An interview with Suzanne Park about The Perfect Escape
About the Book:
1. How did you come up with the story of The Perfect Escape?
A couple of years ago I tried a zombie escape room challenge with my brother and sister. They teamed us up with a loud group of ladies who were there for a bachelorette party celebration. These partygoers kept interrupting the host every few seconds with their yelps and shrieks. I thought it would be so funny to set a romance in the escape room because I couldn’t think of a less romantic place than in a room filled with tipsy bachelorette party women and the undead.
2. Who did you like writing more about, Nate or Kate?
I liked writing Nate more, because Nate feels a lot of the same parental pressures I had growing up, especially when it comes to academics. His family is strapped financially, and as such Nate is very focused on making money. I wasn’t as obsessed with money as Nate is in the book, but I did start working at age 15 because it was important for me to have “just in case” funds. My first job was at Opryland USA country music theme park —not exactly the place you’d imagine seeing an Asian-American teen girl. But I did what I needed to do to have spending money in high school, and I see this scrappiness in Nate, too.
Kate’s story came to me more easily though. She wants to leave home to pursue an acting career, but her tyrannical father wants Kate to have a corporate job like his. Her relationship with her father is far from ideal, and there’s a LOT they need to work out, but I wanted to portray a deeply troubled family that starts to work toward healing at the end of the book, but wasn’t this instant “Poof! Magic! Everything’s all better now” resolution.
3. What was your favorite part to write about? The beginning, middle or end?
I loved the latter half of the book, where we move from preparing for the competition to being in it. The momentum picks up and I really liked writing the action scenes.
4. Why should we read your book?
I wanted to write a fun, unique story because escapism is important to me, and always has been. I’m hearing from early readers that this book really has been the perfect escape for them during this unprecedented time, because there’s a slight futuristic element that brings you out of the current reality. It’s a fun, fast-paced and entertaining read!
5. Where can readers purchase The Perfect Escape? It’s available anywhere books are sold.
About You:
1. What is your favorite place to go on a vacation?
During this pandemic, my favorite vacation place would be seated in my local coffee shop. But a bigger dream vacation would be going to London. I love London!
2. If you won a prize for something, what would it be and why?
Penmanship. I have unusually good penmanship for someone who types so much.
3. What is your favorite holiday and why?
I love Thanksgiving. Not because of what the holiday stands for, but mainly because people congregate and bring pie.
4. A famous movie producer wants to make your book, The Perfect Escape, into a movie. They make you a part of the cast. What character would you be playing?
The mom, most definitely. I’m the master of mom jokes.
5. What do you like to do in your free time?
Procrastinate.
About the Book:
1. How did you come up with the story of The Perfect Escape?
A couple of years ago I tried a zombie escape room challenge with my brother and sister. They teamed us up with a loud group of ladies who were there for a bachelorette party celebration. These partygoers kept interrupting the host every few seconds with their yelps and shrieks. I thought it would be so funny to set a romance in the escape room because I couldn’t think of a less romantic place than in a room filled with tipsy bachelorette party women and the undead.
2. Who did you like writing more about, Nate or Kate?
I liked writing Nate more, because Nate feels a lot of the same parental pressures I had growing up, especially when it comes to academics. His family is strapped financially, and as such Nate is very focused on making money. I wasn’t as obsessed with money as Nate is in the book, but I did start working at age 15 because it was important for me to have “just in case” funds. My first job was at Opryland USA country music theme park —not exactly the place you’d imagine seeing an Asian-American teen girl. But I did what I needed to do to have spending money in high school, and I see this scrappiness in Nate, too.
Kate’s story came to me more easily though. She wants to leave home to pursue an acting career, but her tyrannical father wants Kate to have a corporate job like his. Her relationship with her father is far from ideal, and there’s a LOT they need to work out, but I wanted to portray a deeply troubled family that starts to work toward healing at the end of the book, but wasn’t this instant “Poof! Magic! Everything’s all better now” resolution.
3. What was your favorite part to write about? The beginning, middle or end?
I loved the latter half of the book, where we move from preparing for the competition to being in it. The momentum picks up and I really liked writing the action scenes.
4. Why should we read your book?
I wanted to write a fun, unique story because escapism is important to me, and always has been. I’m hearing from early readers that this book really has been the perfect escape for them during this unprecedented time, because there’s a slight futuristic element that brings you out of the current reality. It’s a fun, fast-paced and entertaining read!
5. Where can readers purchase The Perfect Escape? It’s available anywhere books are sold.
About You:
1. What is your favorite place to go on a vacation?
During this pandemic, my favorite vacation place would be seated in my local coffee shop. But a bigger dream vacation would be going to London. I love London!
2. If you won a prize for something, what would it be and why?
Penmanship. I have unusually good penmanship for someone who types so much.
3. What is your favorite holiday and why?
I love Thanksgiving. Not because of what the holiday stands for, but mainly because people congregate and bring pie.
4. A famous movie producer wants to make your book, The Perfect Escape, into a movie. They make you a part of the cast. What character would you be playing?
The mom, most definitely. I’m the master of mom jokes.
5. What do you like to do in your free time?
Procrastinate.
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