We chat with New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy about The Graham Effect, which is the first book in the delicious, icy-hot Campus Diaries series, a spinoff of BookTok sensations Off Campus and Briar U!
Hi Elle, thank you so much for chatting with us! Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Thanks for having me! So, a bit about myself… I live just outside of Toronto, Ontario and pretty much spend all my time with my dogs. When I’m not writing, then I’m reading, swimming, exploring little beach towns, and doing puzzles with my sister. We’re a huge puzzling family over here LOL
I’m a big fan of swimming, beaches, landscaping, KitKats, and fantasy football. I’m more than likely
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
Oh gosh, forever! My mother says I was telling stories before I could even dress myself. I also loved to read (I was one of those kids who brought a book to the dinner table and got yelled at). I wrote my first “book” in the first grade; it was about 20 pages long. And then my first real “novel” when I was 12. By the time I was a teenager, I was already submitting work to publishers and piling up the rejection letters 🙂 Basically, being a writer is all I’ve ever wanted to do with my life.
If you could describe The Graham Effect in five words, what would they be?
Playful, spicy, competitive, emotional, nostalgic
Like Gigi, I’m a big fan of butterflies! What or who inspired Gigi’s love of butterflies?
So I rarely put much of myself in my books, but the love of butterflies is all me! The first thing I do when I visit a new place is google to see if there is a butterfly garden. So Gigi’s love stems from my own fascination with them. I mean, first off, they’re beautiful. Working in my flowerbeds I get lots of little fluttery visitors, and when you think about their life cycles and how some of them migrate and the distances they can go… it’s hard to not be at least a little impressed by them.
What is the main message that you want readers to takeaway from Gigi and Ryder’s story?
I think Gigi and Ryder’s story shows just how important healthy communication is in relationships. Their chemistry is off the charts, of course, and their journey has lots of little bumps along the way, but I think as long as you’re open and honest with your partner, you can solve anything together.
What’s your favorite scene or chapter in The Graham Effect and why?
I can only pick one?! I refuse. I’m going to say either the library scene, the first time Ryder brings her flowers, or any scene that has Garrett Graham in it.
Did you encounter any challenges whilst writing The Graham Effect and, if so, how did you overcome them?
There were a few challenges, for sure. Firstly, I had to figure out how to make it the future / next generation, without it really being the future, if that makes sense. I didn’t want to go all sci-fi and imagine a world with all sorts of new technological advances – it was important to me that the story feel like it was happening right now, but I also needed it to feel like their parents weren’t the same age as them. For cultural references, I basically created an entire pop culture world (fictional TV shows, musical artists, etc.) so I didn’t “date” the book.
Another challenge was creating a conflict for Gigi that didn’t take away from the popularity of former characters. She’s the daughter of the greatest hockey player of all time (in this world), so she’s bound to be in his shadow. How can she not be? But I didn’t want there to be resentment on her part, or for them to have a strained relationship, otherwise you’re creating a villain out of a popular character. So it was a fine line to navigate.
Are you able to tease any details about the next book in the Campus Diaries series (or any of your upcoming releases)?
I am currently working on the next book in the series—THE DIXON RULE. It follows Ryder’s teammate Shane Lindley, and Gigi’s best friend Diana Dixon, who can’t stand him J I also have a February 2024 release I’m super excited about. It’s called GIRL ABROAD and it’s about a college sophomore who spends a year studying in London. She shows up expecting female roommates, only to wind up living with three guys. It’s such a fun story with lots of little twists and turns (and romance, of course!)
What books are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading Upgrade by Black Crouch, and then I’m doing a re-read of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern. I tend to read more thrillers and fantasy stories.
Lastly, what are some upcoming book releases that you can’t wait to read?
I’ve honestly been not-so-patiently waiting for Madeline Miller to announce her next release. I absolutely loved Circe and The Song of Achilles. I’m craving more from her!
