Jessica Warman is the author of the successful young adult novels “Between,” “Breathless” and “Where The Truth Lies.” Her latest book is “Beautiful Lies.” The following is a complete transcript of her interview with Cracking the Cover.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes, I have. I honestly don’t remember ever wanting to be anything else. There was a brief period of time (like 3 or 4 days) in college when I wondered if maybe I should have some kind of back-up plan. Since my dad is a psychologist, I knew that if I followed in his footsteps, I would be guaranteed a position in his practice after graduation. So I told my advisor I wanted to switch majors, and then I registered online for classes. I got a phone call shortly afterward. It was my advisor, and he was basically like, “you know you have to actually take psych classes in order to major in psych, right?” I’d registered for all English courses. There was no way I could have been happy in another career.
Why do you write for young people?
Because I don’t think I’d enjoy writing for any other audience nearly as much. I’m 31, and every so often I’ll consider the possibility of writing an adult novel. Inevitably, those thoughts end with me wondering, “But… but what are adults like?” I’m married, I have kids, and all of my friends are navigating the adult world quite successfully. I go to dinner parties and balance my checkbook and take a fiber supplement, all that grown-up stuff. Yet I just don’t think my innermost thoughts – the ones that would make it onto the page – are well-suited for adult novels. At their age, teenagers are experiencing life from such a unique perspective. I like to think that my books give them the opportunity to sort of try out some of the larger issues and emotions they’re starting to deal with, but with the safety net of a fictional setting. I think I’m good at creating that kind of experience for my readers, so that’s what I plan to continue doing!
Where did the idea for “Beautiful Lies” come from?
It came from lots of different places. My husband’s sisters are red-headed twins, and they’re so amazingly gorgeous, so I was inspired by them and their very close relationship. My family has a history of clairvoyance on my mom’s side; my great-grandmother was a professional psychic during the great depression. I’m very, very skeptical about things like that, but some of the stories I’ve heard about her are just incredible, and I used quite a few of them in the book. Beyond that, I love a good psychological thriller, and I wanted to write one!
Twins are at the center of “Beautiful Lies.” What is it about twins that people find so fascinating?
There’s such an emphasis on individuality in our culture (and in society in general). I think the idea that these two people are genetically identical is fascinating, because it forces us to ask questions about nature vs. nurture, among other things. It serves as proof that superficial appearances can be quite deceiving, since twins often have very, very different personalities. And it’s foreign to most people – we can imagine what it might be like to have an identical twin, but we can’t know for sure. So naturally, there’s a lot of potential material right there!
Your books have a weight to them. How do you achieve that?
I’m so glad you think so – thank you! Honestly, if I knew, I would tell you. I just do the best I can, and so far it seems to be working out pretty well. I want my writing to have meaning beyond providing a few hours of distraction or entertainment, so I try to approach characters and situations in ways that will be thought-provoking to readers. There’s always an effort to do two things at once: define what makes a character or situation unique, while also making them relatable. It’s a balance. It’s always a challenge.
Why do you think your books appeal to teens?
I genuinely like writing for teens. I’m not doing it because it’s a popular market and I think it’s the best way to make money with my writing, or because I think it’s easier than writing adult fiction (it’s not!). I’m doing it because I love it, and I think that shines through in my writing. I also have respect for young people. I remember what those years were like for me. Teenagers aren’t stupid or naïve; in fact they’re a very savvy group. They can tell when they’re being pandered to. I can’t imagine writing for an audience that I didn’t genuinely care about. It would feel like such a sham.
Are you surprised by the success of your books?
Yes and no. I think I’m a good writer, but I can’t tell you how flattering it is when other people tell me they think so, too. Writing feels like my purpose, and I sort of feel like the universe is confirming that sometimes.
Looking back, how has your writing evolved?
I think it’s gotten better as I’ve become more critical of my work. My goal is to keep raising the bar. I want every book I write to be a challenge. With that in mind, I try to be very tough on myself, and I’d like to believe it’s paying off!
Do you have a book that resonated with you as child?
I must have read Catcher in the Rye fifty times as a teenager. I have so many copies of it lying around my house, and they’re all dog-eared and filled with notes. It’s such a fabulous book. I need to re-read it soon!