Debut You is an interview feature on Our Stories Matter blog. Debut authors, who have released or have upcoming releases in 2022, are given five questions to answer about themselves and their book. Currently, the questions are the same for all authors. We hope you enjoy getting to know Chris Clarkson and can offer him your support. Go here for past Debut You features.
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Describe yourself in five words, then expound on one of them.
Twin, action, laughter, music, and astronaut.
I am one of two sets of twins. My twin sister is named Cherise, and she’s two minutes older than me. My brother Kenneth and sister Kristen are six years younger. My single mother raised two sets of twins on her own.
Explain your book’s journey—how long did it take—from idea to publication?
I started writing That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street in 2018. The first draft was completed in January 2019. My agent, Rachel Brooks, started submitting it to editors that same year. Finding a publisher was a journey in itself! I did at least three rewrites; most of the rewrites occurred during Mardi Gras. Finally, in 2020, Elise McMullen-Ciotti and Stacy Whitman from Tu Books, an imprint of Lee and Low Books, took an interest in That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street. I got my first publishing deal at the end of 2020.
Belief in oneself is important; besides you, who has been your cheerleader(s) throughout this process?
I am blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who entertain my non-stop chatter about fictional characters and worlds. Once I start talking about fiction, I can easily go on for two hours (or more). My first OG cheerleader is my sister Kristen. Way before I was published, I asked Kristen to listen to my books as I read them aloud. Reading my novels to her and getting feedback in real-time was super helpful. Another big supporter of mine is my dear friend, basically family, Rose. For years, she listened to my ideas (a new one every day), and she patiently assisted in streamlining the chaos. Lastly, my agent Rachel Brooks. She always welcomes my questions, regardless of how random they are, and advocates for my vision and writing career. I’m truly lucky to have her in my corner.
Understanding your audience is essential. What do you know for sure about the audience you are writing for?
I know that my audience is coming of age in a confusing time. There is so much promise and strife that comes with this current moment. Young adults are finding their voices and identity through social media and speaking up on civil rights and the causes that matter the most to them. In That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street, I highlighted some of the challenges and victories that teenagers are experiencing today from a deeply personal perspective (the perspective of the main characters).
Tell us about your book.
That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street is primarily about two things: love and healing. Tennessee and Jessamine both have traumas from their past that they are overcoming. Their healing comes in the form of personal growth and letting others in. No man is an island—and I wanted this book to reflect that. I created a journey for these characters that readers can follow. I hope readers see that healing isn’t a linear journey.
YOU did it, congratulations! Your story is going to be read by children or teens, educators, parents, librarians, book bloggers, etc. How do you feel, and are there any other projects in the works—that you can discuss?
I feel ecstatic! I’ve been writing since I was a kid. Back then, I created because I had so many ideas and characters swimming in my head that I had to get out. I’m currently working on several YA novels; their themes are like That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street, with an emphasis on mental health, healing, love, and coming-of-age journeys. I have a picture book titled Where Did Benjamin Go? that will be released in Fall 2023. A boy uses happy memories to deal with his grief over losing his older brother; the story embraces the concept that big boys get sad too while capturing the dynamic of a Black family finding joy amid loss. And there is another picture book that does not have a release date yet.
That Summer Night on Frenchmen Street
Chris Clarkson | Tu Books | June 28, 2022 | YA | Amazon | Bookshop
Chris Clarkson lives in New Orleans. When he isn’t creating fictional characters and worlds, he is exploring. You can find him in local coffee shops finding inspiration in his third cup of coffee and old bookstores. One day, he hopes to travel the world with a notebook, pen, and an offbeat dream.
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