Q&A with Alexandra Brown Chang

 

Photo by Felicia Lasala

 

 

Alexandra Brown Chang is the author of the new young adult novel By Invitation Only.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write By Invitation Only, and how did you create your characters Chapin and Piper?

 

A: For a long time, I knew I wanted to write a story set at a debutante ball in Paris. It’s the dreamiest backdrop!

 

When I was 18, I was supposed to participate in a debutante ball in New York City, which involved months of preparation: dress fittings, waltz lessons, portrait sittings, and a packed calendar of pre-ball events.

 

Although I ultimately became a debutante dropout, the experience left a lasting impression on me. It made me realize how fascinating that world is and how strong the sense of camaraderie can be among debutantes.

 

The themes of female friendship and connection largely inspired the core of By Invitation Only. I figured if I found this world compelling, perhaps others might too, and that planted the initial seed for the book.

 

I’ve also always loved the concept of unlikely friendships or partnerships, which I knew I wanted to include in this novel. I came up with the characters of Piper and Chapin around the same time, as I wanted these two young women to be polar opposites, whose lives unexpectedly collide during this glamorous, whirlwind week in Paris.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between them?

 

A: On paper, Piper and Chapin couldn’t be more different. They come from vastly contrasting socioeconomic backgrounds and family structures. When they first meet in Paris, Chapin and Piper’s differences spark an intense rivalry, as they both compete for the title of Debutante of the Year.

 

Writing the gradual evolution of their dynamic and relationship was one of my favorite parts of creating this story.

 

Q: As you mentioned, the novel is set in Paris—how important is setting to you in your writing?

 

A: Setting is incredibly important to me. I’m an inherently visual thinker, and whenever I read a novel, I love imagining exactly where it takes place, so naturally, I approach my own writing the same way.

 

In fact, the setting for By Invitation Only came to me before the characters or plot did. For a long time, I knew I wanted to write a story set at a debutante ball in Paris, because it’s such a dazzling, glamorous setting.

 

I felt so drawn to this striking, cinematic world: the flowing gowns, the overflowing champagne, and the opulent venues. That vivid imagery became the foundation for everything else in the novel.

Q: The writer Alexa Donne called the book a “decadent dessert of a book: frothy and fun, with a heapful of heart.” What do you think of that description?

A: I absolutely love that description! Alexa Donne is one of my favorite YA authors, and I’m honored that she took the time to write a blurb for By Invitation Only. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on another book, and I have so many ideas that I’m excited about. I hope to share more soon!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @alexandrabrownchang.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Maisha Oso

 

 

 

Maisha Oso is the author of the new children's picture book It's Almost Time for... Halloween!. Her other books include Before the Ships. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, and in Atlanta.

 

Q: What inspired you to write It's Almost Time for... Halloween!?

 

A: The idea for It’s Almost Time for… Halloween! came from the wonderful team at Simon & Schuster, who envisioned a funny, rhyming series to help children get excited about upcoming holidays. 

 

I’ve always loved writing in rhyme and celebrating the holidays with family and friends, so I jumped at the opportunity to write the series.

 

Q: What do you think Tom Knight’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Tom’s illustrations truly bring the story to life. They’re vibrant, full of humor, and sprinkled with Easter eggs that hint at the playful misdirection at the end of the book.

 

Q: Did you know how the story would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: Yes, I knew how the book would end before I began writing, but with rhyme, you’re constantly making tweaks to ensure the story truly sings. I comb through each line, word for word, looking for opportunities to elevate the poetic language while making sure the meter remains consistent throughout.

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the book?

 

A: I hope children laugh and are immersed in the magic of getting ready for Halloween. I also hope they have fun searching for the Easter eggs Tom has hidden throughout the spreads of the book.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: It’s Almost Time For… Halloween! is just the first book in the series. We have already announced four more titles that will follow this one.  I also have a hilarious chapter book series and another picture book coming out next year, and I’m currently drafting a YA novel in verse.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: The It’s Almost Time for… series is perfect for read-alouds and will have children laughing out loud. By the second reading, they’ll be eager to point out the clever Easter eggs that Tom has hidden throughout the illustrations, turning story time into an interactive game you can play together.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Amanda Quintero Aguerrevere

 

 

Amanda Quintero Aguerrevere is the author of the new memoir Unfiltered: From the Feed to the Page, Stories of Wanderlust. She also has written the book We Said Farewell. She is an economist, and she is originally from Venezuela.

