Everything Girl

Tanita Davis’s first novel, a young adult selection called A La Carte caught my fancy because it was a story about a mother and daughter, first love, career plans, and cooking – perfect for a summer read, or for this, our Harvest-themed issue. You can read the review in our blog later this month, but first, let me share the conversation that Ms. Davis and I had about her work, and the perceived stigma of YA.

First, please tell our readers a bit about yourself, in your own words.
Hi, thanks for asking!

I’m a Northern California writer, youngest of three sisters, and now risen to that coveted middle child status since my parents adopted a brother and one more sister. I’m currently living in Glasgow, Scotland while my husband completes his PhD, and I like to experiment with food and eat all of my mistakes!

I read A La Carte earlier this summer, and loved it. Did you set out to write a YA novel, or did it just work out that way? Do you find that not-so-young adults enjoy YA titles as much or more as the target demographic, or do you think people are put off by the YA designation?
I actually did set out to write a young adult novel! I like YA literature. Some adults are highly critical of the genre, but I find that many of those who are “haters” are people who haven’t read it, but want to stand on a soapbox and talk about how teens are going to Hades in a handbag. Those who have read it know that young adult literature is some of the best edited, best written literature there is. We’re writing for readers who shape the future, and I think we try harder.

When [your publicist] mentioned that you’re also a blogger, I searched for your blogs, and found that you seem to read YA as well as write it. What draws you to YA as a reader? What else do you read? What books and/or authors have influenced you?
Ooh, tough question! I’m a serious book addict, and I feel that YA writers really need to read – everything, from The Wall Street Journal to goofy newspapers in grocery store lines that announce the births of aliens in Kansas. Reading YA literature helps keep me aware of what teens are reading and reading everything else helps me sort of take the temperature of the world.

I had a single, battered copy of Anne of Green Gables when I was nine, and that started my love affair with words. I love Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, and the sonorous poetry of the King James Psalms. I love Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Jeanne DuPrau’s The Prophet of Yonwood and all of her Ember series. I adore Terry Pratchett, and have read all of his books – at least three times - and of course, there’s Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea, there’s Gail Carson Levine, Jack Zipes, Chris Crutcher… asking a writer about their favorite books is dangerous! The list could go on and on.

Your bio mentions that you cook, and are living with “the world’s best baker?” Is Lainey based on you, or does she merely share some of your talents?
I only write fiction, but of course, but fiction is based on people I know and things I see. Lainey is not based on me! Or, if she is, it’s only bits of me, and a pastiche of myself and a whole lot of other people who are great cooks but who didn’t quite learn how to have relationships where they weren’t the only ones giving.

One of the things I like a lot about Lainey is that she’s not a one-note character – she cooks, but she’s also involved in music at school. Is music an important part of your life, as well? What, if anything, do you listen to as you write? As you cook?
Yes! I love music! At one time I wanted to be an opera singer, but that takes a discipline and dedication – and money for a voice coach – that I didn’t have when I was in my teens. I decided against a music major in college because – well, words had already won me over, but I still dabble. That’s one of the fun things about living in Scotland – people here are musical. They sing – on the street corner, sometimes (which is a little disconcerting!), and most little villages and town have a community choir. I’m excited to be part of the University of Glasgow’s Choral Society – we do two major works a year backed by a full orchestra, which is a huge rush.

I can’t really listen to music when I’m writing – nothing with lyrics, at least – so it’s a lot of really quiet classical music. But! When I’m cooking, bring on the 10,000 Maniacs, the loud Camille Saint-Saëns, the Newsboys, Third Day, India.Arie, the works!

One of the things that really resonated with me about A La Carte was the relationship between Lainey and her mother. Did you draw on your own experiences, when you were Lainey’s age, or is their relationship completely constructed?

I have the best mother in. the. WORLD. (Okay, except maybe for yours. I’m flexible.) I was able to draw on that friendship – and I know I’m very, very lucky.

Did you always intend to include the recipes within the novel? Did the recipes shape the story, or did the story come first?
I actually had the recipes at the beginning of each chapter, initially, and the recipe kind of alerted the reader to what was going on – was it going to be sweet or spicy? A difficult recipe, or an easy one? I think my editor probably had the right idea to move them to the end; in all likelihood, no one would have “gotten” my little code!

Is there a particular scene in A La Carte that really stands out for you?
I love the scene where the jazz choir rehearses… and I love the scenes where Lainey practices her Martha Stewart TV presenter voice. I have to sadly admit that is based entirely on my own geekiness!

Many of our readers and contributors struggle with is finding time to balance creative pursuits with family and career. While working on A La Carte were you able to write full time, or did/do you have a “day job?” Can you walk us through a typical day?
It is tough to balance, isn’t it? I’m writing full-time, but even without an outside job, just doing things like vacuuming are a big pain! Here in Scotland my schedule is a little different – I’m up and to the gym by 7, and then I’m back home to get breakfast and settle into the first three hours. Generally I’m at my desk by nine, and can use the first little while to read what I wrote the previous day and think about where I’m going. If I’m going to do any deleting, that’s when it happens, and then I’m writing for a solid three or four hour block. If I get stuck or derailed, I get up and wander around. Those are good times to iron or find something to clean! I’ll check email and have a snack at that point, and then, I’m back into it. I try to keep regular 9-5 work hours – sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. People talk a lot about “you must write every day,” and I think some of those days, email counts. (Just don’t get too involved playing with Facebook or Twitter, or you won’t get anything else done!) Everyone has to find their own way to creativity.

Many of our readers are also aspiring writers. What advice would you offer?
I feel like this is a horrible cliché, but I can’t apologize for it because it’s true. Aspiring writers must read, read, read, and write, write, write. Find a writing group – write through your fears, and let other people read what you’ve written. Develop that thick skin you’ll need to deal with sending your baby manuscript into the outside world. Figure out that stories have beginnings, middles and endings, and make sure you’ve got all three. And then, as Ray Bradbury once said, “You must read dreadful dumb books and glorious ones, and let them wrestle in beautiful fights inside your head, vulgar one moment, brilliant the next.” Camp out at the library. Read what you love, and write what you love.

What’s next for you? Another novel? Something else?
Thanks for asking! My next book, Mare’s War (Knopf), will be released in June 2009, and it’s a road trip novel. Imagine two bickering sisters… one non-cookie-type grandmother… a challenge, a story that takes you back in time, and more than two thousand miles in a car… together.

It was tons of fun to write, and I hope you enjoy it as much as you enjoyed A La Carte!

Melissa A. Bartell earns her living by writing articles for an SEO marketing firm, and dabbles in essays and fiction on the side. She lives near Dallas, TX with her husband, two dogs, and more computers than anyone really needs. She is the Senior Editor here at All Things Girl. Find out more about her on our About Page. You can find her at her website as well as other places here and there.

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