A little while ago after being bored at the mall and having 1 hour to spare, I walked into Indigo. I saw a large table set up with books and an author who was signing copies. Thats when I discovered the book; The Truth About Us. I have always wanted to have a book signed by a real author, so I bought it knowing nothing about it, then I got it signed. Little did I know this book would become one of my favourite books.
When I got home I placed it on my bookshelf and forgot about it entirely. Weeks had passed and I haven’t given it a second thought. Then one (ironically) rainy summer day, I decided it was a perfect day to read a book. I went to my bookshelf and got The Truth About Us. I finished the 300 page book in a little over than two hours.
The Truth about Us is an enjoyable book about a rich girl; Jess and a poor boy; Flynn. Jess pretends that she is fine and that her family is perfect. But despite what she says, it’s not. And no one notices until she meets Flynn. Jess met Flynn in quite a peculiar way, but soon they get to know each other better. That summer Jess gets in trouble and her father makes her work at a soup kitchen on the wrong side of town. Thats when she meets Flynn again. When Jess’s parents learn about Flynn they only see the differences – not how much they need each other. Jess is a rich girl who is unhappy and Flynn is a poor boy who has it hard but sees the best in most situations. You’ll have to read the book to find out more!
I decided I was really intrigued in the book so I emailed the author; Janet Gurtler in order to find out more. Janet is a very nice lady who lived in Calgary, but then later moved to Okotoks. She writes primarily to teens and I got the pleasure of chatting with her at a book signing a little while ago.
Q &A with Janet:
1.Which writers inspire you? and is you writing style similar to theirs?
I love all sorts of writers. Especially YA writers. I love writers who can gift the pages with prose so beautiful I want to stop writing because I’ll ever be worthy. Authors like A.S King, Rainbow Roswell and Jandy Nelson. I love writers who can evoke my emotions and I’m inspired by writers who can make me laugh out loud or cry when I’m reading their work. I am inspired writers who can reach inside and touch me as a reader with their words. Suzzane Collins, John Green, Sara Zarr. I hope I can do that as an author. Making people feels things is what I strive for.
2. Why do you write?
I write because it is my way of communicating with the world. Before I started writing fiction I wrote journals and letters. It is how I stay sane. I guess writing keeps me connected to who I am and who I want to be. I now write fiction because it really does make me feel better. I guess creative types need their outlets and this is mine. I love the whole process, the staring into space thinking and then when the opportunity to sit down and let it all out….that’s the payoff.
3. What inspired you to write the book; The Truth About Us?
Well, I had a book contract so there’s that incentive, lol. But the actual story of The Truth About Us? I wanted to explore a love story between two people no one wanted to be together. I also wanted to show the perspective of a girl who seems to have everything (on the outside) but inside is unhappy. This contrasting the boy who seems to have nothing (on the outside) but is doing pretty good. I think I like to shatter the illusions of who people are vs what people like to present to the world. How we are perceived, by looks and possessions is often in contrast to what we feel inside. To me, true happiness comes from within, not from what you have or what you look like. I guess I feel compelled to share this, story because it’s a theme I often gravitate towards. I like to show that people are so very human, and we all make mistakes. When do those mistakes make us “bad people”? For each of us there’s a different measure. Forgiving or not forgiving is up to the an individual and in the case of books, the reader. For example, some people have a really hard time forgiving Flynn for what he did. In real life we often have to make similar decisions about people we love. And ourselves. (I understand why Flynn did what he did, and I buy his remorse)
4. What’s your favourite part of the book; The Truth About Us?
Different parts of the book speak to me for different reasons. I loved taking Jess out of her comfort zone and putting her in Flynn’s neighbourhood. For me it was fun to imagine his neighbourhood to her, the boys outside to the inside of the house. I liked how it made her feel, even though she didn’t want those feelings. I strive for scenes like this, where the character’s reaction is real and not contrived or what it’s “supposed” to be. I loved seeing Jess begin to relate to the people at the shelter.
5. Will there be a sequel to your book?
I don’t have sequels to my stand alone books. Which all my YA books are. J So I guess the answer is no. I’ve been asked by readers to continue the stories of some of my books and it intrigues me but it’s not something I think I’ll ever be able to do. That said, if someone I meet wants to talk to me about what happened in my books, I’m happy to explore it. I’ve thought about the futures of Jess and Flynn and other book characters, but that doesn’t mean I’ll write them!
I would like to thank Janet again for answering my questions and I strongly encourage you to read this book!