Samantha Young, author of THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US, on wanting readers to care for her characters

by Jocelyn Rish

We’re pleased to have Samantha Young stop by to give us the scoop on her latest novel, THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US.

Samantha, what was your inspiration for writing THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US?

I was really inspired by the social and emotional journey of our teens and early adulthood. A big part of growing up is learning perspective, sympathy, compassion and looking beyond what people want the world to see of themselves, and what’s really going on beneath the surface. As kids we’re so literal and we generally don’t have the ability to see people’s layers until we get older. It’s a huge part of coming-of-age. It sparked the idea of creating a character like India who has been through a lot in her young life, but is so wounded by her past that she has a difficulty seeing beyond her own pain to the fact that she’s not the only person who has been through/or is going through something. She meets these two teens who seem like one thing to the world but are hiding who they really are, and she begins to realize that she’s not alone, and that people are far more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

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?

There is a scene near the end of the book when the main character, India, confronts her mother about their past and the consequent problems in their relationship. It’s an incredibly emotional and heartbreaking scene for India because there is no magic wand to make things better. I have a great relationship with my parents so I had to really imagine what life would be like if I were India. I remember the deep ache in my chest, like grief, as I wrote that scene, and I cried so hard while I wrote it. Hopefully the pain I felt on India’s behalf comes through and readers really respond to what she’s going through. More than anything I want my readers to care for my characters, and if I accomplish that, then yes, I’m proud.

How long did you work on THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US?

TIVOU was truly a labour of love. I started the writing process for this novel in April 2015 and its final draft was completed at the end of December 2016. It’s the longest I’ve ever taken from start to finish to complete a novel but myself, my wonderful agent, and my fab editor at Harlequin TEEN wanted to treat it with the care, detail and attention that the characters, and what they represent, deserved.

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

I work from home because I don’t like any distractions while I’m writing. And I usually start with a full novel proposal/summary first along with character profiles. I write both of those on my laptop. Once those are complete I print them out, grab a notebook and pen, turn on music, and I start writing chapter summaries. After the first five chapter summaries are written I go back to the laptop and start working. Once the first five chapters are completed I return to my notebook and music and write more chapters. Rinse and repeat ☺

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Impossible Vastness of Us
by Samantha Young
Hardcover
Harlequin Teen
Released 6/27/2017

I know how to watch my back. I’m the only one that ever has.

India Maxwell hasn’t just moved across the country—she’s plummeted to the bottom rung of the social ladder. It’s taken years to cover the mess of her home life with a veneer of popularity. Now she’s living in one of Boston’s wealthiest neighborhoods with her mom’s fiancé and his daughter, Eloise. Thanks to her soon-to-be stepsister’s clique of friends, including Eloise’s gorgeous, arrogant boyfriend Finn, India feels like the one thing she hoped never to be seen as again: trash.

But India’s not alone in struggling to control the secrets of her past. Eloise and Finn, the school’s golden couple, aren’t all they seem to be. In fact, everyone’s life is infinitely more complex than it first appears. And as India grows closer to Finn and befriends Eloise, threatening the facades that hold them together, what’s left are truths that are brutal, beautiful, and big enough to change them forever…

Purchase The Impossible Vastness of Us at Amazon
Purchase The Impossible Vastness of Us at IndieBound
View The Impossible Vastness of Us on Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She’s been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET, Best Romance 2014 for BEFORE JAMAICA LANE, and Best Romance 2015 for HERO. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in thirty countries. Samantha’s YA contemporary lit debut THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US releases from Harlequin Teen June 2017.

Visit http://authorsamanthayoung.com for more information.

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Have you had a chance to read THE IMPOSSIBLE VASTNESS OF US yet? Have you cried while writing a scene? Do you go back and forth between typing and writing by hand? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!

Happy reading,

Jocelyn, Anisaa, Sam, Martina, Erin, Susan, Shelly, Kelly, Laura, Emily, 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: Jul 1, 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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