Yesterday, I reviewed Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian, and today I bring a Twitterview with her. As usual, I gave 140-character questions and she responded in 140 characters or less. Also as usual, I’m giving away a copy of Sex & Violence to one US/Canadian reader at the end.
What’s a little different about this Twitterview, though, is that I asked some really tough questions. I admitted as much when I approached Carrie, and she did a great job of answering when she had an answer and telling me when she didn’t and I was being unfair. But that’s what makes this so fun, too. Some questions may border on spoiler territory, so be warned, and there’s also some profanity.
Without further ado, let’s talk with Carrie Mesrobian about Sex & Violence, gender expectations, and more.
Pitch
Sex & Violence in 140 Words.
Sex & Violence in 140 Words.
How I
Spent My Summer At The Lake With My Weird Dad & Neighbors
Recovering from PTSD As A Former Slutty Boy by Evan Carter
Spent My Summer At The Lake With My Weird Dad & Neighbors
Recovering from PTSD As A Former Slutty Boy by Evan Carter
Give
me three descriptive words for the book.
me three descriptive words for the book.
Opinionated.
Introspective. Funny. Kinda. Okay, sometimes it is. (I am so bad at
this.)
Introspective. Funny. Kinda. Okay, sometimes it is. (I am so bad at
this.)
What
inspired Sex & Violence?
inspired Sex & Violence?
Baker. I
wanted a normal girl character who was pretty and smart and
comfortable about her looks. A girl who has sex & lives to tell
about it.
wanted a normal girl character who was pretty and smart and
comfortable about her looks. A girl who has sex & lives to tell
about it.
Evan
likes sex without shame — at least at the start. But he likes “easy
girls.” What does that mean?
likes sex without shame — at least at the start. But he likes “easy
girls.” What does that mean?
Evan
doesn’t have a lot of time to woo ladies. He just wants to get
physical. I think he embodies what guys his age wish was possible.
doesn’t have a lot of time to woo ladies. He just wants to get
physical. I think he embodies what guys his age wish was possible.
So he
likes sex without having to work for it?
likes sex without having to work for it?
The
identification of the target is also enjoyable. But nothing after the
target’s acquired, so to speak. He’s unequipped for that.
identification of the target is also enjoyable. But nothing after the
target’s acquired, so to speak. He’s unequipped for that.
And
he’s surprised when this comes back to bite him in the ass?
he’s surprised when this comes back to bite him in the ass?
Evan’s
good at taking his ego out of his targeting of girls. He doesn’t
make it about him. Or them, either. He’s dumb about emotional
stuff.
good at taking his ego out of his targeting of girls. He doesn’t
make it about him. Or them, either. He’s dumb about emotional
stuff.
There’s
a bit of a backstory to Evan and his family, too, so tell us about
that a bit and how it impacts him.
a bit of a backstory to Evan and his family, too, so tell us about
that a bit and how it impacts him.
Evan’s
mom is dead. But he doesn’t really have any connections with his
relatives. Lack of connection in general seems to plague him.
mom is dead. But he doesn’t really have any connections with his
relatives. Lack of connection in general seems to plague him.
Do
you think Evan gets “forgiveness” for his behavior in the
story, either from his world or the readers?
you think Evan gets “forgiveness” for his behavior in the
story, either from his world or the readers?
Evan
learns to live with himself and his past actions. What readers will
‘give’ him beats the hell out of me, however. Also I don’t care
if they forgive him or not, really.
learns to live with himself and his past actions. What readers will
‘give’ him beats the hell out of me, however. Also I don’t care
if they forgive him or not, really.
Does
Evan NEED “forgiveness” for his behavior in the story,
either from his world or the readers?
Evan NEED “forgiveness” for his behavior in the story,
either from his world or the readers?
Evan’s
very honest about how he views sex. Does honesty require forgiveness?
I think a lot of men feel like he does. They just don’t say it.
very honest about how he views sex. Does honesty require forgiveness?
I think a lot of men feel like he does. They just don’t say it.
Let’s
play a game: what do you think would happen to Evan had he been a
girl in the same situation?
play a game: what do you think would happen to Evan had he been a
girl in the same situation?
Like, if
he’s beaten in a shower? Or just promiscuous and calculating? Or a
girl with no friends? DERRRRRRP. I suck at this game!
he’s beaten in a shower? Or just promiscuous and calculating? Or a
girl with no friends? DERRRRRRP. I suck at this game!
Baker
is my favorite character in the book. Tell me a little more about
her.
is my favorite character in the book. Tell me a little more about
her.
Baker
makes shy, socially anxious people at ease. She talks too much. She’s
also sexually curious. She’s also kinda bossy.
makes shy, socially anxious people at ease. She talks too much. She’s
also sexually curious. She’s also kinda bossy.
What’s
so attractive about Baker to Evan?
so attractive about Baker to Evan?
Evan
likes her social ease. He likes how she belongs where she is, has a
sense of history. Her directness about sex, & life. Also her
boobs.
likes her social ease. He likes how she belongs where she is, has a
sense of history. Her directness about sex, & life. Also her
boobs.
Little
sex really happens on page. But there is a LOT of talk about sexual
politics in S&V. Do you think this is realistic of today’s teens?
sex really happens on page. But there is a LOT of talk about sexual
politics in S&V. Do you think this is realistic of today’s teens?
Who
knows about today’s kids? Students discuss sex w/ me, which is
different. When I was young, my friends & I discussed sex a lot,
though.
knows about today’s kids? Students discuss sex w/ me, which is
different. When I was young, my friends & I discussed sex a lot,
though.
