The Brain of a Children's Author: Interview with Sherry Torgent

I am so excited to have Sherry Torgent at the blog today. She is the amazingly talented author of Dandelion on Fire, the first book in the Greene Island Mystery series as well as Like Ice.

I have been fortunate enough to read both of Sherry's stories. They are good--like seriously good.We're focusing on Dandelion on Fire today, but from one book-lover to another, read Like Ice. You will be extremely glad you did.

Sherry so graciously answered several of my fangirl questions below. And her answers? Complete awesome.

*Spoiler Warning*

In your book, Dandelion on Fire, what made you choose its island setting?

There's something about islands that invoke mystery to me. Plus, creating a fictional place like Greene Island allowed me to give it that mystical history that it’s cursed.

I LOVE the names of your characters. They really stand out. How do you choose such awesome names like Hardy, Viola, Charity and Darcy?

I love them too! I knew I was going to use Hardy right away for the main character. I was a big fan of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books, and since I was writing a mystery, this was a no-brainer. Darcy came from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and Viola came from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. It's no coincidence that my Viola came out of the sea because Shakespeare's Viola found herself shipwrecked at the beginning of Twelfth Night.

I love to read the young adult genre, but I have always been incredibly timid about writing it. I wasn’t really sure if it could be done in a way that develops unforgettable characters for this age group without all the junk (sex, violence and language) that most books in this genre contain. I was so encouraged when I found myself staying up late to find out what happened next in your book. I think it is uber cool that you can create such an intriguing plot and pull the reader in without the stuff that I definitely don’t think young adults should be reading. Was it a major feat for you to achieve this?

No, not at all. It's not as hard as you might think it is. I love a good page-turner, so for me it's all about the story, not teen behavior. Having said that, let’s give teens some credit. Not every teen is out there having sex, cussing, and getting drunk. People will say things like "But having those elements in a YA book is just being realistic.” In my opinion people are devaluing teenagers when they say that. Books can influence how young people see themselves. If they're only reading books with questionable behavior, you're treating them as if they have no value. That's why I keep it clean and weave in themes of overcoming obstacles, dealing with low self-esteem, and perseverance. These are the things that shape character and make us human.

I really enjoyed Darcy’s sci-fi computer eye and the rare, fantastical appearances from Viola. How much fun were elements like these to write?

Very fun! There's nothing I like better than supernatural or sci-fi elements in a story. So naturally, these are going to show up in my books.

In the book, Darcy, Hardy and Charity all come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. I have recently been exploring this in one of my stories as well. Do you find yourself being extra delicate when writing this? Is it difficult? Easy? Or do you more tell it like it is?

The social differences were important to who these characters were. That made it a very natural thing to write. These characters were who they were because of where they came from. Darcy’s living situation was difficult, but I also think it was realistic. Not everybody has an easy life.

At the end, Viola tells Darcy that Hardy is her true love. I adore series like this. Having a true love, feels so epic and exciting, yet also so vulnerable. There is so much at stake. Do you also enjoy reading books with this element?

Yes, I do. I'm a sappy romantic at heart, so all my books will probably have a romantic element to them even though it might not be the central story. I'm such a girl.

Have you begun the next in the series? Are you at liberty to share anything about it for those of us at the edge of our seats?

Yes, I’m well into writing the next book in the series. I have a lot of readers anxious to see what happens with Hardy and Darcy. Book two of the Greene Island Mystery Series is tentatively titled "The Curse of Viola." You’ll get a peek into Viola’s past and how she came to be what she is. I’ve woven her story into real history in the 1700’s which will make for some interesting “alternate history.” Hardy will start college on the island and you’ll see how his relationships with certain people evolve (wink - can't give away too much here). You're also going to see some new characters with new supernatural abilities. Hardy and his friends will face a new threat from Viola creating a whole new mystery.

Do you have upcoming projects that you would like to share?

I'm going to be busy for a while finishing the Greene Island Mystery series. I hope to have book two, "The Curse of Viola" ready sometime in early 2016.

Where can fans find and follow you?

I have a website — www.sherrytorgent.com. I love to do book reviews, so I have a blog Eight Ten on my site where I post my latest reads.