Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Kara A. Kennedy (I Will Never Leave You)!
Meet the Author: Kara A. Kennedy
KARA A. KENNEDY has been telling ghost stories—and sometimes living them—since childhood. She holds a BA in Professional Writing from Penn State University, where she worked as a writing tutor for years. Kara is an Author Mentor Match alumna and a Pitch Wars ’21 mentee. She lives in Pennsylvania with her partner and their two kittens, Roanoke and Renegade. I Will Never Leave You is her debut novel. Find Kara online at karakennedywrites.com and follow her on X/Twitter and Instagram at @karaaislinn, and on TikTok at @karakennedywrites.
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About the Book: I Will Never Leave You
Maya has always belonged to Alana. After four years of dating, and on the precipice of graduating high school, Maya has been too terrified to consider the idea of life outside of their volatile relationship. Until she finds the courage to break up with Alana while they’re hiking in Southern California.
Then Alana goes missing. As the police get involved and the media run wild with the story, everyone seems to think that Maya is lying about Alana’s disappearance. Secretly, Maya knows they’re right: if Alana’s dead, she’s the one to blame.
But that’s not Maya’s only secret. Alana isn’t gone, not really—and she isn’t going to let Maya go so easily…
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~Author Chat~
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love all of them for different reasons! I feel super bonded to Maya because I went on such an emotional journey with her, but I had the most fun writing Alana. Her dialogue was a blast to write – sometimes I wouldn’t know what was going to come out of her mouth next. Writing really becomes a joy when your own characters start surprising you, and that happened constantly with Alana.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
Definitely the novel! The book was originally called GIRLS WE USED TO BE, taken from a line near the end of the story, but I felt it was too similar to some other titles of published works. I changed it to THE MOST BREAKABLE THING, which is the title it had when I signed with my agent and when we sold to Delacorte Press. It kept this title until the day before the deal announcement ran in Publishers Weekly – my editor suggested I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, and I immediately fell in love with it.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
Without spoilering anything, there’s a scene where Maya is essentially being walked through a series of Alana’s memories that I really loved writing. It’s a bit more speculative and experimental, but exactly the type of thing I like writing, and I had fun making it as eerie as possible.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
My cover artist, Carolina Rodriguez Fuenmayor, did an absolutely amazing job! I love the way that she incorporated California poppies, which are a major symbol throughout the book.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?
I’m beyond excited for Allison Saft’s latest release, A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE. I’ve also had the privilege of reading Rachel Moore’s adventure romcom called US IN RUINS that comes out in September. Her sparkling prose and quick wit are fully on display in this book, and I can’t wait for it to hit shelves.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I absolutely adored EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THAT SONG by Jenna Voris. She blended together so many things I love in YA – a sapphic enemies to lovers romance, a fun coming-of-age story, commentary on fame and the music industry, and a twisty mystery.
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
I spent a lot of time rewriting the scenes where Maya spoke to, or was interrogated by, the police. Aside from making sure those conversations were accurate and engaging, I had to pay close attention to how much information Maya would choose to reveal, what she would actively conceal, and what she would give away without realizing it. It was tricky to balance, and challenging to keep all the info straight throughout multiple rounds of revisions!
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
Throughout the four years I spent on I Will Never Leave You, from the earliest drafting stages to final copyedits, the story’s message never changed: I wanted to not just paint a clear picture of the realities of emotional abuse and toxic relationships, but illuminate a path for anyone who has walked that particular gauntlet. Maya says near the end of the book, “to save myself, I can do anything,” and my hope is that this is helpful to survivors of any type of trauma – you are stronger than you think.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Read widely – across genres, across styles, across age ranges. I’m always learning from the different books I read, and I know I’ll never stop learning! I’d also extend that advice beyond books: consume as much media as you can, and pay attention to the writing. I’ve learned so much about craft from TV shows like Arcane and The Bear, video games like Life is Strange and The Last of Us, movies like Do Revenge and Cloud Atlas. These all seem like super random examples, but I love paying close attention to the different ways stories are told across all varieties and genres of media and bringing those influences back into my own work!
Title: I Will Never Leave You
Author: Kara A. Kennedy
Release Date: July 23, 2024
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, LGBTQ
Age Range: 12 and up
