20 Days of Backstory: Day 7

Hi, friends,

Who likes to know a little behind-the-scenes information about a story? 

BACKSTORY FACT 7

     
Wayne Kovok, the main character, is a fact-loving seventh grader. He shares more than 70 confirmed, true facts in MAYDAY. This was a fun part of the novel to work on because I'm a fact nerd.

I’ve been asked what my favorite facts are and would have to say the history of Arlington National Cemetery and the continued search for Columbia Space Shuttle debris in East Texas. Also, I spent an inordinate amount of time researching the weight and dimensions of the world’s largest matzo ball.

    Here is my copy-editor’s comment that sent me down the rabbit hole.

-          Seems like there have been larger, but I don’t know that any larger than 267 pounds have been recognized officially by Guinness World Records. See http://azjewishpost.com/2010/p-s-tucson-chef-creates-guinness-world-record-matzah-ball-israelis-israel-travels-pilates-guru-hadassah-hears-marquez/

-          http://jewishworldnews.org/worlds-largest-matzo-ball-competition-more-than-just-a-cooked-mass-of-unrecognized-ingredients/