We chat with author Channelle Desamours about Needy Little Things, which follows a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend’s disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger, perfect for fans of Ace of Spades.
Hi, Channelle! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey there! I am a writer and high school science teacher from metro Atlanta. I can usually be found with a can of sparkling water, watermelon Sour Patch Kids, and an audiobook I’m ready to blab about. I’m a master napper, a weather nerd, and a lover of scary movies and cozy games.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I have always loved telling stories, but I really started writing for fun sometime in middle school. I authored an embarrassing amount of Degrassi fanfiction back then.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The one that made you want to become an author: Divergent by Veronica Roth
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage was wild!
Your debut novel, Needy Little Things, is out February 4th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
I’m stealing these from the wonderful authors who blurbed the book – engrossing, important, voicey, original, and twisty.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a gripping YA speculative mystery that shines a light on the heartbreaking and often infuriating realities surrounding missing persons cases in the United States. They’ll find characters they want to root for (and some they want to scream at), complex friend and family dynamics, and a message that lingers long after the final page.
Where did the inspiration for Needy Little Things come from?
One of my favorite shows of all time is the original Twilight Zone series. My main character has a magical ability that was inspired by an episode called “What You Need.”
I came up with the mystery element of the book shortly after the disappearance of Gabby Petito in 2021. Her tragic story reignited difficult but important conversations about whose stories get told and why. I saw firsthand how the teenagers I teach processed these discussions, and it was through observing, listening, and talking to them that my main character and her hopeful, angry, smart, funny, and spirited friends began to take shape.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There is a music festival scene that I really enjoyed writing. It came to me very easily, which always feels nice. I had a surprisingly good time writing my main character’s little brother as well. I don’t have any siblings, so it was fun to put everything I imagine a little brother to be into that character.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I started this book as a distraction while another book I wrote wasn’t doing so well in query land. It was hard to keep my chin up while rejections on that project were coming in, but continuing to write new things was the only way I got through it. Needless to say, I’m really glad I kept pushing!
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
So after a solid decade of dabbling in fanfiction, I decided to write my first novel. At the time, I was a fairly new teacher, a busy lacrosse coach, and a student working on my master’s degree in biology. Why I chose that time to write a book, I do not know. But I did it! I finished my first draft right around graduation. People were congratulating me on my new degree, and I distinctly remember feeling more proud that I’d actually written a semi-coherent three hundred page book. I knew then that it was something I needed to continue to do. In 2021, I got into Pitch Wars. My mentor was lovely. I learned so much and made so many amazing friends. Needy Little Things was the first book I wrote after that experience, and it led me to my phenomenal agent, Molly Ker Hawn, and fantastic editor, Tiffany Shelton.
What’s next for you?
I am deep in revisions for my second YA novel with Wednesday Books! I can’t wait to share more about it soon!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?
There are so, so many, but to name a few: Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel, All the Noise All At Once by DeAndra Davis, Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson, Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane, and Heart Check by Emily Charlotte!
