Author Interview: How will Amy Vote?
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TEENS Win the Vote!
It’s an election year, and Congress has lowered the voting age to 14. Not one to refuse political involvement, 16-year-old Amy joins a campaign to elect the next U.S. President. Her goal isn’t only to see her candidate win, but to prevent his rival—an arrogant, profiteering sleazeball—from ever stepping foot inside the Oval Office.
Amy’s participation is also personal. The opposing candidate’s son viciously bullied her in the 3rd grade. Foiling his father’s bid for the presidency would be the perfect payback. But, there’s a problem. Her grade school offender has changed. He has grown into a kind and thoughtful (and cute) young adult. No longer able to dislike him, Amy’s hatred turns to affection. Is she falling in love?
Amy’s participation is also personal. The opposing candidate’s son viciously bullied her in the 3rd grade. Foiling his father’s bid for the presidency would be the perfect payback. But, there’s a problem. Her grade school offender has changed. He has grown into a kind and thoughtful (and cute) young adult. No longer able to dislike him, Amy’s hatred turns to affection. Is she falling in love?
I had a chance to interview Bruce Edwards, the author, about his writing process and favorite author.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
I have many, but there is one in particular who never fails to amaze me: Ray Bradbury. He was the master of the metaphor. Anyone who writes knows what a challenge it is to get that right. I had the privilege of meeting him several times. He could invent brilliant metaphors off the top of his head, and I would ask myself, “How does he do it?”
Who is your favorite character in your book? Why?
The book’s title character, Amy, is a 16-year-old American girl, who like most teenagers, attends high school, sleeps late, and quarrels with her siblings. Everyone thinks of her as the stereotypical rebellious teen, but she’s really not a negative person at all. Amy just wants to understand the times she was born into. She looks at the world with all of its problems and simply asks, “is this the best you can do?”
How do you handle writer’s block?
I separate myself from the written word. There is a treasure trove of inspiration in music, theatre, art, animation, and the like. I absorb those creative ideas, then adapt then to my work.
What advice do you have for young/student writers?
Don’t scrutinize the book publishing industry too closely. The number of books published each week is staggering. Brooding over this willsurely put you off writing, so don’t go there! Stay true to your vision and persevere. Writing a book is a hard road to go down, but it’s the most gratifying journey you’ll ever take.
Explain your revision process.
For me, revising is less analytical and more intuitive. If there is a problem with the narrative, it will generally reveal itself. Having written screenplays, I am particularly aware of pacing. Other than that, I just stick to the basics: Show, don’t tell, etc. There’s one other trick that is also very helpful: use text-to-speech to listen to your material. I find a lot of hidden irregularities in my writing that way.
What are you working on now?
Book# 5, The Age of Amy: Mad Dogs and Makeovers, sends Amy in search of a personality-altering shampoo, and is on track for a June, 30th release date.
Pinnacle Achievement Book Award, “Best Book for Young Adults.”
“Readers will appreciate Amy’s sharp wit and the overall comedy of political theater.” --Booklist
“This book will be popular with those looking for a quirky love story with an exciting twist.” --School Library Journal
“The author does a highly credible job of displaying the incredible cost of meanness.” --Readers’ Favorite
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Author Bio
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