Hello and welcome to the Happy Writer. This is a podcast that aims to bring readers more books to enjoy and to help authors find more joy in their writing. I am your host, Marissa Meyer. Thank you so much for joining me today. The thing making me happy this week, and it's kind of a multi-phase thing, so bear with me for a second. Uh, you guys remember those like fortune teller, origami, things that kids make in like elementary school and like they've got, they, they open and close, and then you like pick number three and you open the flap and it gives you your fortune. Those things, right? I loved those as a kid, but for some reason, uh, that I never could fully understand or explain, I was convinced that they must be so difficult to make clearly that the peers in my elementary school were like geometry, origami, wizards to be able to create these things. And I never learned how to make them, even though I always thought they were really, really cool. Fast forward now some 30 years later, Uh, and lately I have had the joy of working with Taylor Denali, as some of you might know her as the artist behind Kiwi on the Bird on Instagram. She makes these like really fun bookish inspired games and activities that are really neat. Um, and she has been helping me design some new book swag. And one of the things we decided to make are fold your own fortune tellers to go with Gilded and the Lunar Chronicles. And one, they're just like really, really pretty. But also bonus as she was like showing me these designs, I was like, Oh gosh, if these are gonna be at my events and on my signing table, I should probably actually know how to fold one. So I sat down and I watched an eight minute video on YouTube, and would you believe it? I am now capable of folding one of these fortune tellers and I'm rolling my eyes at my younger self for being so weirdly intimidated by them, but also like really giddy that now I know how to do this thing that I've always thought was really cool and always admired other people for doing so. What is the moral of that? I don't know. Don't be afraid to chase your goals. Sometimes it just takes a little eight minute YouTube video and you can do it too. All right, With that, I am so happy to be talking to today's guest. He has a degree in TV and film production, and as a filmmaker has received the George Lucas Scholar Award and the James Bridges and Jack Larson Award for writing and directing. He also has an extensive background in songwriting and recording and acted as the lyricist for the rap film, The Cipher. He is of course, also an author. His debut middle grade novel. Nothing interesting ever happens to Ethan Fairmont came out earlier this month. Please welcome Nick Brooks.
Speaker 2:Hey, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much for joining me and since I had such a long happy thing, intro, I have to ask you, did you do those origami things?
Speaker 2:<laugh>? Uh, no. Well, something similar. We did a thing where it was called like mash. Do you, did you ever play
Speaker 1:Mask? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. With the spiral? Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, with the spiral. It wasn't really origami, but that was probably the closest thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that was a, a slumber party staple for
Speaker 2:<laugh>.
Speaker 1:<laugh>,
Speaker 2:Yeah. That. And there was another one where you kind of folded some paper and you like opened and closed it and had like numbers inside, like secret number. I, I forget what it's called, but it's similar to origami. But that's the, that's the closest I got, so,
Speaker 1:Yeah. Okay. Okay. Um, well thank you so much for coming on and joining me today. Uh, the first question I have for you that we start with all of our guests is I would love to hear your origin story. And I'm particularly curious because you have done so many things, your bio, I mean, I just read a little clip from it there, but you've like a lot going on and I'm really curious to know how did you come to having your first book published?
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, I have a<laugh> like you said, extensive origin story. Um, but I guess where I can always start is, is music and with rap and with hip hop, you know, that's where I really started like writing and kind of hon my craft. Um, and finding my way around words was with writing lyrics, you know, song lyrics. And so, um, I did that at a, from an early age. Um, and then from there I got into like mystery novels and, um, I'm also huge fan of TV and film. So watched a lot of that. And, um, and I, and I eventually when I kind of pivoted from music, I wrote my first children's book, um, when I just graduated undergrad and I was teaching in, uh, in DC where I'm from. Um, and so I was teaching kids, uh, I was in this program called Teach for America. And um, you know, my kids didn't have a lot of books with characters that looked like them. And so that creative side of me, that side that used to write, that used to write music and, and rap before, um, or kind of in the, in the middle of of my undergrad experience kind of crept back out. And it, and it crept out in the form of children's books. So I said, Well, I'm not gonna be writing music. Maybe I can write children's books and, and write books that feature, that feature kids that look like the kids that I'm teaching. Um, and so of course, of course I'm writing these, these rhyme, you know, kid rhyme books that talk about lessons and character development. And it was a cool thing that I did. Um, I, I actually searched like for images online to match the words that I was putting down. And, um, and my principal came in one day and saw, saw what I was doing and saw how engaged the students were and was fascinated by it. And I'm, you know, I was also studying for, you know, my first, my first master's degree in, in, in children's development, um, at the time while I was in Teach for America. So, you know, I didn't know a ton, but I knew, you know, she was so fascinated by it. And I just knew that the kids seeing characters that looked like them was one