Can you tell us a bit about yourself and about Finding Balance?
Hi! My name is Kati Gardner and I’m a writer. I live in Raleigh, NC with my family and a small herd of animals. Finding Balance is my second novel and is a companion to Brave Enough. You don’t have to have read Brave Enough to understand Finding Balance, they just have character overlap. This novel is about Jase and Mari who are both childhood cancer survivors. Mari is an amputee because of her cancer and when you look at Jase you can’t see that anything was every wrong with him. They met each other at Camp Chemo, a fictional cancer camp (but based on some real ones I attended) and have been friends for years, but that’s tested when Mari crutches into Jase’s AP Chem class one day.
What was your writing process for this book like?
This one was different than anything else I’ve ever written. I wrote the initial draft in about four months. It was the first time I had a really concrete outline and helped me realize that I am really a plotter after lying to myself for years about being a pantser when I write. It was also the first time I’d ever written a whole novel with a firm deadline. My other things I wrote when I wanted to, no set timeline of when I had to be finished. It was definitely different, but still something I really enjoyed!
Which character did you resonate with most while writing, and why?
Mari is the most like me, not just physically since we share the same amputation, but in personality. She’s better at saying no than I was at her age. I had several prosthetic limbs that I tried to use before I finally had the words to say it’s okay that I don’t use one. I really loved being able to write somethings that 17-year-old Kati would have loved to been able to say, but either didn’t have the words or was too afraid of other’s reactions.
Mari and Jase are of two completely different mindsets in regards to cancer. How does that compare to your own mindset with cancer survival?
I got the idea for this novel when thinking about how my best friend and I growing up had two very different cancer stories. Even though we were diagnosed and on treatment together, went to cancer camp together, I found out that none of her school friends knew that she’d had cancer. I was blown away that this was even an option. Because like Mari, I walk around with a very obvious side effect of my cancer. I was so jealous that she could keep that part of her life a secret, that she didn’t always have to explain to her peers about her cancer, and that type of thing.
As an adult, I’m very open about my cancer history (I mean, I’ve written two books on the subject), but it’s my choice to be. I don’t have to explain to anyone why I’m disabled unless I choose to. I think we should all have the choice in what we tell people about our stories. Like Jase makes a choice not to tell people because of the way he was treated when he did. That’s a valid choice.
What’s an important takeaway you’d like readers to have by reading your book?
That just because a person had cancer in their past that does not make them a saint. Often in novels where a teenager has cancer they are almost saintly. And I really wanted to show that they are still teenagers who can be mean, who make bad decisions, who can be selfish, and that you know, are still evolving as a person. So much of my own teen years was about evolving into who I wanted to be and that meant I made bad decisions, that I was mean to people that were important to me, and things like that.
What are aspects of Mari and Jase that you love or would like to embody in real life
I would love to have Mari’s ability to just make a decision. She says no. She means it. Jase is really selective in who he lets all the way into his life and sometimes I wish I didn’t just spill everything that’s ever happened to me in my entire life.
What was your journey to publishing like? How has it changed with everything that has happened this year?
My journey feels super lucky. Brave Enough was only the second original manuscript I’d ever written (I wrote a TON of fanfiction though and it gave me such a good foundation). It’s also a lot of work that you’re never sure is ever going to go anywhere. This year has been a challenge for sure. Originally Finding Balance was going to be out in May but when we had to stay home Flux thought it was best to move me to the end of September. I really appreciated their thoughtfulness though because I’m immunocompromised and staying home is important to me. I’ve had to find other creative ways to do promotions and book signings and things. And at times, it’s all felt like A LOT. Like, there’s just too much happening to focus on any one thing. So, I tried to make to-do lists and really follow those. Some days I’m better at it than others, that’s for sure.
How will you be celebrating the release of Finding Balance?
I will be having a virtual launch on September 29th with Quail Ridge Books!! I’m super excited and hopefully one of my favourite young adult cancer survivors will be in conversation with me about the book. I’m also setting up another virtual event for later in October with Brave + Kind Bookshop in Atlanta.
What are you currently reading, listening to, or doing to enjoy some downtime?
I have two kiddos so right now a lot of my time is spent managing school work. Making sure homework is done and submitted and that computers are charged and ready to go. I just finished reading Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz and y’all, it’s so good. Like, one of those books you find yourself smiling for no reason. I’m currently binge-listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast. And I’ve been crocheting and knitting! I’m currently making this really pretty scarf that’s a drop-stitch knitting pattern.
How can we support the release of your book?
I would love for people to come to the virtual event on the 29th! And you can pre-order signed copies (with cute little stickers!) from either Quail Ridge Books or Brave + Kind Bookshop.
But I know money is tight, so asking your local libraries to carry it would be awesome too!
