We chat with author Cat Sebastian about Star Shipped, which is a witty, emotional, and deliciously slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between two costars on a popular sci-fi television series.
Hi, Cat! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I write queer romance, and when I’m not doing that, I’m probably reading, baking, or doing crossword puzzles. My family recently moved from the South to Connecticut, and I think I’ve spent the past six weeks trying to convince the dog that he likes snow actually.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My mom was an elementary school teacher, so our house was full of books. I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t at least a little obsessed with stories.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: One of the Richard Scarry Busytown books
- The one that made you want to become an author: Either Courtney Milan’s The Governess Affair or Cecilia Grant’s A Lady Awakened
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine
Your latest novel, Star Shipped, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
“I love whatever’s wrong with you” (which is six words but one of them is very short)
What can readers expect?
Star Shipped is the story of two actors on a sci-fi show who’ve spent their careers bickering at one another. When one decides to leave the show, they both realize the narrative is going to be that he quit because of tensions on set, and that both their reputations will suffer. They decide to fake being friends, but since neither of them know how to be normal about one another or anything else, this means they accidentally go on a roadtrip.
Where did the inspiration for Star Shipped come from?
There’s this story of Gene Rodenberry (the creator of Star Trek) writing to sci-fi legend Isaac Asimov for advice about two actors who maybe were having difficulty sharing the spotlight. Asimov’s advice was, basically, to put them in every scene together. This letter surfaced on my Tumblr at the exact moment I was wondering whether to write a contemporary, so I decided to take it as a sign.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
These two characters can’t manage two consecutive minutes of emotional honesty, and it was a fun little challenge to figure out how to make them say everything possible except what they’re feeling.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Star Shipped is my first contemporary, and I was worried that by writing a book set in the present day I would betray what an out-of-touch weirdo I am. I circumvented this by writing a point-of-view character who’s even weirder and more out of touch than I am.
What’s next for you?
I’m finishing up revisions on my second contemporary, which is about two former child actors who haven’t spoken in fifteen years.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
TJ Alexander’s A Lady for All Seasons (their first historical, A Gentleman’s Gentleman, was delightful and I can’t wait to get my hands on this new one) and When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley (1910 Coney Island sideshow, featuring a merman!!).
