A reimagining of the story behind Agent 355–a New York society girl and spy for George Washington during the Revolutionary War–perfect for fans of Tatiana de Rosnay’s Sarah’s Key and the novels of Julie Berry.
We had the pleasure of chatting to author Veronica Rossi about her new young adult novel, Rebel Spy. She chats about its inspiration, book recommendations, writing, and more!
You can find Veronica on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, along with at her website. Also be sure to check out Veronica’s online launch for Rebel Spy on June 24th!
Hi Veronica! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat! Can you tell us more about yourself?
Thank you for having me, and sure! I am a young adult author who’s just published book number six, REBEL SPY. I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and have lived in Mexico, Venezuela, and Italy. I’m now in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have two sons and two dogs, but only one husband. I have a pretty profound need to be creative—usually that translates to writing and painting. I’m obsessed with elephants. I usually start crying when I see living ones, but it’s a gentler weeping than Kristen Bell’s reaction to sloths. I just feel like elephants understand me, you know?
Your new novel, Rebel Spy, publishes on June 23rd. If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Political, meaning, seek, truth, girl
Knowing that real-life spy 355 was a major inspiration for the Rebel Spy, what was the most interesting fact that you found out about her?
Very little is actually known about her, but one thing I love is a missive written by one of her co-spies that said she would “outwit them all” – them, meaning the British. It’s such a succinct statement, but I think it says so much. It really speaks to someone incredibly brave and clever, who was afforded tremendous respect and trust by her peers.
If you just happened to live in the time period within the book, who would you be more like and why?
Looking at the characters in the novel, I’d definitely be like the protagonist, Frannie Tasker. She makes mistakes, but she perseveres. She leads with her heart and has a strong sense of moral responsibility. I wish I could say that I’m as brave as her, but I’m not. I’d rather write about spies than be one!
What were your favourite scenes to write?
I loved writing scenes that highlight Frannie’s deep connection to the ocean because it’s something I feel as well. I also really enjoyed writing the scenes that centered around her friendships. She makes a few unlikely friends towards the end of the story that utterly surprised me, and that’s always fun for a writer.
Did you have a favourite drink or snack to have whilst writing Rebel Spy? I know that I couldn’t stop drinking tea whilst reading!
That’s funny! I’m actually not much for snacks or drinks while I write. I do lean on music, though. A good playlist will carry me through the months—or years—of drafting and revising of a novel.
Rebel Spy is in a different genre to that of your Under the Never Sky books. What was it like to write in a different genre?
It sounds like a huge change going from sci-fi to historical, doesn’t it? And it was in many ways, but it also wasn’t. In both genres, readers expect a richly rendered world that’s different from our own. The difference was that I fashioned one from moondust and daydreams; the other, through years of research. At the end of the day, though, it’s the characters that matter to me. I need them to feel compelling and real regardless of the genre. Writing great characters with vibrant inner lives, and deep wants and wounds—that didn’t change.
Did you have a playlist you listened to whilst writing, or did you prefer silence?
As I mentioned above, playlist! I usually write to musical scores for films or series. There’s so much atmosphere and emotion in them, and I don’t have to worry about getting distracted by lyrics. For REBEL SPY, I put together a playlist that also included period-relevant music, plus a ton of Zoë Keating and Basia Bulat. Zoë and Basia were my muses for this book!
What advice would you give to those looking to write historical fiction?
Be sure you really love research, and not just secondary source-research. I believe the closer you get to the history—primary-source documents, interviews with experts, visiting locations—the more authentic and vivid your story will be. And be patient with the process. You may not always find what you’re looking for right away. Sometimes the perfect detail finds you on its own time.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes, of course! I usually read a handful of books at once. Right now, my current YA read is THE MERMAID, THE WITCH & THE SEA by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, but I’m also reading HOW TO BE AN ANTIRACIST by Ibram X. Kendi, EXHALATION by Ted Chiang, and WOMEN WHO RUN WITH WOLVES by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. All incredibly different. All excellent.
