Adrienne Young: “I really believe that our teen selves never really die within us.”

Aurora: What was your inspiration behind your most recent novel?

Adrienne: The inspiration for The Girl the Sea Gave Back definitely came from my own curiosity about what the evolution of the world looks like after the events of Sky in the Deep. There are a lot of questions threaded through the story about fate and how much control we have over the future. I wanted to explore both of those things through the two main characters and also take a realistic approach to the affects peace has had on the landscape.

What character do you most relate to and why?

I think I relate to Tova the most because she feels things on a very deep level. She has a real hunger to understand her gifts and her role within her world, but she’s never totally sure. I really identify with her passion and inner strength. 

Why do you feel young adult books are so popular and have such a voice right now?

I really believe that our teen selves never really die within us. I’m 34 years old, and eighteen-year-old Adrienne is still alive and well inside me. I’ve grown and changed and I don’t see things the same as I used to, but I’m still the same person in a lot of ways. I think YA stories get to the heart of our personal journeys, which never end. For that reason, they will always be relatable, no matter the age group. 

Please describe the content of your latest book and what can readers expect from the read.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back picks up ten years after Sky in the Deep, and it follows the story of Tova, a girl with the ability to cast the rune stones and see into the future. She lives in a precarious situation, among people who aren’t her own, and she holds the future of their world in her hands. Halvard, too, is trying to figure out his place in this new world, unsure of whether he can do what’s expected of him. It’s a story about fate and what power we hold over it, community and our roles within it.

What’s next for you in the book world?

I have an all-new YA fantasy duology coming called FABLE. It’s a new world and new characters, and I have no doubt that readers of SKY and SEA will love this one too.

What’s your favorite writing method that you follow for inspiration?

I use a lot of visual aids and music when I’m developing an idea and drafting a new book. I have Pinterest boards for all of my projects and playlists specific to each story as well. I use both of these tools constantly and they keep me inspired and motivated.

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