A visit with YA author Amy Talkington

Award-winning screenwriter, director, YA author, and parent Amy Talkington met with the Junior High class in the library on Friday, January 9, to discuss her debut book, Liv, Forever (click here to see my review of the book).

Amy began by briefly her background and career as a screenwriter. She told the students that in high school she was "obsessed" with painting, writing, and music, elements we see in her main character, Liv. Amazingly, Amy actually worked up the idea of Liv, Forever as a movie first but  decided to write this story as a  novel first in order to:

Amy reads from Liv, Forever

“... explore Liv’s voice in a way that I couldn’t in a screenplay. Also, I wanted to create a deep mythology and history for the setting.”

Soho Press, the publisher, liked the idea and gave her 4 months to write the novel. The  new medium was "scary" for her but also "exhilarating.”Amy then shared the book trailer she wrote and directed. After summarizing the book, Amy read from the book to give the students insight into two of the major characters. 

Amy's discussion inspired many good questions from the students. Here’s how her responses to a few of the questions:

Where did the idea for the story came from?

Amy related that she had a long standing interest in writing a ghost story. She conceived of Liv as a young woman, “closed off and  afraid of opening up” and asked herself “ ...what if that person had to die to experience love?” While writing the novel, Amy noted that the Occupy Movement was active, which gave her the idea of the very wealthy and powerful willing to sacrifice anything to get what they want, which informs the mythology of the very elite school Liv attends.

Who inspired the characters?

Amy told the students that she was a lot like Liv as a teenager: closed off emotionally and focused on painting. Like Liv, she attended an East Coast boarding school. Liv’s friend Gabe (who can hear the ghosts at the school) is drawn from a beloved family member, who seems kind of crazy to those who don’t know him.

What is she working on now?

In addition to writing screenplays and other projects, Amy has a sequel to Liv, Forever in the works and there’s discussions of a movie based on the novel.

Amy concluded her visit with a series of slide referencing art works referred to in the book to demonstrate how Liv uses art to reference her feelings.  A reference list of art and a play list  of songs referred to in the book, as well as the book trailer can be found at her web site.

And finally, she offered a bit of advice to aspiring writers: “ Write every day. Give yourself deadlines. And read, of course, read everything.”

Excellent advise, and , of course, as a librarian, I love that last sentence!

Liv, Forever

Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington. Soho Teen, 2014.

Liv Bloom, a self described "art dork," is accepted at an elite private school  as scholarship student. She spent her early years in and out of foster homes, well cared for, but not emotionally connected to her foster families or adoptive parents. She's excited about a new life far from her LasVegas home. Little does she know that the remotely located Wickham Hall, which boasts it's own cemetery and "catacombs," is attended by students from wealthy and powerful families.  An even more elite secret society, the Victors, exists at the school. Although she's still an outsider, bullied or ignored, Liv is befriended by Gabe, another scholarship student who claims to hear ghosts, and popular legacy student, Malcolm Astor. Despite warnings from Gabe, Liv's relationship with Malcolm heats up. One night, on her way back from a secret rendezvous with Malcolm, Liz is murdered, but the school and local officials rule her death a suicide.

Partnering up with Gabe and a wary Malcolm, Liv investigates her own death, discovering the school's long history of hushed up student disappearances and deaths. Who's behind all these deaths? And why has Liv become the latest victim?

Amy has done a marvelous job of balancing a novel with multiple genres (paranomal, mystery, and romance). Liv and Gabe show good character development over the course of the novel and their voices feel authentic. While Liv is the narrator (and having a dead narrator is an interesting twist), there are other strong voices in the novel, notably Gabe's. His anger and fear are palpable.

Throughout the narrative, Liv refers to works by other artists to explain situations in her life, which gives a visual feel to the narrative.

Here's some imagery from a nightmare:

"But then images started to emerge from the darkness around us. At first they were pleasant: a Titian cherub, a Chagall angel. But then one of Bosch's devils appeared." 

Amy's web site provides a list of art references from the book.

Additionally there's many references to contemporary music (see Amy's web site for a playlist) and Romance poets, especially William Blake. Liv is a big fan of Blake's whom she likes for his ability to combine art and poetry. Selections from his works are woven into the novel and shared between Liv and Malcolm.

Give this to fans who like paranormal romances like Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush, Hush series. However, teens who aren't big fans of romance don't need to worry-the loving's light and there's a great mystery a chilling conspiracy, and a finale with edge-of-your-seat action.

The Girl Who was Supposed to Die

by April Henry. Henry Holt and Co., 2013

She wakes up on a rough dirt floor in a remote cabin with the taste of blood in her mouth and two of her fingernails ripped out.  She doesn't know who she is, where she is, or how she got there. She doesn't know why two strange men want to kill her, but she does know she needs to get out of there fast. So begins Henry's dramatic novel of a young teen who has lost her memory and is caught up in chilling story of sanity, murder, biological warfare--and a little romance. Henry's intense, first person narrative and action packed drama move the story at a breathless pace, keeping readers at the edge of their seats. Recommended for grades 7 and up, this novel will engage reluctant teen readers as well as those who love suspense and action. To learn more about the author and her books visit April Henry, Writer.