Natalka Burian's new young adult novel is Welcome to the Slipstream.From her Q&A with Deborah Kalb:
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Welcome to the Slipstream and for your main character, Van?--Marshal Zeringue
A: Van, or at least a proto-Van, was actually a secondary character in another novel I was working on. I wanted to keep writing about her, and realized quickly she needed her own book. That first book never made it out into the world, but I’m glad Van has.
Q: The book is set in Las Vegas and the Southwest. How important is setting to you in your work, and do you think this could have been set elsewhere?
A: For me, the setting is like another character in every story I write. I love the contrast between Las Vegas and the desert, and found it to be kind of an irresistible location for Van’s family to...[read on]