C.J. Omololu is the author of “Dirty Little Secrets.” her second novel, “Transcendence,” hits bookstores June 5. Below is a complete transcript of her interview with Cracking the Cover.
Background — Have you always wanted to write? Why?
No, I was actually not much of a writer growing up. I didn’t keep journals and never really told stories. I was an insane reader though – I’d go to our tiny little library and grab an armful of books to finish over a weekend. I think that made all of the difference when it came time for me to write my own stories.
Why write for young readers?
I think I’m emotionally stunted at the age of 16. That’s just what seems to come out, plus it’s such an amazing, pivotal time in a life. Anything can happen.
Do you have any rituals? Do you write all day?
I write in phases. When I’m drafting, I write at least 1k words a day. I prefer writing at night if I can – I do my best work after midnight. The only real ritual is caffeine – tea in the morning and coffee all day after that.
“Transcendence” is quite different from “Dirty Little Secrets” was it hard to switch topics from something people accept as a condition (hoarding) to something people tend to be skeptical about (reincarnation)?
It was only hard as far as expectations go. I cringe a little when people say they can’t wait for Transcendence because they loved Dirty Little Secrets because you’re right – they are totally different books. I write what comes to me, and a fun and romantic story about people who remember their past lives is what showed up. The one good thing is that because hoarding is a real condition, I was worried about getting the facts right with the first book. With reincarnation, nobody can come back and tell you that you got it wrong.
Do you believe in reincarnation?
Maybe. Is that an answer? I got so involved in the philosophy behind the Akhet that I started thinking about it as if it were true. Like what I was going to do the next time around that I didn’t get a chance to do this time. Ever since the age of about two or three, there has been a scene in my mind that I don’t think came from any movie or TV show. It’s pretty horrific, so I don’t want to go into the details, but it feels like it came from maybe the 14th or 15th century – little things like that keep me open to the possibility.
How has your writing evolved from when you first started until now?
I’d like to think I’m better at it – that I learn something from every book.
What were the challenges working on “Transcendence”?
The highlights? The challenges came with researching the historical parts – there are flashbacks to lifetimes in the 1500s and the 1800s and I had to make sure I got the details right. The highlights would have to be the romancy parts. There wasn’t much romance in Dirty Little Secrets and I absolutely loved writing those parts.
The book ends with a cliffhanger. Did you always plan on the story being more than one book? Did you have everything mapped out to begin with? I tried to end the story that takes place in Transcendence while leaving a hint of what was to come in the next book. I did have things planned out for more than one book, but I don’t do a strict outline. Detailed outlines bore me.
What makes “Transcendence” stand out from other books in its genre?
There’s no real ‘magic’ in Transcendence – everything that happens is physiologically possible. That made things difficult, but ultimately more interesting for me. As long as you suspend a disbelief in reincarnation, it could almost be a contemporary story. Plus, it’s not a story about lost loves that reconnect over and over in every lifetime – that’s been done.
What are you working on now?
I’m putting the finishing touches on the sequel to Transcendence right now – is it obnoxious to say that I completely love it? I hope not, because I really do. It was so great to reconnect with my characters and get to know a few new ones as well. This is the first time I’ve done a sequel, and it was really fun.
Why do you think your books resonate with readers?
I’d like to think that my books feel authentic. I have a houseful of teenagers most days, so I understand them as well as any adult can.
What do you hope readers bring away from your book?
That anything is possible if you want it badly enough. That even when you think you don’t have the smarts or the strength to solve your problems, you can be surprised with what you carry inside.
Did you have a favorite book or book that really resonated with you as a young reader?
My very favorite book as a kid is one that nobody has ever heard of – Dar Tellum: Stranger from a Distant Planet by James R. Berry. I remember buying it from Scholastic Book Clubs in fourth grade and reading it until it fell apart. It’s about a boy who makes telepathic contact with a creature from another planet who helps him solve a world crisis here on earth. I recently bought a library copy from eBay and having it in my hands again was like a little piece of magic from my past.