Jay Coles relishes drama in books, at least.
As an acclaimed YA author, he understands the power of a good, multilayered story.
What is the first thing ever that you remember writing?
Credit: Victoria Ruth; Scholastic
I remember writing poems for my mom as a little kid.
They would always make her cry, which for me just meant that my writing must’ve been prettyokay.
Don’t remember what the poems said, but I just remember writing them and her reading them.
What is the last book that made you cry?
The Ghosts We Keepby Mason Deaver!
It absolutely RUINED me.
I will not be okay for a long, long time.
I absolutely adored Mason’s brilliant, honest, and poignant sophomore novel.
Which book is at the top of your current To-Read list?
I am so pumped to readWhite Smokeby Tiffany D. Jackson.
Where do you write?
I love isolation and darkness as I write, so busy coffee shops don’t usually work for me.
Which book made you a forever reader?
I don’t know if I can name a single one, because of course.
I first fell in love with comic books, particularly all the X-Men ones.
But also, books by Walter Dean Myers made me a forever reader for sure.
What is a snack you couldn’t write without?
Matcha latte and peanut butter M&Ms.
If you could change one thing about any of your books, what would it be?
I’d probably add more drama.
What is your favorite part ofThings We Couldn’t Say?
There are so many things that I love about my new book,Things We Couldn’t Say.
I love seeing a bi Black boy finding love (and being on the cover!).
I also love that I got to include music playlists throughout the book.
What was the hardest plot point or character to write?
The hardest plot point to write was the ending.
