Kelley York and Rowan Altwood, authors of OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS, on having something human to explore

by Jocelyn Rish

We are pleased to be joined by wife-duo Kelley York and Rowan Altwood to learn more about their new novel OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS.

Kelley and Rowan, what was your inspiration for writing OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS?

Kelley: After talking Rowan into co-writing something with me, we both stumbled onto the plot of what was, at the time, titled Car Crash Hearts. As happens with most of my books, the characters came first. Rowan had the image for Luc and said, “All right, figure out a girl for him. Someone sweet to balance him out.” Thus, Evelyn was born.

Rowan: Luc’s character had kind of been floating around in my head for a while. As for the plot, we had been reading various articles about the right to die law and I thought it was something that would be very interesting and very human to explore.

What scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

K: Aside from what might be considered obvious, I really enjoyed writing Evelyn’s interaction with Robert and her mom at the hospital. It’s a bittersweet wrap-up to her character arc that gives her a little bit of closure, though can’t possibly fully prepare what’s been done.

R: The ending. Mainly because I really hate writing endings. Wrapping everything up, saying it’s done with… that’s not something that comes easy to me. I’d prefer to go on and on.

How long did you work on OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS?

K: Well, obviously long enough that California legalized euthanasia during our writing process, ha.

R: I would say we worked on it off-and-on for about a year before submitting it to Entangled. At which point, it was mostly finished save for the ending because we wanted their input on the direction it would take.

K: From there, I’d say another two months or so (not counting edits), if I’m remembering right. The ending was tough.

What did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?

R: That it’s definitely a very complicated, very pain-staking process. It wasn’t the dream of just sitting down for a weekend and popping out a masterpiece, haha.

What do you hope readers will take away from OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS?

R: That life is imperfect and things often don’t go according to plan, but there’s always light in the darkness.

What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?

K: I need complete silence, which is hard in a small home with a kid, a dog, several cats, and loud neighbors! I started using a white noise app with my headphones in order to tune everything out and be able to focus.

R: Meanwhile I need background noise. I usually have the television on and I’m just curled up in my chair with my laptop.

What are you working on now?

K: I always have multiple projects going and bounce around depending on which one has my attention. Currently, I’m alternating between another New Adult LGBT contemporary, and the first book in what I’m hoping will be my first YA/NA fantasy series.

R: I’m on a never ending quest to find out why I can’t find images of dolphins in sweaters on the internet… (Meaning, I’m not actively working on anything at the moment.)

ABOUT THE BOOK

Other Breakable Things
by Kelley York & Rowan Altwood
Paperback
Entangled: Teen
Released 4/4/2017

According to Japanese legend, folding a thousand paper cranes will grant you healing.

Evelyn Abel will fold two thousand if it will bring Luc back to her.

Luc Argent has always been intimately acquainted with death. After a car crash got him a second chance at life—via someone else’s transplanted heart—he tried to embrace it. He truly did. But he always knew death could be right around the corner again.

And now it is.

Sick of hospitals and tired of transplants, Luc is ready to let his failing heart give out, ready to give up. A road trip to Oregon—where death with dignity is legal—is his answer. But along for the ride is his best friend, Evelyn.

And she’s not giving up so easily.

A thousand miles, a handful of roadside attractions, and one life-altering kiss later, Evelyn’s fallen, and Luc’s heart is full. But is it enough to save him? Evelyn’s betting her heart, her life, that it can be.

Right down to the thousandth paper crane.

Purchase Other Breakable Things at Amazon
Purchase Other Breakable Things at IndieBound
View Other Breakable Things on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Kelley York and Rowan Altwood are a wife and wife writing team living in central California with their daughter and way too many cats. Kelley is the author of Hushed, Made of Stars, and Modern Monsters, and Other Breakable Things is Rowan’s debut.

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Have you had a chance to read OTHER BREAKABLE THINGS yet? Have you collaborated on a project with someone? What was your writing process like? Were you able to work in the same environment or very different ones? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Emily, Jocelyn, Anisaa, Sam, Martina, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, and Lori Ann

Jocelyn Rish

Jocelyn Rish is a writer and filmmaker who loves researching weird and wonderful animals and sharing what she learns. Her debut was BATTLE OF THE BUTTS, about ten animals that do weird things with their butts. Her latest book is BATTLE OF THE BRAINS, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection about ten animals with mind-blowing brain abilities. When she’s not writing, she tutors kids to help them discover the magic of reading. Jocelyn has won numerous awards for her short stories, screenplays, films, and novels and lives in South Carolina with her adorable dog. Find out more at www.jocelynrish.com.

Post @ Jocelyn Rish and/or Adventures in YA Publishing. All rights reserved.

Posted: Apr 8, 2017

Category: Imported from AYAP

Tags: YA Author Interviews

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The first slide is an animation of a science/magic room in a castle. A cartoon character of a mad-scientist looking man in in the foreground says: “Hello! Dr. Frankenstein here to say, Well Done on kid lit zombie week! I’m an expert at reviving the dead, and let me assure you, with a little spark, you can bring dead projects to life. Especially if you dig up parts from other dead things. I’ll even let you have a sneak peek at my laboratory’s store room to consider potential parts for your dead project. If you see something with a yellow glow, that means you should click it. Have fun!”

He points to the right side of the screen and a new scene slides in of a castle science/magic storage room. There are various cartoon Frankenstein body parts scattered around. Some of them have a yellow glow. If you click on them, the images below appear (I’ve added alt text to them, so I hope it works).

The Heart of your story is the main character. The protagonist is the beating core that truly brings your story to life. If your MC doesn't make kids (and their grown-ups) care within the first few pages, your story will flatline. </p>
<p>Your main character needs to be:<br />
• Relatable enough for kids to see themselves<br />
• Unique enough to stand out in the slush pile<br />
• Active enough to drive the story<br />
• Memorable enough to survive multiple readings at bedtime</p>
<p>Where do you find this amazing donor heart? It might be the very thing you loved so much about the manuscript you want to revive. It might be the younger sister from your shelved YA novel. Or maybe it’s the hilarious kid you blogged about meeting at a school visit. Find a character beating with potential and place it in the center of your story.<br />

The Brain of your story is the theme or central message. The theme is the big idea that controls everything else. Picture books are more than stories - they're tiny life lessons disguised with humor and heart.</p>
<p>But your theme needs to be:<br />
• Subtle enough not to trigger the dreaded "didactic" rejection<br />
• Clear enough for a four-year-old to grasp<br />
• Universal enough to speak to both kids and adults<br />
• Fresh enough to prevent agents and editors from responding with "Not another sharing/bedtime/first-day story!"</p>
<p>Check your other dead manuscripts to see if there is a recurring theme, something that really seems to be speaking to you. Find the bit of poetry you scribbled on the back of a receipt to see what theme inspired it. Reread the pep talk you texted your critique partner at 1am. Pick the theme that will drive your story, giving it purpose, direction, and deeper meaning.<br />

The Legs of your story is the plot. Not to be confused with a grave plot.🤪 The plot is what keeps everything upright and moving, as well as providing support for all the other elements. You have very few words to use in a picture book, so you need to do a lot with each plot point.</p>
<p>In general, your plot should:<br />
• Hook readers fast<br />
• Build tension that a child can follow<br />
• Create page turns that feel natural<br />
• Wrap up in a way that satisfies</p>
<p>You can borrow a plot twist (a leg) from one manuscript and the opening (the other leg) from a different manuscript. Consider if the subplot of the middle grade novel you trunked would work better as a picture book. Or maybe your Facebook post about a disastrous camping trip could become a story for kids. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other until you have your storyline.

The Arms of your story are the side characters.

The Torso of your story is the setting. Setting helps a story breathe and connects all the elements of the story. It isn't just where your story lives, it's what makes your story ALIVE. It's the difference between "this happened in a park" and "this happened in that park, the one with the twisty slide that burns your legs and the creaky swing that sounds like a baby crying.”</p>
<p>Your setting should:<br />
• Make your character's world feel real<br />
• Contain your story in a way that makes sense to young readers<br />
• Connect different scenes and moments organically<br />
• Give your illustrator enough room to add visual subplots</p>
<p>Half-finished manuscripts are a great place to dig up settings, since you worked out the place details before the plot petered out. Or maybe you had to cut a second fantastic location from your chapter book. You can also revisit the detailed caption from your Instagram carousel documenting your tour of that delish candy shop. Disinter a robust setting that can house all of your story's vital organs.

After you press the Click When Done circle button, the lights flash with the sound of electricity buzzing. Then the screen goes black and lightning zaps across the screen with the sound of thunder.

The screen then lights up to show the storage room, and all the Frankenstein pieces have been assembled into the whole monster. An upbeat song plays in the background. Then a speech bubble pops up with the words, “I’m alive! I’M ALIVE!” Then the screen goes to black.

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