 

Q: What inspired you to write Unfiltered?

 

A: I love writing. For a long time I had blogged and contributed to columns and had to put a stop to it because I didn't have the time to commit to weekly pieces, so I came up with a simple creative outlet: write short pieces that would fit inside Instagram captions and share them with friends.

 

I kept that going for a long time, and eventually I realised most of them were travel-related. In hindsight, traveling is one of my all-time favorite activities and one that brings me into the present moment so I can notice the little things that happen outside myself.

 

Therefore, Unfiltered as a travel memoir happened as a consequence of my journaling/writing habits.

 

Q: How was the book's title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: Many of the anecdotes featured in Unfiltered portray the unpolished elements of travel. The chaos, being under prepared, doing something irresponsible, witnessing something heartbreaking, or even being sick.

 

I thought “unfiltered” was a good play between “candid” and “non-filtered” referring to Instagram (as most of the stories first lived as Insta captions).

 

Q: How did you choose the music to accompany the essays?

 

A: Since the pieces are coming out of Instagram, I thought it would be fun to preserve the elements of an Instagram post: soundtrack, text and hashtags. I selected songs that match the vibe of the piece, either because they are geographically linked or relate to the topic in question.

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to write the book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

 

A: For me, and I hope that's also the case for my readers, it was a creative project for fun, entertainment, and amusement. It was a way to encapsulate a time period, honor travel stories, make others travel with me or reminisce on their own travel experiences. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Still noodling on it.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Unfiltered is my second book. My first book came out in 2023 and was translated to English in 2024. It's titled We Said Farewell.

 

It is a collection of five stories, first accounts of folks from Venezuela--my country of origin--and the way they lived through a tumultuous period, deciding to leave everything behind and start over far away from a country that collapsed.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Antwan Eady

 

 

 

 

Antwan Eady is the author of the new children's picture book The Gathering Table. His other books include Nigel and the Moon. He lives in Savannah, Georgia. 

 

Q: What does the table represent for the family in The Gathering Table? 

 

A: The Gathering Table highlights the kinds of relationships that are created when a family of Gullah Geechee heritage gather to celebrate love, hope, pride, and freedom.

 

As seasons change, a young dreamer assists his family at each gathering. Here, he works, he waits, and he eats. The table is where younger generations learn as knowledge of their culture is passed down through actions, storytelling, games, song, and laughter.

 

With a backdrop of marshes, Spanish Moss, and more, The Gathering Table pays homage to the sea islands of South Carolina and Georgia aka the low country, an area predominantly inhabited by descendants of enslaved West Africans, known today as the Gullah Geechee Corridor.

 

Q: What do you think London Ladd’s illustrations add to the book? 

 

A: Through this book, he’s carrying the low country of South Carolina and Georgia into homes, classrooms, libraries, and bookstores throughout the world. It’s an honor to share that beauty with those familiar and those who are new. London’s use of mixed media, acrylic paint, tissue paper, and cut paper serves this story and region in the most incredible way. 

 

Q: The Kirkus Review said of the book, “Sumptuous and immersive—perfect for encouraging kids to celebrate their own family connections.” What do you think of that description? 

 

A: I love that description because that’s my goal! Sure, this story centers a specific family, but I implore readers of all ages to take stock of the tables in their lives. To reflect to build and create newer memories too.

 

There’s also a message in my author’s note that invites those without tables to know that here, in this book, there’s a table for them. There’s room for them. 

 

Q: What are you working on now? 

 

A: I’m currently working on a young adult novel and a second picture book in an unannounced two-book deal. More soon!

 

And we’ve recently announced two picture books! 

 

Tears Are for You is a picture book ode to the vulnerability of Black children, especially Black boys, set one summer in the South as one child reconnects with his family’s roots and discovers his tears reflected in the world around him.

 

“Like Grandma’s sweet tea/ welcoming you down south/ Like long-awaited rain/ peppering Grandpa’s still-thirsty crops / Like [insert lines I won’t give away] / tears are for you, too.”

