Q&A with Samantha Markum

 

Photo by Whitney Hough

 

 

Samantha Markum is the author of the new young adult novel The Roommate Arrangement. Her other books include Love, Off the Record.  

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Roommate Arrangement, and how did you create your character Blair?

 

A: The Roommate Arrangement itself was partially inspired by a situation someone I know went through, although I definitely put my spin on it. The real situation got me thinking a lot about outgrowing friendships and how your housing situation, especially in college, can be such a huge source of stress.

 

I thought it would be fun to take this type A character who was dropped by her best friends and put her in a situation that might exacerbate some of the more extreme sides of her personality.

 

The funny part is, for as extreme as I wanted Blair’s reactions to be, she and the roommates sort of took on a life of their own and had their own ideas about how things would play out.

 

I’m definitely less of a planner when it comes to writing, but for this book, I did have a pretty detailed outline that changed a lot as the story unfolded—mostly because of Blair herself! She surprised me in a lot of really great ways.

 

Coming up with Blair as a character was kind of like taking a few personality traits I knew would make her a challenge and then dropping this mishmash of traits into really uncomfortable situations to see what the reaction would be.

 

I also think she very naturally developed some of my own inner struggles, both from when I was her age and in adulthood, which made her harder to write at times, but also extremely rewarding once her story came together.

 

The overwhelming response I’ve gotten from readers so far is, “Blair is so relatable, I really see myself in her.” Which is the best thing you can hear about a character, honestly.

 

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “Equal parts funny, emotionally charged, and heartwarming, this is a feel-good story about finding your inner strength and pursuing your passions...” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I really couldn’t have asked for a better description! I’m so grateful the response to The Roommate Arrangement has been so positive, and I think this review really cemented for me that I’d hit the mark.

 

I overwhelmingly enjoy writing things that I hope will make people laugh (and that make me laugh as I write!), and I think my first three books were a lot easier in that aspect.

 

In TRA, Blair goes through a lot of emotional turmoil, which was difficult to put her through and also hard to balance with the funnier moments. So getting a review like this feels like getting a stamp of approval that I pulled it off!

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Blair and Jamie?

 

A: Ah, these two. I think their dynamic is that of two people who fundamentally misunderstood one another for the last decade.

 

Blair thinks Jamie treats her like furniture. I think she actually describes herself as an ottoman he might notice if he bashes his shin on it but doesn’t think about once the bruise fades.

 

Jamie’s feelings about Blair are a little more complicated, but I think I can say, without getting into spoilers, that if Blair is an ottoman, never has a person thought so much about a piece of furniture as Jamie about that ottoman.

 

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

 

A: There are a few things, I think! Obviously I hope everyone walks away with very fuzzy, giggling, feet-kicking feelings about Jamie and Blair’s romance. Of course, that’s the main goal! But I also think I want readers to finish Blair’s story feeling hopeful, especially if it’s someone who really sees themselves in her.

 

I think at its core, Blair’s journey is about learning to let go of external expectations and pressure, and to let herself be bad at things without feeling like a failure. It’s that whole “everyone is running this marathon at a different speed” kind of thing.

 

Just because you aren’t great at something right away, or as fast as someone else is, or you aren’t hitting the same milestones other people seem to be hitting doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, or you’re moving too slow, or life is passing you by.

 

Everyone’s journey is different, and the detours you might encounter could be the ones that end up being the most life-changing. Kind of like getting kicked out of your housing arrangement with your best friends and then landing in the apartment that will change the course of your entire life.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Right now I’m working on another YA romance! One that is a lot heavier on the hijinks and hilarity. I think I would describe the romance dynamic as president of the social committee meets fairy prince alien boy whose life motto is “never let ‘em know your next move.” So, a lot of fun!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Just that I’m very excited for The Roommate Arrangement to make it into readers’ hands! I worked so hard on this book, and the response I’ve gotten from early readers has been really lovely. I hope new readers feel the same, and that this is a story that sticks with them the same way it’s stuck with me.

 

Thank you so much for the interview!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb