Deborah Crossland

Deborah Crossland (she/her) teaches English and mythology at her local community college and writes myth-based, contemporary novels with a feminist bent for young adults. She is passionate about making education accessible for everyone. She lives in Northern California with her husband and her daughter’s very spoiled, retired service dog.

photo credit: Heather Jean Photography

Crossland's new novel is The Quiet Part Out Loud.

My Q&A with the author:

How much work does your title do to take readers into the story?

For the longest time, this book was dubbed The Earthquake Book because I couldn’t find the right title. Then about halfway through the first draft, I realized The Quiet Part Out Loud would be the perfect title. As the description notes, one point of view takes place after a major earthquake, but there are also metaphorical earthquakes in the story, too. Sometimes when the tectonic plates shift, things that are hidden underground get exposed, and it’s no different with a metaphorical shift. As Mia embarks on her journey to find Alfie, she experiences this phenomenon where all the things she’d been suppressing bubble up to the surface, and she has to face them.

What's in a name?

I actually spend a lot of time on names! It’s one of my favorite parts of creating new characters. The name Mia means “beautiful” or “beloved” in various languages, and that’s exactly who she is for Alfie, so it was an easy choice. Mia’s last name, Clementine, comes from the hybrid fruit accidentally discovered by a French missionary. I liked the idea of Mia becoming another version of herself on her journey that still has ties to her religious history. I chose Alfie not because it had a special meaning, but because I wanted a somewhat traditional name that could be shortened to a nickname. His last name, however, is a huge easter egg, so I won’t give that away.

How surprised would your teenage reader self be by your new novel?

Teenage me would be so excited. As a kid, every job I imagined having centered around words—teaching, law, writing. Also, I read voraciously, just about anything I could get my hands on. I don’t think she would be surprised, just impressed we managed to pull it off. Now if you ask 30-something me, that’s an entirely different story.

Do you find it harder to write beginnings or endings? Which do you change more?

Beginnings are always my toughest spots. I still don’t know the voice well and knowing where to start the story can be difficult to figure out. I think I rewrote the beginning to The Quiet Part Out Loud ten times. I recently came across one of the very first drafts, and let’s just say I’m glad I decided to revise.

Do you see much of yourself in your characters? Do they have any connection to your personality, or are they a world apart?

A few years ago, when I started writing this book, my son casually walked by and asked me what childhood trauma I was working out with this story (he thinks he’s funny). I laughed, of course, but as I sat there, I realized that there is a lot of me in Mia. We share similar personalities in that expressing emotions isn’t the easiest thing, but I’m glad to say that I think we’re both a lot better at it now!

What non-literary inspirations have influenced your writing?

As a teen, I did a lot of local theatre, and I think that experience really taught me how to get into a character’s head. Being able to “slip into their skin” helps me understand their likes and dislikes, and especially their little tics that make them so unique. As for this particular story, it’s heavily influenced by the song, “If the World Was Ending” by JP Saxe and Julia Michaels. Once I’d heard it, I couldn’t stop thinking about the couple who were fine living without each other until the literal world is threatened, so they drop all pretense to be with each other. We humans sure can make things difficult, can’t we?

Visit Deborah Crossland's website.

The Page 69 Test: The Quiet Part Out Loud.

--Marshal Zeringue