then, once all the ideas are out, sift through them looking for the gold.
Little Thoughts Press: In addition to your kid-lit writing, you work as an optometrist in nursing homes. So you're splitting your time serving two populations on opposite ends of the age spectrum! How has working with older adults informed or influenced your writing for young kids? And how about the other way around--is there anything you've learned through your experience as a writer that has helped you connect with your nursing home patients?
Sarah Hetu: My geriatric patients teach me so much about life—I am constantly getting story ideas when I’m around them. For example, I wrote a #SpringFling (honorable mention) contest entry based on a child coming to terms with the death of a grandparent. I couldn’t have written it well if I didn’t have all that experience working in nursing homes.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, kids teach me to observe my elderly patients. Just as a child can’t always tell you what’s wrong with them or what they need, sometimes elderly patients with dementia get stuck communicating. A lot of my doctoring centers on making decisions based largely on what I see, not just on objective tests, and the power to observe is very useful to any writer.
In general, the way I connect best with nursing home patients is the same way I connect with anybody—I listen to learn and ask clarifying questions. With the elderly, I usually try to add a joke or two because most of my patients could use a few good laughs.
Little Thoughts Press: Our Better Together issue is all about community and people working together to make the world a better place. What are some actions, big or small, that you take to help make the world better? Are there any organizations that are doing good, important work that you want to shout out?
Sarah Hetu: One of the rules my grandmother used to live by was, “Do at least one good deed a day.” I have tried to incorporate that in my life. If a patient in a wheelchair loses a shoe, I help them put it back on (and I HATE feet). If I see someone drop something, I pick it up for them. If a question needs to be asked, I ask it. I try to keep myself open to helping, however that may manifest for the day.
Additionally, I am very excited to share that I am training to become an instructor in American Kempo Karate. Martial arts has empowered my kids and me with confidence and determination, as well as a sometimes superhuman ability to remain calm when stressful things happen. I can’t wait to help other kids learn and master the same.
Little Thoughts Press: How did you get started writing kid-lit and what do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for kids?
Sarah Hetu: I’ve always written. My parents still have a poem about politicians taped to their fridge. I won a Young Authors award in elementary school for my story, THE AVOCADO SEED. My first professional submission—a case presentation of a patient I examined during residency—was accepted for publication in an optometry magazine. I’ve written across the spectrum of genres, and about ten-ish years ago, I discovered that my heart and home are in the kidlit world. I blame my kids.
Most rewarding: Being the reason a kid smiled, laughed, or learned something.
Most challenging: Taking rejections like a big girl, not a big baby—and hopefully someday, like an adult.
Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up?
Sarah Hetu: Here are some of my favorite kid-lit books and authors:
Anderson: Billy and Blaze
The Berenstain Bears
Cleary: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Cole: The Magic School Bus
Frost: “The Road Not Taken”
Highlights magazine
Keene: the Nancy Drew series (a collective pseudonym)
Lewis: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Parish: Amelia Bedelia
Poe: “The Raven,” “The Tell–Tale Heart,” among others
Rowling: the Harry Potter series
Sachar: Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Shakespeare
Wilder: Little House on the Prairie
Now I need to reread several of these!
Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out?
Sarah Hetu: I would like to give a shout-out to all kidlit writers, with a special thank-you to the following superhero critiquers: David, Jackie, Jenna, Jill, Kate, Kalee, Kim, Lauri, Lynsey, Mike, Niki, Susanne, and Susannah.
Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers?
Sarah Hetu: Write. Take breaks to recharge. Know when you need to kill a darling or let a manuscript go. Find or create an awesome critique group. Excel at receiving constructive criticism. Follow your muse.
Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share?
Sarah Hetu: I have a poem in Issue 13 of Little Thoughts Press, as well as a nonfiction article forthcoming with High Five Magazine.
I have several amazing, super-secret upcoming projects.
Thank you, Little Thoughts Press, for your thoughtful questions, as well as the opportunity to sparkle on your blog.
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