BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Steady is the Fall

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Emily Ruth Verona to talk about Steady is the Fall (12 November 2015, Black Rose Writing, 204 pages), a Literary Fiction novel.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

A very warm welcome to Emily Verona; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter.

We love music; do you have a music playlist that you used in Steady is the Fall, or which inspired you whilst you were writing it?

"I don't listen to music while writing because I find it distracting, but there are a few songs which I found inspirational for coming up with some of the scenes. I listened to a lot of classic rock. Anything that might leave your soul in tatters, I listened to it.
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin is a really important song within the narrative. Strangely, I haven't heard the song on the radio since the book was published.

If anyone is listening, I would like that to change."

What was the inspiration for Steady is the Fall?

"You know, I usually remember the exact moment at which I came up with the idea for something but for this particular novel I don't. I began writing it in my dorm room during my sophomore year of college. I've always been fascinated with family and death and the relationships between people who got along as children but have grown into very different adults."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"There is probably a tiny little piece of my in every character I've ever written. I identify with Holly and Larry in some ways, but not all. I suppose a little of my own fascination with death is in there, though I do not at all possess Larry's intensity. Holly's fondness for Dostoevsky and photography come from things I enjoy."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Steady is the Fall - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"The cover was created by The Book Designers and I think it is absolutely gorgeous. It has a haunting quality to it which captures the tone of the book and the hands which hold particular significance to Holly in terms of a photograph she took of Larry. The lettering is striking and the detail-oriented nature of the image is something that I think Holly, as a photographer, would approve of."

Why should we read Steady is the Fall and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"It goes places people don't like to go. It is a sad book. I've always connected with moving literature and moving films, the ones which might not be flashy or funny but have a lot of soul. I think Steady Is The Fall is like that. It is a real character study, with a close look at relationships and identity. I think these are compelling concepts, even for readers who might not consider the dark subject matter right from the beginning."

Can you tell us something quirky about Steady is the Fall, its story and characters?

"A lot of the streets found in the book are named after famous recluses. "

Who would you recommend Steady is the Fall to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I would recommend this book to fans of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Judith Guest's Ordinary People as well as people who are interested in family drama or character studies. The only warning I would give is that this book deals a lot with suicide, which might make some people uncomfortable."

If you could / wished to turn Steady is the Fall into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"This is an amazing question. I actually think about it a lot, haha. Ignore the fact that some of the ages don't line up, I am going with the right people for the roles at some point even if they are too young or old now. I think it would look something like this:

DIRECTOR: Debra Granik
SCREENWRITER: Me
CAST:
Holly: Carey Mulligan
Larry: Evan Peters
Bryan: Rupert Grint
Jeff: Joseph Morgan
Holly's father: James Caan (though preferably in his Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs form, ridiculous I know but true)
Paul: Taron Egerton
Shelly: Julia Garner
Ann: Zoe Kazan"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I don't generally stay with a particular genre, though most of my writing is probably family-centered crime drama. I read a lot of literary fiction. Classics. Crime. Fantasy. Horror. Historical. Anything really. I really like to write about relationships and family dynamics. I write dark books and I like to read them too."

What is your writing process?

"I write a lot. It's different for each novel. Some are best written in the early hours of the morning, some late at night. This was a morning novel, though the one I recently completed was a night book. I am inspired by cinema a lot and enjoy writing dialogue."

What is in store next?

"My super amazing agent is currently looking at my latest novel, which I can't really talk about right now. I'm currently writing a novel unlike anything I've ever done before, which is terrifying but also really exciting."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?