Interview With Page Powars (AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES)

Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Page Powars (AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES)!

Meet the Author: Page Powars

Page Powars writes books during the day, helps with music soundtracks at night, and obsesses over video games every second in between. His works include the Indie Next and Indies Introduce pick The Borrow a Boyfriend Club and And They Were Roommates. Whether YA or Adult, he aims to spread the joy of his identity, surrounding his trans protagonists in jokes and romance. Page received a BFA from the University of Michigan’s School of Music on a foster care or compromised support network scholarship, then an MS in Publishing from NYU. Now in his twenties, Page lives in the NYC area.

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About the Book: AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES

A hilarious, unputdownable second-chance-romance about the most unlikely, gay roommate mishap. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Gwen & Art Are Not in Love.

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~Author Chat~

YABC: What inspired you to write AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES?

I started writing And They Were Roommates in early 2021. Four years ago! Back then, I wanted silly, fanfiction-leaning romantic stories for trans characters, and I especially still do now.

YABC: What scene with Charlie and Jasper are you most proud of, and why?

Honestly, every scene. Charlie is a deeply flawed character, and Jasper even more. I knew it would be difficult to ensure readers change their opinions of these two overtime. Each scene had to covertly include these two challenging one another’s faults in turn to help them grow as individuals.

But if I had to pick one scene, probably the shower and bookshelf scene. Which maybe sounds strange out of context. But it’s the first time Jasper shows he’s apologetic toward Charlie for being selfish, and it’s the first time Charlie feels a sliver of warmth toward Jasper instead of keeping up his walls. It’s the very beginnings of them starting to change due to being in each other’s lives.

YABC: Thinking back to the publication of your first book (The Borrow a Boyfriend Club), what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

So much. Too much. But I’ll spare you and choose one: My editor really helped me understand the importance of worldbuilding in contemporary (basically, real life) stories. We often discuss worldbuilding in fantasy, but it’s just as important in contemporary. When I received my first development edit letter for And They Were Roommates, my editor told me that the worldbuilding section of his notes was twice as long as it was for a high-fantasy novel he was simultaneously editing.

And this doesn’t mean describe every type of wood the tables are made of or other boring tidbits. Instead, I like to think of it as: What makes this place strange? What makes the people strange? What are the strange quirks or traditions of this place? Other authors may replace strange with memorable, but I love comedy, so I say strange. Thanks to this, I think the Valentine School for Boys genuinely feels like a real place to readers.

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

I had no part in And They Were Roommates‘ cover creation. It was all my brilliant publisher and the equally brilliant illustrator, Klimtsonian. So I don’t feel too egotistical to say it’s THE BEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN. I’m so excited that something this unapologetically gay will be on bookstore shelves.

YABC: What is the main message or lesson you want your reader to remember after reading?

Whatever message readers take from the book is what I want it to be. I often find that readers find more within my writing than I originally intended or hoped. They also love my characters more than I ever could. That’s one of my favorite parts about being an author.

YABC: If you could collaborate with any other writer, who would it be?

Drew Gooden. Or Nathan Fielder. Or Chris Flemming. They’re not literary writers, but they’re comedians who, in my opinion, value strange as much as I do. I care about comedy the most in my own writing, so they’re my top inspirations.

YABC: What’s up next for you?

My third YA, out 2026, which I can’t reveal much about yet. But it’s a…hockey romance! That’s a secret between you and me.

Title: AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES
Author: Page Powars
Release Date: 05/27/2025
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Genre: YA contemporary
Age Range: 14-18

Tags: Page Powars, Roaring Brook Press

Interview With Page Powars (AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES)

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