Interview with debut author Elise Bryant
This week we featured debut author Elise Bryant as our Author of the Week on @mommylovesbooks Instagram account. When I first read about her happy and romantic young adult novel Happily Ever Afters, I knew it was a story my high school sophomore would want to read and sure enough, she loved it. The sweet and charming book is about 16 year old Tessa who moves to Southern California and attends a private arts school. Tessa writes romance stories but has a case of writer’s block, so with the help of her friend Caroline, they hatch a plan to fall in love with a boy so she can write about real love. The story also addresses the daily struggles of racism, the lack of diversity in literature, the imposter syndrome, and people with disabilities. It is an exploration of finding yourself and your own voice, and loving your uniqueness.
This is Elise’s first novel. She was born and raised in Southern California and lives in Long Beach with her two daughters and husband where she enjoys reading, writing and eating dessert. She earned her BA in Africana studies from California State University, Long Beach, and her MA in special education from Loyola Marymount University and enjoyed many years working as a special education teacher in South Los Angeles. For more about Elise Bryant, visit her web site at elisebryant.com.
I had the pleasure of asking the author some questions and have posted the interview here. Thank you to Elise for taking the time out of her busy schedule. I hope you enjoy reading more about this wonderful author.
#1 When did you start writing this book? Did you start before the pandemic?
I wrote the first draft of this book in the fall of 2018, and it sold to my publisher in April 2019. One thing that often surprises people about publishing is that things move pretty slowly. Most debut novels are written and sold years in advance.
#2 The book is receiving a lot of praise and great reviews. How has it been releasing a book in the middle of a pandemic? How did the events of last week affect your book launch?
I’m definitely grieving a lot of things that I imagined for my debut novel experience, like going to book festivals, meeting other authors, and having a big party to celebrate with my family and friends. But this is all still a dream come true, and I’m so grateful for the reactions and kind words already coming in from readers – especially those that say they see themselves reflected in a book for the first time.
Debuting the day before 1/6 was definitely really tough, and of course many people were rightfully not thinking of books that week. But I still have hope that Happily Ever Afters will find the readers that need it.
#3 Do you see parts of yourself in Tessa? Do you have a friend like Caroline?
Yes, Tessa is very similar to me as a teenager – the anxiety, the impostor syndrome, the love for romance novels. I took a lot from my own experience when creating her and the story. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a friend like Caroline, but she’s definitely the ideal – especially her patience with Tessa as she figures herself out.
#4 I read that you are being compared and touted as the next Sarah Dessen. How do you feel about that?
When I saw that comparison for the first time, I burst into tears. Sarah Dessen was one of my very favorite authors as a teenager, and to even be in the same sentence as her is such an honor. I can only dream to have a long and successful career like hers!
#5 Wow, the cover art is gorgeous. As the author, do you have input into the vision and design of the cover?
I’m obsessed with the art too! The artist, Michelle D’Urbano, and the designer, Jessie Gang, got it so right. I was very fortunate that my publisher asked for my input along the way. The two things most important to me were Tessa being on the cover and the TWA (teeny weeny afro) because I know that would have meant everything to me as a teen to see.
#6 I read and see on your account that you are a baker. What is your favorite thing to bake?
I love baking everything, but cookies are probably my favorite. I’m currently making my way through 100 Cookies by Sarah Kieffer.
#7 It looks like they are definitely younger but are your daughters excited to one day read your book? (Many years from now, of course. P.S. Authors are celebrities in our house, so my children think it is so cool that I get to talk to authors running my account.)
Authors are total celebrities in my house too! But in my kids’ eyes, I’m still just mom, so I think they’re most excited when I make connections with the authors whose books they read. Like, when my eight-year-old’s favorite authors post about my book, she thinks I’m really cool. My five-year-old just tells everyone I write books with bad words.
#8 What is next after Happily Ever Afters? My daughter seems to think it feels like (or hopes that) there will be a sequel. Will you write more YA Romance Novels?
My second book will be coming out in early 2022! And it is set in the same world as Happily Ever Afters, so your daughter is on the right track there! I hope to keep writing books about Black girls falling in love as long as I can.
Thank you again to Elise Bryant. We look forward to reading your next book. Congratulations on the early success of Happily Ever Afters.
