Could you start off by telling us a little about yourself...
I'm a 20-year-old college sophomore; I wrote most of my book in high school. I'm an anthropology major, which has a lot to do with the fact that I love to write about people. I'm hoping to go into some sort of international relations, and writing, of course. I live in upstate New York. I'm not very tall, and get annoyed when people point that out to me. I also can't stand when people say, "No offense," at the beginning of a sentence. If I could, I'd minor in yoga.
Describe your debut YA novel A House Afire...
A House Afire can get pretty difficult to describe. The back cover description tells about Phyllis, the main character, who lives in a house with her Aunts and the tenants they rent out rooms to. There are all kinds of crazy people in there, so Phyllis is accustomed to the bizarre. The story follows Phyllis as she starts high school and starts falling for a new tenant who moves into the house, named Sid. Sid's pretty sexy, but he has a temper and a past, which is what Phyllis is trying to find out more about for most of the book. He also cares deeply for Phyllis, we're just not really sure of the nature of his feelings yet.
While Sid and Phyllis are probably the most important part of the book, there's a lot more to it than their potential romance. There are paranormal and romantic aspects to the story, and some sci-fi stuff, but it's really just about people. People of many different kinds, and I suppose what they have in common is each other. There's a werewolf, a witch, several gay characters (and straight ones, too), a man with a mental disorder, a former gang member, and an angry opera singer...who also happens to be Sid's ex. Everyone is trying to figure each other out, especially Sid and Phyllis because they both have secrets. Phyllis's Aunts aren't main characters but in a sense they're the foundation of the story because they have brought all of these different people together.
Oh, and in case it wasn't apparent, Phyllis breathes fire. That's a big part of the story but I definitely wouldn't say it's the focus. There are a few different scenes of her showing it off, though. One of them is on my blog, if you're interested.
Did you start off writing A House Afire as a YA novel (as oppose to it being "adult" focused)?
Yes, mainly because I was a young adult (and still am) when I started it. I think it's pretty important for me to chronicle myself, probably because my memory isn't very good. I wanted to make sure I would remember what it was like to be a teenager when I got older, so I started writing down things that happened, thoughts I had, ideas for stories. One of the ideas turned into this story. Since I was in high school, it was very easy to write about that setting. I tried to show Phyllis evolve a little bit, into a slightly more secure, less confused and whimsical person, because she's telling the story from ages 14 to 16.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing the book?
Oh man...they were all challenging. The way I started writing the book was in separate scenes, disconnected, not necessarily chronological. It was challenging to connect them and edit them, and it was challenging to get to know my characters. But it was also a pleasure, because I love them all. I think my favorite is Quincy, who's admittedly a pretty stereotypical gay man. He's a lot of fun. He and Phyllis investigate a lot of things together throughout the book.
I guess the MOST challenging aspect was editing. I have a ton of deleted scenes, a deleted character, etc. I think that's not only because I'm a first-time writer and still need to grow and learn, but because of the nature of the story. It doesn't revolve around a big plot; it's more like you're living in this house for a couple of years, with Phyllis, and stories just occur.
How long have you been writing?
I've been writing since I knew how. Possibly before...
Where did you first get the idea for A House Afire?
The story came idea by idea, character by character. I got the very first inkling of Phyllis in seventh grade; some boy made me angry and it made me wish I had some sort of power to show him up. She didn't have a name, but she had the power of fire. Phyllis herself showed up later on when I was on a car ride through Philly (Sid's nickname for Phyllis) and then came Sid, who I mistakenly thought was a bad guy until he set me straight. The idea of the Aunts and their house came from Frank Capra's movie "Arsenic and Old Lace." Quincy Herman Smith literally popped into my head one day and the rest of the characters gradually appeared after him.
How long did it take for you to write A House Afire?
3-5 years including editing and what not. It's my first book, though, so I don't know what the "norm" is yet, or if there even is one.
Did you have to do any kind of research for this book?
