In 2008, Jillian Boehme created the online writing blog Miss Snark’s First Victim and has never looked back. Providing sage writing advice for up and coming authors, many of her subscribers have gone on to publish best-selling novels. Now in 2019, Boehme is finally hitting the publishing scene with her debut novel, Stormrise. The tale of a girl who is determined to help with the war effort in order to save her family, it is due for a September release from publisher Tor Teen.
Nerd Daily contributor, Tasha Leigh had the opportunity to ask Jillian about all things publishing and her upcoming debut novel Stormrise.
First off, let me say congratulations on your soon to be released debut YA novel, Stormrise. It’s the tale of Rain, a young woman who fills in for her brother when the country goes to war who then finds out she has a destiny that is interwoven with the awakening of the country’s dragon population and is due for release in September this year. How has the journey to publication been for you so far?
Thank you so much! This has been a long journey in general, as you know, and the past year and a half has definitely been the most exciting part. Even after waltzing with the publishing industry for such a long time, there has been a learning curve for me. I have a wonderful agent and a fantastic editor who have helped walk me through everything. I’m living my dream!
In the acknowledgements, you say it took you 14 years from inception to the final product. Were you constantly working on it? Or did it come in bits and pieces?
Actually, it took me 14 years from the time I wrote my first, horrible novel until the release of Stormrise this coming September. Stormrise is my tenth novel, and the sixth to go on submission. I finished the first draft in the fall of 2016.
What drew you to the idea of your main character pretending to be male in order to be included in the war effort?
It’s an age-old trope, and I’m surprised I wasn’t drawn to it earlier. My main character pretends to be male not so much to be included in the war effort, but to protect her brother and her father. The motivation behind her decision is her love for her family. Of course, in so doing, she also embarks on a journey of finding her authentic self, and this is something that’s very important to me. For Rain to be a young woman who discovers that she can be strong, brave, successful, and female is, to me, something worth exploring (and living!).
In a novel dominated by such masculinity, how important do you feel it was to keep some feminine characteristics in Rain/Storm?
It was fairly important, because Rain never sought to truly discard her femininity, and because, ultimately, she triumphed in the fulness of that femininity.
Stormrise doesn’t have a magic system but relies upon utilising the remnants of dragons to create pills and potions to create and boost abilities. What inspired this granting of abilities from fossils?
Well, I’ve never thought of it that way! LOL The magic system actually belongs to the dragons, and they have a history of sharing it with humans. In the midst of creating Madam S’dora and her mysterious shop, I simply came up with the idea that she was creating tinctures and potions out of dragon bits. I’m not sure what that says about me. 🙂
In Stormrise, one of your characters falls for a character who is betrothed to another, giving a sense of days gone by and forbidden love. Were the two characters always destined to have a romantic subplot or has their plight changed throughout the writing process?
I love this question, because it allows me to brag about Danielle, my inimitable agent! No, the characters weren’t always destined to have a romantic subplot. In my original outline, she was going to end up with someone else. Danielle is the one who pointed out to me that it would be stronger for the two original characters to end up together—and she was absolutely right.
A lot of authors comment that they write a piece of themselves into their characters. To which of your characters do you most relate?
I’m thankful you’ve asked this, because it made me think. My initial response was, “None of them!” Then I thought, “I’d love to say Rain, but I’m not anywhere as brave or as physically strong as she is.” But then I dug deeper and saw something I hadn’t before—Rain is fiercely loyal, both to those she loves and to those she serves. And that’s where I see myself—I love fiercely and loyally, and I think that piece of me showed up in my main character.
There have been a lot of on screen adaptations of YA novels recently with everything ranging from miniseries to multi-movie blockbusters. If you had the opportunity to have Stormrise picked up, what medium would you prefer it to take (eg. Movie, tv series, limited series)? Who would be your dream casting?
