First Time Is a Charm: An Interview with Patricia Vanasse, Published First-Time Author

Since I worked with an early draft of Patricia Vanasse's paranormal YA manuscript in January of 2012, a lot has happened. Resilient was accepted and recently released by Pants on Fire Press, a boutique press. It also received some interest from Hollywood, and placed in the 2012 Golden Acorn Excellence in Writing Award. Any author would count these as successes, but what sets the book apart is that it was her first-ever try at fiction--and that her first language is Portuguese, not English. Patricia's travels, fascinating background, and pitch-perfect ability to create likable characters make her an author to watch.++++++Tell us a little about Resilient.Resilient is told by both Livia and Adam, two teenagers who are anything but ordinary. They were born with abilities that set them apart from other humans. They know they are different, but they don’t know why. Livia can feel everyone’s emotions around her, and as she struggles, her parents decide to move from New York to a small island in the Pacific Northwest in hopes that Livia will find some peace of mind. There, she meets Adam, the only person Livia can’t empathize with. Afraid of not knowing what goes on in Adam’s mind, Livia decides to keep him at a distance. While their personal quests for identity will inevitably bring them closer together, it is the confirmation of what they really are that threatens to tear them apart. When I read your draft, I was struck by Livia’s special powers of empathy, as well as Adam’s ability to modulate other people’s anger. I think it’s interesting that your protagonists’ first powers are emotive ones, and I would love to hear more about how you chose their abilities.I wanted their abilities to be a burden on them and an emotional drama. I wanted it to contribute to their growth and to the plot. What could be worse than feeling peoples’ emotions?   Resilient is your first published novel. What drew you to the form? Have you done other writing, in English or otherwise?No. Resilient was my first attempt with writing. I’ve always created stories in my mind but never thought to put it on paper.  The first time writing occured to me was the night I started Resilient, and I’m so glad I did it.  You grew up in Brazil, and with a husband in the U.S. Air Force, you move a lot. How does your background and travel affect your writing?I was twenty two when I moved to the U.S. I was very sheltered growing up, and I had little contact with people outside of my circle. To be in a different country around people so much different than me, gave me a whole knew perspective in life. It felt as if I was experiencing two different worlds, and in a way, I was. However, it was easy to adapt, and I loved traveling and moving with the Air Force. In two years, I lived in five different states and met all types of people from all over the country. Growing up in Rio and later moving to the U.S. allowed me to experience different cultures, and I got to know two countries for what they truly are. I believe every writer benefits from traveling and seeing different places. But to experience a place by living and breathing that culture, you learn what it is truly all about. Their real face is unveiled, which we can’t see by just visiting. Finding time and space for concentration is a challenge for any creative task. How do you balance writing with being a mom?When I wrote Resilient, the only free time I had was late at night after the kids went to bed. When I started writing the second book, I decided I needed to have a better schedule. So, I started a routine of waking up at five in the morning. That gave me two and a half hours of writing before the kids woke up. Now, they are both in school all morning, and I have plenty of writing time. Writers at all stages of their careers read this blog, and I’m sure some are either querying agents and hoping to approach big publishers, or considering self-publishing. They would be interested to hear about the “middle route” of finding a supportive, small press as you’ve done with Pants on Fire.When Resilient was ready for submission, I started querying agents right away. I didn’t have that many agents in mind and honestly didn't like how the process took so long. I attended a writers conference, and heard great things about small publishers. So, I decided to query them instead. I received very fast responses and more than one publisher wanted to read the full manuscript. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait too long for an offer. I’m very happy with my publisher and how approachable they are.  My only concern about working with a small publisher is the limited exposure. But over all I’m happy with the route I took, and I do recommend it.  What’s next in the series?Resilient focuses on the characters, the development of Livia and Adam’s powers, who they are, and the backstory about their powers.  Resilient is the beginning of everything and sets up the next installment, titled Awakened. The sequel will be pack with action, suspense, and a handful of new characters. Thanks again for your time, Patricia, and I wish you the very best of launches and very most of success!It was a pleasure! Thank you for having me. Be sure to check out the great reviews the book is getting on Goodreads. You can learn more about the book on Patricia's author site, or follow her on Facebook. The book is available now in paperback and as an e-book on Amazon and other retailers.