I got the idea for the book from living as a twenty-something in the 21st century. I think so often youth is epitomized as this glorious, awe-inspiring, peak of your life, when in reality it is often filled with numerous experiences that you have to then carry with you for the rest of your life. It can be scary to consider just how many themes we pick up on when we’re younger translate into new one’s as we age.
Vanessa Frances – 17 March 2020
The Back Flap
The book is divided into four chapters, each building on the lessons from the last. “Sentiments of Youth” captures within its pages what it means to be young while growing older. It is as much of a memoir as it is a collection of poetry and prose. This time in your life is often portrayed as the epicenter of everything that is and everything that was. Instead, it is something you go through. You can get through it. You can grow through it. And you will.
About the book
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing ‘sentiments of youth’ in January of 2018. It was around two years after my debut collection ‘laundry’ was published, and I felt as if I had grown into my new life experiences enough to create something entirely new.
How long did it take you to write it?
From conception to publication it took about two years to finish. I was lucky enough to have my best friend, Emily Kucala, be willing to do my illustrations and cover design, and the way she poured her heart and soul into it in such a limited amount of time has really helped it to stand out.
Where did you get the idea from?
I got the idea for the book from living as a twenty-something in the 21st century. I think so often youth is epitomized as this glorious, awe-inspiring, peak of your life, when in reality it is often filled with numerous experiences that you have to then carry with you for the rest of your life. It can be scary to consider just how many themes we pick up on when we’re younger translate into new one’s as we age. Life is a brilliant and beautiful thing, and being young while growing older is something that has always fascinated me. I wanted to capture that the best I could.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Many of the very personal passages were harder to write. Some of these narratives come from a very different time in my life than the one that I reside in now. Having to recall some of them and find a way to phrase feelings that I haven’t had in a long time was a bit of a challenge.
What came easily?
Breathing life back into the lighter parts of myself that I have not explored in a while. I am fortunate enough now to have grown into a woman that I am very proud of, and recalling the days where I had not yet figured out who I was meant to become provided a lot of valuable insight. Once you turn that facet on, as it runs, it can be pretty exceptional what you rediscover.
Do you have a target reader for this book?
Most definitely young women age 16-25. I have gotten a lot of really positive feedback from readers in this age range about how the book has brought up a lot of themes that they themselves could not figure out how to put into words. It is wild to me how vastly different people can be, but still find parallels in their youth.
How was writing this book different from what you’d experienced writing previous books?
I knew that when I wrote this book, I wanted to just help one person find a sense of understanding within themselves. When I was writing, I didn’t tell myself that it needed to be successful or that I needed some kind of recognition for it. I knew that if one person found something within the pages that resonated with them, I’d done my job. I’m very satisfied. It’s a very different feeling from being young and desperate to prove that I belong in the sphere of writers. Now I’m comfortable.
What new things did you learn about writing, publishing, and/or yourself while writing and preparing this book for publication?
Nothing is ever going to be perfect and you have to learn to be completely okay with that. What you create will outlive you, so make it count. Trust your gut. Believe in the stories you write so wholeheartedly, other people will too.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Sentiments of Youth from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
