All-You-Can-Read Cafe chats with Nova Ren Suma (author of IMAGINARY GIRLS)

Last week, the teen book club had the chance to chat with author Nova Ren Suma about her book Imaginary Girls. She was kind enough to agree to let us post the chat for anyone who might be interested in knowing more about the book -- enjoy!


Nova Ren Suma: Hi there!

AramTeens: Hello from Wisconsin!

AramTeens: I am handing you over to Ashley, one of our teens.

Nova Ren Suma: I'm ready! Thanks for having me on today.

Nova Ren Suma: Hi, Ashley.

AramTeens: we're glad to have you.

AramTeens: 1st question- where did this strange and eerie idea come from

Nova Ren Suma: Ah! The idea first started as a short story about two sisters, Ruby and Chloe... As a sister myself with a little sister I adore, it's something I always wanted to write about. But the idea got more eerie when I began writing about the reservoir in the story (much like the reservoir in the town where I lived as a teenager). I read about the history of the reservoir, and the towns drowned and it began to inspire some very strange things in my own writing.

AramTeens: Is that how it grew into a full length novel?

Nova Ren Suma: I wrote the story first and took it to a summer workshop. There was no magical realism in it at all... and there was something missing. So when I started writing it again, it turned weirder, and became a novel. Writing workshops can be so helpful that way.

Nova Ren Suma: (Not in making your fiction weird! I mean in helping you focus your ideas.)

AramTeens: So was it a more realistily based story before you took it to the writing workshop?

Nova Ren Suma: Yes, it was entirely realistic. The story was called "Mythical Creatures" — though there were no "creatures" in it. And it was simply about Chloe moving in with her older sister's new boyfriend.

AramTeens: Is there a reason why the story was set where it was? Small town on the east coast?

Nova Ren Suma: I live in New York City and I have for over ten years, but I'm from the Hudson Valley. That's where I grew up, and the town in the novel is very much like the town where I lived when I was in high school. For some reason, even though I moved away, I find myself very inspired to write about the place where I grew up. So I write about small towns like that often.

AramTeens: As we're all small town residents we appreciate having a setting we can relate too.

AramTeens: Do you relate too or see yourself in any of the characters in the book?

Nova Ren Suma: I do relate.

Nova Ren Suma: I think I'm more like Chloe than Ruby. But in real life I'm the older sister... my baby sister is named Laurel Rose. (I call her Rose.) She and I joke about how Chloe and Ruby have traits of both of us. But they are definitely their own people.

AramTeens: I'm an older sister too- the rest of the group doesn't have sisters and think I'm the real life version of Ruby but less crazy.

Nova Ren Suma: Ha! Glad to hear less crazy

Nova Ren Suma: I love being an older sister, and it was interesting to put myself in the shoes of the little sister while writing.

AramTeens: Was it hard to write from a younger sister's perspective?

Nova Ren Suma: Sometimes it was. But Chloe really grew as a character for me... I couldn't help but see the story through her eyes. And like I said, she's a lot like me sometimes. (Except she can swim and I really can't swim that well.)

AramTeens: Is London really dead?

Nova Ren Suma: Ooh tricky question!

Nova Ren Suma: I think there are different ways to see the story at the end... and I'd never say that any one perspective is wrong.

Nova Ren Suma: But, to me, London is no longer dead at the end. I believe Chloe, and Chloe believes London has been brought back to life.

AramTeens: oooooh good answer

Nova Ren Suma: Do you think anything different?

Nova Ren Suma: I get some emails with different views on what happened, and I love that.

AramTeens: We all have a different idea on the subject

Nova Ren Suma: That's awesome.

AramTeens: What's your favorite inturptetation?

Nova Ren Suma: I don't have a favorite... but sometimes people tell me they think Chloe made it all up in her head. That the story isn't actually magical at all. And I find that fascinating.

AramTeens: We can see the logic behind that inturpretation.

Nova Ren Suma: I like that. I like that it can be read more than one way.

AramTeens: Burning question from the group- have you ever written a request on a balloon and let it go?

Nova Ren Suma: GOOD QUESTION.

Nova Ren Suma: No, I have not!

Nova Ren Suma: And now I will have to.

AramTeens: We just did it, with red ribbons, it was fun!

Nova Ren Suma: Seriously??? That is so amazing!

Nova Ren Suma: I hope all the requests come true for you.

AramTeens: Why was Ruby obsessed with sunglasses?

Nova Ren Suma: Heh. That's taken from my sister. She is OBSESSED with sunglasses.

Nova Ren Suma: She always gets very fancy movie-star sunglasses...

AramTeens: There's no deeper meaning?

Nova Ren Suma: ...and I guess as I was writing Ruby it slipped in, and I couldn't take it back out.
Nova Ren Suma: I didn't write it originally with that intention, but I do see so much symbolism for it now. It's one of those perfect little details that were meant to be, I think.

AramTeens: Last question...

Nova Ren Suma: Ready

AramTeens: Who would you cast to play the characters in the movie adaption of the book?

Nova Ren Suma: Aha! The question I've been mulling over...

Nova Ren Suma: I hope this doesn't disappoint, but this thing happens when I write. The characters have very clear faces in my mind. I know exactly what Chloe and Ruby and Owen and Pete and Jonah and London look like, so I have a hard time picking an actor to play them.

Nova Ren Suma: But someone suggested Megan Fox as Ruby, and I can see that.

Nova Ren Suma: If you can recommend a movie cast for me, I'd love it.

AramTeens: We agree with the Megan Fox suggestion.

Nova Ren Suma: I've heard it more than once. So maybe the part is meant for her... who knows.

AramTeens: Dakota Fanning is our suggestion for London.

Nova Ren Suma: Oh, that is perfect.

