Missing Arabella

About Kathryn Siebel

Kathryn Siebel teaches Humanities at Billings Middle School in Seattle and works with elementary school students at the Greenlake School Age Care Program. She’s worked in educational publishing and as an English teacher and librarian. She has a MFA from the Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop. Missing Arabella is her first novel.

Author Q&A
How would you describe your writing style?   A few reviewers have described the writing as Gothic, in part, I guess, because some of the adults are so awful. I hope that the book is also humorous and quirky. When I make up stories for the children I work with, they always ask for something funny or scary, so I suppose those requests have influenced my writing style. I'm also trying to avoid writing down to children. As a child, I loved learning new words and hearing stories read aloud. So I try not to oversimplify the vocabulary or syntax too much.

What inspired you to write this book?   The inspiration for Missing Arabella came from a moment I glimpsed by chance while travelling in Ireland. One night, as my husband and I approached the B&B where we planned to stay, I saw a mother and daughter sitting in front of a fireplace sewing. Years later, in the midst of writing a novel for adults that was turning out badly, I decided to write something just to amuse
myself. Almost as a writing exercise, I began to imagine the story that Irish mother might have been
telling her daughter in front of the fire.

How would you describe the relationship between Arabella and Henrietta?  Arabella and Henrietta have a complicated relationship. Certainly there's jealousy and the contempt that familiarity breeds, but at bottom there's also unconditional love. I feel very fortunate to have two sisters and two brothers. Siblings are your first playmates, and, eventually, if you're lucky, they become your dearest friends, the people who know you the best, love you the most, and, when needed, push you the hardest.