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A place for all young adult book lovers to get together and discuss their favorite books.
This interview was conducted by site staff: Annmarie, Evie J, Mandi, and Rosalie.
YABC - First, we are all in agreement that Split is an incredible, fact-paced, intense read that had us flipping pages so quickly. It was wonderful. Amazing work!
Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it!
YABC - Split explores the aftermath of Domestic Violence with not just a teen, but with adults as well. Where did the idea for this story come from? Did you write this as a message to the readers about the subject or was it just out of interest?
For three years, I coordinated a domestic violence legal clinic and in that time, I interviewed thousands of victims of domestic violence. Once, while I interviewed a woman, her two children sat with us, listening to her. As the incident became increasingly brutal, I asked if she'd like an intern to look after her kids. She said no, they had seen it.
That little boy haunted me because I kept wondering who he would grow up to be when his father gave him such a terrible role model. In Split, Jace is concerned that he will become like his dad, something we all worry about, really. But for him, the stakes are higher. I was interested in the idea of how abuse gets passed down.
I didn't really have a message for the reader; I was just moved and inspired by the people who came into the clinic, who had the bravery to stand up to their abusers. All of them seemed to understand that getting out was only the beginning. Which is why I Split opens when Jace leaves and not before that.
YABC - Did you find some portions of the book hard to write because of the content?
I actually found the writing the abuse scenes easy. While I never based the abuse scenes off of any of the stories I heard in the clinic, the emotions kept percolating in my head, so writing Jace's story was almost more cathartic than painful. But revising the abuse scenes was difficult. Re-entering them left me raw. The second abuse scene was particularly difficult because it took a number of re-writes and tweaks.
The hardest part to write, in general, was the last 50 pages or so. The emotions and stakes were just so high and, by then, I was very invested in Jace and Christian.
YABC - Were any of the characters based off of anyone you know? Maybe with personality or looks?
None of the main characters were. Jace ended up with my husband's sense of humor, but I wasn't basing it on him.
There was a character, Felix, who got cut in draft six, who was based heavily, both in looks and personality, on a friend of mine. I was sorry to have to cut her.
Eric and Caitlyn were based on people I knew in high school, which made writing them a little difficult; it was hard to be sympathetic to them.
YABC - You're a debut author! That must feel incredible. How excited were you when you found out you were getting published? Can you describe the feeling?
It does feel incredible! I'm not sure I've stopped smiling since the on-sale date. People have been describing me as 'giddy' and 'radiant.'
It's an incredibly addicting high. I love reading reviews and comments about the book; I love it that there are readers out there who care about Jace, his family, and his friends. Every time my google alert sits in my mailbox, or every time I walk into a bookstore, I get butterflies in my stomach.
The only downside right now is that I've channeled my new author anxiety toward earning out, which means that I check my Amazon sales ranking too often. I try to restrain myself to checking it an unreasonable number of times per day, rather than an insane number of times per day. Some days I fail.
YABC - Were there times during the process of writing Split and waiting for it to hit the shelves that you just felt like giving up?
Not really. I was pretty driven to write this story. There were many times when I wondered if I could actually write it and if I could write it well. Actually, that was sort of the background hum throughout the entire writing of the book. But, I would not put this book away, not even when it would have been the smart choice because of life circumstances.
YABC - We’re totally hooked and really want to know what happens to Jace next. Any chance of a sequel?
I've played with the idea, but no. If you write picture books, there's a rule of thumb: leave room for the illustrator. For me, I like the idea of leaving room for the reader to imagine. I think fan fic reflects such a nice concept -- that books stay with a reader and motivate the reader to imagine, to own the story for themselves. I love the concept that the book can launch the reader into imagining how Jace turns out.
YABC - You truly have a gift for writing and we see you’re working on another project, Bidden. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Thanks! In BIDDEN, Holly, Corey and Savtiri are looking forward to a summer of freerunning and comic book reading, when a shooting changes everything. Like Split, BIDDEN is primarily an aftermath story. But where Split focused on overcoming lessons learned, BIDDEN focuses on the struggle to overcome fear. Right now, I'm at that suspenseful phase where I don't know if or how my characters do learn to manage their fears. I hope so.
YABC - When you write do you write with an audience in mind or do you just write and see where it goes?
That's a great question. At first, it is a matter of shutting the reader out, actually, because my first drafts are entirely unreadable. They are very, very bad. So, I can't listen to my inner editor and/or imaginary reader. I just need to let that draft be horrible while I discover the story. Once that is done, I start putting flesh on to the skeleton. Then I bring my inner editor to bear. Finally, I try to make sure it's polished up for a reader. I want it to be as good as I can get it before submitting it to the reader, so there's a lot of polishing involved. Split took 8 full drafts.
YABC - What helped you stay focused while writing the book? Do you have any habits?
Yes, I find that routine helps. If I know that I'll write from 9-12 AM, my brain has been chewing on the problems in the work for the other 21 hours, so I'm ready to go after them when I sit down. I'm most productive at my neighborhood Starbucks, with my white chocolate mocha and my earbuds. I listen to playlists when I write. On my website, I have some of them up for Split and BIDDEN on the "FS" page.
YABC - Have you always wanted to be an author?
For the most part, yes, but you wouldn't know it to look at my resume. I wanted to write from the time I was five until I was about 15. Then I thought I would rather use film to tell stories, then the theater. When I got out of college, I decided on the law. That's when I worked in the clinic and nearly completed my master's in criminal justice (just the thesis shy). I also had a year of law school under my belt. I loved working in the law, which was a way of storytelling and manipulating language as well. But my newborn son wasn't quite as thrilled about it, so when I left to raise him (and eventually my daughter as well), I returned to writing.
YABC - When do you like to write most? Night, Day, Whenever? And do you have a preferred place to write?
Oh, I guess, I already answered this one, above. Best hours: 9 AM- noon. Best place: my local Starbucks
YABC - There are quite a few aspiring authors on this site. Have any advice for them?
Timidity doesn't suit an author. Write boldly. Write bravely. Write every day that you can.
YABC - Do you believe in writers block? If yes, have you experienced it?
Oh yes, I do and I have. It's miserable and usually, for me, comes from not being able to silence my inner editor. I need to let the work suck and suck badly. Honestly, I think that's the hardest part for me.
YABC - Just for fun:
Favorite Author(s): So very many. Today it is Emily Bronte.
Favorite Book(s): To Kill a Mockingbird.
Describe a day in your life in 3 words: Grateful for baby toes. (4 words, oops)
If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Oh, that's easy. Pizza.
Summer Olympics or Winter Olympics: Now, that's hard. Summer, by a smidge.
Vacation in a foreign country or go on a tropical cruise? Foreign country for sure.
YABC - Thank you so much for your time! We can't wait to see more from you in the future!
Thanks for having me! Very fun questions.
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