Ask the Author: Ava Dellaira
Answered Questions (41)
Ava Dellaira
Great question Katelyn, and thank you for the kind words! I feel really close to all of the characters and would be interested in writing from any of their perspectives, but if I were to rewrite the book from someone else's POV I think it would be May's. A readers once suggested a sequel from her POV, kind of like The Lovely Bones (a book I absolutely adore.) I don't think I will write a sequel, but I loved that idea.
Ava Dellaira
Hi Nancy! A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, The Naples series by Italian writer Elena Ferrante, beginning with My Brilliant Friend, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez, just to name a few!
Ava Dellaira
Thank you so much for the kind note Monica! The book will be out in Chile soon. It just came out in Mexico and Argentina, and will be out in the rest of South American shortly.
Ava Dellaira
Hi Adelaide,
Thanks so much for the question! Yes, I love Nirvana and Laurel does too, and of course Laurel writes to him because May loved him. However, I think one of the main reasons she's drawn to him is because he seems to so brilliantly express a lot of the feelings that at first she is unable to. As she says in the book "you sang the anger and the fear and all of the feelings that people are afraid to admit to."In a way, Laurel learns from him -- her connection with him helps her to get in touch with her own feelings of anger, which is such an important step in her recovery.
Thanks so much for the question! Yes, I love Nirvana and Laurel does too, and of course Laurel writes to him because May loved him. However, I think one of the main reasons she's drawn to him is because he seems to so brilliantly express a lot of the feelings that at first she is unable to. As she says in the book "you sang the anger and the fear and all of the feelings that people are afraid to admit to."In a way, Laurel learns from him -- her connection with him helps her to get in touch with her own feelings of anger, which is such an important step in her recovery.
Ava Dellaira
Hi James,
Thank you so much for the thoughtful question. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your mom. I lost my mom too, a couple years before I started working on Love Letters, and in part, I think it was that loss that inspired the story in a way, and writing it helped me to process my own grief. But to answer your specific question, no, I don't think that you necessarily have to go through a dark period, and yes, I think that death can also be understood with light. I think that in order to fully recover from any kind of loss or trauma, you have to allow yourself to feel your full range emotions, and that can take time. (For example, Laurel has a hard time in the book feeling that she's angry with her beloved sister -- but she eventually has to come to terms with that emotion in order to move forward). However, grief is different for every person who experiences it and I don't think there is any one right or wrong way to go through it.
I really loved this short piece by Cheryl Strayed (back when she was "Dear Sugar,") who also lost her mother. You might like it too: http://therumpus.net/2011/03/dear-sug...
Thank you so much for the thoughtful question. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your mom. I lost my mom too, a couple years before I started working on Love Letters, and in part, I think it was that loss that inspired the story in a way, and writing it helped me to process my own grief. But to answer your specific question, no, I don't think that you necessarily have to go through a dark period, and yes, I think that death can also be understood with light. I think that in order to fully recover from any kind of loss or trauma, you have to allow yourself to feel your full range emotions, and that can take time. (For example, Laurel has a hard time in the book feeling that she's angry with her beloved sister -- but she eventually has to come to terms with that emotion in order to move forward). However, grief is different for every person who experiences it and I don't think there is any one right or wrong way to go through it.
I really loved this short piece by Cheryl Strayed (back when she was "Dear Sugar,") who also lost her mother. You might like it too: http://therumpus.net/2011/03/dear-sug...
Ava Dellaira
Hi Eyesha!
Thanks for the note! Love Letters is definitely a work of fiction, though certain parts of the book are inspired by some of my own memories. And yes! I love all of the people that Laurel's writes to in the book!
Thanks for the note! Love Letters is definitely a work of fiction, though certain parts of the book are inspired by some of my own memories. And yes! I love all of the people that Laurel's writes to in the book!
Ava Dellaira
Hi Kayra!
