Ashley Hards Discusses ADHD, Shakespeare, and Her Debut Novel ‘Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway’

An interview about Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway with Ashley Hards and The Children’s Book Review.

In a candid discussion, Ashley Hards shares her debut novel, Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway, a work inspired by her childhood struggles with ADHD and family drives through rural Canada.

Hards’ personal journey, intertwined with the protagonist’s, creates a connection that resonates with readers. Her creative reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet follows Hannah Edwards, a heroine with ADHD, and focuses on themes of self-doubt and the quest for truth. She hopes readers will be encouraged by Hannah Edwards’ experiences with ADHD and find solace in the book’s inclusive portrayal of neurodiversity, a narrative that celebrates individuality and acceptance.

Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 22, Hards examines how this has influenced her writing process, sharing specific strategies to overcome writer’s block. The interview closes with the Hards’ excitement about her debut novel and a message of encouragement to young readers.

In your author bio, it’s highlighted that you were diagnosed with ADHD at age 22. How have your personal experiences with being neurodiverse shaped your writing?

Ashley Hards (AH): It’s hard to decide which of my behaviors are specifically ADHD—I mainly figure it out by talking to non-ADHD people. Like, hey, you can just . . . start something? Weird. That being said, one “ADHD” struggle I face when writing is being able to just sit down and write. I’ll be fueled with my favorite snacks and ready to go. But my brain doesn’t want to write. 

I have several tools that I use to combat this writer’s block. First, I will try to change the format: You don’t want to write a conversation? Okay, cool, let’s pretend you’re recording an audio tape. Or make a list. Or a poem. Next, I will write what I want: skip the boring conversation and jump into a cool action sequence. Lastly, if the laptop is the problem (it often is), I will write by hand or even record myself speaking, and then transcribe it. These techniques lead to the multiple formats in the novel, which is composed of journal entries, lists, newspaper articles, poetry, and more! 

The publisher’s book summary for Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway describes the story as a reimagining of Hamlet. For readers unfamiliar with that story, what themes do you want them to take away from your version?

AH: One of the most important themes in Hamlet, for me, is the negative effect of self-doubt: Hamlet’s fear of the unknown causes him to put off catching his father’s killer and ultimately leads to the death of several people (like seven, at least). Hannah Edwards also struggles with self-doubt—she needs to be certain of the cause of her father’s disappearance, even when all the evidence is pointing one way. Self-doubt can be incredibly hard to deal with. Some important messages I want young readers to take away from my version is that everyone struggles with finding the truth, there’s nothing wrong with being scared of the unknown, and done is better than perfect.

Throughout the book, Hannah Edwards mentions her struggles in the classroom, which many will recognize as examples of her neurodiversity. Do you think that this helped or hindered her ability to solve the crime? Why?

AH: I think that the personality traits that make Hannah Edwards have a hard time in class can be helpful with crime solving, but the classroom problems themselves get in the way. For example, Hannah Edwards is super observant—she notices when people are not acting the right way, and that helps her solve the Canola King’s disappearance! But having to go to school and having problems paying attention get in the way. I mean, who would want to write a book report when you have a mystery to solve? Plus, Hannah Edwards’ problems with concentrating catch the eye of Mrs. Grant (the misguided guidance counselor), who hurts Hannah’s feelings and derails her mystery-solving plots.

The story unfolds in a fictional town named Riverway, a place you’ve intricately described. Could you share the inspiration behind this town? Was it based on a specific place or a product of your imagination?

AH: Riverway itself is fictional, but it was inspired by my family’s drives through Southern Alberta in Canada. Every weekend, my family would drive south from Calgary to go down to Castle Mountain Ski Resort near the small town of Pincher Creek. On the way, we passed through towns like Nanton and Claresholm. I used to look out the window and imagine what it would be like to live there. The grain elevator and Candy Shop in Nanton always excited me. (I mean, what kid wouldn’t want to visit a store filled with every candy imaginable?) When it came to writing Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway, I knew it had to take place in this rural location.

What was the most challenging part about writing this novel? How did you deal with this?

AH: I know I’m not alone in saying that the most challenging part about writing this novel was finishing it. It’s always fun to start a story: there are infinite possibilities! But as you start to write, the possibilities become more limited, and eventually, the novel can seem stuck. 

