Written by Teralyn Mitchell
Across a Broken Shore is an upcoming YA historical fiction by Amy Trueblood that takes place in 1936 San Francisco with a strong female protagonist trying to find her calling in a world where her path has already been decided.
Amy was kind enough to answer questions from our contributor, Teralyn, about her upcoming novel, her writing process, and more!
You can find Amy on Twitter and Instagram, along with at her website.
Can you tell our readers a little about you?
I’m the youngest of five and have been an avid reader since I was very young. My love of reading eventually turned into a passion for writing. My YA Historical books focus on young girls who love to crush societal boundaries. There may also be a dash of danger and a few kissing scenes, too!
When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?
All my life I’ve had some type of writing going on. In college I studied journalism. After I graduated, I went on to work in entertainment eventually landing in the world of advertising and public relations. In all those jobs, writing was a prominent aspect whether it was editing copy or creating press releases. When my career came to a crossroads, I decided I wanted to try my hand at writing YA fiction. After the first chapters were on the page, I knew I was in the right place.
What is your favorite childhood book?
I always both love and hate this question because there are too many good books to choose from. If I had to pick one it would be Beverly Cleary’s Beezus and Ramona. I have two older sisters and I was like Ramona, constantly trailing after them and wanting to be included in all their antics.
Across a Broken Shore has such an interesting plot! Can you tell us a little about the book?
The book takes place in 1936 San Francisco and follows the story of eighteen-year-old Willa MacCarthy who is expected to carry on the family tradition and become a nun. But when she encounters the new neighborhood doctor who is female, she secretly goes to work with her to help care for the men building the Golden Gate Bridge.
What was the inspiration for this story?
It was two things:
First, I saw a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge someone posted online, and I started to think about the tough working conditions those men had to live through in order to build the bridge. Not more than a few minutes later, another image came up online of a woman named Lucy M. Wanzer. In 1876, she was the first woman west of the Rockies to get her medical degree. Coincidentally, she lived and practiced in San Francisco.
The fact that two connected images of San Francisco came up at once felt like the universe was telling me something. A few hours later, I had a rough outline of what would become Across a Broken Shore.
What sort of research did you do to write this book?
Very early on in the drafting process I took a research trip to San Francisco. I knew I couldn’t write about the building of the bridge if I didn’t walk across it myself. It was important for me to feel the sway under my feet, the whip of the wind across my face, in order to understand the real perils the men went through to build the bridge.
After basically buying every book possible about the bridge’s construction from the museum store, I then went and had a three-hour meeting with a local historian. He was born and raised in the Richmond neighborhood where my main character, Willa lives in the book. He read several drafts of the story and made sure all the historical elements were accurate.
If you had to describe Willa in three words, what would those three words be?
Determined, loving, and loyal.
Your story is set in the 1930s San Francisco. Why did you choose that as the setting for your book?
I knew the backdrop of this story had to include the building of the Golden Gate Bridge. I hadn’t seen the construction of the bridge tackled in any Young Adult books, and I wanted it to be an important thread. As the bridge changes and grows over the course of the book, so does Willa.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
That it’s okay to struggle with your purpose. Even in today’s modern times, teens have a lot of expectations piled on them, not only from their families but from society as well. I hope Willa’s story will show them that it’s within their rights to question their own path. To blaze an unexpected trail in spite of other people’s expectations.
Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?
My mornings consist of two things: coffee and writing. I take the early part of the day to write. After lunch, I run errands, take care of email etc. If I’m on deadline, I write every day. If I’m plotting a new story, I may take off a day or two to do research or let the story marinate for a while before I head back to the computer.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Your time will come. Finish the story and then write the next one. It’s the only thing you can control in the publishing world.
Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?
I don’t write every day and I don’t think you have to in order to be successful. Sometimes my best story ideas come while my mind is not focused on writing. Little things like exercising, getting coffee with friends, or traveling opens my mind to new possibilities.
Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with us?
I’m currently revising a YA Contemporary that plays off experiences I had while working in entertainment in L.A.. There’s also a YA Thriller currently sitting on my laptop that I’m anxious to finish too!
And one final question: do you have any book recommendations for us?
Of course! Here are some of my favorite recent YA reads with strong female leads:
Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young, We Walked the Sky by Lisa Fiedler, The Grace Year by Kim Liggett, The Deepest Roots by Miranda Asebedo, and The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee.
