Elizabeth is the New York Times best-selling author of 17 novels, one book of nonfiction and two short-story collections. Her latest book, “The Edge of Nowhere,” is geared toward a young adult audience. The following is a complete transcript of her interview with Cracking the Cover.
Background — Have you always wanted to be a writer.
Definitely. I have been writing since I was seven years old. I started with short stories and I moved on to novels when I was in junior high school. I wrote my first novel when I was twelve and then another when I was sixteen. Writing is part of who I am; it’s more than just what I do.
You’re known for the Inspector Lynley series. Why the change to YA?
I haven’t changed to YA. I’ve added YA. I’m still writing the Lynley novels. I have just completed the 18th in the series. I took up YA for the challenge and because I wanted to use Whidbey island, where I live, as a setting. I thought it could have a lot of appeal for young adult readers.
What about YA is appealing?
It’s not so much that there’s something more appealing in YA for me. It’s more that I wanted to try it on and see how it fits me as a novelist. It’s very much different from adult fiction in that the adolescent characters must drive the story, which isn’t something I’m used to, but it was fun creating them and putting them into tough situations that they had to resolve.
Where did the idea for “The Edge of Nowhere” come from?
From the setting itself, which is usually where my books come from. Whidbey Island is filled with amazing places that beg to be part of novels. It’s filled with incredible locations–Possession Point, Smuggler’s Cove, Mutiny Bay, Useless Bay, Double Bluff Beach–whose names alone suggest stories to me.
How long did it take to write?
Five drafts. It was the most difficult project I’ve ever done.
Becca can read minds but she seems to be able to read people fairly well without her “gift.” How did her gift evolve?
Her ability isn’t to read minds. It’s to hear the disjointed thought of other people. What she hears is like a badly tuned radio in her head at all times, and every once in a while out of the jumble of noise, she hears a distinct but partial thought coming from a person who is in the room with her. This is something she inherited from her grandmother but whereas her grandmother learned how to use it and learned how to turn it up or turn it off, Becca doesn’t know how to do that yet. Nor are her interpretations always correct. How did she as a character evolve? Just as in my adult novels, I created her in advance.
“Edge of Nowhere” feels like a standalone and the beginning of a series. Did you set out to do that?
I set out to create a series.
How long do we have to wait for the next installment?
Probably till 2014. I’ve written two drafts of the next novel, The Edge of the Water, but I have at least one more draft of it to write and possibly more.
Why do you think “The Edge of Nowhere” will appeal to teens?
I think the characters are what will appeal to kids and to adults as well. As is the case with my adult novels, there isn’t just one main character. Rather there are five. The readers will learn about them over time. With each book. more will be revealed about who they are and how they fit into each other’s life.
What were the challenges working on this book? The highlights?
The entire project was an enormous challenge as I had never written for the young adult audience. Probably the most difficult was writing about a place where I live, which is much more difficult than writing about England where I don’t live.
Looking back, how has your writing evolved?
I’ve always attempted to make each book a leap forward in style and technique from the book that preceded it. I think I’ve more and less managed to do that. I promised myself–and the reader–that I would never write the same book twice. I think I’ve been true to that promise.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the revision of the 18th Lynley novel.
Is there a book from your childhood that still resonates with you now?
Anne of Green Gables, the entire series. Love it. Still do.