A novel by Libby Svenson

Andromeda's Turn is the story of Andromeda "Andy" Anderson, a typical teenager with typical teenage dilemmas: Why hasn't he called? Why is my mother so clueless? Why is one of my eyes bigger than the other? But she also has some more serious issues to deal with: her parents' bitter divorce; her mother's remarriage; an older brother with a troubled past; and a new friend with a mysterious secret. All her life Andy has heard the story of her mythical namesake, Andromeda of Ethiopia, chained to a rock as punishment for her vanity. That Andromeda was rescued by Perseus and won her place in history. Andy grows tired of waiting for a mythical hero to save her and turns the tables on the old myth, finding her own way to deal with her problems and make her own "happily ever after."

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About the Author

I was born in Minnesota in 1994, but I've lived most of my life in Virginia and Florida. My first novel, Andromeda's Turn, was started as a result of pure boredom during a road trip from Florida to Maine and back in the summer of 2007. I started with no serious ideas about writing a novel, but when I had drafted around 100 pages in those 4,168 miles, I spent the next few months writing, writing, editing and rewriting. My parents helped me with editing and the marketing of the final product, so it turned into a family project that ended up being a really great experience. I'm now a senior in high school and still write whenever I can. I've attended the Iowa Young Writers' Studio and the Sewanee Young Writers' Conference, and both further fueled my love for writing. Recently, I've been trying out more poetry and short stories but there are a couple new novels in progress, too. When I'm not focused on writing or school, I enjoy discovering new music, drinking tea and collecting ugly sweaters.

Interview with the Author, 5/2009

An Interview with Libby Svenson
by Gina Miller and Callie Svenson

GM: How old were you when you wrote Andromeda's Turn?
LS:  I was thirteen years old and in seventh grade.
GM: How long did it take you to write AT?
LS:  I'm not exactly sure, a couple months. It seemed like I wrote it really fast, but it probably took at least four to five months.
GM:  What made you want to write AT?
LS:  I was on this REALLY long car trip to Maine, and I was bored out of my mind, so I was like "Hey, I should write a book." So I did, and it was a good way to pass the time. ;)
GM:  Of all the characters, who is your favorite?
LS: Adrian!!!! I wasn't really sure about him at first, but as he developed into a deeper character, I began to really like him. I know he has his issues, but that's what makes him so unique. He seems the most realistic.
GM:  Will there be a sequel?
LS:  I'm considering one, or maybe a book from Adrian's point of view. I'm not quite sure yet.
GM:  What is your favorite scene in the book?
LS:  I have lots of favorites, but the wedding is probably my most favorite, because what happens there is just so surprising and unexpected. I also love the funeral scene, even though I cried writing it
GM:  Is Hillary's a real place?
LS:  No, but it would be cool if it was. Online, I found a boarding school called Queen Ethelberga's, in Kent, England, so I used that as a model.
GM:  If there would be a movie, who would be your firsts picks for the cast?
LS:  Okay . . . Andy would be played by Jem, a Welsh singer. Taylor Locke, the amazing guitarist of one of my favorite bands, Rooney, would have to be Adrian. Liam Aiken, who was in Lemony Snicket, would be Alex. Clemence Poesy (Fleur Delacour in Harry Potter) for Paris, Emmy Rosum for Amber, and my favorite: tennis player Jonathan Eysseric for Zac
GM:  What are some books that you reccommend?
LS:  Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer, of course; The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton; Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock; The Lord of The Rings trilogy by J. R. R Tolkien; Holes by Louis Sachar; and A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.
GM:  What kind of music did you listen to while writing?
LS:  Lots of stuff from my iPod, but my favorites were Death Cab For Cutie, Coldplay, The Beatles, The Ramones, Mika, and Paramore.
GM:  Would you recommend self-publishing to other young aspiring authors, or something else?
LS:  If you want just a small number of copies for yourself, friends, family, etc, self publishing is really great. It's also easier, because they can do pretty much all the work for you, once you've written the book and edited it. But if you're planning on getting to the bestseller list, try looking for an agent to help you get your work out there. 
GM:  Are you going to continue working on different writing projects?
LS:  Of course! I have so many more plans for different novels, I probably won't be able to write them all. :P Currently, I am working on a new novel with my BFF and colleague, Gina Miller.
CS:  Which of the characters in your book would you most like to be friends with and why?
LS:  Well, I wish they were all real so I could hang out with them, but to pick a "new best fictional friend" . . . hmmm . . . probably Andy. She's slightly based on me, so we'd have the same interests and all. And we're both musicians -- we could start a band! :) 
CS:  What was the hardest part about writing a book?
LS:  I love writing and wish I could devote all my time to it. But sadly, I can't, so finding the time to work can be difficult, especially during the school year. 
CS:  How did you come up with the idea for the book?
LS:  I don't exactly remember, but I think I had watched the movie School of Rock recently, and was inspired to combine prep and rock like in that movie. From there, I pretty much added to the plot as I went. 
CS:  Have you been to England? How did you research the setting, etc. for the parts that take place in England?
LS:  I've been to Ireland, but haven't been to England -- yet. It probably wasn't the best idea to use it as a setting, but I just thought it would be cool. I used Google and other websites to find things like driving ages and places Paris would love to go shopping. Hopefully I'll be able to get to England sometime soon.
CS:  Who is your least favorite character in the book and why?
LS:  He may be totally hot, but Zac is still my least favorite of everyone. I don't think he tries to be like he is, but sometimes his flirtiness gets the better of him. Or maybe the fact that he's based on an old (failed) love interest has something to do with it . . . :) 
CS:  How did you decide to self-publish the book?
LS:  I wasn't planning on doing anything with it, but I have lots of family and friends in other states, and they started wanting to read it.  Self-publishing seemed like the easiest way to share it. I never thought it would get this far, but I really like having a book to show people.
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