Book info:
Title: The Impossibility of Us
Author: Katy Upperman
Published by: Swoon Reads
Publication date: July 31st 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:
The last thing Elise wants is to start her senior year in a new town. But after her brother’s death in Afghanistan, she and her mother move from San Francisco to a sleepy coastal village.
When Elise meets Mati, they quickly discover how much they have in common. Mati is new to town too, visiting the U.S. with his family. Over the course of the summer, their relationship begins to blossom, and what starts out as a friendship becomes so much more.
But as Elise and Mati grow closer, her family becomes more and more uncomfortable with their relationship, and their concerns all center on one fact—Mati is Afghan.
Beautifully written, utterly compelling, and ultimately hopeful, THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF US asks—how brave can you be when your relationship is questioned by everyone you love?
Author Interview:
1. How
important are names in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking
the way it sounds, or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources
you recommend?
I put a lot of
thought into names, especially those of my main characters. I don’t consider
the meaning of names as much as I think about their sound, and whether they’re
fitting to the characters’ ages and backgrounds and dispositions. I’ve loved
the name Elise for ages; it was on my short list way back when I was pregnant
with my daughter. When I was thinking about and researching Mati’s name, I knew
I wanted something serious-sounding and distinctly Afghan, a name that would
have significance to Mati and his family (Matihullah), but one I could shorten
to fit the more lighthearted side of his personality. My very favorite naming
resource is The Baby Name Wizard. I have a physical copy of the book (it’s literally falling
apart!), but you can find all of its awesomeness online, too. It’s great for
finding out in what regions and periods names have been most popular, as well
as finding names that share a certain vibe, like “light and lithesome” or
“Shakespearean” or “little darlings”.
2. Do you
always know how the story will end when you start?
No, and that’s a
big problem for me – ha! I often start with characters and situations, then end
up having to spend a long time working out a plot with a satisfying conclusion.
I’ve found that if I don’t have a solid ending in mind when I start drafting,
I’m unable to finish the story. Often my endings change during drafting,
though; without getting too spoilery, The
Impossibility of Us’s ending was originally the opposite of what it is now.
Honestly, I’m so glad I took the extra time to reconsider what I’d planned
initially so that I could ultimately write a conclusion that will (hopefully!)
be most fulfilling for readers.
3. Where is
your ideal place to write? Do you have an office, or do you like to go sit
in a coffee shop/library, etc.?
I do have an office
at home which I use fairly often, and I end up in coffee shops from time to
time, but more often than not, I write on the couch in our family room with my
kitties. For me, location doesn’t matter as much as atmosphere. I like a really
quiet space, or one with a din that becomes white noise. I also like to light
candles and have plenty of coffee available. I do best when my phone isn’t
nearby, and when I lack wi-fi. ;-)
4. Do you edit as you go,
or wait till you're finished before you edit? How many times would
you say you go over it yourself before having another set of eyes look it
over?
I definitely edit
as I go. For me, the best way to start a writing session is to read over what I
worked on the day before. That’s when I go about making tweaks to improve story
and character. If at some point during the drafting process I discover that
I’ve made a wrong turn, I pause to go back and fix it before carrying on. It’s
too hard for me to move forward knowing that I’ve made a misstep previously.
I much prefer
revising and editing to drafting, and I end up making many passes through the
manuscript before anyone else reads it. Probably eight or ten, as it’s very
important to me to make the manuscript as strong as possible before seeking
outside help. And then, of course, I go over the story many more times after I
get feedback from my critique partners, agent, and editor.
5. Are you part of a
writers group that gets together and helps each other with their writing?
You know that saying about how it
takes a village? Yes, that! I feel really lucky to belong to an amazing
community of writers who not only help me with craft, but also help me to stay
mentally happy and healthy when it comes to all the things that go along with
writing and publishing. Most of my writing friends live far away; we get
together via Facebook groups or Skype or Twitter or text, and trade work
through email. I also have a few local friends who are kind enough to meet up
with me for writing dates, or to chat about our WiPs and the industry.
Honestly, I think I would have given up on writing years ago if not for the
endless encouragement of my writing community.
6. What are your favorite romantic movies, books, tv
shows? Do you have an all time favorite romantic couple?
I have so many! My favorite romantic movies are Dirty Dancing, The Princess Bride, Walk the
Line, Love & Basketball, Moulin Rouge, The Notebook, and, most recently, Love, Simon. My favorite TV shows with lots of romance are Dawson’s Creek, Friday Night Lights, and Sex
and the City (that’s romance, right?!). As far as novels, oh gosh… there
are dozens. How to Love, Alex,
Approximately, My Life Next Door, The Last Thing You Said, In Honor, The Sky is
Everywhere, The Hating Game, The Game Can’t Love You Back, The Scorpio Races,
Love Songs & Other Lies, The Love That Split the World, The Winner’s
Trilogy, Jellicoe Road, Jesse’s Girl, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, Emmy &
Oliver, The Kiss Quotient, and
Chasing Brooklyn. If I have to choose an all-time favorite romantic couple…
probably Westley and Buttercup. Or Joey and Pacey.
Author Bio:
Katy Upperman is a graduate of Washington State University, a former elementary school teacher, and an insatiable reader. When not writing for young adults, Katy can be found whipping up batches of chocolate chip cookies or exploring the country with her husband and daughter. KISSING MAX HOLDEN is her debut novel; her sophomore novel, THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF US, will be available summer, 2018.
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