of those connections, right? Like I, anybody could tell that these kids were able to make more text to self connections simply by being able to relate to the characters on the, on the cover of the book. So, um, she had me pitch my kind of idea, cause I also wrote a curriculum to accompany the, the, the books, cause it was multiple. Um, and she, she had me pitch the idea to my, the charter network I worked at, pitched it to them. They loved it. Um, and so they wanted to invest and they gave me money to get the illustrations done and get the books printed up and kind of do almost really like a pilot program, um, you know, with the, with the school. And I ended up taking those and consulting with multiple schools and different regions across the country. Um, and that took me to Dallas, Texas. Um, and at this time I was actually working for Teach for America on staff. And, um, and again, I just, you know, that that creative bug was just kind of nipping at me. And I was like, like I really, I really liked this. Um, but I still didn't have the, the, like the creative freedom, like I was doing kind of, I was right in the book, right? So I was able to tell stories. Cause at the end of all of this, I'm a storyteller is what I come to realize. But, um, you know, I'm like, okay, I really love that I'm able to write these stories, but I'm still not able to do it in the way that I want. There was still all of this kind of red tape around because I was working within that, the education system. And for some reason, a lot of times the adults seem to be worried about the other adults<laugh>. That's what I really learned coming through that through the education system. They don't really seem to be concerned with the kids. And so that was so frustrating working, um, in that capacity. And so I was like, Okay, what's, well, what's gonna be the next thing? What's something that can really, that can take me there and get me, you know, kind of looping back around to the entertainment industry, which is where I started as a 15 year old wanting to, wanting to be a rapper. Um, and so what I, what I landed on was TV and film. And so, um, I was like, Okay, let me, let me actually try to write a script now, right? I had these, these kind of, you know, these early, early, early literacy, um, books that I, I'm not challenging myself, right? Like, I think that's where it comes from. I, I'm, I look at creativity and storytelling almost like a drug. Like I get a kick out of it. And so I'm always kind of reaching for that next thing. And I think that's probably part of it too. I was like, Okay, I'm writing these books, but this is kind of, I'm still not flexing my, like, the creativity I know I can. Mm-hmm. And so, um, and so that's when I was like, Well, let me try to make a, let me try TV and film. So I tried writing this, you know, writing my first scripts and wrote a short film called Hoop Dreaming that I went on to make, uh, which is the thing I submitted to USC to get into their film program, which, you know, at the time I learned was the, the number one field program in the country. So, you know, supposedly. So I said, Okay, let me, let me try, try my hand at it, um, may hoop dreaming. Um, and then that landed me a sc and so I was, I've been in SC from 2017 to 2020, just, you know, just graduated a couple years ago. So, like, I always say I just graduated, when I tell people, I realize it's two years ago, but I think because of the
Speaker 1:Yeah, the last two years,<laugh>.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was, it was such, it was such a wash, you know what I mean? It was like everything kind of just, it's kind of sandwiched together. And I, I really felt like literally in this moment I'm just starting to like step out in Los Angeles. Like I'm, I feel like I'm mm-hmm.<affirmative>, this is, I've been here since 2017 and I feel like I'm just being able to come off the house, so to speak. So I felt like, you know, I'm really excited about that. Um, but, but yeah, so I graduated in 2020 and, and that is kind of where, you know, takes us up to now. So hopefully I wasn't too long winded
Speaker 1:<laugh>. No, no, I love that. And I, I mean, I love I can tell that you are the sort of person that you have ambitions and you have dreams and you, you're not afraid to like, go for them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly. For sure. Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:Um, and I also, I'm always trying to challenge myself and like, Hmm, what, what is something that I haven't written yet? What haven't I tried yet? Do you have other types of writing that you would like to try to explore at some point?
Speaker 2:Oh, I would love to do a graphic novel. I think that's one of the next things. Yeah. Yeah. That's,
Speaker 1:Um, do it. They're the best. They're so much fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. No, that's the, that's the next thing. That's the next, Well, I mean, I'm, you know, among a bunch of other things, but that is definitely one of the things that I'm like, Yo, I would love. Cause I gotta, I got a really cool idea for one. And, um, I just, yeah, it is exactly what you're talking about. Like, okay, how can I challenge myself? What can I write that I haven't written already? And I think that's
Speaker 1:It. Yeah. Yeah. Not that you have any shortage of projects going on,<laugh><laugh>. Let's talk about your debut middle grade that just came out. Would you tell listeners a little bit about Nothing interesting ever happens to Ethan Fairmont, which I love saying that title<laugh>.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. I know it's some, but, but it's, but it, but it perks you up, you know, It does<laugh> uh, you know,<laugh>,
Speaker 1:That's a tone
Speaker 2:It e Exactly. You know, Ethan, uh, it's about a young misfit scientist kid who finds, uh, unexpected, extra terrestrial friend in an abandoned warehouse in his neighborhood. Um, and when he learns that that extra terrestrial is actually on a run, um, trying to escape, uh, intergalactic warfare, um, him and his friends helped the, the, the alien fix his ship to get back home.
