We chat with author Andromeda Romano-Lax about What Boys Learn, which is a twisty, jaw-dropping psychological thriller that unravels a mother’s worst nightmare—that her child is capable of terrible violence—when her teenage son becomes a suspect in the murder of two classmates.
Hi, Andromeda! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I am an accidental novelist who started out as a journalist and travel writer before turning to fiction—and now I can’t stop! I’ve written in multiple genres, from literary to historical fiction, speculative fiction, and more recently, suspense. I am a US citizen but I live on a small rural island off the west coast of Canada—the perfect place to hide away and write novels.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I first fell in love with narrative nonfiction until I discovered that novels are even more fun to write and research. I’ve always travelled to or lived in the places I write about, from rural Taiwan to Italy to Mexico; when my kids were young, they came with me on those adventures. Writing novels is my way to experience the world.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner—an adventure classic about four children living in a boxcar
- The one that made you want to become an author: Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Hours by Michael Cunningham
Your latest novel, What Boys Learn, is out January 6th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Scary, thrilling, twisty, ultimately hopeful
What can readers expect?
They can expect to worry and strategize alongside single mother Abby Rosso as she gets to the truth about two local murders while also dealing with the possibility that her 16-year-old son may have been involved.
Where did the inspiration for What Boys Learn come from?
From my own fear as a mother about the worst things that can happen to our teenage children.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There’s a bit of a swimming subplot (my 16-year-old protagonist is a swimmer; I’ve become a cold swimmer and long-distance swimmer since the pandemic) and a major action sequence that takes place on Lake Michigan. I grew up in a Chicago suburb and I love boating and swimming misadventures, so that was fun to write. (I am dealing with the stress of book launch day by doing icy swimming plunges, which reset my nervous system!)
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I got very creeped out the more I learned about psychopathy, serial killers, and unsolved murders. I was also fascinated, so I kept going!
What’s next for you?
A historical novel with an element of surreal magic and light horror.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
Coming up on my list are The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami, The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan, and The Hunger by Alma Katsu.
