As the end of the year steadily approaches, families from all over the world are celebrating their respective holidays. In a world where community and kindness are needed more than ever, there is a lot to be gained from simply learning about other people and their experiences. Marissa Meyer and Joanne Levy understand this very well in their new holiday middle-grade novel, Let It Glow, which celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas. Read this interview to get a better understanding of the book and the authors’ experiences!
Authors
Marissa Meyer
Marissa Meyer is the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Renegades Trilogy, The Lunar Chronicles series, the Wires and Nerve graphic novels, and The Lunar Chronicles Coloring Book. Her first standalone novel, Heartless, was also a #1 New York Times bestseller. Marissa created and hosts a podcast called The Happy Writer. She lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and their two daughters.
Joanne Levy
Joanne Levy’s love of books began at a very early age. Being the youngest and the only female among four children, she was often left to her own devices and could frequently be found sitting in a quiet corner with her nose in a book. These days, in her non-writing hours she helps other authors with their administrative needs as a virtual author assistant. She lives in rural Ontario, Canada with her husband and kids of the furred and feathered variety. Contact her through her website: joannelevy.com.
Thanks for joining us, Marissa and Joanne. Let’s get started!
When and how did you two meet? How did you know Let It Glow would be the perfect project for you to write together?
Joanne: I can take this one. I’ve been a virtual author assistant—helping authors with their administrative needs—for over ten years now, and a few years back, Marissa came to me looking for an assistant. We’ve worked together in that capacity for several years. But when I had the idea to write a twins-separated-at-birth-who-swap-homes-for-the-holidays story and realized I couldn’t write it alone, because I had no actual experience celebrating Christmas, I knew Marissa was the perfect person to write it with. I’m adopted, and she has twin adopted girls; plus, it’s fair to say we both love our respective holidays—Christmas for her and Hanukkah for me, so it felt perfect. It didn’t take long for us to realize we were on the right track with this project that was as much fun to write as we hope it is to read!
Marissa, Let It Glow marks your Middle-Grade debut! Was there a change in how you wrote for this one in contrast with your YA novels?
Marissa: There is definitely a difference in voice with middle grade—in general, this book is more lighthearted than my YA novels, with more focus on family and friendships, whereas romance tends to take center stage in my other works. It was really refreshing to tackle a warm, cheerful, sister-driven story this time! But probably the biggest change was working with a co-writer, especially as Joanne and I tend to have very different writing processes. But we were able to work together really well, and it was a lot of fun having someone to bounce ideas off of. We were constantly trying to entertain each other and make each other laugh with our chapters. It was always a joy to check the shared document and see a new chapter had been added, and see what new antics our characters were up to.
Joanne, in contrast, most of the books you’ve written have been Middle-Grade. What about the genre interests or compels you to write in it?
Joanne: I love writing for a middle-grade audience. I well remember the intensity of the feelings around being that age. Everything! Is! So! Important! I write the books that I wish I had as a kid to help me navigate those times when life and relationships felt so new and confusing. The crushes, the traumas, the awkwardness—I strongly believe there’s no better way to explore all these new situations and feelings than in the safe spaces of a book. And, well, if I can make kids laugh and feel joy at something I created, that’s the absolute best part of my job.
Let It Glow marks your first time working with a co-writer. What was that process like, and how did you go about it?
Marissa and Joanne: We have very different writing processes, but recognized that writing together would necessitate creating an outline, so we knew who would be writing what and where the story was going. Once we spent a couple of weeks working on that, we wrote alternating chapters in a shared Google doc where we pasted in new writing and then edited the other’s work. We also met there in the chat in real-time to talk about where the book was going, discuss the tweaks as we went, and, more importantly, make each other laugh. When we got stuck, we would get on a Zoom call to discuss the problem and work through some possible solutions. It ended up being a really relaxed, organic process, and honestly, it barely felt like work! Being able to step back for a day and know there would be new words waiting for us to read tomorrow kept us excited and moving forward. It’s not an overstatement to say that writing the book was pure joy.
