Q&A with Mima Tipper

  

 

 

Mima Tipper is the author of the new young adult novel Channeling Marilyn. She also has written the YA novel Kat's Greek Summer. She lives in Vermont.

 

Q: What initially intrigued you about the actress Marilyn Monroe, and at what point did you decide to write Channeling Marilyn, which features her spirit?

 

A: For as long as I can remember I’ve been a fan of Marilyn Monroe’s films. When I was young, I’d see that one of her movies was on TV, and I’d always want to watch. I thought she was gorgeous and funny, and the films were a pure joy to watch.

 

I never thought much about Marilyn’s fandom until I was well into my writing life. Here’s what happened: I was looking at a fashion magazine with my then-middle-school-aged daughter when an ad caught my attention. It featured a young model done up to look like Marilyn Monroe, pin-up style. Then later in that same magazine, another image popped out, a pop star made up to look like Marilyn.

 

I thought: Damn! The woman’s been dead for over 50 years, and the world is still obsessed with her. That thought flipped a switch in me, and I began to imagine a story of Marilyn’s spirit looking down on this world; then I thought, what would happen if her spirit could come back?

 

Q: How did you create your character Lexa?

 

A: As I thought of a story that included Marilyn’s spirit, I had to think of who Marilyn’s spirit would visit if she could come back. Lexa’s character was the natural response.

 

The real Marilyn appeared to love children, and if her spirit would want or maybe need to help someone on this mortal coil, helping a young person—a young woman with self-image issues—seemed the most likely candidate. Lexa grew from there.

 

Q: The Midwest Book Review called the novel “a deftly crafted blending of paranormal fantasy, coming-of-age, and high school angst.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I think MBR captured the essence of the book with that description. This is a story of a teen girl coming up on the huge transition of graduating from high school, and it was natural to write her as being full of yearning for that “something great” to happen during her senior year that would launch her into her life.

 

I loved exploring that wonderfully confusing time in a young person’s life, and also including a paranormal element that would push the character to make unexpected choices.

 

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

 

A: When readers turn the last page of Channeling Marilyn, I think that–even though they knew what was coming–they will be a little weepy. I want them to feel like they’ve been on a fun, delightful, heartfelt ride with Lexa and the delicious spirit of Marilyn Monroe, and that they are more willing to put their fears aside, and engage with their dreams and the world.

 

Also, I am a huge Marilyn Monroe fan, and part of me wrote this book to give her another story. I’ve enjoyed this journey and have enjoyed spending time with my idea of who Marilyn’s spirit would be. I want to share that experience with other fans, new and old.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Right now, I’m working hard on continuing to promote my first book, Kat’s Greek Summer, as well as launching Channeling Marilyn. It’s a bit of a challenge as I’m doing lots of talks and school visits around my first book, while keeping my eye on the bouncing ball of talking and writing about my second book.

 

I do have another book in the works as well—a YA novel based on a couple of Greek myths—and I hope to spend more dedicated time on that project once Channeling Marilyn is out in the world.

 

Q: Anything else we should know? 

 

A: I want everyone to know that June 1, 2026, was Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, and I encourage all to check local listings to see if any theaters in their area are celebrating this milestone with showings of her films on the big screen.

 

A couple of events in Vermont that I will be part of are showing her films, and I cannot wait to see some of my favorites the way they were meant to be seen. :)

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Mima Tipper.