 

I’m collaborating with Jamiel Law (@jamiellaw_art) on this one, and I’m thrilled he said yes!

 

Also, People of the Coast, a literary celebration. For this, I’m honored to work with Cozbi A. Cabrera (@cozbi)! I’m a huge fan of her illustrations.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I’m on social media, and I’m most active on Instagram (@antwan.eady). I have a website as well with a contact page, which includes information on how to request school visits and more.

 

Letters from readers can be sent to: 

Writers House 

c/o Antwan Eady

7660 Fay Ave #338H 

La Jolla, CA 92037

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Jessica Vernon

 

 

 

Jessica Vernon is the author of the new book Then Comes Baby: An Honest Conversation about Birth, Postpartum, and the Complex Transition to Parenthood. She is an OB/GYN. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Then Comes Baby?

 

A: After over a decade of practicing obstetrics even I was unprepared for my transition to parenthood. If I could feel so alone and like such a failure, what about everyone else who didn’t have my background and resources? Birthing people deserve better, and I don’t want anyone else to feel the way that I did.

 

Q: What do you think are some of the most common perceptions and misconceptions about the birth and postpartum experiences?

 

A: If we prepare for birth and parenthood and do everything right, it  will all go according to plan. It’s scary to acknowledge this, but so much is out of our control. Accepting this can also be healing, as it means you, and your body, are not a failure if something goes differently than you imagined.

 

Q: Physician Nathan Fox said of the book, “Then Comes Baby is thorough, useful, and practical. It is also extremely validating of the wide range of experiences people have with birth and parenthood.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Fox clinically, and he is an incredible physician. He also co-authored Emily Oster’s most recent book, The Unexpected, so he understands the process of writing a book.

 

As a new author I still have imposter syndrome, so his review was very validating and I am so honored to have received such a wonderful review from him.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: It comes down to compassion. Compassion for yourself, compassion for everyone going through this experience. I have spoken to thousands of women and witnessed thousands of births, and every story is different, but going through this intense experience connects all of us.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am focusing on my family and my clinical work. I have been running towards the next goal, the next thing, for so long, I am just taking time to be fully present in my life every day and enjoy what comes.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I feel so lucky to be able to do work that I am passionate about, and I am grateful to be able to share all of the insight I have gained from doing this work with others and help them along their journey to parenthood. Thank you to everyone who reads and shares my book with others!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Caroline Giammanco

 

 

 

Caroline Giammanco is the author of the new story collection The Darkening Door, part of her Into the Night series. She is also an educator, and she lives in Missouri.

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Darkening Door?

 

A: The Darkening Door is part of my science fiction and paranormal short story collection series called Into the Night.

 

Growing up, my family and I loved watching shows such as The Twilight Zone, The Night Gallery, and Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Family discussions would sometimes explore what could be "out there" and the possibilities that could exist in the universe.

 

After writing a few gut-wrenching true crime books, I needed an outlet for my writing that wasn't so emotionally taxing, so I decided to start writing the types of stories I find fun: science fiction and paranormal.

 

While my true crime books are important, and I'm glad I've written them, sometimes it's more enjoyable to create monsters rather than tell about the real ones in our world. I've now written over 200 of these stories, and I have more planned for the future. Be looking for Liliana's Lantern releasing this fall.

 

Q: How do you see this book fitting in with the other titles in your Into the Night series?

 

A: This book follows the same vein of storytelling that my readers look forward to. My stories are unpredictable, often surprising readers with an unexpected twist at the end.

 

Each of the books in the series is titled based on a story in that collection, and The Darkening Door is no different. The title story happens to come last in this book, and the reader will understand why at the end.

 

Q: What themes do you see running through the collection?

 

A: Each book is filled with unrelated short stories. Some are scary, some are whimsical, and I'd like to think that they are all thought-provoking. Many times, I write about common items or activities that, once they've read my stories, readers suddenly see in a different light.

