We chat with author A.S. King about Pick The Lock, which is a weird and insightful new novel about a girl intent on picking the lock of her toxic family with punk rock and opera.
Hi, A.S.! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m A.S. King, but you can call me Amy. I’m one of those people who does a lot of things at the same time. So, for example, today I’m making a piece of 3D art, warping a loom, touching up a large canvas that is on my easel and then calling it done, writing a short story, making a promotional video for my upcoming book release—you get the idea. Mostly I am known for my weird young adult and crossover adult novels. I am a surrealist and my neighbors tell me they can see me dancing in my kitchen at night and yet, I keep dancing anyway. Gives them something to talk about.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I was very young when I realized that my emotions and thoughts were best expressed through written words. I used to go into my room, and then into my closet, which we called my “office,” and I would read a lot and sometimes write creative letters to my parents about my feelings.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- The one that made you want to become an author: Confessions of a Teenage Baboon by Paul Zindel (The book that put me in the actual writing chair ten years later was The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie.)
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Trigger by N. Griffin
Your latest novel, Pick the Lock, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Confined feminist punks smash patriarchy.
What can readers expect?
Pick the Lock is about Jane Vandermaker-Cook, a sixteen year old who has just uncovered her family’s secrets via a cache of home security videos. The first thing she learns is that her father has been lying to her about her mother and pretty much everything for her whole life. What follows is a rebellion, a rescue attempt, and a punk opera libretto.
Our cast is wide: Jane and her brother Henry, their father Vernon and mother Mina, Marta the cook, Milorad the gardener and general handyman, and Gemma the lady’s maid. The setting is mostly on the property of their large Victorian home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The time setting is exactly now, even though Vernon acts as if it’s still Victorian times, which explains the lady’s maid.
The structure is weird but fun: Home Movies show readers what Jane sees as she discovers the truth, and helps readers piece the puzzle of her family as Jane pieces it. The punk opera, “Free Mother,” showcases songs from Jane as well as hints to piece the puzzle of the family more clearly.
Where did the inspiration for Pick the Lock come from?
I was inspired by the ways that women navigate domestic violence solo while our society continues to normalize and dismiss violence against women and girls. The book started as a Post-it note doodle of a human-sized hamster tube—and the larger idea arrived when I started reading about the history of pneumatic tube systems. I would put Jane’s mother in a human-sized tube system and have her moved around the house by Jane’s father, Vernon. This way, Vernon can lie to Jane and her brother about their mother, and their mother can’t do anything about it. Sadly, that part of the inspiration comes from my own experience. Counter parenting is incredibly damaging to children, and oftentimes, the parent being alienated doesn’t know that it’s happening.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I use the surrealist method, so I really have no idea where the book is going once I start writing it, and I just follow the lead of my characters. Because of this, the whole process is fun. Frustrating too, but mostly fun.
More to the point, I had such a fun time writing Brutus the rat. Brutus is the pet of Milorad, the Serbian gardener. They met in Chicago. There is a lot to learn from Brutus. I also really loved writing the opera libretto. Due to my writing process, I followed Jane’s lead and she delivered to me many cool songs. “Hothouse Release Party” is one of my favorites.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Usually my challenges arise from the surrealist method—it’s like solving a giant jigsaw puzzle that is all the same color some days. And yet, I am the one who made the puzzle, so I can’t really do much about it but keep trying. Usually, I can overcome the frustration by doing something else for a while, whether it’s a walk or weaving or writing a poem, etc.
What do you hope readers take away from Pick the Lock?
I hope readers take away what they need, as always. But I really hope readers come away with an understanding that A. there are people in the world who do not deserve the benefit of the doubt, no matter how nice you want to be; B. the patriarchy has taught us to disrespect working and accomplished mothers, and there is motive behind that; C. we need to stop asking the wrong questions about domestic violence.
What’s next for you?
There are two re-releases coming in October: I Crawl Through It and Reality Boy. After that, I’ll be working on two secret projects, and then a middle grade novel.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I really enjoyed Salt the Water by Candace Iloh, The Girl I am, Was, and Never Will Be by Shannon Gibney, Future Tense by Martha Brockenbrough, which is a fascinating non-fiction about artificial intelligence, and Rainbow Black by Maggie Thrash. I am presently really loving Margaret Atwood’s Old Babes in the Wood. I am looking forward to Three Sisters by David Macinnis Gill next year.
