BooksChatter: ℚ Nora & Kettle: Paper Stars [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Lauren Nicolle Taylor to talk about Nora & Kettle (29 February 2016, Clean Teen Publishing, 355 pages), a Historical Young Adult Novel, book one of the Paper Stars series.

Nora & Kettle is written by the award winning author of The Woodlands Series. Set in 1953, NORA AND KETTLE explores the collision of two teenagers facing extraordinary hardship. Their meeting is inevitable, devastating, and ultimately healing. Their stories, a collection of events, are each on their own harmless. But together, one after the other, they change the world.

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

A very warm welcome to Lauren Nicolle Taylor; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter.

What was the inspiration for Nora & Kettle?

"I’ve always been fascinated with Japanese American internment since I read Snow Falling on Cedars and that led me to Kettle.

Currently in Australia we are suffering from a nationwide epidemic of violence against women. This was certainly in the back of mind as I developed Nora’s character."

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

"My inspiration came from my own personal history. Firstly, how it feels to be of mixed heritage and how that can often leave you not identifying with either race. And secondly, the experience my grandparents had while being interned in a concentration camp when they were only nineteen and how it affected them later in life."

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

"The cover was chosen for very specific reasons, which I don’t want to reveal. As the story unfolds it becomes obvious why the design was chosen as it is to do with two very significant events in the characters lives."

Why should we read Nora & Kettle and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"I would never say to someone, they should read my book. I would only say that if you like lyrical writing and surprising stories then Nora & Kettle is for you.

It is original in so far as there are not many books about Japanese American internment and I do not shy away from the hard issues to do with this topic and the subject of domestic violence."

Can you tell us something quirky about Nora & Kettle, its story and characters?

"The Tiger Lily character is a kitten.

The Lost Boys live in an abandoned subway tunnel.

In the original Peter Pan, Tinkerbell never speaks. In Nora & Kettle, the Tinkerbell character is deaf."

Who would you recommend Nora & Kettle to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I would recommend Nora & Kettle to all readers over the age of thirteen.

In terms of warnings, it does contain realistic portrayals or domestic violence."

If you could / wished to turn Nora & Kettle and the Paper Stars series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Tim Burton or Baz Luhrmann would be great as director, to capture that fantastical, dreamy feel.

Telly Leung would be perfect for Kettle and Lily James would be amazing for Nora.

It is set in New York, so obviously that would be the best location."

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

"So far I have stuck to teen/YA but within that I have written in three different genres including dystopian, historical and contemporary. I like to stretch myself and try different things.

In terms of what I like to read, I do seem to prefer YA and NA."

What is your writing process?

"My writing process looks like the inside of my brain: A total mess.

I usually just start writing and then maybe do a very rough outline about halfway through once I’ve got a good sense of who my characters are. I usually scribble little quotes in my notebook as I go along and they guide my scenes."

What is in store next?

"I’m currently working on another book set in the seventies tackling racism and immigration with a touch of time travel in there.

There are rough plans for a sequel to Nora and Kettle but nothing is set in stone as of yet."

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?

"This is Stella, my thirteen-year-old, golden cockerspaniel. She looks like a muppet and acts like a puppy. She sleeps under my desk while I write."

Hello Stella, you gorgeous girl! Head scratches and belly rubs from all of us at BooksChatter!

Thank you for sharing Stella with us. Have a great tour :-D