Most of the research was social and visual. I watched a lot of movies, read a lot of books, paid close attention to my peers. It helps to be a good listener; I'm still honing those skills as well.
What is your writing routine? Are there things you need to get you into writing mode?
I have to confess that I tend to write more when I'm supposed to be doing other things, but I'm sure I'll come to find that I need to write under specific conditions once its the thing I have to do most. I'm not a complete writer yet, you know. I have to move to New York City, get addicted to coffee, become an insomniac and possibly an alcoholic...just kidding, although I already have the insomniac part down pat!
What's next for you? Do you have another book in the works?
I'm writing the story that comes next for Phyllis, and I'm also working on a book about a completely different character. Otherwise I'm just trying to spread the word about the book and me, and slowly figuring out how to be a better author and a presence in the YA world.
Favorite author(s)?
Oh goodness...Kirsten Miller, Lauren Myracle, Francesca Lia Block, Thomas Harris, Jeph Loeb, Christopher Pike...Ira Levin, Laurie R. King, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle...J. K. Rowling, and Madeleine L'Engle when I was a lot younger.
Favorite genre(s) to read?
You can probably surmise that I love all kinds of YA novels. I like mysteries and horror. I guess I like pretty much everything fiction. Although I'm generally not into fantasy (I really did try) except for Harry Potter, heh. You know, you're asking a lot of good questions, I'm enjoying answering them. I don't always do sci-fi; I haven't read the entire "Uglies" series, I've never touched H.P. Lovecraft, etc. That might change, though. I like nonfiction too, depending on the subject.
Favorite singer/band?
Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Jewel, Tori Amos. And definitely Dethklok.
Favorite movie(s)?
Oh man. This is a rough question for me, there are far too many good movies. Silence of the Lambs, Rosemary's Baby, Arsenic and Old Lace, Casablanca, Jaws, in no particular order.
What was your favorite class in high school?
Lunch. Actually, it was usually art because I made a lot of good friends in those classes.
Least favorite class?
Good question. So many bad classes, I can't pick just one! No, just kidding. That's a tough one though. I know that I'm not supposed to say this, but I really didn't enjoy math classes. Maybe it's because of one horrible math teacher I had long ago.
List 5 facts about yourself..
- I'm addicted to my phone and computer.
- I once wanted to be a scientist; I love the rain forest and the ocean, and yes, I've seen them both several times.
- I want to travel the world and live in different places at different stages of my life. Central America after college, New York City for grad school, Europe somewhere in there. An island in my fifties, and a mountain cabin in my sixties.
- My little brother got me addicted to Batman.
- I'm NOT the girl on the cover of the book. [ I even asked her if she's the girl on the cover! ]
Any you would like to add...
Above all I think this book is a fun read, and I hope that's what readers get out of it. And thank you for interviewing me, it was a lot of fun!
Where can we find you online (website, twitter, facebook, myspace, etc.)?
Please check out my blog if you'd like to chat or find out more about the book and me! I've written some posts about issues people might have with the book, whether the content or a specific scene, and I'd love to hear from you whether you liked the book, hated it, or haven't even read it. Also, the book is mainly available online- Amazon or Barnes and Noble are the best places to find it, and if you want a free copy for review, leave me a comment and we'll talk.
A House Afire is available now.
Phyllis Sorin has seen all sorts of people. With two kind Aunts who rent out the rooms of their house to anyone in need, the people she calls family are a little different from most. There’s Bill, who takes on the personalities of movie characters. There’s Quincy, whose best friend is a drag queen. There’s Anna, an opera singer and kung-fu master.
And Phyllis, well, she’s not exactly normal herself. But even as she begins to navigate high school’s social jungle, Phyllis finds comfort and humor in her odd home.
When Dominick Siddons moves in, however, all of Phyllis's priorities become inferior to finding out his secret. A young lawyer with a vicious wit and ferocious temper, Sid may understand Phyllis in a way no one else can. And through truth and fiction, through the inevitable chaos of the house, Phyllis finds much more than she bargained for.
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