Sarah
asked
Ava Dellaira:
Hi Ava!!! I'm such a big fan of the book, of course, and it struck an emotional cord in me, which I love b/c I love books that make me feel something. Anyway to the question, though- spoiler alert- I bet you get this one a lot: What inspired you to write this book in the style that it was written- through letters? Also did you have a favorite person that Laurel wrote to in the letters?
Ava Dellaira
Hi Sophie! Thanks so much! To answer your question--I actually never considered writing the book another way--the idea of dealing with personal grief by writing letters to famous public figures was intrinsic to the story for me (the title was actually the first thing I thought of.) I love the letter format because I think that letters are inherently hopeful--they signal an outward reaching, a desire to connect with the world, a belief that you could be heard. I think this feels right for Laurel's story, because, despite some of the things that she represses at first, she very deeply wants to make connections.
More Answered Questions
Maxine Van beek
asked
Ava Dellaira:
Hi Ava! I read your book and wrote an online review of Love Letters to the dead for a project I started with my friend called the smaxx project. I loved it, especially the little 'sisterhood' insights. My question is about the 'recipients' of the letters. Why and how did you choose the ones you did? Did you choose them because they fitted the story line or based the story line around them?
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