Speaker 1:Hmm.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I really enjoyed it. I regret that I didn't read it with my kids. I didn't give myself enough time to like that. I would've had enough time to read it with them before our interview today. So I was just like, Well, I gotta read it, so I'm gonna read it this weekend. Um, yeah. But as I was reading it, I like, Oh, the girls would love this. It's such a fun story.
Speaker 2:It is. It's a fun story. And I, I mean, I also have girls that have, uh, twin daughters. That's
Speaker 1:Twin daughters. How old are
Speaker 2:Yours? Oh, really? Mine are, uh, 19 months.
Speaker 1:Oh, babies.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. 19 months. And they are, I, I tell you their favorite thing to do is read, you know, it's their favorite
Speaker 1:That
Speaker 2:Congratulations. Thank you so much. Now is their, their favorite thing to do is read. And, and I realized as me, you know, starting to read more kids' books and more, and because I'm, you know, cause I have them, I was like, Man, a lot of the newer stuff, like, it's, it's a little tough to find just hard, uh, or just, you know, heart feel adventure, just stories, you know what I mean, with like, just like, just straight up adventure. Um, and I think in creating Ethan, it was like wanting to do something that, that felt just fun. You know what I mean? That felt a little bit, a little bit nostalgic I think, too. You know, I also grew up on reading like Hardy Boys, and that was every, through the whole process, I was always like referencing like, like adventure, like that. Even with the cover, I, like, the cover is actually, I was like, Yo, I wanna do something like, like Hardley Boys, you know? Um, that gives a sense of an adventure, but thrill. So all of that. And then for young readers, you know, So, um, I really appreciate that you were like, Yeah, my daughters would love. Cause that's exactly what I had in mind and writing. Like, I just want to, to make something that kids would enjoy, you know?
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. No, you nailed it. And the girls, they, they're almost eight, so quite a bit older. Um, and they're just getting into that age where they're starting to explore chapter books on their own. So this is definitely one that I will be putting on their shelf for<laugh> when they're ready for it.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 1:Um, so let's talk about Ethan, our protagonist. He is so fun. He's so brilliant. And I, I love reading characters who are so obviously smarter than I am<laugh> and, and especially seeing like a kid who is just like, and he knows it. He knows he's so smart, he knows he has this special talent, and I thought he was so cool. Um, where did, where did Ethan come from and how did you like, develop him as a character?
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, um, it came from a few different places. Um, and the whole, the whole kind of like concept of the, you know, the, the misfit finding, the, the extraterrestrial, it was a concept that was pitched to me through, um, a company, a launch pad called K Creative. Um, and I was actually working on something very similar in like, the TV space, and we had talked about it and we kind of felt like the, the character or this story rather, was something that kind of needed to be told. And so between that, and then, you know, some references that I pulled were like Jimmy Neutron, um, I don't know if you remember even Stevens, um, or if you remember, um, uh, the Smart Guy that was the other big one. Do you, did you ever see the smart guy with, uh, it, but it, but it is, it is basically this kid who's like, he's in like college<laugh>, and he's like the kid genius, and it was always just like the funnest character on tv.
Speaker 1:So that's really, Oh, no, I'm not familiar.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay. Yeah. The smart guy. It, um, but I think like all those references, and then I think the other piece of it was I was kind of thinking about myself, but if I, myself, but with the freedom to lean into all of the quirkiness that a person can have, you know what I mean? Mm. And I think that was one of the big things as far as us kind of coming up with the story in general is just showing like a black, like a black boy who's not the athlete or super cool, or, you know what I mean? He's like, Yeah, more, more on the nerdy side. And I think, I think for me, even there was like, I, I remember very vividly, probably seventh grade is the most vivid where I, like it was a choice almost. Like I could either go, I could, I could choose my adventure, and there was an opening to go down this kind of nerve path, you know what I mean? That I just, Right. That I didn't feel like I had the, um, I just, I, I felt like my environment wouldn't, wouldn't allow for it, right? And so I chose a different way, and I think I was really trying to imagine that kid, like, what have I gone gone that other way? You know what I mean? And like, what would that Interesting, Yeah. Yeah. So a lot, a lot to think about. I know it's, it is a lot to think about, but those are all of the places I kind of pulled from to like kind of get into the, the mind or the voice behind Ethan.
Speaker 1:Yeah. No, I like it. I like the self introspection element, and it does make a difference. I mean, you talked before about, you know, writing the picture books for kids in your class, um, Yeah. And how important it is for kids to see themselves and be able to re relate to the kids in the books that they're reading. Um, and it's, it's interesting to think like, you know, how would Nick Brooks be different if he had had this book when he was a kid and could have like, seen like, Oh, this is also an option
Speaker 2:Ex. Exactly, Exactly. It coulda is very different. And not, not that I would take anything away, but I just think it's not something I really saw growing up. You know, the, the books I saw growing up, the ones that I really connected with reflected more like just ref just kind of rang more true. Like, they weren't as fun as this book, as this as Ethan is. And which is again, why I wanted to like, put stuff that, you know, out there like that. Like, it didn't ha it doesn't have to be, you know, too gloomy or too trauma filled or too, you know what I mean? I think it was just an idea of getting away from that for a little bit. So all of those things are, are really what kind of helped shape the, the, the voice and the tone.
