Robin Benway is the author of “Also Known As.” the following is a complete transcript of her interview with Cracking the Cover.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
I think I always knew I wanted to write, but being a writer felt like something else entirely. I was intimidated by the idea of being a full-time writer because it seemed so risky, but now I can’t imagine doing any other job like this one. I’d love to try a few more professions, but writing will always be my main career.
Why do you write for young people?
I don’t think I write for young people so much as I write about young people. I think the thing about books is that anyone can enjoy them, whether they’re mine or someone else’s, because a good story should carry you into worlds different than your own. Obviously, I’m absolutely thrilled when young people and teenagers tell me that they read my books, but it means just the same to hear from older readers as well. If I can tell a story that entertains people, then my job is done.
Where do your ideas come from?
They’re all over the map! “Audrey, Wait!” was born out of a song I heard one afternoon, “The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June” came to mind after I say someone’s collarbone tattoo, and “Also Known As” popped into my head after I got locked out of my storage space and had to crack my MasterLock combination. I’ve learned that you can’t chase inspiration, you have to let it find you. (It’s so cheesy, I know, but it’s true!)
Where specifically did your idea for ALSO KNOWN AS come from?
Again, that terrible MasterLock. I was so frustrated that i couldn’t remember the combination, so I hopped on Google and started researching how to crack the combination. It turns out that all you need is a pencil and paper and some time. It was so easy, but I felt so sneaky and stealthy and I kept thinking about what it would be like to be a safecracker. I ended up sending my agent this huge rambling email about Maggie and her parents and what they do and she called me back immediately and said, “You have to write this!” So I did. She’s so wise.
How much of ALSO KNOWN AS is from your imagination and how much of it is based in reality?
Most of it is from my imagination, but it was definitely infused by reading stories about corporate espionage and whistleblowers. I liked the idea of a group of people going around the world and taking down white-collar criminals and busting international slavery rings. They’re a weird sort of Robin Hood crew, but I highly doubt they exist. And if they do, I hope they contact me! I have questions!
Maggie’s personality seems to jump off the page. How did you develop her?
The truth is that I just don’t know. My characters just start talking to me. In the first chapter, you see her as she moves through the motions of her job, and I wrote that as if I was just following her. I’m sure a lot of her perfectionism and anxiety come from me (sorry, Maggie!) but it was fun to watch her become a normal teenager for a while. I liked setting her down into an unfamiliar scenario and seeing where she would land. Again, sorry, Maggie!
There seems to be a fairly complicated backstory to ALSO KNOWN AS. Did that develop as the main story did?
That’s exactly what happened. I was working on a scene between Maggie and Angelo, her sort-of grandfather figure, and I realized that he had something really important to tell her, and that changed the whole plot for me. I don’t want to say what it was for fear of spoiling it! But yes, the plot worked itself out as I wrote and edited. When you write about sneaky, nefarious characters, sometimes they keep secrets from you, too!
If you could be a spy, what would your area of focus be?
Definitely corporate espionage, like Maggie. It sounds boring, but it seems like there’s so many hidden secrets in these global corporations. I’d love to find out what they are!
What are you working on now?
The sequel to “ALSO KNOWN AS”! I’m so excited for this book! I’ve never written a sequel before and it ended up being one of my most enjoyable experiences ever as a writer. The chance to catch up with my characters is so much fun.
What do you hope readers take away from your books?
I hope they’re the sort of books that people turn to when they need comfort reading, the kind of book you keep close at hand so you can read it to make you laugh or smile. I definitely have those kinds of books on my shelf and I would be wildly flattered if someone treated one of my books the same way. If I can make readers smile or take their mind off their never-ending subway ride or their stressful home life or whatever plagues them, I would consider it a job well done.
How has your writing evolved over the years?
I don’t think my writing has evolved as much as my writing style as. I’m a lot more patient now. I’ve learned that it’s okay to have a crappy first draft, or that it’s fine if you need to fix things in edits. I’ve become a better reader, as well. I can really appreciate the work that other authors put into their plot and characters, which makes me strive to do the same thing in my books.
Is there a book from your own childhood that still resonates with you?
Ramona Quimby! I still remember lines from the books and they still make me laugh! I think Beverly Cleary is an absolute genius who managed to remember what it feels like to be a child. She’s definitely one of my writing heroes.