Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Sophie Whittemore

What inspired you to write “Catch Lili Too”?

Whittemore: I dyed my hair blue once and a close friend said the result made me look like a siren. I enjoyed that hair color so much… I think I kept it up for half a year. Hands dyed blue and all. It made me feel like liquid moonlight was on my hair. It made me feel powerful, like wearing a crown made out of starlight.

But sirens, they’re usually intertwined with love and seduction, right?

Wrong.

In my experience, I only ever fell for people who were close to me. Without emotions, I just felt… nothing. Regardless if a person was aesthetically pleasing, I wasn’t physically attracted to them. Without knowing them emotionally on a more intimate level, I couldn’t find a romantic/physical attraction. 

That middle school question: who are you crushing on? I always lied on my answers. Firstly, for being queer. Secondly, for being queer and asexual.

It would make me wonder if I was broken. I would think to myself: “some siren you are, huh?”

A friend later explained to me something called demisexuality, to only be attracted to those who you’re emotionally close to.  I was super sex positive, but when it came to delving into hookup culture, I just didn’t follow suit because that’s not how I was made. I’m a queer demisexual, and that’s okay. 

From this journey of self-discovery, of a siren without a love spell, Lili was born. And the rest is her story. 

Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process, or your book?

Whittemore: Oh, my writing process. Oh, wow. I would like everyone to know I start, sincerely, with some semblance of a plot. The beginning pops in and a definite end. Sometimes, the end changes once or twice, maybe three times. In conclusion. I cannot stick to a plot to save my life. The outline gets thrown out the window around chapter three as the characters find their footing and take my story entirely from me. I apologize for the characters. They mutiny quite often. I don’t run the ship; I am the ship and the characters do what they wish. 

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

Whittemore: The name “Lili” just popped into my head. Her later character arc in the story (the infamous ending forest scene for those who’ve read it) was later inspired by another famous Lili. But I’ll leave that spoiler at that.  Patricia and Jason Sweeney are both children of “Todd Sweeney” (yes, a pun on Sweeney Todd. I like Sondheim musicals. I am sorry).
Byron got his name because I wanted him to be a brooding poet. I believe the term is “Byronic”. (Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?) He ended up being less brooding and more of a ray of sunshine in the book when the clouds hit Gamin’s sky. And I love him for that. The rest of the time, I search online and scour name dictionaries until one pops up that feels right for a character and who they are. However, in my books, it tends to be the nicknames that feel extra right for who the character is. For example, Dax, short for Dakari Borden. It just feels right for the punk rock monster hunter he is, you know?

When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?

Whittemore: Self care! Writer’s block is never just an innocuous phase for me. It usually is a symptom of something much larger being wrong, whether that’s mental health or physical health being ignored. Especially being disabled, this goes thrice for it. So, honestly, if I have writer’s block, it’s a whole lot of being patient. Checking in… so my mental and physical health can be in a much better place. Taking the steps necessary to ensure my mental, physical, etc. health are in tip-top shape before my creative health follows!

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?

Whittemore: Take breaks from social media. I’m guilty of scrolling through feeds and feeling so bad about myself I can’t write anymore. Hint, if your social media feed makes you feel less than or unhappy, please do me a favor and close the tab. 

Do something that makes you happy. Read to enjoy when you have the chance, not just to finish. And when you write, be kind to yourself. I’m guilty of this myself, being the most brutal self-doubter this side of Simon Cowell in OG American Idol. (Is that an old reference? Am I an old Gen-Z person?) 

You must always be your own number one fan, even when that seems impossible. And trust me, it can seem more impossible than Sisyphus trying to roll that giant rock up a hill. But, slowly, you’ll be able to get a little farther, pushing past that horrible, scathing self-doubt. Even if that’s just 50 words on a new document. That’s 50 words more than before! Be your own fan because your story makes you happy. That’s the best feeling in the world. To love what you write, unapologetically.

What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?

Whittemore: When I was younger, I’d read Tamora Pierce endlessly. I loved the Lioness Quartet series because it helped me come to terms with my gender and gender fluidity as a young child. When I got older, I really liked Neil Gaiman because of the punk rock, magic edge to his work. I liked the idea of making my writing as punk and magical as possible. To thine own self be true.

Current reads on my bookshelf from some lovely LGBT+ authors include: “Mala and the Mask of Gold” by Jaime Martinko. “Cemetery Boys” by Aiden Thomas. “Honey Girl” by Morgan Rogers.

What are you working on next?

Whittemore: Well, we have the sequel to Catch Lili Too! It has fantasy, punk rock vibes, found family and… another murderer with magical mayhem on the horizon. More queer love stories, mythologies, and twisted magic galore! We got nightclubs owned by the Fae, kuntilanak femme fatales who are, yes, fatale, but also glorious. Boxing botanists. And a flying war pig!  Alongside the sequel, I am also working on a fantasy inspired by the story of Jaka Tarub. My mother would tell me this story often as a child, and it was always one of my favorites. It was about heartbreak, longing, betrayal, asparas, spirits of the air. And a hidden secret. The story is magical fun, and here’s to getting it through its first few drafts!

Learn More About the Author and Catch Lili Too here:

Twitter/IG: @thesophiewhit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesophiewhit/?ref=py_c

Tumblr: https://thesophiewhit.tumblr.com

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/FaeWhit

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