Speaker 1:No, I love that. And I think you, you did a great job with it. It is just a really fast-paced, really fun book. Um, how'd you come up with the inventions? I love that he's an inventor and I love, like, there's so many just like little reference to like goofy little things that he's made over the years. Do you have like a list that you brainstormed of all of his inventions?
Speaker 2:Do I feel like at some point? Yeah, there was definitely, because I remember there was a point trying to like pay, pay a lot of, of'em off, or pay some of'em off like his, like his, uh, his metal gloves and stuff like that. Um, but yeah, making a list. Some of them are things that I, again, um, movies, like, there's a movie called, uh, Short Circuit, I don't know if you're familiar, but the Idea Behind Handy Bot. Um, a lot of that came from like, even these films that I used to watch as a kid in the nineties, like, so Short Circuit is one, um, that in this, another one called Blank Man, where Blank Man was about this guy who was like, wanted to be this inventor, and he, um, but he made a little robot, you know? And so it was like, just, I guess I'm pulling from all of the different things I've seen, you know, the different films I've loved in the past, different things I've read. Um, and then the things that I wanted to create as a kid, the things that I, that I think would've been cool to create when I was a kid. You know, those are kind of all the things that I'm, that I'm thinking about when I'm trying to, you know, figure out what are the things that Ethan<laugh> has his hands on.
Speaker 1:Yeah. No, and it's so true. I think the things that kids would invent are definitely different than the things that us adults would invent. They have different priorities at that age.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And, you know, you wanna make things convenient, you wanna make things fun. Um, like those are the things that you're trying to invent. You wanna make thing, you wanna, like, again, some of the tropes that I, or like, you wanna, you know, cross you wanna combine items. Like, another one is, um, Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. Like, Remember how
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah. There's one that I've seen<laugh>. Yeah,
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. There you go. There you go. But like, all of, like, literally, literally, like, I'm telling you, I've watched TV and film so much that like all the things I'm doing, I just can't help but see some of these images flash in my head when I'm think, you know what I mean, when I'm thinking about when I'm, as I'm writing it. So all of that, I take it. And, um, and again, like you said, how try to see it from a, through a kid's lens, and, and that's where, that's where the, it all comes from
Speaker 1:<laugh>. Yeah, Yeah. No, for sure. And I mean, knowing that you have this, you know, background in film, um, both kind of, you know, having made your own film and, you know, going through your education for it, uh, and obviously just like having seen a lot oft you seen a lot of film. How do you feel like that has impacted you as a writer and a storyteller?
Speaker 2:Oh, it's been a tremendous impact for sure, because I think one of the, one of the specialties I have, but like one of my, my like big skill sets is just, um, like, it's like just plot, like, just like story. Um, and I think it's because I've seen, I've, I've just seen, seen it time and time again where, um, I'm able to, you know, take a few pieces and I know how to, I know how to make it make sense, right? And I, I understand that everything has to make sense. Um, and I understand that, um, you know, the things that the character goes through has to in some way impact, you know, who they are at the beginning to who they are at the end. It's like all these things that I understand, I think kind of, kind of naturally as far as it, you know, pertains to telling a, a great story just because I've watched so much, much of it, right? Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. And then of course you go to, you go to school and you get your formal education and you know, some people major in English or some people literature, you know, whatever. You go to school and learn, and then you add those tools to, it's already innate ability to tell a story. Cause I really think every, we, we all know how to tell a story. It's just about, for me, at least for me, it was going to school and making and bridging the connection again, being like, Oh, like having them tell it to me. And then I can connect that to all the TV and all the film and all the books that I've consumed throughout my entire life. I'm like, Oh, okay, now I'm starting to put these two together. Um, and so I guess to answer your question, you know, it's not just tremendous because, because I've, because I've seen so many, but I think because I went to schools and studied, you know, and studied TV writing and film writing, that also has played a major role, of course, in my, my storytelling capabilities when, when I'm jumping into, into the novel space, you know? Cause I'm just, I think it just makes it, it just makes you, it makes you, uh, well rounded, you know? And, um, even coming from writing music and in my music, putting stories there, it's like, you know, in music you have to, if you're delivering in a story in music, you have to, you have a very, very small window to, to, uh, make an emotional connection to, to the audience. And so, um, I think that has helped with like, maybe being able to, how I deliver a line, a line of dialogue on, you know, on the page when I'm, you know, in, in the novel space. And I think I'm, I'm just, I've had a lot of practice with moving these words around, you know what I mean? Yeah. I guess is all I'm saying, You know, And so coming, like studying film and, and writing music, I think all of that plays into the, the story, uh, you know, the storytelling in, in a novel space. Hopefully that wasn't too rambled,<laugh>.
