Today's guest for A-spec April is Heather Kaczynski, author of Dare Mighty Things and recent sequel One Giant Leap. A sci-fi with a diverse and exciting cast, Dare Mighty Things follows 17-year-old Cassandra as she finally sees a chance to fulfill her dream of taking part is a classified space mission. Only a select few will receive the chance to join the mission, so Cassie must compete against the best and brightest Earth has to offer to secure her spot.
I'm so happy to have Heather joining us to talk about the asexual representation in her books. I hope you all enjoy her Q&A!
I'm so happy to have Heather joining us to talk about the asexual representation in her books. I hope you all enjoy her Q&A!
Heather Kaczynski is the author of Dare Mighty Things and the sequel, One Giant Leap. She holds a degree in biology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and spent seven years working in an Army library near Marshall Space Flight Center, where she managed the children and young adult collections. She lives outside of Huntsville, Alabama, with her husband, their young daughter, and two cats named after Greek myths.
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1. Thank you so much for joining me for A-spec April! Can you tell us a little bit about the asexual representation in your series, Dare Mighty Things?
The main character, Cassie, identifies as ace, though not aro. Her definition of herself does evolve a bit throughout the duology.
2. At what point in the planning and writing of Dare Mighty Things did you realize you were going to write an asexual character? What influenced this decision?
It wasn't until I had sold the book and was going through developmental edits. One of my critique partners had been telling me early on that Cassie read to her as asexual. I had been uncomfortable writing a romantic subplot involving Cassie almost from the get-go - I kind of forced one in there because I thought YA required romance. Once my CP pointed it out to me, everything seemed to click into place. I felt almost like a sigh of relief, like I had permission now to cut down the romance! Asexuality wasn't even a word I knew when I first started writing this book. I had written Cassie this way without knowing, simply using my own instincts for her character. Once I realized this, I wanted to make sure that the representation was explicitly on the page - in case there was someone out there reading it who, like me, didn't have the word to describe themselves.
The main character, Cassie, identifies as ace, though not aro. Her definition of herself does evolve a bit throughout the duology.
2. At what point in the planning and writing of Dare Mighty Things did you realize you were going to write an asexual character? What influenced this decision?
It wasn't until I had sold the book and was going through developmental edits. One of my critique partners had been telling me early on that Cassie read to her as asexual. I had been uncomfortable writing a romantic subplot involving Cassie almost from the get-go - I kind of forced one in there because I thought YA required romance. Once my CP pointed it out to me, everything seemed to click into place. I felt almost like a sigh of relief, like I had permission now to cut down the romance! Asexuality wasn't even a word I knew when I first started writing this book. I had written Cassie this way without knowing, simply using my own instincts for her character. Once I realized this, I wanted to make sure that the representation was explicitly on the page - in case there was someone out there reading it who, like me, didn't have the word to describe themselves.
3. What did you find most challenging and most rewarding about writing an asexual character?
It's a spectrum! Everyone defines their identity in their own unique way. So what felt true for me might not ring true for another reader. I really didn't want to do an injustice to those readers, especially since there is so little ace rep in YA (though it is steadily growing.) But it's hard because you can't represent everyone's experience via one character in one story. Also, the book is not focused on her romantic life - it's only a tiny footnote in the plot - so again, doing justice to her identity without spending a huge amount of time on it was a balancing act.
4. How did you identify the orientation of your character on the page? Did you use the term “asexual” in the text and how did you come to that decision?
I accidentally answered this above! I did want to use the word "ace" on the page simply because it wasn't a term I was even familiar with, even though I'd been around for 20-some-odd years and on the internet for at least half that time. Today's kids generally have a much wider world and access to the internet to learn things like this, but not everyone does. Cassie is also "pretty sure" she's ace at this point in her life, but at 17/18, your terms for yourself can change as you grow and learn. I also wanted to note her uncertainty that she will always identity this way. Because that's also valid. At the beginning I think she believes herself ace, but I think after the events of the book, she may decide to identify herself as demi. You're not locked in to who you think you are at 17.
5. In writing an asexual character, did you do research and consult sensitivity readers or did you rely on your own knowledge or experience?
Once I realized I wanted to write an explicitly ace character, and not just someone who "could maybe be read as ace," yes, I did consult with two other authors who identify as ace for certain passages, to kind of check in and see if they thought it read authentically. Because although I don't currently identify as ace, a lot of Cassie's feelings and emotions that came through were my own, and it wasn't until my CP told me "this reads like an ace character" that I ever considered using that term myself. And being so new to that realization, I wanted to get insight from people who had more experience in their identity.
6. What was the experience of publishing a book with an asexual protagonist like? Was there ever any concern that a mainstream publisher might be wary of acquiring your story?
