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