We chat with author Laura Silverman about Firsts and Lasts: 16 Stories from Our World…and Beyond!, which is an exciting fiction YA anthology that celebrates the new experiences and final moments teenagers face on their journey into adulthood from Laura as editor and a cast of spectacular contributors.
Hi, Laura! Welcome back! We last spoke in 2020… How have things been for you the last few years?
Thank you for having me back! Like so many others, the last few years have been a whirlwind of ups and downs. It was difficult to stay away from the friends and activities I love for so many months, but the pandemic also provided a ton of quality time with my family that I would have never gotten otherwise.
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!
Oh, wow! The first one I remember reading. It would have to be a picture book. Rainbow Fish and Green Eggs and Ham come to mind first. The one that made me want to become an author – probably Tithe by Holly Black. I mention that book in a lot of interviews. I reread it countless times as a teen and was completely enamoured by the story. One I can’t stop thinking about – a recent read would have to be Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in years, and I recommend it to everyone!
Firsts and Lasts: 16 Stories from Our World…and Beyond is a new anthology and it’s edited by you! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Adventurous, nostalgic, funny, emotional, and romantic!
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect exactly what the title promises. 16 stories focusing on the first and last pivotal moments of your teen years. From your first kiss to your last day of school. And these stories are indeed from this world and beyond. Some stories take place in the real world and others have a fantastical lens. For example, the first kiss story is about a first kiss with a vampire. And while my story explores death, it does so in a world where somehow dinosaurs still exist!
Where did the inspiration for Firsts and Lasts: 16 Stories from Our World…and Beyond come from?
It came from my own experiences as a teenager. My teen years were filled with countless highs and lows. As a teenager, I bonded with best friends I still have to this day, I had my first serious boyfriend, and I began to focus on my most fulfilling passions (like writing!). As I teen, I also had many lows. I experienced rejection and failure. And when I was sixteen, my older brother passed away in a car accident.
My teen years were filled with many pivotal moments, and they truly shaped the person I am today. I’m sure many people can relate to this, and I wanted to share the power of those stories in an anthology.
Can you tell us about the process behind an anthology coming together?
For my anthologies, I come up with a theme first, like Firsts & Lasts. Once I have a theme that speaks to me, I write up a pitch and send it to my agent. When we agree it’s a strong idea, I begin to reach out to authors and ask if they’d be willing to write a story for the anthology. Once we have a roster of authors, we pitch the book to publishers and hope it sells. If it does sell, we start writing the stories and then go through the rest of the tradtional publishing process.
What’s next for you?
Good question! I’ve been trying to mix it up lately. I have a fantasy idea and an adult fiction idea I’ve been working on. That said, I have a new YA anthology idea as well. I’d be thrilled to keep working on anthologies. It’s truly one of my favorite things to do! There’s also a secret project I’m working on with a few of my closest friends – hopefully one day I’ll be able to share more about that!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Of course, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow like I mentioned above. I also recently read Fire by Kristin Cashore, which was published back in 2009. It’s an incredible story – unique worldbuilding and brilliant character depth. And another recent favorite is You Made a fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi, which has incredibly gorgeous writing and character study to match.
Thank you for having me!
You can find Laura on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and at her website.
