Author Interview: Jennifer Echols

Jennifer Echols is the YA author of Major Crush and The Boys Next Door. Her current novel Going Too Far was published 03/17/2009 and it is one of my favorite novels out this year. I appreciate Jennifer Echols taking time out to answer questions pertaining to her books.

What got you interested/started in writing?

Reading. Some readers experience a particular book, and a light goes on. They think, “This book is SO GOOD that I want to write more books like this.” In my case, I was 12 or so, and the book was Can You Sue Your Parents for Malpractice? by Paula Danziger.

What inspired you to write Going Too Far and how did you come up with the title?

I had an idea to write a romantic comedy about two teenagers doing a ride-along with a cop. As I began to write it, I realized that the more interesting relationship would be between one of the teenagers and the cop himself. (I also toyed with the idea of the girl being the cop, but I liked the boy-cop idea better.) Then the whole thing turned dark on me, and it was no longer a romantic comedy. My first title for the book was Boy in Blue. My editor thought that sounded too young. She came up with Running to Stand Still, which is an old U2 song. I thought it fit the book, but there’s nothing in that title to grab onto. I came up with The Ghost of You, a song by My Chemical Romance, but I was afraid people would mistake the book for a paranormal (nothing wrong with paranormals, but as a reader I like to know what I’m getting when I pick up a book, and I didn’t want to mislead anyone). There’s an old movie called A Bridge Too Far, and a bridge figures prominently in this novel, so I came up with the title Too Far. My critique partner, Victoria Dahl, suggested Going Too Far instead, and my editor liked it (thank goodness!).

Who are your favorite authors and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I am constantly trying to analyze what it is that strikes me when I love a book. As long as the plot is romantic, I read across all genres, so it’s not a certain type of book that gets me over and over. I think it’s just an overwhelming feeling of admiration for this author for a job well done, and a bit of jealousy that I didn’t write that book myself. Some of my recent favorites: Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore, Breathe My Name by R. A. Nelson, Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt, Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess, and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan.

What do you think makes a good story?

I could go on and on about this because before I had a novel published, I was working on a PhD in genre studies! But in general, I think we all have fantasies rooted deep in our childhoods, and the runaway best-selling books (Twilight, Harry Potter) and movies (Star Wars) always tap into those fantasies. No wonder they’re reminiscent of fairy tales, which tap into the same fantasies.

What are your current projects and can you share a little of your current work with us?

I just turned in the page proofs for my next romantic comedy to be published on October 6, The Ex Games, about a snowboarder who challenges her ex-boyfriend to a battle of the sexes on the slopes. Beyond that, I don’t know! I’m reading a lot and playing around with some ideas. I’ll start writing again soon, though, because when I don’t, I go a little crazy.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?

I have always written a YA and then an adult book, back and forth. So far my adult books have not been published, and it has always been my goal to break into that market. But if I never sell anything but YA, that is okay with me, as long as I’m writing.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

Here in Birmingham, we have lovely botanical gardens. I like to go there with a book, lie in the grass, and read and people-watch by turns.

What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

More writing! All I ever wanted was to write more.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

This is a hard question for me, because I think if you set out to write a novel that has a certain message, it might not be as poignant. So much of that comes from the writer’s subconscious. But to me, this novel reflects a lot of my views about not judging people before you know them, and working hard at the relationships you care about.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Yes--thank you! Going Too Far is already in its third printing because you bought a copy, you told a friend about it, and you blogged about it on terrific book review sites like this one. By telling other people about the books you enjoy, you really can make a difference in an author’s career. I thank you for making a difference in mine.

Thanks, Jennifer!

For more information about Jennifer and her books, you check out her website.