AUTHORS INTERVIEWING THEIR CHARACTERS: DANIELLE WONG INTERVIEWS AMELIA COLE
AUTHORS INTERVIEWING THEIR CHARACTERS: DANIELLE WONG
SWEARING OFF STARS tells the story of Amelia Cole―Lia for short—one of the first women studying abroad at Oxford University in the 1920s. Finally free from her overbearing Brooklyn parents, she finds a welcome sense of independence in British college life. Lia quickly falls for Scarlett Daniels, an aspiring actress and hardheaded protester. Scarlett introduces her to an exciting gender-equality movement with high stakes. But when their secret love clashes with political uprising, their relationship is one of the casualties.
Years later, Lia’s only memories of Scarlett are obscured by the glossy billboards she sees advertising the actress’s new films. But when a mysterious letter surfaces, she is immediately thrown back into their unsettled romance. Lia’s travels span oceans and continents in her search for Scarlett. Spread across time and place, their story is one of desire, adventure, and ultimately, devotion. Lia will stop at nothing to win Scarlett back, but she soon realizes that uncovering lost love might not be attainable after all.
What follows is an interview with Lia, as imagined by Danielle.
DW: Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today.
LC: Of course! I only have a bit of time though, since my next class begins at 3 o’clock.
DW: I understand. Let’s dive right in, then. How do you like living abroad?
LC: I love it so far. Living on my own has truly been a breath of fresh air—an awakening of sorts. The independence really makes me feel like a genuine adult.
DW: Is Oxford everything you hoped it would be?
LC: Wow, that question is difficult to answer. Everything I hoped it would be? Oxford has exceeded my expectations in certain ways, but it’s disappointed me in others.
DW: How has it disappointed you?
LC: I absolutely appreciate the chance to study at such a renowned university—the curriculum is incredible—but Oxford’s matriculation policy frustrates me terribly.
DW: Tell me more about that.
LC: The University doesn’t allow women to officially graduate. We can take almost any course we please, but it doesn’t really matter in the end. For our male counterparts, all of the studying and hard work will culminate in matriculation. But we won’t have anything to show for ourselves . . . not even a certification. That needs to change.
DW: I hear that you’re doing some work on campus to amend that policy.
LC: I am! My friend Scarlett Daniels introduced me to a like-minded group of students. We all feel that Oxford should adapt its policies to be more inclusive. We would also like to see more women taking classes at the University in the near future.
DW: That’s wonderful. Has the student body responded well?
LC: Yes and no. We put up flyers and consistently try to spread the word about our meetings, but there have been mixed results. I think that a lot of students are hesitant to speak out due to fear. They’re scared of the unknown . . . terrified of potential academic consequences. Inaction is so often driven by fear.
DW: Have your protests been successful?
LC: Unfortunately, we’ve encountered a lot of resistance from certain faculty members. We’re getting ready for another protest though, and I’m hoping that this one will be more effective. Our next goal is to secure a meeting with some University heads—the true decision makers.
DW: Do you think that Oxford’s governing body will listen to you?
LC: I hope so. We’re ultimately betting on ourselves. Once we have enough support, they’ll have to listen to us. I really think it comes down to increasing student awareness. I do believe that there is strength in numbers, so we’re definitely trying to involve more of our peers. Scarlett is great at explaining everything in a nonthreatening way.
DW: Are you and Scarlett close?
LC: Well, we are very good friends. She helped me adjust to life in England and first got me involved in this movement. I wasn’t politically active at all before I met her, so I’m very thankful for this newfound awareness.
DW: Would you say that your relationship has blossomed into something more?
LC: I’m not really sure what you mean . . .
DW: Do you and Scarlett have more than just a friendship? It seems like—
LC: Look, I apologize, but I really do have to run. I cannot be late for my next class. My professor will have my head!
—
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Danielle Wong is a writer living in San Francisco. Her debut novel, Swearing Off Stars, won several awards, including an Independent Press Award, an International Book Award, and a Benjamin Franklin Award.
Danielle’s writing has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, The Huffington Post, USA Today, and PopSugar. She has short stories published in Be the Star You Are!® for Teens and Be the Star You Are!® Millennials to Boomers: Positive Voices in a Changing Digital World. She is currently working on her next novel.
Follow her on Twitter @daniellemwong
To learn more about Danielle, visit her website
PRAISE FOR SWEARING OFF STARS
“A tempestuous, fiery page-turner that will leave you aching and begging for more, Swearing Off Stars is a novel with both great heart and unforgettable characters.”
—San Francisco Book Review
“Wong’s novel succeeds in creating congenial characters with an undying commitment to women’s liberation in education, careers, and relationships, particularly those bonds that are stigmatized…An engaging romantic tale that also calls for equality.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Swearing Off Stars is a very beautiful and engaging story with memorable characters and well-developed themes…Danielle M. Wong has a unique gift for plot and thematic development and she makes readers believe in her characters. The story is intelligently plotted, emotionally intense, and beguiling.”
—Readers’ Favorite
BUY THE BOOK HERE
Category: Interviews, On Writing
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