Speaker 1:No, no, no. But I completely agree. I think that there is something really intuitive about story and very kind of universal, the way that, you know, stories are structured and the things that readers and film viewers and, you know, the way that we respond to different stories, like, I think there's a very intuitive quality to it. But it's like when you start studying it, then now you can like, recognize it. Like you were already kinda doing it, but now you can see it and you can understand how it works and why it works, and it just helps like strengthen, um, all of those tools in your toolkit.
Speaker 2:A hundred percent. That's, that's exactly what I was trying to say.<laugh>.
Speaker 1:<laugh>, Yes. Were there, are there like any things that you learned, um, in, you know, going to school for film? Like, do you ever like hark back to like, Oh, that one teacher talked about this and that really applies to this book that I'm writing mm-hmm.<affirmative>, or like, are there like little tidbits that you gleaned that you find yourself drawing on again and again?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'd say the two, Well, the one really, really big one is just the structure piece, you know? Um, which you don't wanna get too, too boxed in. I have another book, um, Promise Boys that is structured very differently, so I understand, you know, you don't wanna get too, save the Cat with it as they say<laugh>. Um, but, but, um, but it is, but that was like the biggest thing's. Like, oh, okay, this is how you can typically structure the story. Like, here, here are the moments within the story where you, this emotional bee typically occurs, you know? Mm-hmm. Like, that, that, that piece is, was, was like really, really helpful. Um, as far as like the little tidbits, again, is silly, or not silly, but like you said, it's stuff that we already know, but it just being able to put a name to it. But like the, the one that I just<laugh> for some reason, as soon as I saw it as a term listed in a, in a, in a class, I just really took to it. But the plant and the payoff, which is like the most, the, the most basic thing. But like, just having something in the story and then, you know, paying that thing off in a, in a really satisfying way later down the line is something I just, I just love. Um, and so, you know, if I can think of a, of a good example, um, you know, is Ethan using his, using his gloves or, you know, it's, um, I'm trying to think of, um, of a, just a really, really good one. I can't, I, it's, I can't write the second, but Well,
Speaker 1:One that comes to mind from the book is the, the cleaning bot. Yes. You, which you, you, you insert in that first chapters. Oh, cute little cleaning robot. Haha. So funny, quirky, you know, nothing is going right. But then far into the book, it actually plays a quite a pivotal role.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Exactly. And that's, those are, those are the, those are the little things that, stuff like that you just love because it makes the, it just really gets the, the reader connected. And it's like, Okay, I'm, I'm, I'm with this. I'm, it just, you know, it feels like you're, you're following along the logic of the story as you're, as you're reading it. And, um, that's always fun for me.
Speaker 1:Yeah. No, I, I agree. And I also think it's one of those details that makes readers really impressed. Like, if you can pull off a really great one that they're like, Wow, you mentioned this 300 pages ago. Or like, even better, you mentioned this in Book one and it didn't pay off until book four. That's amazing.
Speaker 2:<laugh>. Exactly, exactly. That is just so fun. So, you know, again, it's something that we, that we can, like, we all know, but when I had like the, when I had a, a teacher say, Oh, that thing that you really like, that happens in movies, This is actually a term, this is what it's called. And this, you know, and you can use it Yeah. As a tool. So, um, that was al that was pretty
Speaker 1:Cool. Yeah, no, definitely. Um, another thing, so let's talk about some of our other characters. Um, in Ethan Fairmont, of course, we've got Ethan at the center of the story. Um, and then we've got Cheese<laugh>, who is our extraterrestrial. Yeah. How did you come up with cheese and how hard was it it to write cheese? Or was it easy for you to write cheese? To me, I have like, this seems like it'd be a huge challenge, but maybe you feel differently.