My
takeaway is sex & violence are related since they can reduce
people to objects rather than actual beings. What’s Evan’s takeaway,
if any?
takeaway is sex & violence are related since they can reduce
people to objects rather than actual beings. What’s Evan’s takeaway,
if any?
Both are
fraught with risk. Except Evan would never use the word ‘fraught.’
And I’m not sure he’s got a takeaway even at the book’s end.
fraught with risk. Except Evan would never use the word ‘fraught.’
And I’m not sure he’s got a takeaway even at the book’s end.
If
you had to pick one relationship that changed Evan the most, which
would it be and why?
you had to pick one relationship that changed Evan the most, which
would it be and why?
I think
it’s with Baker, actually. She sort of presses him to tell about
himself instead of lying and hiding.
it’s with Baker, actually. She sort of presses him to tell about
himself instead of lying and hiding.
Writing
from the POV of a teen boy: harder or easier than you expected? Why?
from the POV of a teen boy: harder or easier than you expected? Why?
Original
story had both Baker & Evan’s POV. I just enjoyed telling
Evan’s side more. Some research on boy stuff (boners, etc) was
necessary.
story had both Baker & Evan’s POV. I just enjoyed telling
Evan’s side more. Some research on boy stuff (boners, etc) was
necessary.
Do
you think S&V is a risky book?
you think S&V is a risky book?
I don’t.
But I’m me, you know? If YA readers are mostly young girls like
we’ve been told, I’m guessing they’ll hate what Evan
thinks/says.
But I’m me, you know? If YA readers are mostly young girls like
we’ve been told, I’m guessing they’ll hate what Evan
thinks/says.
I
want to ask another unfair question: would S&V be a riskier book
if Evan were a girl?
want to ask another unfair question: would S&V be a riskier book
if Evan were a girl?
I’d
imagine the judgment against such promiscuity would be exponentially
increased against a girl who behaved like Evan.
imagine the judgment against such promiscuity would be exponentially
increased against a girl who behaved like Evan.
Would
you call this a redemptive story? How or why not?
you call this a redemptive story? How or why not?
Kinda.
But mostly it’s about how time heals. About how acceptance is more
likely than redemption.
But mostly it’s about how time heals. About how acceptance is more
likely than redemption.
If
you had to give Sex & Violence a “____” meets “____”
pitch, what would it be?
you had to give Sex & Violence a “____” meets “____”
pitch, what would it be?
I hate
this question! I am TERRIBLE at that kind of thing! That and the
three words, ugh! So glad someone else wrote my jacket copy!
this question! I am TERRIBLE at that kind of thing! That and the
three words, ugh! So glad someone else wrote my jacket copy!
What
gets you jazzed to write?
gets you jazzed to write?
JAZZED?
JAZZED,
Kelly? I cannot claim to be JAZZED by anything in order to write! At
least by any one thing. I’m so boring in that respect.
JAZZED,
Kelly? I cannot claim to be JAZZED by anything in order to write! At
least by any one thing. I’m so boring in that respect.
Who
or what do you write for?
or what do you write for?
I write
for kids who are average. Not gifted & talented. Smart kids get
depicted a lot in YA. I also write to amuse myself obviously.
for kids who are average. Not gifted & talented. Smart kids get
depicted a lot in YA. I also write to amuse myself obviously.
Who
is your ideal reader?
is your ideal reader?
This
question forces me to give a snobby answer, so I won’t. Though I’d
imagine teenage boys will get the most out of this book.
question forces me to give a snobby answer, so I won’t. Though I’d
imagine teenage boys will get the most out of this book.
What
were your most influential reads as a teenager?
were your most influential reads as a teenager?
I read a
lot of classics because I was a pretentious nerd. Like, I loved Tess
of the D’Urbervilles. Ugh. I was so gross.
lot of classics because I was a pretentious nerd. Like, I loved Tess
of the D’Urbervilles. Ugh. I was so gross.
Who
are your top writing influences?
are your top writing influences?
Oh man.
I don’t fucking know! Shouldn’t someone else make that
discernment? I’m a pretty sloppy disaster in my writing and reading
habits.
I don’t fucking know! Shouldn’t someone else make that
discernment? I’m a pretty sloppy disaster in my writing and reading
habits.
What
writers do you think are breaking ground in YA right now?
writers do you think are breaking ground in YA right now?
Yikes.
YA is so vast & varied. Feels dickish to get specific, as I only
have 140 characters. Damn you, Twitterview!
YA is so vast & varied. Feels dickish to get specific, as I only
have 140 characters. Damn you, Twitterview!
If
you listen to music while you’re writing, what are you listening to?
(You can link me to stuff if you want).
you listen to music while you’re writing, what are you listening to?
(You can link me to stuff if you want).
I get so
much shit for the music I like! I like country music. The pop kind,
not the cool kind. And Metallica. And Eminem. I’m irrational.
much shit for the music I like! I like country music. The pop kind,
not the cool kind. And Metallica. And Eminem. I’m irrational.
What’s
next for you?
next for you?
Another
YA book with a boy narrator. A more likeable guy this time. The
tentative release date is fall 2014, again with Carolrhoda LAB.
YA book with a boy narrator. A more likeable guy this time. The
tentative release date is fall 2014, again with Carolrhoda LAB.
The
most important question is always the last one: what’s your favorite
ice cream?
most important question is always the last one: what’s your favorite
ice cream?
I love
coconut popsicles. Anything with lots of chocolate also works for me.
With a sprinkling of coffee grounds on top just for variation.
coconut popsicles. Anything with lots of chocolate also works for me.
With a sprinkling of coffee grounds on top just for variation.
What a fun interview!
Carrie is the best.