 

No one knows what's coming next, and I believe that makes my stories more intriguing. Ghosts, doppelgangers, paranormal creatures, aliens, space travel, dystopia...They can all be found inside my short story collections.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: I want my readers to have fun reading my stories. I have fun writing them, and I want readers to have as much enjoyment as I do. I often have people tell me that some stories they can't stop thinking about after reading them, and that's a huge compliment. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: The Darkening Door is the sixth book of the series, but I have already written three more. I am currently compiling stories for the 10th book in the series. The current work in progress is That Remains to Be Seen. 

 

I also have been writing Western short stories and novellas. My Western series is Into the West. I grew up watching shows like Heck Ramsey and Alias Smith and Jones, plus I lived in Arizona and New Mexico for over 20 years. I love to incorporate the places I've been into my stories.

 

Writing Westerns also allows me to take a break from science fiction and paranormal, so that I don't burn out on those genres. I have about 300 more titles and story ideas filed away, just waiting to be written, so more books will be on their way in the future.

 

Also, many of my Western short stories are available through Audible as three-story segments. Boyd Barrett does an incredible job as a narrator, and I know you will enjoy the stories as he brings them to life. That Frontier Spirit, The Treacherous Trail, and Pistols and Chaps are just a few of the titles to search for. 

 

My latest publication takes a completely different direction from my previous work. I have written a children's book, Poppy Possum Dreams Big. This is the first book in a series, and I wanted to write the kind of story anyone can feel good about reading to their children. I had my grandchildren in mind when I wrote Poppy.

 

The stories center around Poppy and the adventures she and her friends have on their farm in the Missouri Ozarks. Beth Ivens illustrates the series, and the images are beautiful. It's available in hardcover and paperback. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I am a high school English teacher in southern Missouri. I am lucky enough to have a job I look forward to every day, and that isn't something that is guaranteed in this world. I appreciate being where I am and what I have. This is my 33rd year of teaching, and I have more fun doing it now than when I started.

 

On a personal level, two big events are on the horizon for me. On Sept. 24, 2025, my husband, Keith Giammanco, will finally be home after 17 years. If anyone is curious about where he's been and why he's been away, take a moment to look up Bank Notes Revisited: The Updated True Story of the Boonie Hat Bandit. Listeners can also find this book on Audible.

 

The companion book to that is my side of the prison experience, and it is entitled Inside the Death Fences: Memoir of a Whistleblower. We are relieved that this part of the path we've been on is leading him home.

 

Speaking of home, my second exciting news is that I'm fulfilling my lifelong dream of building a small home on my part of the family farm where I grew up. It should be completed within weeks of Keith's homecoming. It's been an adventure watching it rise from what was nothing more than woods this past winter.

 

I can be found at:

 

Facebook: Caroline Giammanco Author

 

X: GiammancoBook

 

Email: carolinegiammanco@gmail.com

 

My books can be found on Amazon.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Caroline Giammanco. 

Aug. 22

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Aug. 22, 1893: Dorothy Parker born. 

Q&A with Thomas Schlesser

 

 

 

Thomas Schlesser is the author of the new novel Mona's Eyes. He is the director of the Hartung-Bergman Foundation in Antibes, France, and he teaches art history at the École Polytechnique in Paris. The book was translated into English by Hildegarde Serle. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Mona’s Eyes, and how did you create your characters Mona and Henry?

 

A: The initial spark came from a difficult moment in my life—a personal trial, as everyone experiences at some point. I prefer to remain discreet about it, but it gave me the impulse to imagine Mona: an idealized child I developed freely in my mind—intelligent, witty, sensitive, modest, empathetic.

 

That makes the threat of blindness hanging over her all the more dramatic. She’s 10 years old in the novel, and it took me 10 years to write it, almost as if I had been raising her during that time.

 

Henry, her grandfather, is not based on my own. His nickname “Dadé” is simply a nod to my paternal grandfather, a singer and cabaret owner whose life and personality were colorful and unique—though entirely different from Henry’s character. Henry is an impressive, fascinating figure, a kind of moral authority and a profoundly free spirit.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between them?

 

A: It’s a relationship without hierarchy. Henry has knowledge; Mona has innocence—yet they speak as equals. He takes her seriously, always. Between them flows a playful inventiveness and a shared joy in exploring the world together.

