All About Counterblow Clemency

Who is Naomi Shimbles?

Raised in the Caribbean, Naomi Shibles has been a newspaper reporter and an editor. Her memberships include the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Association of Writers & Writing Programs, and the Authors Guild. She lives in Charlotte with her family.

What is Counterblow Clemency about?

Interview

What was your inspiration for Counterblow Clemency?

The germ of Counterblow Clemency began with a strange dream that I had where I was hanging onto the outside of a speeding car on what looked something like Rainbow Road in Mario Kart. Except that instead of rainbow tiles, there were huge, bright, electric advertisements that formed a wall all the way down the freeway. It was so vivid that I can still feel the wind whipping my cheeks and the blinding flashes of light from the ads streaming by. So that was the first scene that I wrote, and at first it was the main character, Bjorn Bear, hanging off of the car. In the book, it ended up being a bit different.

As I wrote, I pictured a story that might get my son off of his computer—maybe something he’d share with a friend. Because we’ve got a big problem on our hands: kids aged 12 to 19 are reading less. Teens spend most of their time online, gaming, and playing sports or other activities. With school on top of everything else, they don’t want to waste their time with books. But understanding the power of reading—of a book transporting you from wherever you don‘t want to be without electricity and holding your attention—is a superpower that I don’t want anyone to miss out on. 

The good news is that exciting shorter books can encourage a love of reading. Counterblow Clemency is a fast-paced caper—a fast read at less than 150 pages—intended to encourage reading in teens (and adults!) who might be more inclined to pick up a video game than a book.

What drew you to writing?

I’ve always had a vivid imagination and when I was little, I would draw things out like little comics. Once I could read and write, I started making up scenes and playing with rhyming. I’ve always loved to escape into books, and it’s even more fun to create the worlds and stories myself.

How did you choose which character to centre the story around? 

An element of Counterblow Clemency is belonging, or not feeling like you 100% belong anywhere. There’s a big reveal about Bjorn which has him question where he fits in with his family, his privileged community, and his city as he comes to understand its underlying social issues. Bjorn is growing up and his sense of ‘otherness’ has a very real reason, which he finds out as the story unfolds. I wanted to show that journey in a character who might seem from the outside very shallow and careless, but who is actually emerging into adulthood like a swimmer might burst from the water after holding their breath for too long. 

What was your process for writing Counterblow Clemency?

I actually began Counterblow Clemency as a NaNoWriMo challenge during the tedium of the pandemic! I didn’t reach 50,000 words by the end of that November, but what had emerged in my messy first draft intrigued me. I typically don’t give myself any rules for a first draft other than get all your ideas down. I don’t worry about word choice or sentence structure at all. After the first draft is done, I go back and rework it sentence by sentence. In many ways, my second drafts are my real first drafts because that’s when a story emerges from the mess.

I think it’s important as a writer not to get paralyzed by indecision, so I tell myself that my decisions don’t matter at first because I can always change my mind.

Fun fact: There is a car in the book called Claudette, and that was originally a person!

What is your approach to world and character building?

I see my stories in my imagination like watching a movie and just describe what I see. But it’s a layered approach—after sketching out the setting, I go back and think about what emotion I want the reader to feel in a scene. What elements will evoke that feeling? In Chapter 1, “The Bad Decisions,” when Bjorn and his friends, Doodle and Murgatroyd, realize that they are being targeted by killers and try to run, the advertising pollution that plagues Promo City—digital ads running across all surfaces—keeps them exposed to attack. With nowhere to hide, they panic and make desperate decisions which lead them into more danger. A world where you’re always exposed can never feel safe, and as Bjorn’s journey unfolds, he begins to understand that exposure and danger are a cornerstone of his world. 

As far as characters, I picture their conversations and try to capture the essential parts. For me, their interactions with each other shape who they become. I always imagine the way they look first—what they wear, their hair, physique. Almost like building avatars and then setting them loose in your game. I watch them interact with each other in my imagination and then set them loose in the story.

How would you describe Counterblow Clemency?

Counterblow Clemency is an upper YA sci-fi caper with crossover appeal that is as fast-paced and epic as a video game, while exploring the themes of dignity, entitlement versus social responsibility, teamwork, and the kinship of chosen family. And at 40,000 words, you could finish it in a day!

Here’s the story: It’s the year 2117 and Promo City is blazing with advertising pollution but all 16-year-old Bjorn Bear cares about is having fun, until the city’s deadliest assassins attack him. With his motley gang of friends by his side, Bjorn must evade a crime boss with a vendetta, overcome genetically-engineered mini hippos, and race against time to discover and stop whoever is out to get him—all while facing the possibility that the only family he’s ever known isn’t real. 

Did you have a favourite moment in the book to write?

You can never go wrong with a battle of wills between 16-year-olds and mini hippos who are genetically-engineered to attack. Writing chapter 4, ‘The Break In,’ was so fun, but had a lot of moving parts. Sometimes, it helps me to sketch scenes out on a drawing app and I did that here. It’s definitely a madcap caper of a chapter with a lot of banter, which I enjoy writing.

What was your favourite book growing up?

Reading was my number one activity growing up, so choosing a favorite book is quite a feat. The Chronicles of Narnia were paramount. I’ve also always been obsessed with Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The first book that blew my mind was A Wrinkle in Time, which I read in the 5th grade. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I read every Sweet Valley High book I could get my hands on!

Do you have a favourite genre to read?

Counterblow Clemency is YA and I love YA. In fact, I’m querying a YA fantasy manuscript right now, which I think you’ll enjoy. But I also deeply love murder mysteries and I think my next book will be one. I’m already outlining it.