Thanks for the question! As you might imagine, I listened to LOTS of Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin & Jim Morrison. I had tons of fun making Love Letters playlists. A few others artists not mentioned in the book that I listened to a lot while writing are Bon Iver, Beach House and Passion Pit. While working on the screenplay, "Like Real People Do" by Hozier has been on repeat -- I love the song and find it a perfect inspiration for Laurel and Sky. :)
Thanks for the question! As you might imagine, I listened to LOTS of Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin & Jim Morrison. I had tons of fun making Love Letters playlists. A few others artists not mentioned in the book that I listened to a lot while writing are Bon Iver, Beach House and Passion Pit. While working on the screenplay, "Like Real People Do" by Hozier has been on repeat -- I love the song and find it a perfect inspiration for Laurel and Sky. :)
Ava Dellaira
Hi Gaby,
Thank you so much for the beautiful note. I am so sorry for your loss and happy to know that the book helped in any way.
To answer your question, I don't think I will exactly repeat the idea of love letters, because for me it was intrinsic to this story. But, I do think that I will continue to play with different structures and ways of telling stories. I have an idea for a second book that I'm excited about. :)
Thank you so much for the beautiful note. I am so sorry for your loss and happy to know that the book helped in any way.
To answer your question, I don't think I will exactly repeat the idea of love letters, because for me it was intrinsic to this story. But, I do think that I will continue to play with different structures and ways of telling stories. I have an idea for a second book that I'm excited about. :)
Ava Dellaira
Hi! Thank you so much for the kind words! I am so happy to know that you've started writing your own letters -- that makes me really excited. I've started a page on my website where people can post their own letters and so many of them have just blown my away, broken my heart, and overall been amazing to read. You should post one or some of yours here if you want! http://avadellaira.com/love-letters/
And yes, the idea to create the page was inspired in part by an English teacher I met at a reading, who sent me a batch of letters that her students wrote after she gave them the same assignment Laurel gets in the book. They were just wonderful.
And yes, the idea to create the page was inspired in part by an English teacher I met at a reading, who sent me a batch of letters that her students wrote after she gave them the same assignment Laurel gets in the book. They were just wonderful.
Ava Dellaira
Hi Dijon,
Haha! Your question made me laugh. I certainly hope that there are universal themes in the story that could be meaningful to people of any age gender, etc. I don't know about curmudgeonly, but I've had many adult male readers tell me that they enjoyed/connected with the book. :)
Haha! Your question made me laugh. I certainly hope that there are universal themes in the story that could be meaningful to people of any age gender, etc. I don't know about curmudgeonly, but I've had many adult male readers tell me that they enjoyed/connected with the book. :)
Ava Dellaira
Hi Claudine!
Yes, in some ways I do. I definitely feel really connected to Laurel. I drew upon some of my own memories while writing the story and some of Laurel's struggles are similar to things that I myself have struggled with. However, the more I worked on the story, the more Laurel became her own character who is quite separate from me as an author.
Glad to know you love "Rehab"--me too!!
Yes, in some ways I do. I definitely feel really connected to Laurel. I drew upon some of my own memories while writing the story and some of Laurel's struggles are similar to things that I myself have struggled with. However, the more I worked on the story, the more Laurel became her own character who is quite separate from me as an author.
Glad to know you love "Rehab"--me too!!
Ava Dellaira
Hi Lais,
Thanks for your question! I'll tell you a fun embarrassing story related to the book. Do you remember the scene where Laurel buys her new lavender velvet shirt and wears it to school, only to discover that Mrs. Buster is wearing the exact same one? Well, that SAME THING happened to me in 7th grade. The shirt I bought was exactly as I describe Laurel's--I was so excited about it and I will never forget how embarrassed I was when I had to sit through English class where my teacher was wearing the same shirt!
Thanks for your question! I'll tell you a fun embarrassing story related to the book. Do you remember the scene where Laurel buys her new lavender velvet shirt and wears it to school, only to discover that Mrs. Buster is wearing the exact same one? Well, that SAME THING happened to me in 7th grade. The shirt I bought was exactly as I describe Laurel's--I was so excited about it and I will never forget how embarrassed I was when I had to sit through English class where my teacher was wearing the same shirt!
