Today, author Rebekah Weatherspoon joins us to discuss her latest novel, Her Good Side. I’m so excited to welcome her and start our chat!
Rebekah, welcome! I’m so excited to have you join us! Without giving away spoilers, tell us more about Her Good Side.
Her Good Side follows Jacob and Bethany, two teens unlucky in love, who enter a fake dating pact to help each other sort out the complex nature of romantic relationships. It becomes less fake over time as real feelings get involved.
What was your favorite part of crafting this story?
Going back and talking to my high school friends about our teen-related shenanigans.
Who was the most exciting character to craft?
I had the most fun with Glory and Landon, but some of their parts were cut in the final draft.
Is there one chapter you’re most excited for readers to read?
The chapter where they go to the Homecoming dance. I had fun putting that together piece by piece.
What inspired you to write Her Good Side? Did you always want to tell the story of Bethany Greene?
Her Good Side is based on a ridiculous prom date swap I was involved in real life. All of my stories focus on women and girls of color or Black women and girls, so Bethany is another special one I’ve added to the list.
Her Good Side also deals with cyberbullying, which I’ve recently experienced. It really took a toll on my mental health. Was cyberbullying something you experienced? Or what made you include that into Her Good Side, as it’s a topic that I believe needs to be talked about more and haven’t seen a lot of in stories?
In the final drafts, we took some of the major cyberbullying points out. It sucked some of the fun out of the room. I have no experience of cyberbullying. I’m very intentional with my online life, but I see it happening every day, and it’s very stressful.
The Summer of Songbirds
Genre: Women’s Contemporary
In “The Summer of Songbirds,” June Moore faces the imminent loss of Camp Holly Springs, her cherished creation born out of a past tragedy. The camp has been a refuge for young girls, including her niece Daphne, and her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, who found lasting friendships there. Now in their thirties, the trio navigates life’s challenges together, from heartbreak to addiction and more.
Daphne, an attorney, is caught in a difficult situation with a past relationship resurfacing and a personal issue at work. Lanier grapples with conflicting feelings between her fiancé and her first love, leading to a revelation that tests her bond with her best friend.
Despite their own dilemmas, the songbirds, as they call themselves, unite to save Camp Holly Springs from closure. Will it be enough to save the camp and their friendship? Find out!
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Buy this Book: Amazon
Let’s talk about your writing! Did you always want to be an author?
I did not. I thought I was going to be a lawyer. I ended up being a teacher and then working in film and TV, and then I became a writer.
Was writing in YA always what you wanted to do? Or will we see you exploring other genres?
I’ve been waiting to write YA for a while now, and I’m glad I finally got the chance. I hope to write a lot more in the future, both YA and adult. For now, I’ll be sticking with romance. It’s my happy place.
What was the process like in getting Her Good Side published? Was it anything like what you expected?
I submitted a proposal to my agent, and she took it out on submission, which resulted in an auction. I had a great conversation with the folks at Razorbill/Penguin Teen and was so happy to decide to work with them. So far, the experience has been great. I did not expect an auction, but I am grateful for it.
Before I let you go, tell readers where they can find you on social media.
You can find me on Twitter at @/rdotspoon or TikTok at @/rebekaheeeek, and on IG at rebekahweatherspoon. You can also find updates about my books at rebekahweatherspoon.com
There you have it, readers! Be sure to drop a comment below and let us know if you’ve read Her Good Side!
