Adult romance writer Julie Soto chats her YA thriller, The Thrashers
Julie Soto chats her new book, a YA thriller titled The Thrashers, which is vastly different from her usual adult romance works.
What do you find to be the most different between writing a romance and writing a thriller? Is this difference bigger or the adult-YA gap bigger?
Thrillers have a way of propelling the story forward that romances like to relax into. We want to give romance readers a chance to know these characters slowly, but thriller readers need the pacing to soar. I tried to live in the limbo of that difference.
The Thrashers tackles heavy topics such as suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. Was it difficult to balance between the thrilling narrative and writing about these sensitive topics?
For me, I examine stories about teen suicide and bullying from a place of survivor’s guilt. If you have been affected by teen suicide, you may feel a sense of displacement that you are still here or that you could have done something. There is a sense of guilt that comes from being a bystander to bullying too—that you could have made another choice. I tried to use this guilt and inner tension that sits inside of people who are affected by these sensitive topics to inform how the “thrills” affected them too. At one point, Zack Thrasher wonders aloud if they don’t deserve what’s happening to them. There’s a heavy layer of guilt and shame over the whole story, and the thrills and supernatural elements seem to sprout from that guilt.
There are also some subtle supernatural elements that add to the suspense. How did you decide on the extent of these elements?
I’m someone who believes in ghosts without having had experiences with them myself. Because the supernatural is something that is so based in belief, I wanted to allow readers the opportunity to believe or not believe throughout the book as a way to keep tension within yourself.
The Thrashers delves into the complexities of high school cliques, and morally grey characters. What was the process behind developing the characters such that they would be authentic and relatable?
I tried to keep the characters grounded in their care for each other, first. Even as you begin to mistrust them, I hope they feel like they genuinely love each other as a group.
Readers can’t get over the ending obviously. Have you been reading people’s reactions?
Yes, it’s my absolute favorite thing! There’s nothing I love more than a last page twist, so I am very happy that my attempt at one is landing well!
Finally, of course we have to ask, what’s next? YA romance, adult thriller, or something completely different?
I have an adult fantasy series next, so a completely different swerve! But I like all three genres equally now, so I think I’ll be doing YA thrillers, adult romance, and more fantasy books for a long time!