Definitely a movie! The arc doesn’t lend itself to anything else, and I often saw movie scenes in my head as I wrote (though this is almost always true when I’m writing). As for dream casting, I’m really not up on all the younger stars. I do know that I’d prefer British casting, though; the majority of my favorite actors and actresses are from the United Kingdom!
What would be the most important message you would want your readers to take from Stormrise?
Find your authentic self and live your authentic life. Also? Don’t be afraid to love fiercely and unconditionally.
So, I mentioned earlier that it took 14 years before your debut Stormrise was published. Do have any advice about keeping the passion for writing alive for aspiring authors out there who are taking their time to write their own novel?
My advice for aspiring authors is keep writing until it no longer brings you joy. And even then, don’t walk away forever unless you’re certain you’re finished. The writing journey is a bumpy one, and it’s important to focus on our enjoyment of storytelling and our dedication to bettering our craft rather than the obstacles thrown in our path. Staying connected with the writing community at large and maintaining friendships with like-minded writers is also important. This is one journey we should never take alone.
You run a writing blog aimed at aspiring authors called Miss Snark’s First Victim. How did this come about?
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea that took off and never looked back! I seriously had a sudden thought one day (in 2008) that I’d like to start a blog for aspiring authors—and that I’d do it anonymously. I held my first Secret Agent contest not long after the blog’s inception, and things took off from there. Back then, there weren’t many (if any) online contests for writers, so my audience grew quickly. It’s thrilling to know that more than 60 authors found their agents through Miss Snark’s First Victim, and many of them went on to publish multiple books (e.g. Beth Revis, Dorothy Dreyer, Danielle Jensen, Alice Loweecey, Peter Salomon).
You have previously contributed to an anthology with a short story. How does your writing process differ between short works and a full length novel?
It’s pretty much the same, except that the entire process is more…compact? Obviously there are fewer layers and a smaller plot arc in a short story, but don’t be fooled—that doesn’t make it easier to write!
What authors do you love to read? Have they helped to inspire your work?
I love to read Rae Carson, Mary E. Pearson, and Leigh Bardugo. All three authors do an amazing job of making you care deeply about their characters, which is what I want to see in my own work. Mary has particularly inspired me, not only through her stories, but also by the way she defies the “younger is better” convention and absolutely rocks it as a beautiful, strong woman of mature years. If she can do it, so can I
How are you spending your time in the lead up to Stormrise’s release?
Besides living in a state of giddy expectation, I’m working on edits for my next book, which drops Fall 2020, as well as working on a new story. I’ve got lots to do to prepare for the release of Stormrise as well, so I’m busy doing those things. And, of course, planning my release party, which I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Can we expect to see you anywhere in the coming months to promote your debut?
I’ve got two Barnes and Nobles events coming up—one in Nashville, TN in September and one in Allentown, PA in October. I’ll also be participating in the super-fun Fantastic Flying Book Club blog tour the second week of September. Check my web site and Instagram for updates and info!
If you could give your younger self any advice relating to writing and the creative process, what would it be?
“Stop talking yourself out of things you assume you can’t do. Dive in NOW, not later. And for the love of all things chocolate, don’t let your passion for the written word slither away into a dark hole. It’s who you are. It’s who you were created to be.”
QUICKFIRE ROUND
Fiction or nonfiction? Fiction!
Plotter or pantser? (Do you plot out your entire story to the smallest detail or just have a vague idea + major occurrences and let the characters guide you?) Mostly-plotter. I plot my stories and pants my characters.
Favourite bookish trope? Full-circle time travel!
Least favourite bookish trope? Insta-love. Don’t even go there!
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Pizza or pasta? Neither—too many carbs!
Beach holiday or hiking in the bush? Beach, forever and always
Convention crowds or smaller signings? Bring on the crowds! (Just let me go hide in a corner afterward…)
Sunny or rainy? Sunny—unless I’m in the mood for a rainy day
If you could pick a single holiday destination for the rest of your life, where would it be? I’d rather be home! But if I have to go somewhere, let it be London.
Music, books or Netflix – you can only pick 2? Music and books, please!
