Interview with Heather Brewer

Jackie Kessler © 2006

Wild Child Publishing.com © 2006

You know the story—the one about the boy, the girl, and the vampire. But this time, the boy is the vampire: a 13-year-old half-human vampire, to be precise. And the girl is actually the woman behind his creation.

When Heather Brewer began writing a book about an eighth grader named Vladimir Tod, she was determined to tell a scary, funny story that wasn't a "kid-light version" of a horror novel. The result? Eighth Grade Bites (Dutton, August 2007), which already has received glowing praise from bestselling authors such as Katie MacAlister and Quill Award winner Chris Moore.

Heather took time away from working on the sequel, Ninth Grade Sucks, to speak with Wild Child Publishing's Jackie Kessler about Vlad, writing for a YA audience, and how she's spreading the buzz about EGB.

Wild Child Publishing: What prompted you to write about a 13-year old boy vampire aimed at a teen audience? (Talk about going against the vampire hot love story...)

Heather Brewer: I read a lot of horror books when I was a kid, but there wasn't much out there that was written for kids that wasn't hokey, predictable or a kid-light version of what horror books really are. My favorite books featured vampires. I read, ate, slept vampires and to this day, have a profound fascination for the creatures of the night. So for me, it wasn't difficult at all to choose a subject matter based on what I love to read.

But the question as to why I chose to write for a teen audience is a bit more complicated. 1) When the idea hit me, it was only a flash in my mind, a picture of a skinny, pale teen who smirked, and I could see one fang poking out—that was it. It was more like Vlad (the protagonist) found me than I found him. 2) I know that there must be kids out there, like me, who want authors to stop talking down to them and trust them to enjoy a really good, really scary story. I wrote this book for them, and for every kid that's ever been picked on before. And 3) I'm terribly immature.

WCP: Did your characters ever wrestle the story away from you and take it in their own direction?

HB: I frequently tell people that I didn't write this book. Vlad did. I merely transcribed it for him.

WCP: Did anything about the characters or the book wind up surprising you?

HB: I was continually surprised by events that came up, but those are my favorite moments—the ones where you sit back in your chair and say, "Whoa...I never saw that coming!" I'm not a big plotter. In fact, every time I tried steering Vlad in one direction, he'd dig his heels in until I figured out what he was trying to tell me.

WCP: EGB is a YA, or "young adult" novel. Who is the target audience?

HB: My editor says my audience is between 9 and 12, but I think this is a book that tweens, teens, and adults will all enjoy. They'll connect with Vlad because he's just a boy...with fangs...trying to deal with some really bad stuff that happens to him.

WCP: How would you describe EGB in terms of genre: dark humor? humorous horror? paranormal YA? something completely different?

HB: Eighth Grade Bites is a bit of all of those things and more. So basically, I guess it's a humorous paranormal YA horror fantasy with bits of romance and adventure thrown in.

WCP: What have you learned from this first book, either from the book itself or from the process behind getting the book published and promoted?

HB: First and foremost, I've learned that writing the book is just the first step. There's so much more to publishing than meets the eye. I've also learned that there will always be authors who are bigger/better/faster/smarter/funnier/more successful than you and it doesn't matter...and that I'm capable of far much more than I give myself credit for.

WCP: What should authors do in terms of getting the buzz out on their books, and when should they start?

HB: You can never start soon enough. I began garnering blurbs early on and spreading the word via various forums and blogs as soon as I knew I was being published. The key is to find out where your audience is and then go there. And don't be shy! I talk about my book to everyone...even if I'm simply waiting in the doctor's office or standing in line at the grocery store. You'd be amazed how people react when they meet a "real live author."

WCP: Eighth Grade Bites is your debut novel, but it's not the first book you've written. What did you learn from writing your previous novels that enabled you to produce EGB?

HB: My previous books were intensely description-heavy, with not enough focus on moving the story along. And though they were entertaining to me, I wrote them with an audience in mind, which made me worry about how every word of it would be perceived.

When I began writing Eighth Grade Bites, I had an epiphany. I decided to simply tell the story, without fluffy lines and purple prose, without too much description and with a lot of action. I wrote it for myself, because though I love vampire books, I always seem to walk away from them disappointed in one way or another. And I ignored the mere thought that anyone else would ever read it.

Plus, EGB is the first book I've written where I've tried injecting my sense of humor into it. I've been told that's my strong point (I just wish someone had told me that years ago).

WCP: What do you read? Does that have an impact on your writing at all?

HB: Lately, I find I read a lot more YA than I ever have. I don't get a lot of time to read and YA stories are much shorter than those written for adults. Plus, it's always good to know what teens are thinking about, and reading YA is one way to keep in touch with their world.

WCP: Do authors need an agent?

HB: I'm sure many people will argue with me on this, but yes. Absolutely yes. Unless, of course, you enjoy things being as difficult as possible.

A literary agent can open doors that a writer can't. They are your first fan, knowledgeable of the ins and outs of publishing, and full of great writing advice. They go to bat for you with publishers and can answer any questions you have along the way. In short, they make a difficult task less difficult. In the words of Toy Story, "If you don't have one, get one!"

WCP: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

HB: Make friends with your delete key, and use it often. I've found that the majority of my problems with writing can be fixed by simply removing text. Plus the old standby (that is so true): Read a lot, write a lot.

WCP: Finally...are you a dog person or a cat person?

HB: Cat person. Absolutely. (They're delicious.)

To learn more about Heather Brewer and The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites, visit her website. Eighth Grade Bites is available for preorder through Amazon.com.