When 17-year-old Calliope meets her new neighbour Max, their connection is instantaneous, but the revelation of her sperm donor’s identity changes everything. The People We Choose is perfect for readers looking for stories about family dynamics and fans of The Other F-Word by Natasha Friend.
We chat with author Katelyn Detweiler about her latest novel The People We Choose, as well as writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Katelyn! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello! I’m a full-time literary agent by day (and nights)—a total dream job really, working with brilliant authors on projects in all genres and for all ages. I’m an author mostly on the weekend—THE PEOPLE WE CHOOSE is my fourth YA novel—whenever I can find enough time/caffeine/brainpower. I’m also a toddler mom, which means there is often not enough time/caffeine/brainpower for much writing. I grew up in a small PA town, and have lived in NYC, now Brooklyn, for the last thirteen years. Both places have my heart, and both have burrowed their way into my stories.
How is your 2021 going in comparison to that other year?
Ehh… I don’t want to jinx anything just yet! I’m feeling… cautiously optimistic? But in both 2020 and 2021, I’ve felt extremely grateful to have jobs that allow me to work easily and efficiently from home. I’m all about that sweatpants at the kitchen table kind of life, even when my son is cranking Daniel the Tiger in the background.
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!
First book! That’s a tough one. I’m sure there were lots of picture books I read (or at least pretended to read), but the first books that really stand out are Pippi Longstocking and Wayside Stories. I can’t really recall a lightbulb moment that made me think “I need to be an author!” That was more a gradual thing—an obsession with reading that started early on, an obsession that brought me to an English major and then a job in publishing. The more I read other peoples’ words, the more I wanted to put down some of my own. As for books I can’t stop thinking about: I’m thinking about at least ten client books at any given time! I wouldn’t have it any other way.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love writing. My mom still has my first book on display—Henrietta the Turkey, a riveting tale about a brave turkey, named (you guessed it!) Henrietta. I want to say she escapes the Thanksgiving table, but I can’t quite remember how the plot shakes out…? But yeah, I was afraid to actually call myself a writer for a very long time—I don’t think I used that word out loud until I officially sold my first book.
Your new novel The People We Choose is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Summer, love, defining our “family.”
What can readers expect?
It is definitely not your average love story! Or at least not your average romantic love story, that is. My hope for this novel has always been to show how families are created in different ways, and to explore how love and genetics are tied together—or not tied together at all. How we form our identities and relationships, how we love, and the differences between romantic love, friendship love, and family love—where they intersect, and where they very much divide.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
I wrote most of this book while very pregnant, and that was pretty challenging! J But I was scared that if I didn’t push through, I’d have a baby and be too busy and too exhausted to ever write another word of my own until said baby was a big kid in college. It made for a pretty great incentive, though, to have a first draft before my son was born. Definitely the fastest I’ve ever written!
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
The small-town PA setting is very of the place where I grew up, and my main characters live in the heart of the woods. Writing a story that takes place there, a wild green space in the throes of summer–the sounds of nature, the smells, the feel, all of it—was so transportive. I felt like I was living in a permanent summer world while I was writing and revising, no matter the actual season.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Best: Write something every day.
Worst: Write something every day.
I love the idea of staying in your story, whether you write ten words or ten thousand. But I also… don’t feel like inspiration and creativity can always be forced. Some days, especially in this last year, it’s just too much, too hard.
What’s next for you?
My husband and I have been working on an adult rom-com manuscript together—a fun couples’ activity to get us through the pandemic that didn’t involve Netflix and our sofa. It’s his first stab at a novel, though he’s always been working in other creative spaces. No matter what happens next, it’s been a very cool experience, sharing that writing headspace with my favorite partner in all things.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
For anyone looking for a much needed burst of joy, I would highly recommend Jesse Q. Sutanto’s DIAL A FOR AUNTIES, which just published last week. Truly, PURE JOY. Hysterically funny, but also a beautiful story about family—and the lengths we would go for the people we love. (Even if it involves covering up a murder!)
