We’re excited to have Chandler Baker stop by to tell us more about her latest novel TEEN FRANKENSTEIN.
Chandler, what was your inspiration for writing TEEN FRANKENSTEIN?
I think it goes without saying that Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was the spark of inspiration behind Teen Frankenstein without which it wouldn’t exist. But if it was just that, I still wouldn’t have had a story to tell at all. Or at least not a fresh one. The angle that drew me into the story and held me there during the months and months I toiled over this book was the notion of exploring female ambition in a modern setting. It was something I was–am–still struggling with. We’re used to seeing the tortured male artist, suffering for his heart, sometimes becoming a recluse. In him, it’s often revered, though I’m not sure it should be. Meanwhile in real life, I think women are often still supposed to nurture art while they themselves are expected to be nurturing. Single-minded ambition is often viewed as shrill, bossy, overly demanding. I grapple with how much ambition for my art is too much ambition and at what cost. That was my emotional access point into the story, which then, of course, took on a life of its own.
What did this book teach you about writing or about yourself?
Writing Teen Frankenstein taught me how to write a character very different from myself and that I could learn some science without my brain catching fire–only a little smoke–if I really tried.
What’s your writing ritual like? Do you listen to music? Work at home or at a coffee shop or the library, etc?
I work in nooks and crannies of time. If I have 15 minutes, that’s enough time to get to work. Each day, I set a stopwatch. I hit start when I start writing and any time I do anything else I pause it. The ritual of starting and stopping the watch helps me focus and be honest with myself about how much time I’m spending actually writing as opposed to pretending to write.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Teen Frankenstein
by Chandler Baker
Hardcover
Feiwel & Friends
Released 1/12/2016
High school meets classic horror in this groundbreaking new series.
It was a dark and stormy night when Tor Frankenstein accidentally hit someone with her car. And killed him. But all is not lost–Tor, being the scientific genius she is, brings him back to life…
Thus begins a twisty, turn-y take on a familiar tale, set in the town of Hollow Pines, Texas, where high school is truly horrifying.
Purchase Teen Frankenstein at Amazon
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View Teen Frankenstein on Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chandler Baker got her start ghostwriting novels for teens and tweens, including installments in a book series that has sold more than 1 million copies. She grew up in Florida, went to college at the University of Pennsylvania and studied law at the University of Texas. She now lives in Austin with her husband. Although she loves spinning tales with a touch of horror, she is a much bigger scaredy-cat than her stories would lead you to believe.
You can find Chandler as the books contributor on the YouTube channel Weird Girls.
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Have you had a chance to read TEEN FRANKENSTEIN yet? Do you struggle with the cost of ambition for your art? Do you spend too much time pretending to write? Share your thoughts about the interview in the comments!
Happy reading,
Jocelyn, Shelly, Martina, Erin, Lisa, Susan, Sam, Lindsey, Sandra, Kristin, and Anisaa
