I’m so excited to be talking with the amazing YA author Shannon M. Parker today! Her debut novel The Girl Who Fell
Oh, and that’s not all. The Girl Who Fell has it already gone into its second printing! And, it’s garnered glowing feedback like this starred review from the School Library Journal:
“Parker’s powerful cautionary tale highlights a terrifying reality for many teens. Zephyr’s story outlines warning signs that may be a lifesaver to others in similar situations. VERDICT- An invaluable addition to any collection.” (School Library Journal *STARRED REVIEW* January 1, 2016)
I’m tickled pink to have Shannon on the blog today. She and I are true kindred spirits. Not only do we have the same agent and editor, we both live/lived in Maine. Plus, we both wrote gritty kissing books that explore the difficult realities of love!
Let’s jump into the fun!
Shannon, what inspired you to write The Girl Who Fell?
There are so many books that explore the magic of first love. How it is tempting and luscious and beautiful. But it is also so scary. A girl asks herself: Can I trust this person with my heart? My body? My dreams? And there are plenty of books that scream YES to these questions. They are the books of Happily Ever After.
I wanted to write a story that explored the dangers of first love. What happens when you can’t trust the person you love? What happens when love turns toxic? And how does a strong and determined girl fall for a charming boy who is—at his core—awful and damaged (and damaging)?
I wanted to write this story because I know it is a reality for countless teens and I don’t think it is talked about enough. I wanted to write a book that showed teen victims of dating manipulation or abuse that it is never their fault and that they always, ALWAYS have the right to regain their voice.
Shannon, you and I both wrote books about girls who make some bad decisions. In the writing process, how were you able to let Zephyr make choices on her own—even bad ones—without you trying to protect her?
Zephyr is so smart. She makes bad choices because she is manipulated into making bad choices. I never wanted to protect her from that because it’s the point of the book. And I hope it will leave readers understanding that girls who fall victim to a manipulator are not stupid; they are skillfully manipulated.
You write some of the BEST steamy scenes I’ve read in YA! Yum yum. What advice do you have for other authors attempting to write steam for teens?
*blushes* Thank you, Ingrid!
In this book, Zephyr experiences her sexual awakening and it is part of the way that Alec gains her trust. When writing the steamy scenes, I wanted to make sure they felt real. Zephyr would pull back, be scared, but also … also … she would experience the heady rush of sexual exploration, the physical intoxication of loving intimacy. At times, she would instigate the sensual moments. Or miss physical intimacy if it didn’t occur. This felt real to me. That heady mix of wanting another person so badly but also wondering if that’s okay and how much is too much. So often girls are shamed for their sexual exploration and curiosity and I didn’t want that for my character. So while I don’t have any great advice to authors who want to write steamy YA, I can say that I kept focused on what felt like an authentic exploration of teenage sexuality and identity and trust.
What was your most difficult writing challenge when writing The Girl Who Fell?
The most difficult challenge for this book was creating Alec as a character that the reader would fall for right alongside Zephyr. He had to be charming and soft and loving. Because Zephyr is smart and the reader needed to believe that she could be swept up in the magic of his attentions.
What’s the best piece of writing advice you can give?
Be hard on your characters.
Be easy on yourself.
Do you have any new projects you want to tell us about?
My next YA will release in the fall of 2017 from Simon & Schuster. It features the Atlantic ocean, islands that keep secrets and a kickass female lobster boat captain. I’ll announce more soon, but I’m super excited about it! I also have a story featured in Welcome Home, a YA anthology about adoption, a subject very near and dear to my heart.
Speed Round:
Favorite book you read in the last six months: Anna and the Swallow Man
Favorite book of all time: The Secret Life of Bees
TV show addiction: The Walking Dead & anything on the BBC
Celebrity crush: Tim Riggins from Friday Night Lights
Favorite way to relieve stress: Kayak
Stripes or polka dots: Neither. I am so bland.
Song you always sing at Karaoke: You’re the One That I Want (Grease Soundtrack)
If you had a TARDIS what time period would you visit (past or future): I would like to travel to a time without war. Past or future. I’m not picky. As long as there is peace.
I want to thank Shannon for coming onto the blog to share her new book. It’s been awesome hearing more about this powerful and important story.
The Girl Who Fell Synopsis:
His obsession.
Her fall.
High school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feet—and into an intense relationship—by the new boy in school. Zephyr is focused. Focused on leading her team to the field hockey state championship and leaving her small town for her dream school, Boston College. But love has a way of changing things.
Enter the new boy in school: the hockey team’s starting goaltender, Alec. He’s cute, charming, and most important, Alec doesn’t judge Zephyr. He understands her fears and insecurities—he even shares them. Soon, their relationship becomes something bigger than Zephyr, something she can’t control, something she doesn’t want to control.
Zephyr swears it must be love. Because love is powerful, and overwhelming, and…terrifying? But love shouldn’t make you abandon your dreams, or push your friends away. And love shouldn’t make you feel guilty—or worse, ashamed. So when Zephyr finally begins to see Alec for who he really is, she knows it’s time to take back control of her life. If she waits any longer, it may be too late.
Get your copy of The Girl Who Fell at any of these retailers:
Shannon M. Parker writes novels for young adults. When she isn’t writing, Shannon likes to explore new places. During some of these treks Shannon has kissed a crocodile, hugged a koala, hiked to the top of the Andes & to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, yodeled in the Swiss Alps, and swam the Great Barrier Reef. Shannon is painfully tone deaf yet belts out Grease tunes at inappropriate times (like, say…at her wedding). She likes chocolate, kindness and Bridget Jones (just as she is). The Girl Who Fell is her first novel.
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