What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
“The Order of Odd Brilliance” was one of those books that unfolded slowly. I love to write YA stories set in special schools and had this idea… There are nine famous prep schools on the East Coast of the U.S., but also a secret 10th school where you learn the art and science of time travel. As we know, all time travel books and TV shows insist you must never change history. What if these genius high school students, all with perfect SATs, were tasked to change history… strategically?
But if you go rogue, you are committing treason against the government, and life is over. This means no changing history to help you or your family. My main character, Sagan Santos, 17, has been on the run since she was a baby. Her mama did something really bad. She also comes from a family that has specialized in time travel—not that she knows that at first. Her father works to better the world; her mother wants to tear it all down. Sagan just wants a family and maybe a love interest, if that’s not too much to ask in any time period!
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
Wow… that’s such a great question. Maybe it’s “time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking into the future.”
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I’m a journalist and author, so it’s all over the place. I love YA, any fiction, and especially the brilliant word stylings of Stephen King. Also, give me a great biography. I love to write YA and have done so in my series, “Ascenders: High School for the Recently Departed.” But I also have a small-town romance novel coming up, set in the heartland, and a genre thriller based in California in the works.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
So many! I have been working so much that my pile is huge, and I really need to rethink the fall closet, as so many books are crammed in there.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
There is a scene where the time travelers try to save the life of Princess Diana. We know every single detail of her tragic accident, but would she really believe five teens from 2026 telling her she will die tonight? Sagan and her friends must try to stop what happened while fate fights back in a furious way. They’re also tasked to save one life—just one—at Pearl Harbor. I love the idea that one life changes everything.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I like to write in the early mornings now. I do a radio show because I’m also an entertainment reporter. So, I’m up super early. Once the show is done, the early morning hours, when the world is quiet, and it’s still dark outside, are perfect for writing. I swim every afternoon and find that the water is so amazing when it comes to plotting. You just have to remember what you thought up because you can’t write it down while doing laps!
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
The motto in my new book is “tweak history, save the world.” That’s not bad. I also like that all dogs are good dogs.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
You need to pay close attention to the best story ever… history. It repeats itself.
All these years later, if I could go back, I’d take a slew of history classes in college.
Another message of the book is that family comes in odd ways and in strange packages.
And finally, the idea of the book is that odd should be celebrated. I’ve asked readers: Tell me how you are odd. Everyone answers with a spark. Odd is cool. Odd is necessary.