Ava Dellaira
Hi Sophia,
Thank you so much for the kind words! Hard to pick a single most challenging part of the process, as there were of course many challenges along the way! :) I will say that the first draft of the book did not necessarily read like a novel that might get published--but I cared really deeply about the story and kept working at it, got advice from friends and readers, and went through many stages of editing. For me, it was the first thing I'd written that I knew I would stay with until I'd given it everything I could. I think a lot of the things I'd worked on and written until that point were sort of like practice for this (which is of course valuable, too!)
Thank you so much for the kind words! Hard to pick a single most challenging part of the process, as there were of course many challenges along the way! :) I will say that the first draft of the book did not necessarily read like a novel that might get published--but I cared really deeply about the story and kept working at it, got advice from friends and readers, and went through many stages of editing. For me, it was the first thing I'd written that I knew I would stay with until I'd given it everything I could. I think a lot of the things I'd worked on and written until that point were sort of like practice for this (which is of course valuable, too!)
Ava Dellaira
Hi Lena,
I'm very happy that the book has been optioned by Fox 2000 and Temple Hill (who also produced the Fault In Our Stars among lots of other great movies), and I have been working on the screenplay with the producers. There's no guarantee yet that the movie will get made, but there's certainly a chance! Fingers crossed!
I'm very happy that the book has been optioned by Fox 2000 and Temple Hill (who also produced the Fault In Our Stars among lots of other great movies), and I have been working on the screenplay with the producers. There's no guarantee yet that the movie will get made, but there's certainly a chance! Fingers crossed!
Ava Dellaira
Hi Mariana,
Thank you so much for the kind words! Laurel's a character that I felt very connected to--there are certainly pieces of myself and my experiences in her. But, the story also came out how it did only after lots of work and many drafts! :)
Thank you so much for the kind words! Laurel's a character that I felt very connected to--there are certainly pieces of myself and my experiences in her. But, the story also came out how it did only after lots of work and many drafts! :)
Ava Dellaira
Great question Kaitlin. I think Laurel handing her letters in at the end of the book signifies that she's able to open up about her experiences, not just to the deceased celebrities she's been writing to, but to people in her life. As comes to terms with her sister's death, begins to live more fully in the world, and to gain a sense of herself, she no longer "needs" the assignment the way she did at the beginning of the book.
Ava Dellaira
Hi Deborah! Thanks so much! I'm sure that you've heard this before, but I think that some of the best advice for someone who wants to write in the future is to read as much as you can! I've found the desire and inspiration to write often comes from connecting with and being changed by books you love. The other is just to, well, write! Without judgement at first. Turn off your inner critic as much as possible when you start out, and be open to discovery along the way.
Ava Dellaira
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Ava Dellaira
Hi Kathryn!
Thanks so much for the kind words! No plans to visit the UK as of now, but I certainly hope to in the future! I do have an idea for a second book, but I tend to stay quiet about what I'm working on until it's ready to be in the world.
Thanks so much for the kind words! No plans to visit the UK as of now, but I certainly hope to in the future! I do have an idea for a second book, but I tend to stay quiet about what I'm working on until it's ready to be in the world.
Ava Dellaira
Hi Maxine!
I looked at your site and love the idea of the Smaxx project. Thanks for including Love Letters! I've already talked a little bit about how I chose the people that Laurel writes to in another response here, but to answer your specific question about whether I choose them because they fit the story line or based the story line around them: it was a little bit of both. Primarily, I chose people who fit the narrative, who Laurel would look to with particular struggles and questions. But, the recipients of the letters also influenced the story. For example, when Laurel started writing to Judy Garland, I "saw" her memories of watching those movies with her mom and sister. It was kind of an organic process that took place over the course of several drafts, and many of the letter recipients inspired moments in the story.
I looked at your site and love the idea of the Smaxx project. Thanks for including Love Letters! I've already talked a little bit about how I chose the people that Laurel writes to in another response here, but to answer your specific question about whether I choose them because they fit the story line or based the story line around them: it was a little bit of both. Primarily, I chose people who fit the narrative, who Laurel would look to with particular struggles and questions. But, the recipients of the letters also influenced the story. For example, when Laurel started writing to Judy Garland, I "saw" her memories of watching those movies with her mom and sister. It was kind of an organic process that took place over the course of several drafts, and many of the letter recipients inspired moments in the story.
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Mar 28, 2017 12:39PM · flag