He’s never met a rule he didn’t break… She’s followed the rules her whole life… When they meet, one golden rule is established: stay away. Sparks fly in this edgy #ownvoices novel, perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon, S. K. Ali, and Kristina Forest.
We chat with author Whitney D. Grandison about The Right Side of Reckless, writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Whitney! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, guys, I currently live in Akron, Ohio where my new novel is set. Before I became officially published, I started off writing and posting my stories on Wattpad where I gained a large following that helped me believe I could really become an official author.
How has the first half of 2021 been for you?
The first half of 2021 has been decent as I’ve been counting down to my release date.
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!
One of the first books I remember reading had to of been by Marc Brown. I read a lot of Arthur books back in kindergarten. I’ve always wanted to be an author since I was in grade school, so I would like to credit Marc Brown with his Arthur books for that as well. The book I can’t stop thinking about is probably You by Caroline Kepnes, it was my favorite read from 2020, and it got me into reading thrillers.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
In the first grade our teacher had us reading some book, and after we’d finished, she had us write little fan fictions or our version of the story and I really enjoyed that. In the second grade my teacher liked my writing and her praise and belief in me really made me love writing stories even more.
Your new novel, The Right Side of Reckless, is out July 13th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
- Strength
- Redemption
- Voice
- Agency
- FEELS
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect to see both characters finding themselves in the story, where Guillermo’s learning to forgive and trust himself, Regan is learning to speak up for herself and what she wants. There’s a very strong message about owning your voice and speaking up for yourself I’m proud of.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
Being that I’m not Mexican-American, it was a little challenging getting his voice down as far as his homelife and sometimes the use of Spanish language. I’m very happy my readers helped me shape him in that regard for authenticity.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
While I do love my main characters Guillermo and Regan, I loved the introduction of Jenaya’s character. She’s a girl in a tough spot, with a crappy reputation, and I love what she represents and how she’s shown overcoming and forging her path despite her obstacles. Jenaya’s character can show girls like her in the real world that there’s a way through.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
I think the worst would be that sometimes you have to write what’s marketable before you can write what you want. And I don’t believe that. I believe you should mean every word of what you write and it should be true to you, not for a trend. The best writing advice I got was from Simone Elkeles, and it was to keep my head high and keep writing, because that’s truly all you can do as a writer. The more you write, the stronger you become and better.
What’s next for you?
Hopefully The Right Side of Reckless is received well, because I’d love to stay at Arlington High and tell more stories featuring other kids! Outside of that, I’m working on a YA romance duology I’m excited about.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
One cute YA romance I read this year was from debut author Joya Goffney, and it’s called Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. I’d definitely recommend!