AramTeens: Kelly suggests we resurrect devin sawa from his 90s hey day and make him Owen

AramTeens: A younger Luke Wilson would be good for Jonah

AramTeens: (if he could be serious )

Nova Ren Suma: Ha! Could work. He'd have to dye his hair.

Nova Ren Suma: I love these casting suggestions!

AramTeens: (we're glad you got that reference)

AramTeens: There's also a crowd suggestion for R Pattz to play EVERYONE

AramTeens: We aren't sure on Chloe

Nova Ren Suma: Hahaha. Amused.

Nova Ren Suma: Chloe would be hard to cast. If there ever is an IMAGINARY GIRLS movie, I wonder who they'd pick.

AramTeens: Selena Gomez, maybe. But we dont like her being with Justin Bieber.

Nova Ren Suma: Hahaha. Laughing again.

Nova Ren Suma: Agreed on Justin Bieber.

AramTeens: Miranda Cosgrove!

AramTeens: From iCarly (I didnt know that reference)

Nova Ren Suma: I just Googled! She looks the part.

AramTeens: Thanks so much for chatting with us! We appreciate your time.

Nova Ren Suma: Thanks so much for having me on! And for reading IMAGINARY GIRLS.

Want to talk to authors? Win free books?

One of our book club members shared a really cool link -- through Reach Out Reads, you can talk with a ton of different authors every evening and even win free books. Christy won a copy of Matthew Quick's Sorta Like a Rockstar just for asking him a question.

There are bookmarks in the new teen books area with more information about Reach Out Reads, as well as a list of books about the kinds of stuff you guys are interested in. Check 'em out!

Straight from the author: Courtney Summers

If you missed book club last week, you missed our exciting chat with Courtney Summers. Fortunately, she's given us permission to reprint the chat. Here's a little insight into her book, Fall For Anything, a bit of talk about RPatz, and a look into the publishing process -- something that will interest any aspiring writer!

all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: first question: where did your idea come from?




courtney: Hi! The idea for Fall for Anything sort of happened a little after my Grandfather died. I always knew I wanted to write a book about death/grief, but I kept putting it on the backburner. After he passed away, it was sort of cathartic to explore the topic. The specifics about the idea--the photography, the suicide etc--just kinda happened!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: what character is most like you/do you most relate to in the story?


courtney: Hmm. That's a good question! I try not to cop to being like any of my characters, just so I can keep people's ideas of them separate from me. The ones I relate to most--I think Eddie. She has a hard time letting stuff go! I'm like that and understand it. I think her father, Seth, had a complicated relationship with art that I can relate to (though I do not relate to the lengths he went to... at all!).


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: well that's good.


courtney: Definitely!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: are any of your characters based on anyone you know?


courtney: Nope. Although I do sometimes insert the names of family + friends to fill in for minor characters.


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: we're impressed how everything is off the top of your head -- "it's crazy!"


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: next question!


courtney: Hee!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: Was Culler a good guy or a bad guy?


courtney: I think Culler was good! But I know a lot of people think he's bad. But I always see Culler as someone who is really struggling with the loss himself. Seth validated him as a photographer, which was important, and in losing Seth he lost a bit of his spark. I really think he believed he was helping Eddie, or didn't anticipate how badly it would go because he romanticized the outcome, like he romanticized his photographic process. So I think he's a good guy who did a not-so-smart thing.




all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: that was a great answer


courtney: Thank you. It was a great question.


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: what interests you about the topic of teen relationships?courtney: Hmm! In terms of my own writing--I am interested in how fragile and volatile they can be, how uncertain, but that could because I throw my teen characters into volatile situations that make them fragile. It's exciting to write about how many times characters can screw up before they get it right (or they don't!).


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: do you think the situations in fall for anything could really happen?

courtney: I think they are certainly within the realm of possibility... but maybe they wouldn't all happen at the exact same time. But then--life is often stranger than fiction!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: if your book were to be made into a movie, who would play the main characters?


courtney: Aaah, so difficult to answer! I'm not sure. I'm bad at casting--my characters are vague in my head. St. Martin's got Eddie exactly right on the cover but as far as I know that model isn't also an actress. I always pictured some kind of young James Dean look-a-like. Milo's a blank for me! And this was not a real answer to that question. Sorry!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: we have a protest that you cant even see the face of the model. one of our teens suggests: wynona rider for eddie since shes good at broken characters


courtney: Awww! Well.... when I picture my characters, I usually just see hair color in my head above all else. So... she works for me!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: and


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: robert pattinson for culler because he's creepy


courtney: HAH.


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: BUT DEFINITELY NOT TAYLOR LAUTNER


courtney: What about Robert Pattinson for everyone???


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: we're all uncomfortable here


courtney: We can just a wig on him or something to play Eddie.




courtney: Aw.


courtney: It would be unintentionally art housey and brilliant.


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: what teens are you aiming at (this is our second to last question)


courtney: Any teens that feel ready to read my books, really. I write to the upper end of the YA spectrum though. I used to think 14-15 and older was best, but I started getting emails from 13-year-old readers, which reminded me that teens are great self-censors + know best what they want to read or not read.


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: "darn right we do" - justin


courtney: :)




all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: last question!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: what was the publishing process like? we have interested writers.


courtney: It's intense! It's slow but it's also fast, once things start rolling. Once a book is accepted for publication, it goes through a lot of steps to become a book. It's edited (I'm in the thick of edits now for my next book), it's copyedited, proofed... I read my books so much to prepare them for publication by the time they ARE published, I never want to look at them again. That's pretty vague, I know. If there are more specific Qs about the process, I am happy to take them but there's a summary!


all-you-can-read buffet @ APL: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to chat with us!


courtney: Thank you for having me! The questions were great!