 

I think it reflects something of my own upbringing: I was raised in part by my maternal grandmother, a simple woman, not an intellectual, yet she opened my eyes to the world. She was the only one in my family who loved classical music—especially Bizet’s Carmen. I never became a music lover myself, but through her I learned a refinement of sensitivity.

 

Q: How did you choose the art to highlight in the book?

 

A: Mona’s Eyes is not a novel “about art” but rather a coming-of-age story in which art is at the service of life. It embodies Robert Filliou’s beautiful idea that “art is what makes life more interesting than art.”

 

The works appear in chronological order, each offering Mona a small existential lesson she then applies to her journey: self-knowledge with Rembrandt, the condition of animals with Rosa Bonheur, heartbreak with Camille Claudel, and more.

 

Q: The Publishers Weekly review says, “Readers of Jostein Gaarder’s Sophie’s World will love this.” What do you think of that comparison?

 

A: It’s funny: the Italian newspaper La Stampa organized a meeting between Jostein Gaarder and me, and I took the opportunity to ask him if he was comfortable with the idea of Mona being Sophie’s little sister—and he was delighted. So good!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I prefer to keep a little mystery. I can simply say that I continue to work a lot as an art historian — particularly as director of the Fondation Hartung-Bergman.

 

The Fondation Hartung-Bergman is a truly unique and almost novelistic place. Nestled on the heights of Antibes, it was once the home and studios of Hans Hartung and Anna-Eva Bergman—two major figures of 20th-century art.

 

The property is surrounded by lush Mediterranean gardens filled with olive trees, pines, and cypresses, with the sea glimmering in the distance. The architecture is modernist yet warm, flooded with light, and still holds the energy of creation: Hartung’s vast painting studio, Bergman’s workspace, their archives, their personal collections.

 

It’s a place where art, nature, and history meet in a way that feels both inspiring and intimate. I have the privilege of directing it. I warmly encourage readers of this interview to take a look—and to come and visit us.

 

As for fiction writing, you can imagine I have some surprises in store for you soon!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Keep in mind that Mona’s Eyes is also an ethical and literary challenge. Since the story revolves around blindness, I wanted blind readers to be able to experience it fully and feel “at home” in its pages, even though it deals with visual art.

 

The ekphrasis (that is to say, the very precise descriptions of each artwork) became my way of translating paintings into words, attempting to convey their presence through language alone. I don’t know if I succeeded, but I had to try.

 

Today, the exchanges I’ve had with visually impaired readers are among the most moving rewards of this publication.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Beverly Gologorsky

 

 

 

Beverly Gologorsky is the author of the new novel The Angle of Falling Light. Her other books include Stop Here.

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Angle of Falling Light, and how did you create your character Tessa?  

 

A: My titles are often the inspiration that gets me started. Tessa was born at the same time as the title. I sensed her at a beach, didn't know which beach (yet) and from there began my search and the novel.

 

I don’t know where my characters are headed, I never do. I’ve no idea what will transpire, only in the writing itself do I discover the more and more of not only the character(s) but also the world in which they dwell. 

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The title arrived with a second part: The Angle of Falling Light depends on where you stand, and I had to discover what that meant.

 

Q: The writer Elizabeth Strout said of one of your previous novels, Stop Here, “Unflinching, piercing, Gologorsky looks straight into the face of class in this country.” What do you think of that description, and do you think it applies to your new novel as well?

 

A: I think her words are very perceptive, and yes, I believe it does apply to my fifth novel, The Angle of Falling Light, in which the characters must work to make ends meet, as do so many millions in this country. But also their very stuck-ness propels them toward change at whatever cost.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: I would like readers to see in the world of The Angle of Falling Light what it takes to create oneself in difficult circumstance, and take courage from the courage of the characters as they hold tight to hope in the midst of duress, and finally that readers will recognize the inherent human desire to stretch beyond one’s reach.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m working on another novel, What Can’t Be Broken, but too soon to say anything more.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: While living inside the fictional world of The Angle Of Falling Light, much was happening in the real world: banning books, erasing DEI, men, women and children dying in Gaza, all of which is/was a daily upset and distraction.

 

And though I never abandoned writing The Angle of Falling Light, I also had to pay attention to these negatives, and do what I could.

