An Interview with Teri Bailey Black, author of Chasing Starlight
Questions about the book:
1. How did you come up with the story of Chasing Starlight?
My first book, Girl at the Grave, was set in the 1800's, so when I set out to write my second book for that publisher, I planned on a similar time and place. I thought up the scenario first -- a girl goes to live with her grandfather and discovers he has college boys boarding in his old mansion. One of the boys is murdered, and she suspects everyone in the house (including a boy she likes). Good idea, but the 1800's historical setting felt a bit "done before". I wanted something more unique and fun. I also wanted to set it in California, where I'm from -- and as soon as the idea of Old Hollywood popped in my head, my imagination took off. The boys would be aspiring actors, not college students. The girl would end up working at a movie studio. I pitched the idea to my editor, and she loved it too. Fun fact: my grandfather worked at the MGM Motion Picture Studio as a propmaker for nearly 30 years.
2. Which of the characters are you the most similar to in Chasing Starlight?
Definitely Kate. I'm a get-it-done kind of person. But she's a math/science girl, while I'm more creatively-driven like Hugo. (My husband and two sons are math/science nerds; I used them to get my math facts straight in the book.) Fun fact: I won the Best Actress Award at my eighth grade graduation and did well in my college acting class. But I didn't have a strong drive for it, which you need to survive in that business. I loved writing more and went that direction (also designing with textiles, which is my second career).
3. What part was the hardest to write? The beginning, middle or the end?
Oh, that annoying muddy middle is always the hardest, for sure. Beginnings are easy and fun. I catch fire with an idea and love writing the first few chapters. That excitement keeps me going for about 100 pages, then the ideas fizzle out. I have to stop and plot, rethink the entire story, change the character's personality, consider themes, figure out the ending. Then I start over, writing more slowly and thoughtfully. Endings are easy to write because I know my characters and story so well by then.
4. Did you already know the killer or was it a surprise for you too?
I knew the killer from the beginning. The major plot elements and mystery elements were clear in my head; it was the subtle background information I had to figure out as I went. For instance, some actors boarding in the house were cut from the book and others added. In my early plotting, her love interest lived next door -- Bonnie had a brother -- but of course it's much more exciting if he lives in the same house and she suspects him of murder, so Bonnie's brother was cut from my plans before I even started writing.
5. Where can readers purchase Chasing Starlight?
It's available at all the usual book outlets. Indie bookstores need all our love and support, so I hope people will go that route. You can look at IndieBound.org. It's also available from JeanBookNerd Storytellers BOX subscription.
About You:
1. If you won a prize for something, what would it be and why?
Something creative. In school, I won awards in art, acting, and sewing. I grew up in a creative family with seven kids and few rules. On any given day, I could wander the house and find someone painting a picture, sewing a dress, playing the piano, building something out of wood. My first book, Girl at the Grave, won the Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel, which was a complete surprise and huge honor. My husband and I flew to NYC for the awards banquet. I went up and gave a speech. It was surreal and wonderful.
2. If a director wanted to make Chasing Starlight into a movie and wanted you to act in it, who would you be and why?
Ooo, I need to think about this one. I would say the costume manager, Mei Chen, because I'd love that job, but I'm not Asian, so that wouldn't work. Maybe Stella Nixon, if I could grow a few inches.
3. What are some of your favorite tv shows or movies?
One of the fun surprises of writing this book was falling in love with classic movies. I set out to watch a few old movies as research and quickly became an avid fan, my TV airing a nonstop stream of singing, dancing, and snappy dialogue. Some favorites: Stage Door with Ginger Rogers and Katharine Hepburn; To Have and Have Not with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall; The More the Merrier with Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea; The Big Sleep; His Girl Friday; Philadelphia Story. I could go on for a while.
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