Chatham Greenfield is the author of the new young adult novel Time and Time Again.
Q: What inspired you to write Time and Time Again, and how did you create your characters Phoebe and Jess?
A: Time and Time Again was inspired by my realization that being disabled often feels like being trapped in a Groundhog Day-esque time loop. There’s constant doctor’s appointments, being stuck in bed, repetitive conversations with people who don’t believe your pain, and even more doctor’s appointments.
I decided to play with that by writing a chronically ill character (Phoebe) who's stuck in an actual time loop. Since being disabled is often an isolating experience, I wanted Phoebe to be stuck with Jess, who's also chronically ill and inherently understands her.
From there, I dug into Phoebe and Jess’s backstory as estranged childhood best friends and crafted their “opposites attract” dynamic.
Q: The writer Rachel Lynn Solomon called the novel an “endearing, romantic, wonderfully time-bendy debut about how it feels to be seen for exactly who you are.” What do you think of that description?
A: One of the most exciting parts of publishing a book is getting blurbs and having the opportunity to hear what your favorite authors think of your writing.
I was so touched by these kind words from Rachel. I think saying the book is about “how it feels to be seen for exactly who you are” sums it up well. Time and Time Again is ultimately about Phoebe learning that she deserves to be truly seen and loved.
Q: Did you know how the story would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I did know the ending from the beginning, yes. What changed along the way was the details of how that ending was reached.
I had the amazing opportunity of being a fellow in Reese's Book Club's LitUp fellowship, which provides mentorship and marketing support to debut marginalized women and nonbinary authors.
Through that fellowship, I was mentored by RBC author Laura Taylor Namey, who gave me edits on an early draft of Time and Time Again. Laura advised me to really narrow in on Phoebe's motivation to escape the time loop and tie that into her arc. Although the ending was already clear to me, she helped me figure out who Phoebe would grow into by the end of the book, which was key.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: I hope readers take away that they deserve to be taken seriously and they deserve to be loved. A big part of Phoebe's journey is her grappling with having a dad and doctors who don't take her debilitating IBS seriously. They dismiss her pain, in part because she's fat.
Just like Phoebe learns in the book, I want readers to know that their health is worth advocating for and they deserve to be listened to.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I’m currently working on my second YA romance (a standalone) which will publish with Bloomsbury Children’s in 2025.
It’s similar to Time and Time Again in that it’s a lesbian love story and delves into topics of disability and the lovely mess that is coming of age. It’s different in that it’s solidly contemporary (time moves forward in this one!) and it’s enemies to friends to lovers, one of my favorite tropes. I’m having a lot of fun revising it and I can’t wait to share more details soon!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Time and Time Again is my debut novel and it’s such an honor to see this disabled, Jewish, lesbian love story go from my heart to shelves. It’s sappy and summery and I hope readers have as much fun reading it as I had writing it!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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