 

Deborah, thank you so much for the opportunity to respond to your questions.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Beverly Gologorsky. 

Q&A with Peter Rosch

 

 

 

Peter Rosch is the author of the new novel What the Dead Can Do. He lives in Wimberley, Texas. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write What the Dead Can Do, and how did you create your cast of characters?

 

A: When my son was 2, I started to obsess that I would die prematurely, like within that year. It was an unreasonable thought—I’d had plenty of those and still do—nonetheless, I couldn’t shake it. I was convinced I’d mucked things up by smoking a pack a day and living hard and unwisely in the life I led prior as an addict and alcoholic.

 

So, I sat to write my son letters. I wrote about him, what I loved about him already, and about the things I thought would be important for him to hear directly (and if my death happened, indirectly) from me. I didn’t do this to shape him from beyond. I did it because I was smitten with him.

 

Fear of losing a child is common, but what I didn’t know until I started to share the premise of this story in earnest was that the fear of dying in the first few years of having a child turned out to be relatively common as well.

 

At some point while writing those letters, the premise and plot started to form in my head—all of it around a pretty simple but terrifying question: if my wife and I died simultaneously and left our son behind, if we could, would we do something drastic—even kill him, if we could—that brought him to the afterlife to reunite him with us?

 

The idea of writing about a mother who wanted to kill her young son struck me as quite a challenge as well.

 

From there, the cast of characters flowed easily. Also, around the time I got serious about finishing the manuscript, I’d read some absolutely amazing thrillers that revolved around family, parental love, and the consequences of loving too much.

 

No one character in this book is based on anyone, not even on me, but I do feel now that I’ve known each person in this cast. Of course, that could be only because they have lived in my head for nearly a decade at this point.

 

Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The original title of this novel was “Tend.” For a long time, I thought I’d absolutely nailed it with that title. I like book titles that are one word, especially if there is a twist to it. I thought it had real stopping-power. It DID not. It was confusing to some, but I tried to force it.

 

Fortunately for me, author Johnny Compton had the nerve to ask me how tied I was to that title when I reached out to him for some querying advice. He liked it, too, but mentioned it didn’t do a great deal to help set up what the book was about.

 

I started to brainstorm new titles. By then, the manuscript was pretty much done, and “What the Dead Can Do” came to me relatively quickly.

 

I love the title and not just because it may have helped me get the manuscript noticed. I think those of us who believe in ghosts, spirits, and the idea that there is something after this life spend a great deal of time wondering what is possible for our deceased.

 

A podcaster asked me recently if Second Plane, the afterlife I’ve created for the book, was what I believed in or was hoping for in an afterlife. I responded that I hoped it was actually more of a roadmap for what we can free ourselves from here on earth while still living.

 

Because, to some extent, I think the global populace is “dead.” Stagnant, complacent, and distracted is more accurate. What can we do that we aren’t doing now? I doubt many will read the title and come back to it as some sort of self-help mantra, but for me, there’s a little bit of that baked into the title and the book itself.

 

Q: The writer KC Jones said of the book, “His characters are messy and real, his take on the afterlife haunting and heartfelt and at times horrifying.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I was absolutely thrilled with that description and everything else that KC Jones said of the book. I can’t want or expect everyone to enjoy or “get” this novel, but I can roll through life pretty peacefully for a long time when authors, friends, and colleagues who I admire have love for this book.

 

His own debut novel, Black Tide, is a family favorite. The story itself and the when and where of my reading of it and subsequent retelling of it to my wife and son hold a special place in my heart.

 

I think that section of his description of my book is exactly what I had hoped to achieve. Hearing that I might have done so from KC himself was a high I won’t soon forget.

 

Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: I had a sense of how I wanted it to end only because there was a lesson that I hoped would be attached to its end. But yes: there were many changes along the way. The biggest of which I owe to the early observations of a good friend and editor I used, Karmen Wells.

 

I never miss a chance to plug Karmen. If you have a manuscript that you believe is ready to be seen by an editor, I highly recommend putting it in front of Karmen.

