Author Interview: Renée Lichtenhan – Fiction Aficionado

Violet is a New York City girl, and Carabelle (from your first book) lives in rural Mississippi. Which of these characters did you find it easier to identify with and why? 

Definitely Carabelle the country girl. Although I spent the first half of my life as a city girl in both Seattle and Los Angeles, I’ve been a Mississippi country girl for almost twenty years, now. I love the night sounds of crickets chirping and frogs bellowing under a bright canopy of stars. I love the quiet mornings beside my glassy little lake. I love the lush green meadows and pine forests.  Mississippi wouldn’t suit Violet, though. Its country roads are narrow and twisty, with no safe shoulders for skateboarding — or walking for that matter, unless you want to stumble through tall grass and cotton fields.  Not nearly enough skate-friendly concrete for Violet’s taste.

If you were a character in this story, what would you have found most challenging?

If I were Violet, I would have found it most challenging to break free from the high-society mold in which my parents expected me to fit. The gap between their expectations and my own desires would make me feel like giving up. I would be afraid to show them who I really am, for fear of their disappointment.

What surprised you about these characters or their story as you wrote?

My characters have a tendency to gather up their own energy and leap right out of my outline. In book one, this both surprised and annoyed me. When one part of an outline changes, it has a trickle-down effect and the whole story morphs. It changes for the better, though, so I’ve learned to perceive my outlines as more of a loose direction for the story.

What did you learn from these characters as you wrote their story?

I learned a lot, especially when researching autism for Violet’s brother, Oliver. I chose for him to be autistic and non-verbal because I liked to imagine how high-achieving, socially visible parents like Violet’s might respond to the challenge of being special need parents. Not being a special need parent myself, I watched a lot of YouTube videos posted by parents of non-verbal autistic children to learn about their behaviors. It was inspiring to see the love between these children and their parents, and how they work through the challenges of autism. I also researched artistic savants, especially those with autism, and was fascinated by their extraordinary talents.

Do you have a favorite scene or an excerpt you would like to share with us?

I am in love with Violet’s ending, but to share it as an excerpt wouldn’t make sense without a lot of back story. I chose an excerpt from the first chapter, which offers a glimpse into Violet’s rebellious nature that that propels a lot of the storyline.