Maureen McGowan opens up about her compelling new novel Deviants and some of the secrets to be revealed in The Dust Chronicles, as well as her film fetish (and shoe fetish!) below.
YOUNG ADULT: What made you decide to start writing?
Maureen McGowan: Dissatisfied with my previous career, I took what was meant to be a 1-2 year break from working full time to explore my creative side. I signed up for classes in drawing and painting, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but it was during a class on novel writing that I knew I’d found my calling. In hindsight, I always wanted to be an author, but it took me a while to admit it—even to myself. Now I only wish I’d discovered YA fiction sooner. I think some of the most exciting, fun—and often challenging—fiction being published today, for any age group, can be found in the teen sections of bookstores.
YA: Tell us a little bit about your latest work.
MM: In Deviants, Glory is a sixteen-year-old orphan with a secret: when her emotions run high, she can kill with her eyes. If her ability is discovered, she’ll be exed—thrown out of the domed city that protects its inhabitants from lethal-to-humans asteroid dust. Also outside the dome are Shredders—scab-covered monsters who revel in torture. Glory’s younger brother is paraplegic, and given increasingly scarce resources inside the city, disabled people are considered burdens and put to death. In the three years since their father was exed for murdering their mother, Glory’s kept her brother hidden, trusting no one. But when he’s discovered she must accept help from a mysterious boy, with a huge secret of his own, in order to survive and get her brother to safety.
YA: What are some of the qualities in your latest work that set it/you apart from what’s currently out there on the young adult market?
MM: The series combines a futuristic setting with supernatural elements and will appeal to not only the target YA reader, but also adults—and boys! While Deviants has dystopian elements, it’s not about the dystopia and I think that sets it apart. The story is set in an intense, action-packed world where the characters face life or death situations and the emotional stakes are extremely high. Imagine how hard it would be to experience your first love, if you couldn’t make eye contact without causing pain or death. Or imagine if you found out… No, I can’t say that. It’s a spoiler!
YA: Can you describe the path to getting this work published? What were the challenges? What was easy about it?
MM: I was between agents when I wrote Deviants but found my fabulous new agent, Charlie Olsen of InkWell Management, less than a week after finishing the manuscript. I sent out only four queries to my top agent picks about two weeks before I finished the book, and I was thrilled when Charlie requested the manuscript and I had offers from two agents. After Charlie and I found each other, the book sold within a few months.
YA: What can we expect from the rest of The Dust Chronicles?
MM: Glory makes a devastating discovery during the course of Deviants that changes her perception of many things—especially herself. In the next two books, called Compliance and Glory, readers will see her grapple with what she learned. Also, readers will see more of this world—both inside and outside of Haven. And, of course, they can expect lots more suspense, twists and action—not to mention an escalation of the high-stakes romance.
YA: If you could cast the Dream Film Adaptation of your work, who would you cast?
MM: Casting the right girl to play Glory is a difficult one, as she’s such a fully-formed person in my mind and I didn’t base her on anyone famous. But if I could meld Kristen Stewart with Nina Dobrev, the resulting actress might have the right combination of a petite build with an intense personality. A younger Natalie Portman might also be good, or Hailee Steinfeld. I loved her in True Grit. I just saw the world premiere of Byzantium and I think Saoirse Ronan, as a brunette, could also make a great Glory.
The boys are easier. I’d cast Alex Pettyfer as Cal and a teen version of Taylor Kitsch as Burn. And for Jayma: definitely Molly Quinn.
YA: Do you have pursuits outside of young adult fiction?
MM: I wrote two books for younger teens, Cinderella: Ninja Warrior and Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer and have written some books for adults that have yet to find the right publisher. Beyond writing, I’m a huge film buff and attend the Toronto International Film Festival every year. I also own far too many pairs of shoes. (But really, can one have too many pairs of shoes?)