 

I’m very proud of how this story concludes—and like so many real-world accomplishments, I’m aware that the success of this ending (if that’s a thing one can say about an ending) is the product of my being open to feedback—the product of collaboration.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I’m pitching my current WIP as “the antihero story my mother deserves.” It’s a crime thriller in which two estranged adult brothers come together in North Texas to help their aging mother cover up her gruesome murder of a former friend.

 

There’s some Minion-Jesus in it, some loathing for the US industrial medical complex, and also some old-fashioned, yet unique, hijinks around a dysfunctional family that loves each other just enough to protect each other at all costs.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: At its core, What The Dead Can Do remains a love letter to my son. The wow-factor of it getting published will never not be lost on me. My son is 11 now. An avid reader, too. I asked him recently if he thought he’d read my book. Not now, but at some point further down the road. “Probably,” he said. Love his honesty.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Michael Swartz

 

 

 

Michael Swartz is the author of the new young adult novel Split. He works in the medical field. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Split, and how did you create your character Ethan?

 

A: In early 2019, while at the pediatric cardiology office, I learned about a patient who was a fetal chimera.

 

Rarely during early gestation in a set of fraternal twins (two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm, each with their own and unique genetic code vs. maternal twins where a fertilized egg divides into two separate fetuses, each with the same genetic code), one of the twins dies, and the surviving fetus absorbs the genetic material. The result is someone with two distinctive sets of DNA.

 

The patient learned about her diagnosis from an astute clinician who observed slight left vs. right-sided physical differences. I had read about chimera patients within the medical literature, but had never read about a protagonist with a chimera diagnosis. However, the scenario seemed perfect for a nature vs. nurture coming-of-age story. 

 

I imagined Ethan, the protagonist in Split, with left vs. right-sided physical differences, but most importantly, those differences aligned with traits he observed within his parents.

 

Families often discuss the physical features of children, such as eye color, a pointed or rounded chin, or hair color, that are passed down through each generation. In my own family, my son is a near replica of when I was a child, and my daughter looks nearly identical to my wife.

 

Those physical traits could serve as a constant reminder of the genetic differences between his left and right sides, creating the feeling that he had two different identities. Whenever he looked in the mirror, his two different colored eyes would stare back.

 

If his mother were passive and his father was violent, it would give the protagonist reason to worry about which side might dominate their identity.

 

Q: How did your work in the medical field affect the writing of this book?

 

A: That’s a great question! I enjoy writing about characters and protagonists with a unique medical condition or diagnosis.

 

Although working in the medical field provided the background for Ethan, and was helpful during Ethan’s interactions with his allergist, most of the story comes from my imagination. Once the story gets rolling, unfortunately, my medical and scientific background doesn’t help much.

 

Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The book's title, as I originally wrote it, was Split in Two. However, after several different rounds of editing, it was shortened to Split. The single word, in my opinion, really drives home the point of Ethan focusing on his left and right halves and struggling to understand who he will become.

 

When I thought of the title, I was thinking about yin and yang, black vs. white, and ultimately Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Da Vinci’s work demonstrates the symmetry between the left and right sides and the divide between. It’s exactly what Ethan is thinking about during the entire story.

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?

 

A: The main thing I hope readers take away is a perspective on the importance of environmental and genetic factors. The nature vs. nurture debate is hundreds of years old and certainly won’t be solved by Split.

 

But as the medical community's understanding of genetics has increased, there is an increasing suggestion about the importance of an individual's genetics. I hope that the readers of Split understand how both genetics and environment influence a person's development.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I am currently writing a novel that explores inaction or indifference vs. action. I can remember as a kid learning about the question of what I would do if there were a victim in a burning building. Of course, there are more than a few answers, but the most common are to either run in after the victim, call for help, or do nothing.

 

My current project is exploring this concept through the eyes of a protagonist who also has a very interesting medical condition.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: A chimera is anything with two different sets of DNA. Ethan is a fetal chimera, also known as having vanishing twin syndrome, and current estimates suggest that one out of every eight multiparous pregnancies may result in a fetus with chimerism.

 

Interestingly, there are many ways someone can become a chimera later in life. A bone marrow transplant recipient, for example, will always retain some of the DNA from the donor. We are learning more and more about genetics every year, and who knows what we might learn in the near future.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb