1. Hello Goldy! Thank you for being here today! Would you like to tell us a little bit more about your novel and about the Mary Shelley Club?
Thanks for having me! The Mary Shelley Club is about Rachel Chavez, a new girl at an elite Manhattan Prep school who joins a secret society of fellow horror aficionados. She soon discovers that the members of the club play a game where they aim to enact their favorite horror movie tropes in real life in order to evoke real fear. The game is fun at first but it quickly spirals out of control when someone starts targetting the club. Soon, everyone’s in danger and it’s up to Rachel to discover who’s messing with them before it’s too late.
2. What was the funniest part about writing your novel?
Funnily enough, I’m used to writing comediies but this is my first time veering away from that genre. And yet, there are moments in it that—I’ve been told—are kind of funny. I think it’s the dialogue. I like to make my dialogue humorous whenever I can in order to reflect how real people speak. I think even in dire situations people try to be funny to defuse the tention. Hopefully those subtle hints of humor come through in the story.
3. If you had to choose 3 adjectives to describe your protagonist, Rachel Chavez, what would they be?
Reckless, nervous, strong.
4. Rachel apparently, is a huge fan of horror movies, are you as well?
Absolutely. I’ve been watching horror movies since I was little—probably too little. But for some reason I was really drawn to them at a young age. I guess I liked the feeling of getting scared and then immediately giggling after the fact. But I am not as well-versed in horror as my characters are. They’ve seen way more movies and read way more books on the topic than I have. They’re hardcore.
5. What is the book that inspired you the most to become a writer?
I think I’d have to say Gossip Girl. But it inspired me before I’d even read a single page. I just remember really wanting to write about bad rich kids in NYC and finding the book in a bookstore and automatically feeling a pang of jealousy that Cecily Von Ziegesar had beaten me to the punch. But now I’ve come full circle and written about my own bad rich kids of NYC.
6. Is this your first published book? If not, could you tell us a little bit more about your other works? If yes, how long did it take for The Mary Shelley Club to be published?
This is actually my third published book. My first two books are Kill the Boy Band, a dark comedy, and No Good Deed, a sort of slapstick comedy. The Mary Shelley Club is the “black sheep” of my book family in that it’s much darker in tone but the one thing that all three books have in common is that it features teens behaving badly. It’s a fave theme of mine. But even though I’d already been published, TMSC still took a very long time. From the idea stage to writing the proposal, to finding it a home, to finally getting it out in the world took about three years. But I think the book shows all that hardwork and I’m really proud of it.
Great interview, Sara! I absolutely loved The Mary Shelley Club (in fact, I'm on this tour as well!) so this interview was very fun to read.
RispondiEliminaStopped by your post! Such a great review, it made me regret that I didn't sign up for a review post as well!! :)
EliminaThanks for being on the tour! :)
RispondiEliminanice interview
RispondiElimina