The editorial team at Fabled Films Press helped me to deal with this issue with their advice and encouragement—sometimes you just need to hear that you’re on the right track. If I needed more than encouragement, I’d try to find a new strategy for writing: if I didn’t want to write a chapter in prose, I’d tell myself, “Okay, it’s a poem now.” Finally, the most helpful tool was following my mother’s advice (which Hannah Edwards’ mom says as well): go for a walk.

Do you plan on Hannah Edwards and her friends returning to solve another mystery?

AH: I’d love to see what else Riverway has in store for Hannah Edwards and her friends, and I’m not ready to leave it behind quite yet.

What feelings do you hope a reader may have after reading your book?

AH: I think it’s important that young readers interpret my book for themselves and I don’t want to invalidate any possible reactions. But I am especially hopeful that people will empathize with Hannah Edwards’ struggles as an ADHD girl. It can be hard to understand certain behaviors when you are just seeing them on the outside—like, why is this person always interrupting? Why don’t they sit still? Lots of popular narratives about ADHD don’t really answer these questions. Instead, they offer solutions to these behaviors. Hannah Edwards’ journal shows us that these behaviors aren’t malicious—they are really just ways of coping with an abundance of energy and the excitement of trying to solve a mystery.

What do you think makes a great story? How do you work this into your writing?

AH: I think great stories make us feel less alone. They aren’t afraid to show us big or small reactions that we might be embarrassed about. These stories are important for kids: Sometimes, it can feel like adults in your life don’t get what you’re going through. But books can be there to show that you’re not alone. I try to achieve this connection in my writing by writing about things I didn’t always tell other people as a kid—like how weirdly loud lights are when you’re trying to pay attention in class (seriously, can we fix them?). And then I hope that other people can connect with me, too. 

As a fan and student of Shakespeare, which of his works is your favorite?  Why?

AH: Predictable response, but my favorite is probably Hamlet, not just for Hamlet himself, who is so complex, but for the entire cast of characters. Hamlet’s friends—Rosencrantz and Guildenstern—are two of my favorites (and, fun fact, they appear in my novel as the guidance counselors Mr. Roseband and Mrs. Grant). Even though it was written hundreds of years ago, Hamlet’s struggle to find himself still feels very relatable to me. 

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

AH: One thing I want to share with your readers is that I’m really excited for you to read Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway. Now, I know a lot of people would say this. But I really mean it. This is my first novel, and the fact that people are actually going to read something I wrote is still mind blowing to me. And, to any young readers with ADHD, I hope that you know that you are not alone! You’ve got this! 

About the Book

Publisher’s Book Summary: Cheer on Hannah Edwards in this exciting mystery and relatable coming-of-age story about ADHD, friendship, school, and family.

Hannah has a lot on her mind. Her father—the Canola King—is missing, and no one in her small town seems to care. With the support of her best friend Sam Castillo, and their sidekick Tim the Hall Monitor, Hannah embarks on a journey to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance.

Along the way, she uncovers secrets that she records in her journal, confronts challenges in school due to her ADHD, talks to a ghost, and learns the true meaning of determination and friendship.

Buy the Book

Be sure to check out the FREE Neurodiversity Guide on the Hannah Edwards website, which teachers and librarians can use for book clubs or classroom discussions. 

About the Author

Ashley Hards was declared “gifted” at age eight and diagnosed with ADHD at age 22. When forced to sit still in class, she found books and writing to be the most engaging subjects, especially Shakespeare. She received both her BA and MA in English Literature from McGill University, where she now teaches writing and continues her research on Shakespeare and ritual. 

Always the adrenaline lover, Ashley enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and opera. (Hey, it’s exciting.) She spent many weekends driving across Alberta and hanging out at a ski hill near Pincher Creek, and the vision for Riverway developed over many dark, stormy nights. Like Hannah, she enjoys journaling. Unlike Hannah, she has not solved any mysteries (yet). This is her debut.

This interview—An Interview with Ashley Hards, Creator of ‘Hannah Edwards Secrets of Riverway’—was conducted between Ashley Hards and Bianca Schulze.