The plot of Let It Glow emphasizes the importance of learning about cultures outside of your own. Since some people may not have a long-lost identical twin to switch places with, what would you say are some of the best ways to explore other cultures?
Marissa: This is one of the greatest benefits of books! They allow us to see the world through someone else’s eyes, introducing us to new ideas, perspectives, philosophies, cultures, backgrounds, beliefs… There is so much richness and diversity in literature. Plus, you know, reading is fun! And, of course, talking with other people, asking questions, having an open mind, are all great ways to learn about other people and cultures. I try to keep in mind that every human being is the protagonist of their own life, and we all have interesting stories to tell.
Joanne: Traveling and immersing yourself in another culture can be the best way to learn about people unlike yourself, but that’s not always possible. Traveling using books is my obvious answer because you can transport yourself to other cultures and locations in the pages of a book without ever leaving home. I think we should all endeavor to read widely to get outside of our own experiences and build empathy. But I also love food and feel that through food, we can all find common ground. Exploring other cultures through food is a very human way of coming together and learning about each other at a very basic level. And hey, discovering new favorite foods is always a good thing!
Joanne, you’ve been very proactive in utilizing literature as a mode of combating anti-semitism. As such, all of your novels feature Jewish main characters. In what specific ways are you using your novels to break down Jewish stereotypes?
Joanne: Thank you for asking this really important question. I have two mandates when it comes to writing my books and including modern Jewish characters:
1. For Jewish kids to feel seen and represented, and that they matter. Putting kids that Jewish tweens will recognize in a book does that.
2. For non-Jewish kids—some that may have never even met a Jewish person—to learn that while Jewish people may eat different foods, pray at different places, or celebrate different holidays, we all want the same things. We all want to belong, make friends, and live our best lives in peace. I want to break down those old stereotypes that make Jewish people seem like “the other”. And with antisemitism being at increased levels these days, it feels more important than ever to break down those pervasive tropes. Humanizing people not like us builds empathy, and the more empathetic kids are, the more hate-proof they are.
Marissa, in recent years, there’s been concern that the futuristic novels of yesterday are becoming the reality of today. Since The Lunar Chronicles and Renegades trilogy are both set in the future, were there any real-world inspirations behind either of them when you wrote them?
Marissa: Oh boy, when the COVID pandemic first hit, I felt like a soothsayer! It was eerily reminiscent of the plague in The Lunar Chronicles. Plus, so much of the technology from that series is similar to technologies that have become reality, or are on the verge of becoming reality. It’s really amazing what scientists and inventors are doing these days, and while there are a lot of concerning things involved with new technologies and how our society will react to them, I am also optimistic to see what developments will improve our lives and help us solve big world problems. (What can I say? I’m an optimist!) I definitely did a lot of research into breaking technology, particularly with The Lunar Chronicles. Robotics, cybernetics, artificial intelligence, space travel… a lot of real-world science inspired the series. That said, reality so frequently surpasses even my most wild imaginings, and it can be hard for sci-fi writers to keep up! I’m fascinated to see where technology goes in the coming decades.
Marissa, you’ve covered most of the major fairytales from Cinderella to Rumpelstiltskin. So, is there a lesser-known fairytale you’re hoping to cover one day? Will we ever see the Puss in Boots retelling that started it all?
Marissa: I have a lot of fairy tale retellings either in the works or simmering in the back of my mind! I would still love to do Puss in Boots someday, and I also have been teasing a possible retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon for a long time. Currently, I am working on a Bluebeard retelling, and I have more up my sleeve after that. I love fairy tales, and I am excited to be delving into some lesser-known stories (the deep cuts of the fairy tale world!), and I am hopeful that readers will love them.
Joanne, Susin Nielsen (author of Tremendous Things) described you as an author who could “[make] you laugh one moment and cry the next.” How do you go about incorporating humorous moments into books dealing with heavy topics, like in Sorry For Your Loss?
