Photo by Jennifer K. Wall Smetek
Jan Gangsei is the author of the new young adult novel Dead Below Deck. Her other books include the YA novel Zero Day. She lives in Northern Virginia.
Q: What inspired you to write Dead Below Deck, and how did you create your cast of characters?
A: Just before the pandemic hit, my family and I went on an incredible cruise—one that wound up being a dividing line between before and after Covid changed our world.
During those early days of lockdown, I found myself wishing I could rewind the days and be back at sea—enjoying the sun, shows, and fabulous meals—blissfully unaware of what awaited us back on shore.
I then started thinking about what would happen if a group of privileged teens took a yacht trip that ended in murder, and the story evolved from there!
Giselle and Maggie were the first characters that came to me, and it’s their relationship that really drives the story. I then asked myself: who is important to them? Who made them the people they are? Who would they die (or kill) for?
That helped me round out the supporting cast: Vivian, Emi, Maggie’s family, Giselle’s mom, dad, stepmother, Wyatt, etc. Then, of course, I needed to staff the yacht—which was a prime opportunity to add more suspects! ;)
Q: The novel is told along several timelines—Maggie’s narration, Giselle’s diary, and police interviews. Did you write the book in the order in which it appears, or did you focus more on one timeline before moving to the others?
A: I wrote Maggie’s narration and Giselle’s journal entries pretty much in the order in which they appear. The police interviews, anonymous messages, and news clips were added later, after I’d sorted out Maggie and Giselle’s narratives.
(Fun fact: I actually toyed with including snippets of Emi’s film school sample, but ended up scrapping that idea because I felt it slowed the pacing a bit too much.)
Q: The writer April Henry said of the book, “It's also so much more than just a mystery--an examination of wealth and privilege, a critique of our social-media obsessed culture, and even a look at the aftermath of combat.” What do you think of that description?
A: I love this description! While on the surface, Dead Below Deck is very much a fast-paced, “beach read” thriller, it does hit on themes of privilege, identity, and the effects of war (something that’s particularly important to me as a military spouse).
I was so happy that April saw those layers in the story—and also that she took the time to blurb my book, as I am a huge fan of her work!
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?
A: If they ponder some deeper themes (as mentioned above) along the way, then yay! But mostly, I hope they have fun and enjoy the ride (and are surprised by the ending—in a satisfying way, of course!).
I’ve always enjoyed entertaining people (just ask the neighborhood kids my best friend and I used to corral to watch our self-produced backyard shows!).
I’m incredibly grateful to the readers who are willing to spend time with me and my words, and I hope that my book provides them with an entertaining “escape,” so to speak!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am working on another YA mystery set in an exclusive boarding school that has a bit more romance than Dead Below Deck—a romystery, if you will!
I also have an idea for an adult psychological/domestic thriller that I’d love to have a go at one of these days.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I’ll be holding a launch event on December 4 for Dead Below Deck at Judy Blume’s bookstore in Key West, Florida, which is a dream come true on so many levels! Judy’s books were a huge part of my childhood—and played a not-so-minor role in my love of reading and writing.
Key West is also a setting in Dead Below Deck and holds a special place in my heart as I used to live there (it’s where I met my husband!). In fact, there’s a brick on Mallory Square with my name on it and the inscription, “she got there from here” – a wedding gift from a dear friend.
Returning to my former island home to launch my latest book (some 20+ years later!) is truly like coming full circle.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
No comments:
Post a Comment