Interview by Spencer Miller
Living as a settler in Tkaronto, Rachel Schwartz Fagan is a storyteller and certified teacher working in arts and education spaces. She brings a passion for facilitating creativity and environmental stewardship. In addition to writing for children, Rachel creates zines and textile art. Her debut novel, The Water You’re Swimming In, is a heartfelt middle grade story about a young man dealing with a family crisis.
You hold a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Children’s Literature. How did your research prepare you for writing The Water You’re Swimming In?
In my undergraduate and graduate research, I did a lot of textual analysis of books for children and adults, and something I think about while I’m writing is how someone might analyze my work. I do sometimes write with this in mind, and try to allow space for a reader to decode meaning. I’m really eager to hear from kids, and learn from their interpretations of the text.
In my M.Phil in Children’s Literature and my Master of Teaching my research centred on picture books. I actually had the opportunity to use the Groundwood Books archive at the Osborne Collection of Early Children’s Books and look at original drafts of some of my favourite Canadian picture books, including Tim Wynne-Jones’ Zoom trilogy. This was an incredibly special experience, and I certainly have dreams of one day publishing my own picture book (or more than one!).
Most Canadians have probably never heard of Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. Why did you decide to set your novel here?
Nova Scotia is a very special place. My maternal family is from Cape Breton Island, the eastern part of Nova Scotia. Although I grew up in Toronto, I’ve spent time in Nova Scotia almost every year of my life and it is a deeply important and formative place for me.
While my family is from the island, Bible Hill is actually on the mainland. I considered setting the book on the island, however for the story to work I needed a town in Nova Scotia that was close enough to Halifax that two kids could realistically get there without a car. I also wanted the setting to be close to a beach, and a lot of towns on the mainland are inland. I spent a lot of time zooming in and out of Google Maps trying to find the perfect location for the book, and I eventually settled on Bible Hill.
On the surface, Noah is a high-achieving and easy-going student and athlete, but deep down, Noah feels invisibile. What drew you to writing about loneliness?
I think loneliness is a universal experience, but everyone has a very individual connection to the feeling. Sometimes people find themselves in situations without family or friends, and those people feel lonely. But there are plenty of people who are surrounded by family and friends and feel lonely too. It was interesting to write about loneliness for a character who has strong family ties, and to show how different characters felt lonely or alone in their unique ways. Although the focus is on Noah, I hope a little bit of that lonely experience came through for Jamie and Jessica’s characters as well.
After his brother runs away, Noah finds comfort and guidance by spending time with his Grandma Aisling. Why do you think multigenerational relationships are important?
There are so many reasons why multigenerational relationships are important, but for this interview I’ll talk about identity. One of the reasons why Nova Scotia was such a formative place for me is because of the multigenerational ties I have there. I have so many memories of visiting my grandparents’ home in Sydney and driving up the Cabot Trail with my family to stay in a little cottage in Ingonish. Our relationships with our parents and grandparents form our identities and shape the connections we will have with future generations of our families.
The Water You’re Swimming In is your debut book for middle readers. Let’s take a moment to celebrate! How does it feel to see your first book out in the world, and what do you hope middle readers take away from Noah’s journey?
I’m so excited the book is finally launching. It feels very surreal that it’s coming out after so many years of work. It’s funny, because everyone is asking me if I’m excited, and I am, but as many authors and artists can empathize with, the process of getting your work into the world is quite long. Now that the book is finally coming out I am incredibly excited for the release, but also impatiently looking forward to future projects (fingers crossed).
In terms of what I hope readers will take away, I don’t like to put too many of my own conclusions onto readers. When the book is released, I am eager to hear kids’ thoughts! For any teachers reading this interview, I have contact information on my website and in the free Teachers' Guide—I would love to get an email from your class!
However, if I have to choose one thing I hope readers take away from Noah’s journey, it’s to never be afraid to ask for support when you need it and to know that everyone feels lonely sometimes, but we don’t have to be alone.