Robbie Couch’s debut novel is all about living with pride from page one.
The Sky Bluesisavailable for pre-order.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Whats the main inspiration for this book?
Credit: S&S Books for Young Readers
Small towns can be difficult to navigate as a young queer person!
Sky learns that his tiny town, for all its flaws, is filled with a lot of love.
You grew up in a small Michigan town not unlike this one.
How autobiographical is this story?
And he deals with a lot of stuff I never had to deal with as a teenager!
The politics of Instagram?
A horrific hacked e-blast gone viral?
A mom who is not a great person?
Sky goes through it, truly.
Hes tougher than I was at 17, thats for sure.
They need to be seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are.
What was your process writing it like?
Oh boy: So many drafts!
Poor Sky has seen it all.
Is it sad I cant even answer this question?
For book number two, I am obsessively outlining, beat-by-beat, down to the last chapter.
It will save me many headaches along the way, Im certain.
Your book explores visibility and living with pride ideas most every LGBTQ person confronts in high school and beyond.
What did you want Skys journey to look like, in that sense?
Skys story isnt a coming out tale; hes living openly as a gay teen on page one.
Any big literary or pop-culture inspirations on your book?
What about LGBTQ media specifically?
Just a fair warning.
Talk a little about this cover.
I think Jeffs work perfectly captures that balance.
What do you hope readers take away from your novel?
Whatever speaks to them!
**
Related content:
