It’s here: the November interview in the Debut-to-Debut Series! I’ve been talking to a fantastic group of debut young adult novelists this year, and that will continue through the close of 2017 and throughout 2018 and 2019—the year leading up to, during, and following my own debut. I’m so excited to share these books, and insights into these authors’ experiences, with you. You can find all the interviews in the series collected right here.
I recently corresponded with Amy Giles about her debut young adult novel Now Is Everything (HarperTeen, November 2017).
From the jacket:
The McCauleys look perfect on the outside. But nothing is ever as it seems, and this family is hiding a dark secret.
Hadley McCauley will do anything to keep her sister safe from their father. But when Hadley’s forbidden relationship with Charlie Simmons deepens, the violence at home escalates, culminating in an explosive accident that will leave everyone changed.
When Hadley attempts to take her own life at the hospital post-accident, her friends, doctors, family, and the investigator on the case want to know why. Only Hadley knows what really happened that day, and she’s not talking.
KIT FRICK: Your debut follows a dual-timeline format, with events unfolding for your protagonist Hadley in both present (“Now”) and past (“Then”) chapters. As we’ve discussed, I’m obviously a big fan of dual timelines, as I’ve used a similar format in my own debut! Tell us a bit about how the structure came into being for Now Is Everything and how it helped you tell Hadley’s story.
AMY GILES: The opening scene, where Hadley is the sole survivor of a small plane crash, came to me first as I was still processing how I wanted to tell this story. Alternating between that first moment when the emergency responders arrive and then dipping between the past and present really worked to show the stark contrast between who Hadley was before the accident and the events that led to the broken girl we meet in the hospital. Toward the end of the story, the pace quickens until it reaches that final point where the two timelines collide.
KIT: The novel explores some dark subject matter, specifically the violence within Hadley’s seemingly-picture-perfect home. Tell us a bit about the choices you made as a writer in terms of the novel’s setting and the development of the characters, as they intersect with this element of the story.
AMY: I wanted to explore the untenable situations victims of abuse find themselves in. In researching this story, I found an article about why abuse in wealthier homes is underreported. Many times, the people who are supposed to report a suspicious black eye or bruises are less likely (or reluctant) to suspect that abuse could happen in “nice” families. And of the cases that are reported, those of wealthier families are more likely to be dropped. Hadley’s family reflects the shiny veneer of the surface-perfect family that is hiding a dark secret. As Hadley nears her eighteenth birthday, she realizes she can’t escape her father’s abuse because that would leave Lila in their father’s crosshairs. That drives her to make drastic decisions.
KIT: Tell us something about Now Is Everything that isn’t apparent from the book cover or flap copy. We want the inside scoop!
AMY: Well, my favorite story is when I met with a flight instructor and asked him how to crash a plane. I wanted details, specifics, names of those gizmos and gadgets in the cockpit. He stared at me, silently, for a few uncomfortable moments, then asked, “You’re sure this is just for a book?” I really don’t know how I’m not on a “Do Not Fly” list after that day.
KIT: What gives you the most joy about your life as a YA writer right now? What’s bringing you satisfaction at this moment in time?
AMY: My favorite part of the writing process is drafting, when I have a spark of an idea that won’t let go. That first draft (that first AWFUL draft!) is for me. It’s meeting new people I really like and want to hang out with, and putting them in uncomfortable situations I don’t want to be in! And the best part of this process is when the story won’t stop writing itself. With Now Is Everything, I felt like someone was whispering the story in my ear; I wrote the first draft in three frenzied months.
KIT: The publishing journey is unique for every author, but it’s safe to say that the road to book publication is filled with surprises, twists, and turns for all of us. What has surprised you most about the process of putting a first book into the world?
AMY: I didn’t expect to make so many new writer friends along the way. The writing community is so supportive, and necessary! Without them, my worst day would be mine and mine alone. A bad review, a really tough revision … it’s very easy to spiral into “I’m the worst writer who ever lived!” The imposter syndrome is alive and well amongst writers! Having writer friends to commiserate with helps me manage those tough days.
KIT: Drawing from your own unique experience, what advice would you to give to future young adult debut authors, or debut novelists in general?
AMY: Write because you have to, because you love it and can’t live without it. Embrace critiques and feedback of your work; it’s what will help you grow as a writer. And read, read, read! There will be days when you feel you can’t string a sentence together. Pick up a book—it will recharge your batteries.
Amy Giles is a copywriter and a debut novelist. She is still searching for that hobby that will make her sound more interesting in her bios. Amy lives on an Island that is Long with her husband, two daughters, and sixty-pound lap dog.
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Kit Frick is a novelist, poet, and MacDowell Colony fellow. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, she studied creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College and received her MFA from Syracuse University. When she isn’t putting complicated characters in impossible situations, Kit edits poetry and literary fiction for a small press, edits for private clients, and mentors emerging writers through Pitch Wars. Her debut young adult novel is See All the Stars (Simon & Schuster / Margaret K. McElderry Books, August 2018), and her debut full-length poetry collection is A Small Rising Up in the Lungs (New American Press, fall 2018).
Now Is Everything is out now and is available wherever books are sold. Allow me to recommend your local indie, in addition to Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Stop back soon for future posts in the Debut-to-Debut Interview Series. I’ll be talking to Amanda Searcy in December, and more fantastic authors in 2018!