Ten Thousand Saints
Can you tell our readers what they can expect from your novel Ten Thousand Saints?
The novel is about a teenage boy named Jude who comes of age through the straight edge hardcore movement in New York City—a group of kids who embrace the Just Say No ethos of the 1980s. But it’s my hope that there’s a little something for everyone in the book—both the young and the old. It’s a classic tale of one generation’s interpretation of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.
Where did your inspiration for Ten Thousand Saints come from?
My husband’s involvement in the straight edge scene and his experiences growing up in the East Village were what originally fueled my interest in the material.
Why did you want to write about the Straight Edge music scene?
I wanted to capture the rich paradoxes of the scene—among them the devotion to an ascetic lifestyle, coupled with aggressive hardcore punk.
Why did you wish to write about the subject of AIDS?
AIDS doesn’t become a major theme in the book until quite late in the writing process. As I struggled to create a sense of verisimilitude in my portrait of New York, it became clear that I could no longer ignore the impact of AIDS on the city during the late ‘80s. Because my own family was personally affected by the disease—my mother’s brother died of AIDS not long after the story takes place—I found that I very much wanted to explore the subject.
What element of research did you have to undergo to achieve this publication?
I spent a great deal of time researching the details of the youth crew era of straight edge history as well as the 1980s in New York—through zines, through books, through the music itself. My husband Aaron’s involvement in that scene was without a doubt the most valuable source of research.
Where did the inspiration for your characters arise from?
Although the novel is based on a very real moment in history, none of my characters are based on a real person! They were each born over a long period, through filling notebook after notebook with notes.
What future projects do you have lined up?
I’ve recently begun a novel about a family of sharecroppers living in south Georgia during the Great Depression. It’s entirely new territory for me, and I’m enjoying it.
What advice can you give to aspiring writers?
Read widely. Seek a community of writers. And take your time.
What is your least favourite thing about writing?
Finding the time—between teaching and parenting—to do it.
What is your favourite thing about being a novelist?
Connecting with readers.
How did it feel to publish your first novel?
Exhilarating!
Interview by Lucy Walton