Speaker 2:No, it was, so cheese was just, it was, it was kind of easy. It just came out of like the, you know, of course the whole cheese and crackers thing and thought that was<laugh>, um, writing it was really interesting. It was a long process. Um, it was a long process trying to, trying to nail it, because the, the first challenge was figuring out the, um, like I guess the species, you know what I'm saying itself, like mm-hmm.<affirmative>, would it look like, what, like what kind of alien was this? Was this, uh, your, you know, I was going again, to, to take it back to movies and stuff. It's like, is it kind of like a, like a, like a gimo? Is it kinda like a, um, from, um, Gremlins, you know, is it kind of like a gremlin? Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, or, or even you think about like Lelo and Stitch, right? It's the same type of like, is it that kind of alien or is it more go, like, just trying to figure out the, the texture and the makeup of the alien. Um, so that was tough. And then I think the thing that was hard was trying to figure out how they can communicate in the way, Cause like a note that I kept getting about it was like, at first they were communicating too well, You know what I mean? Well, how,
Speaker 1:No, and that specifically seemed like it would've been like so hard having a character that not only doesn't speak English, but like really just doesn't speak very much at all.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly. Yeah, it like, exactly. Other than making like noises and stuff mm-hmm.<affirmative>. Um, and so that was the thing, It's like, okay, at first it was, they were communicating too much and then trying to figure out the right, Yeah. So that, that was the tough part. And then trying to figure out the right balance, like, okay, we can only make them communicate just for like, just the information that Ethan needs. You know what I mean? Just like, as long as we can get that across. So we scaled back to that, and then it was just about figuring out what can we again, plant that, you know, that this alien does that, that they can start to build some type of communication with each other so that way by time, you know, cheese is showing Ethan everything that Ethan needs to know to put the, you know, to help solve the problem. Um, it makes sense. It's not kind of like out of the blue, you know, they don't, they don't get all of a sudden are able to understand each other. So that was definitely, definitely tricky. But, but I think we, I think we got there,
Speaker 1:<laugh>. Yeah. Did you, So occasionally, it's not a whole lot, but every now and then, we do have like a little line of, I guess we would call it dialogue from Cheese. Did you give any thought to your poor audio book narrator when you were writing these parts?<laugh>?
Speaker 2:Oh my God, you know what? Because this is my first like, novel, Like, no, not at all.<laugh>. I never, I I never would've thought of that at all. But now, but now that you mention it, that is so funny. Like that's that, in fact, now that you mention it, I'll try to like, create even more crazier words and then go back and listen just to, just to, just to see what they did. Like that'll be, that'll actually be kind of fun. I
Speaker 1:Love that. No, I'm really curious. I'd love to go listen to some of these chapters on audio to see how they did
Speaker 2:<laugh>. Yeah. Yeah. That's funny.<laugh>.
Speaker 1:Um, and then you talked about like trying to figure out, uh, the alien, like what kind of species, what does he look like, you know, what are the, is it organic and you know, mechanical cetera, et cetera. Um, and then we do get like little glimpses of the world and the universe that she is from.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Is that, like, do you have, do you have it planned out and figured out? Or was it like on a need to know basis that you're just, okay, now I kind of need to know something, so I'll put something in here? Or did you like create a separate world while you were writing
Speaker 2:It? Yeah, I see what you're saying. It was definitely more towards need to know, you know, I think, um, the idea of, because it, it's a really kind of visual world, right? With the, I don't know how much you give away on, on or the books out, so, but you know, it's up
Speaker 1:To you. But, uh,
Speaker 2:But, um, you know, when I always imagined it, like when I always imagine the, the, like the life flower shows, um, it is very vivid, like the planet that he's coming from and the war that's hot for, like this kind of, you know, this kind of this war that's happening. And with the other earings look like, I imagine them, like these like kind of dragon types. Um, so like, all of it is very visual. And, and I love your question because yeah, there's this whole other like, world that could be, that, you know, we could create from where chief comes from. But, but, but, but just being honest, it was more on the need to know, but, but, um, it's something to think about<laugh> creating that, that whole other world, you know? Yeah,
Speaker 1:No, I had wondered, and you don't have to give anything away, obviously, Um, but knowing that this is the first in the series, I was wondering if future books would kind of delve more into that or if we were gonna be heading off on like a totally different adventure next time.
Speaker 2:Gotcha. Gotcha. Yeah. No, that's interesting. Well, well, we'll have to wait and see. We'll
Speaker 1:Have to wait and see. No, that's a perfectly fair answer,<laugh>. Um, and then, ok, another thing that I wanted to ask you about, um, especially now knowing that you have twin babies at home. You know, you, you seem like you just have so many irons in the fire, so much going on. What are some strategies that you use, uh, both to balance it all, but like also to take care of yourself and, you know, be a great dad while you're at it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, man. I mean, some strategies I use, I, I try to, you know, if I feel like I need to take a break, I typically will take a break, you know? Um, I'm not too, like, I, I don't stay up long hours at other night, you know, I'm in bed by 10<laugh> mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I don't wake up, I don't wake up super early. I just get up around six, um, between six 30 and seven when the girls wake up. And so I'm not, I, I, I try basically, I guess I make very good use of just like the time, the time that I'm comfortable spending, you know what I mean? Um, and then I go on walks, like we go on ton of walks through the neighborhood or we go to the park, you know, um, go to the beach, um, that those are kind of, you know, stretch, exercise, workout. Am I going to Jo go get a, maybe try to go on a date night with, you know what I'm saying? Sometimes on the weekends with my, my wife, something just to like break it up. Um, but beyond that, not too much. Um, which is kind of why, you know, I think I, you know, we kind of started the conversation talking about getting away and doing a little vacation and, and enjoying things. So that's something I'm looking forward to around the holiday. But, uh, but that's pretty much it, you know, like, like I said. And then also just spending time with the girls if it's not going on a walk, just playing, you know, playing, rolling around in the bed or mm-hmm.<affirmative> playing, you know, playing in the living room. Just, just something, just something to take my mind off of things. Um, man, that's about it,
Speaker 1:Right? No, it is, it is hard, but man, man, it goes quickly. It is so fleeting. Yeah. Yeah. Um, and then I also, and I didn't even know about this until I was, uh, looking you up this morning. Don't trying to get ready for our interview today. Okay. Um, but according to some news sources, your upcoming Ya novel, your debut y Promise Boys, which you mentioned earlier, evidently it's sold for more than any other debut novel of all time, which
Speaker 2:Is Yeah. That
Speaker 1:Incredible. Congratulations. That must feel really weird,<laugh>.
