Interview With J.D. Amato (The Endless Game)

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

When I was a young reader I craved stories about characters with different skills working together to tackle some sort of adventure. But, in most stories the “hero” usually took focus and the story became about their greatness. So, I wanted to write a book where there was no larger-than-life hero who saves the day and where the story is really about lots of unique characters figuring out how they fit into the world (and the adventure).

YABC: Is your main character like you?

Yes! Our main character, Fred, starts the book moving to a new town in Illinois having never really had friends and getting swept up into the community of local kids. This was my exact experience (save for the all-encompassing 80-year game of capture of the flag)!

YABC: How do you know when a book is finished?

Eventually you get to a point in any project where the amount of work it would take to make a change greatly outweighs the certainty that you need to make that change…. And, for me, that’s when I know I’m near the end!

YABC: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

In third grade we had an assignment to write and then read aloud our original science fiction stories. I still remember the feeling of hearing the class gasp when a main character came face to face with a villain. It was so exhilarating to hear them react. Now, in retrospect, was the story absolutely just Star Wars with different character names swapped out? Yes. 100%. But, as an eight year old it got me hooked on storytelling!

YABC:   How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?

For me, it’s about wrangling language and the size of emotions more than it is about having to change point of view. I think kids see all of the complexity and nuance adults see, they just might be experiencing them for the first time!

YABC: What type of scene do you love to write the most?

I love conversational conflict! There is so much incredible subtext to how people talk to each other when they have different goals and different points of view.

YABC:  What word do you have trouble overusing?

 “BUT….” I love when a story zig-zags… but… sometimes I have to remind myself that it’s also okay for a storyline to deepen instead of turn.

YABC: How do you plan to celebrate the launch of your book?

I’m going to be spending a week celebrating the book in my hometown of Wilmette, IL (that inspired the location) with a lot of the kids (now adults) who inspired the story.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

Along with my work as an author, I also work in television and film. So, I have a new television show in the works and a feature film I’m very excited to start work on!