Author Chat With Lauren Melissa Ellzey (Gimmicks and Glamour), Plus Giveaway! ~ US Only!

YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?

My instinct is to say that Caris is my favorite character because I admire her charisma, coolness, and understated strength. But then again, I appreciate Ashly so much. She shines and burns in ways that I could only imagine through fiction. Perhaps it depends on the day and my mood whether my favorite is Caris or Ashly.

YABC:  What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

One day, I was sitting in a hotel room in Oklahoma. I had just arrived at the hotel from the airport, and I had an event to attend that evening. So, naturally, I thought it would be a good idea to drink a lot of coffee in the hopes that I would have energy for the event. However, I got very jittery from all the coffee. It was so bad that I tried to take a nap to sleep off the caffeine. When I laid my head down on the pillow, I suddenly heard Ashly’s voice in my head. She was so angry with the world, with her life, and with the faeries. I jumped straight out of bed and ran over to my laptop. I just had to write down her character!

YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

There is a scene in the first half of the novel in which Ashly and Caris go on a picnic at night in the woods. There is something so intimate about such a simple thing as a picnic. When the two of them are surrounded by the faeries that only Ashly can see, it’s both breath-taking and heart-breaking. I wish I could visit that exact spot in those woods.

YABC:   Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

One of the themes of Gimmicks and Glamour centers around secrets. There are secrets we keep to protect ourselves, as well as to protect others. There is a scene in the story where Ashly knows a secret about her best friend, Caris, but she cannot tell Caris’s parents about this secret. This scene was particularly hard to narrate because it was heartbreaking for Ashly, for Caris’s parents, and for me as the writer penning it down.

YABC:   What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?

When I write, I share stories from the perspective of neurodivergent young adults, or youth whose brains are wired differently from what is considered “typical.” While Ashly is not neurodivergent in the way that we usually define it, she has the Sight, which means that she sees and experiences the world very differently from those around her. Because of this, she often thinks of herself as “crazy.” It is my hope that readers will remember the impact of labeling others or themselves as “crazy,” as well as the magic that can be found when we embrace our differences.

YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The idea for the cover of this book came to me very quickly. I always thought that titles with two words combined by “and” deserve to be center stage on the cover. The flowery trim on the title represents the setting, and the arrow is more important that one might realize before reading the novel. I appreciate Inkspiral Design for bringing my vision to life!

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

With Gimmicks and Glamour releasing, I will be sharing this story with neurodivergent readers and our allies, of course! But I am also excited to announce that I am currently working on my next young adult fiction novel. I can’t say too much, but please know that this will be my first novel with an openly Autistic protagonist.

YABC:   What advice do you have for new writers? 

Write what you love, hone your writing strengths, seek out your individual writing voice, and embrace constructive criticism. Writing is a passion that needs to be both nurtured and pruned.

YABC:   Is there anything that you would like to add?

Thanks for a wonderful interview! I hope readers enjoy Ashly’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Gimmicks and Glamour is out wherever books are sold starting August 15, 2023.