Speaker 2:Thank you. It does, it does, it does feel weird. That's, I still, I'm just like, okay. Like, it's one of those things I'm, I'm just told that they're like, Hey, we can't find, we can't find another one that's sold for more than this. And so I'm just like, Okay. Like, I don't know, it's one of those things I'm just, it still doesn't quite feel real to say, you know,<laugh>. Cause it's not
Speaker 1:No, I, it never will
Speaker 2:<laugh> in that<laugh>, It just doesn't feel quite real to say. But yeah, that's, that's what I'm told, you know,<laugh>, so I'm kinda of like, All right, I just roll with it.
Speaker 1:Right.<laugh>. That's so cool. What you, um, it out next year, Is that right?
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. It comes out, it comes out January, uh, uh, 2023. How soon? And, uh, yeah, very soon. And that's why this, that's why like everything is crazy. And you know, the holiday's gonna be cool because when January kicks up, I'll be right back at it with Promise.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh. No kidding.
Speaker 2:Yeah. But promise, um, it's a, it's a murder mystery, you know, And this goes back to, like I said, growing up on, on mystery novels. I grew up reading Walter Mosley, who was my, my favorite mystery author. And, um, and again, going back to my experience, you know, working in charter schools, um, and working with a certain population of students this Promised Boys is kind of a reflection of all, all of that. It's, um, takes place in dc uh, and it's about, uh, three, three young men who are, uh, suspected of murder and their principle. And so they each try to work to, you know, clear their name. And so I'm excited about that one too.<laugh>.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I bet. Um, I look forward to reading it. I love a good murder mystery. Um, my last question before we move on to our bonus round, um, another one that I like to ask every guest, what to you is maybe one of the biggest challenges that you face so far in your career, and how were you able to overcome
Speaker 2:<laugh>? Yeah, I'm, well, they just ran out here and I'm go, I'm go, I'm gonna just get themed and, uh, on<laugh>, just back down this driveway. See I'm out in the, and they just,
Speaker 1:Yeah. Nap time must be over.
Speaker 2:Yep. You're so right. It just<laugh> again. Hey. Hey. I'll be right back. Y'all be right back. Um, alright. Sorry about, Did you, do you wanna, um, how do you wanna, do you wanna repeat the question and I can answer or?
Speaker 1:Sure. I mean, I don't know that I'm gonna edit it out cause it was too adorable.<laugh>. Uh, what do you feel is one of the biggest challenges that you have faced so far in your career, and how are you able to overcome it?
Speaker 2:Hmm. Um,
Speaker 1:Other than babies interrupting you in the middle of very important podcast interview,
Speaker 2:<laugh><laugh>. I'll be honest, I'll be honest. I think that, so initially the, initially the hardest part is the hardest part. I think I'm, I've, I've overcome, uh, you know, the first step and for me, the first step was always getting somebody to just see you. You know what I mean? Hmm. And I think with Promise Boys, Promise Boys, I think is the thing that is gonna, is gonna have that happen. I think people will be able to at least see me and then, you know, from there is is up to, you know, and from then from there, I, I gotta, I gotta bet on myself to deliver. But, so once that happened, I think this next, this next hardest part, to be honest, which is, is kind of funny. It's, um, it's actually imposter syndrome. Mm-hmm. I think that's probably, I think that's probably the, the thing I've dealt with most as far as this stage of what I'm doing. You know what I mean? It's just like, again, because everything happens so quick and like you said, it just, it just feels, I don't know, it feels weird and especially when you've been trying to get somebody to look at you for so long, you know what I mean? And then it happens. It, it makes that, it intensifies, you know? Um, because it's like, oh, well, I don't know, I just kind of started to accept that that may nobody would see me<laugh>. You know what I mean? So then when it start, starts happening, okay, now my, now it feels like I'm, I'm losing it a little bit. So I think that's been the toughest part in just, you know, um, I think trying, you know, talks with friends, talks with family, talks with my wife, and just trying to, and constantly just dealing with that. And I, I think it's gonna just be an ongoing thing until I settle in it, you know, But you just kind of don't know. I don't know, it's kind of, it kind of takes you for a whirlwind and, um, and so yeah. That's, that's been the hardest part.<laugh>.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I know. I'm, I'm 16 books into my career and I still face imposter syndrome sometimes, so it is a very real thing. But yeah, just keep at it. Keep doing what you're doing.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you so much. And thank you, like I said, for having me. I really appreciate the combo,<laugh>.