I was worried that the lack of romantic subplot would hurt me with publishers - which is why there was a bit more romance in my original drafts. But I didn't like it there, and I didn't really want it there. And it simply wasn't working. When we were going through developmental edits with my editor I approached her with the idea that Cassie was ace and I wanted to state in it the text. The answer was actually a very enthusiastic "yes!" So I think the tides are shifting with regards to diverse representation somewhat.
It's a spectrum! Everyone defines their identity in their own unique way. So what felt true for me might not ring true for another reader. I really didn't want to do an injustice to those readers, especially since there is so little ace rep in YA (though it is steadily growing.) But it's hard because you can't represent everyone's experience via one character in one story. Also, the book is not focused on her romantic life - it's only a tiny footnote in the plot - so again, doing justice to her identity without spending a huge amount of time on it was a balancing act.
4. How did you identify the orientation of your character on the page? Did you use the term “asexual” in the text and how did you come to that decision?
I accidentally answered this above! I did want to use the word "ace" on the page simply because it wasn't a term I was even familiar with, even though I'd been around for 20-some-odd years and on the internet for at least half that time. Today's kids generally have a much wider world and access to the internet to learn things like this, but not everyone does. Cassie is also "pretty sure" she's ace at this point in her life, but at 17/18, your terms for yourself can change as you grow and learn. I also wanted to note her uncertainty that she will always identity this way. Because that's also valid. At the beginning I think she believes herself ace, but I think after the events of the book, she may decide to identify herself as demi. You're not locked in to who you think you are at 17.
5. In writing an asexual character, did you do research and consult sensitivity readers or did you rely on your own knowledge or experience?
Once I realized I wanted to write an explicitly ace character, and not just someone who "could maybe be read as ace," yes, I did consult with two other authors who identify as ace for certain passages, to kind of check in and see if they thought it read authentically. Because although I don't currently identify as ace, a lot of Cassie's feelings and emotions that came through were my own, and it wasn't until my CP told me "this reads like an ace character" that I ever considered using that term myself. And being so new to that realization, I wanted to get insight from people who had more experience in their identity.
6. What was the experience of publishing a book with an asexual protagonist like? Was there ever any concern that a mainstream publisher might be wary of acquiring your story?
I was worried that the lack of romantic subplot would hurt me with publishers - which is why there was a bit more romance in my original drafts. But I didn't like it there, and I didn't really want it there. And it simply wasn't working. When we were going through developmental edits with my editor I approached her with the idea that Cassie was ace and I wanted to state in it the text. The answer was actually a very enthusiastic "yes!" So I think the tides are shifting with regards to diverse representation somewhat.
7. What was your first experience with seeing asexual or aromantic characters in fiction and media?
It wasn't until after I had finished writing Dare Mighty Things that I discovered Seanan McGuire's EVERY HEART A DOORWAY. That was the first explicitly asexual character I ever read.
It wasn't until after I had finished writing Dare Mighty Things that I discovered Seanan McGuire's EVERY HEART A DOORWAY. That was the first explicitly asexual character I ever read.
8. What is your favorite book (or books) with asexual or aromantic characters?
I am woefully behind on my TBR (like, it's embarrassing how behind the times I am) so here are some I'm really looking forward to reading:
HULLMETAL GIRLS by Emily Skrutskie
THE LAST 8 by Laura Pohl
THE LADY'S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY by Mackenzi Lee
TARNISHED ARE THE STARS by Rosiee Thor
I am woefully behind on my TBR (like, it's embarrassing how behind the times I am) so here are some I'm really looking forward to reading:
HULLMETAL GIRLS by Emily Skrutskie
THE LAST 8 by Laura Pohl
THE LADY'S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY by Mackenzi Lee
TARNISHED ARE THE STARS by Rosiee Thor
9. Do you know what you are going to be working on next and do you think we see more a-spec characters in your future stories?
I am writing something completely different now (I'll just say it's a fantasy, not sci-fi) that I'm hoping to sell eventually, but there's no guarantees in this publishing life! As I try to reflect the diversity of the real world in my writing, I'm sure there will be a-spec characters in my future works. But I hope to not tell the same character's story twice.
I am writing something completely different now (I'll just say it's a fantasy, not sci-fi) that I'm hoping to sell eventually, but there's no guarantees in this publishing life! As I try to reflect the diversity of the real world in my writing, I'm sure there will be a-spec characters in my future works. But I hope to not tell the same character's story twice.
A huge thank you to Heather for joining me to discuss her books! Definitely check them out if you're looking for an awesome YA story with a determined, asexual protagonist at its heart.
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