Joanne: Susin Nielsen is the queen of funny moments in books with tough topics, so it’s a great honor that she said this about my work! But I think we really need those humorous moments as a breather in between the difficult moments. They may seem insubstantial, but they really fulfill a purpose and are important. As humans, we can’t operate at maximum trauma all the time—it’s emotionally exhausting. And I think for kids reading my books, it’s extra important to have those moments of respite, especially as they may be dealing with these topics for the very first time. I’m always looking for those in-between scenes or moments when the reader needs a break in the tension. Much of it is about timing and not taking the reader out of the story, but just giving them that moment of levity that lets them reset and take a break before ratcheting up the tension. Plus, life can be funny, even at its darkest moments, and I feel it’s important to show that and give kids moments of laughter even amid the tears.
Marissa, a few months back, it seemed like you teased the script for The Lunar Chronicles animated series! Any further updates on that?
Marissa: The series is currently with Locksmith Animation in partnership with Warner Bros. Animation, and while they are keeping these quite close to the vest right now, I can tell you that the plan is to release a series of animated feature films. They are getting close to having a finalized script, and my fingers are tightly crossed that it will be greenlit any day now. The fans have been so patient for this, and it’s finally getting some traction in Hollywood, and I feel like it is in excellent hands!
This book imbues the magic of the holidays and spending time with family. As Christmas and Hanukkah are steeped in traditions, what are some of your favorite holiday traditions?
Marissa: We are big on traditions, and I tend to over-pack the month of December with a lot of special moments—especially since becoming a mom; I feel on a molecular level how quickly time is passing and know that we have very few of these precious childhood years to enjoy the holidays before the kids grow up, so I tend to pull out all the stops. Baking cookies, photos with Santa, going to Zoolights, picking out a tree at the tree farm, then decorating it while we listen to carols… honestly, it is so hard to choose a favorite! But I think for me, the best moment is Christmas morning when we gather around the fireplace with our coffee and hot cocoa in hand and all open our stockings. It’s a wonderful, quiet moment, and while it sort of serves as the “appetizer” to all the hubbub of the rest of the day, I love how peaceful it is and full of anticipation for what else is to come.
Joanne: Hanukkah is technically a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar, despite all the hoopla around it (due to its proximity to Christmas), but I love that my family always gathers to celebrate together. The more turns around the sun I make, the more I cherish family, and when we make the commitment to get together, catch up, and eat some of our favorite foods. Hanukkah is all about oil, so the food traditions center around fried foods, like latkes and donuts, and I can always get behind a holiday that commands us to eat yummy foods.
As you created Holly and Aviva’s characters, did you each take a lead in shaping one of the girls’ personalities? Would you say they reflect your own?
Joanne: I took on Aviva’s character as her family’s Jewish traditions (such as they are) are closest to my experience growing up in a Jewish home. But the funny thing is, I’m more like Holly’s character in personality. I was always the bookish introvert, very unlike the vivacious Aviva! But it was fun getting into Aviva’s head and writing the extroverted girl I wished I could have been at that age. I really took my inner tween out of her comfort zone, making her crave the spotlight where I would absolutely have been in Holly’s shoes, avoiding it at any cost! But we write to explore and learn, and I had a lot of fun writing a character so unlike myself.
Marissa: And I took on Holly, which is funny because, between Joanne and me, I am probably the more extroverted! That said, I really relate to both girls. When I was their age, I briefly wanted to be a Broadway actress, so while I’m not nearly as dramatic as Aviva, it was nostalgic for me to work on a Broadway-loving protagonist. Whereas, shy Holly wants to be a writer and has a big imagination—obviously, Joanne and I can both relate to that. I also connected strongly with Holly because of her relationship with her grandfather, one of her favorite people in the world. I was really close to my grandma, who passed away a few years ago, so writing the loving relationship between the two of them was extra special for me.
What a beautiful message authors Meyer and Levy are trying to remind us: we are never too old to learn about other cultures or to enjoy the charm of the holiday season. Regardless of your age or reading experience, this book should be read and appreciated by all. So, thank you to our authors for participating in this interview, and happy holidays to all!
Find Marissa Meyer here.
Find Joanne Levy here.
Ready to look into other holiday celebrations? Read more here!
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