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely. Are you ready for a bonus round?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Plotter or pants?
Speaker 2:I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:Plotter or pants. Do you plot your novels or do you like go by the seat of your feet.
Speaker 2:Oh, got you, got you. Okay. I'm a, I'm a plotter. I gotta, I gotta work on my outline.
Speaker 1:Writing in the morning or writing at night.
Speaker 2:I like writing in the morning.
Speaker 1:What is your favorite writing snack or beverage?
Speaker 2:Hmm. Um, that's a great one. Uh, some, let me, Ooh, this is a good one.<laugh> my favorite writing snack or beverage? Um, I'll have to go with, oh my God, I have to go with like, salt vinegar, chips.
Speaker 1:Oh, those are my favorite
Speaker 2:<laugh>.
Speaker 1:Good chip. So much.
Speaker 2:<laugh>. I think it's all vinegar chips and, and yeah, that's the, I'll just stick with that one.
Speaker 1:<laugh>. No, that's a, that's a solid answer.<laugh>, would you rather discover an alien species or invent a cool new piece of technology?
Speaker 2:Uh, I would say cool. New piece of technology.
Speaker 1:If you had a handy bot 3.0, what is the first thing you would have it do?
Speaker 2:Hmm. Um, have a, uh, portable, uh, oven belly?
Speaker 1:What?<laugh> what does that mean?<laugh>.
Speaker 2:That means like, if Ethan wanted to like, make Hot Pockets while he was on the run, he could Oh,
Speaker 1:<laugh>
Speaker 2:Throw Hot Pockets in his belly.
Speaker 1:I get it.
Speaker 2:Pockets. Yeah. Yeah. See, So, so wacky, wacky, wacky world that deep lives in
Speaker 1:<laugh>. I love it. I mean, it's so, yeah. That's the practical, really.
Speaker 2:It's practical. Yeah.<laugh>,
Speaker 1:How do you feel the creative? Well,
Speaker 2:Hmm. I think, um, watching, you know, new movies, watching old movies, um, just watching good movies, watching good tv, listening to good music. Um, really, really, And then just kind of like, get in the way, you know, from it. Like, just trying to experience something without thinking about work or writing. So go, going to, I said going to the beach, going just getting out, doing something. Just, just breaking up the monotony. That usually helps me, you know, It, it usually helps to come back.
Speaker 1:What is your favorite thing to do that has nothing to do with reading or writing or, I'm gonna add movies to yours too. Nothing to do with movies.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah.<laugh>. I like, I like to, I like to play pool. Oh, cool. Yeah. Yeah. I like to play pool and I like, um, cards. I play Spades. Um, yeah, I, I think the, like Bill, Yeah. Pool is, that's something I really like to do.
Speaker 1:What book makes you happy?
Speaker 2:Hmm? What book makes me happy? That's a good question. Um, what book makes me happy? Uh, could always go to like, I think The Alchemist, um, yeah, I think we can stick with the outcome.<laugh>. Yeah.
Speaker 1:What are you working on next?
Speaker 2:See, other than Ethan two? Um, yeah, Ethan two. That's the, let's, I'm working on Ethan two. That's the next thing. Um, I got coming up. I, you know, at the Promise Boys. Yeah. And so, um, really excited about that.
Speaker 1:Does that have a release date yet?
Speaker 2:It doesn't, it doesn't. I'm, I'm supposed to be getting in some pages today, so
Speaker 1:<laugh>. Oh, oh my gosh. Well, I better not keep you much longer.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, you're fine.
Speaker 1:Lastly, where can people find you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, you can find me, um, at my website, which is just B Nick Brooks, um, on Instagram. Um, just official Nick Brooks on Twitter. Um, who is Nick Brooks. And all my social media links are again at my website, which is just b nick brooks.com.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Nick, thank you so much for joining me today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. Thank you for having me. Um, looking forward to it and, and keep in touch.
Speaker 1:I will for sure. Readers definitely check out Nothing interesting ever happens to Ethan in Fairmont. It is available now. Uh, and of course we've also got Promised Boys coming out soon, and I'm sure that is available for pre-order. Of course, we encourage you to support your local indie bookstore, but if you don't have a local Indie, you can check out our affiliate store at bookshop.org/shop/marissa Meyer. And don't forget to check out our merchandise on Red Bubble. Just search for the Happy Writer. Next week I will be talking with Betsy Cornwell about her new historical romance and the sequel to Jane, A Reader, I Murdered Him. How much do I love that title so much? If you're enjoying these conversations, please subscribe and follow us on Instagram at Marissa Meyer author and at Happy Writer Podcast. Until next time, stay healthy, stay cozy, and whatever life throws at you today, I hope that now you're feeling a little bit happier.