We chat with author Jen Wilde about her latest novel This Is the Way the World Ends, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Jen! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m a queer, autistic, nonbinary (she/they) writer. I’m Australian, but I live in Brooklyn with my wife and our cats. My hobbies include reading, finding new bookstores to explore, and trying to keep plants alive.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was a kid, my mum enrolled my brother and I in an after school writing club where we wrote stories, drew illustrations and then the club leader turned them into homemade picture books. That sparked a love of storytelling in me that I didn’t fully appreciate until recently. As I got older, I drifted to and from writing in between other interests, and picked it up again at around 25.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading and obsessing over was the Goosebumps book Why I’m Afraid Of Bees. The two books that made me want to become a writer – but also made me feel like there might be a space for my work – were Everything Leads To You by Nina LaCour and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. The book I can’t stop thinking about right now is my current read: Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy.
Your latest novel, This Is the Way the World Ends, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Dark acadamia meets Gossip Girl.
What can readers expect?
A fast-paced thriller about power and privilege, set over one fateful night at a masquerade ball. It’s about the people who are most left behind – queer, disabled, marginalized youth – fighting back against the people with the most power.
Where did the inspiration for This Is the Way the World Ends come from?
I’ve always been intrigued (and grossed out) by the things rich and powerful people do to stay rich and powerful. It’s a trend right now across all content, everyone seems to be obsessed with the high drama of watching the 1% implode – IRL or on shows like Succession. During the height of the pandemic, my anger at the wealthiest members of society sky-rocketed as we watched them take advantage of the crisis to line their pockets and leaving the most vulnerable to suffer. I deal with my rage by writing it into my books, so that’s what I did with This Is The Way The World Ends.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed building the backstory between Waverly and Ash, showing how their relationship began, blossomed and then withered to the point it’s at when we first meet Waverly. I also loved writing the friendship between Waverly and Pari, how they fit so well together despite their differences and always have each other’s backs.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you tackle them?
Keeping track of where everyone was in the large factory was tricky, and so was writing the action scenes where many characters were involved. The part of the process that I always get stuck in is the editing, when I feel like I’ve hit a wall and can’t possible read the same page again. That’s when I need to take a break, maybe spend a day or two just consuming content for enjoyment or working on a different project, so I can come back with fresher eyes. But that’s always easier said than done!
What’s next for you?
My debut middle-grade novel, PAIGE NOT FOUND, comes out with Scholastic in 2024! It follows 11-year-old Paige as she learns that her mind is under the control of an impulsive billionaire who thinks her autism needs a “cure” and joins forces with the other children involved to shut the experiment down before it’s too late – all while exploring her queerness and gender identity.
Lastly, are there any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?
So many! I loved Biance Toree Is Afraid Of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans, Margo Zimmerman Gets The Girl by Brianna R. Shrum and Sara Waxelbaum, Out Of Character by Jenna Miller, and Old Enough by Haley Jakobson. I’m really excited about Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa, Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler, and The Year My Life Went Down The Toilet by Jake Maia Arlow.
