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Synopsis:
Have you ever wished you could receive a little guidance from your favorite book boyfriend? Ever dreamed of being the Chosen One in a YA novel? Want to know all the secrets of surviving the dreaded plot twist?
Or maybe you're just really confused about what "opal-tinted, luminous cerulean orbs" actually are?
Well, popular Twitter personality @broodingYAhero is here to help as he tackles the final frontier in his media dominance: writing a book. Join Broody McHottiepants as he attempts to pen Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me, a "self-help" guide (with activities--you always need activities) that lovingly pokes fun at the YA tropes that we roll our eyes at, but secretly love.
As his nefarious ex, Blondie DeMeani, attempts to thwart him at every turn, Broody overcomes to detail, among other topics, how to choose your genre, how to keep your love interest engaged (while maintaining lead character status), his secret formula for guaranteed love triangle success, and how to make sure you secure that sequel, all while keeping his hair perfectly coiffed and never breaking a sweat.
I have been following the Twitter account called @BroodingYAHero for some time. It is hilarious, satirizing YA cliches with wicked accuracy. Here's a sample of one of her posts.
Now, author Carrie Ann DiRisio has taken her character and created a novel. I haven't read the book yet, but I was fortunate enough to interview the very talented illustrator of the book, Linnea Gear. I have seen her work on Tumblr and it is delightful. Her work on this book should add a sense of whimsy to this fun book.
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| Linnea's Hermione Granger |
Interview:
What is the best art advice you have ever been given?
Don’t compare yourself to other artists. Everyone goes at their own pace so remember you are doing what you love; don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t as ‘famous’ as other creators.
What is something new in YA that you would like to see?
More friendships that don’t end in romance or more characters that don’t have a love interest!!!
What was the collaboration process like with this book? How long did it take?
Carrie and her editor basically gave me a list of each illustration needed with a description, and I went through each of them, showing them my progress periodically. They would then collaborate with each other on what changes to make until everything looked how we wanted. It took about 3 months in total to finish them all.
What other author would you love to collaborate with in the future?
Becky Albertalli or Tara Sim, their books changed my life and I sort of freak out whenever they like the fanart I’ve done for their characters.
Your bio says that you were a Chemistry major in college. What made you choose that?
It is a subject that lets me be creative by making reactions and syntheses, but it can also be seen as a puzzle, which is a challenge I enjoy. It’s why I enjoy chemistry so much; it is a creative science that is problem-solving oriented, and it’s fun! I also need clearly defined answers – I don’t do well with grey areas or majors that rely a lot on subjectivity.
I read in another interview that you prefer drawing comics. Can you tell me about your
webcomic?
Yes! Dissent is a BL webcomic about a witch who is helping a cursed prince break free from his enchantment. Along the way there is protesting against the government, magic, and love between two men. As a woman of color and being a part of the LGBTQ community, I wanted a comic that incorporated everything I want in a story, including a POC-dominated cast, and important topics in today’s society, like police brutality.
Thanks for the post and being a part of SST!
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