SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: I Will Never Leave You
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.karakennedywrites.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Has a partner.
EDUCATION:Pennsylvania State University, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Has worked as a writing tutor and a content marketing manager.
AVOCATIONS:Running, exploring coffee shops.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2024, review of I Will Never Leave You.
Publishers Weekly, April 15, 2024, review of I Will Never Leave You, p. 59.
ONLINE
Kara A. Kennedy website, https://www.karakennedywrites.com/ (December 19, 2024).
Nerd Daily, https://thenerddaily.com/ (July 23, 2024), Elise Dumpleton, author interview.
Young Adult Books Central, https://www.yabookscentral.com/ (July 26, 2024), Cherokee Crum, author interview.
LOVER AND WRITER OF GHOST STORIES
Kara A. Kennedy has been telling ghost stories—and sometimes living them—since childhood. She holds a BA in Professional Writing from Penn State University, where she worked as a writing tutor and cultivated a love of coffee. She lives in a historic and possibly haunted home in Pennsylvania with her partner and their two cats. I Will Never Leave You is her debut novel.
&A: Kara A. Kennedy, Author of ‘I Will Never Leave You’
Elise Dumpleton·Author InterviewsWriters Corner·July 23, 2024·3 min read
Share
We chat with debut author Kara A. Kennedy about I Will Never Leave You, which is an emotional debut thriller that follows a teen girl being haunted by the ghost of her toxic ex-girlfriend, who gives her a chilling ultimatum—help her possess another girl or go down for her murder.
Hi, Kara! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi – absolutely! I’m an author of YA horror/thrillers about sapphic girls finding their place in the world. I live in Pennsylvania with my fiancée and our two cats, and when I’m not writing, you can find me exploring local coffee shops, running while listening to my carefully-curated Spotify playlists, or living a super-exciting double life as a content marketing manager at a startup.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love writing and stories, honestly! Even before I could talk, I was making up stories in my own baby language, and I learned to type because I wanted to write “books” just like the ones on my shelves. My mom was an author, so this career path was clearly modeled for me, which I think gave me realistic expectations along with a drive to push myself down that road.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
The first book you ever remember reading: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine l’Engle
The one that made you want to become an author: Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Your debut novel, I Will Never Leave You, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Spooky, sapphic, speculative, haunting, healing.
What can readers expect?
I Will Never Leave You can be a sad read – content warning for emotional abuse, which the mc Maya experiences from her ex-girlfriend Alana’s ghost – but I was also careful to include plenty of moments of levity and humor. I hope you’ll feel for Maya but still have a good laugh, and enjoy exploring Lake Ember with her!
Where did the inspiration for I Will Never Leave You come from?
The setting came first, because I knew I wanted to write something that took place at a lake – for a long time, the working title was “Lake House Ghost Book.” The concept of being haunted by an ex just popped into my head one day, but I assume it stemmed from my love of all things spooky. I always wanted to write a modern ghost story, and at that moment in my life, the toxic relationship between Maya and Alana was something I wanted and needed to write about. I quickly found that a literal haunting was a great way to depict that dynamic.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Alana was by far the most fun and most challenging character to write! Fun because I had her say the most horrible things, but challenging because I never wanted her to read as flat-out evil. I worked hard to infuse moments where the reader can potentially feel empathy or sympathy for her if you choose to.
See also
Q&A: Pallavi Sharma Dixit, Author of ‘Edison’
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
It felt like a really long journey while I was going through it, but in reality, things happened pretty quickly for me! I was lucky enough to land an internship at Penguin Random House right out of college, which was an amazing experience. While I tried out a few other jobs, I was always writing on the side, and was selected for both Author Mentor Match and Pitch Wars, two writing mentorship programs that sadly no longer exist. I grew so much as a writer through these mentorships, particularly Pitch Wars, which was like boot camp for writers. Through the agent showcase at the end of the program, I received five offers of representation and signed with my fantastic agent, Chloe Seager! We spent the summer revising, went on submission to editors in the fall, and sold after 9 days to my dream imprint and editor, Hannah Hill at Delacorte Press, which is a YA imprint of Random House.
What’s next for you?
I can’t say too much yet, but I’m planning on staying in the creepy, sapphic, horror/thriller space for another YA!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Some of my favorites this year have been EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THAT SONG by Jenna Voris, HEARTS STILL BEATING by Brooke Archer, and UNDER THE SURFACE by Diana Urban. There are still so many books yet to come in 2024, including Rachel Moore’s adventure romcom US IN RUINS and Mackenzie Reed’s exciting mystery THE WILDE TRIALS! I’m also so excited for next year, when OUR INFINITE FATES by Laura Steven will absolutely take the world by storm.
Interview With Kara A. Kennedy (I Will Never Leave You)
July 26, 2024No Comments
Written by Cherokee Crum, Staff Reviewer
Posted in Authors, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Kara A. Kennedy (I Will Never Leave You)!
Meet the Author: Kara A. Kennedy
KARA A. KENNEDY has been telling ghost stories—and sometimes living them—since childhood. She holds a BA in Professional Writing from Penn State University, where she worked as a writing tutor for years. Kara is an Author Mentor Match alumna and a Pitch Wars ’21 mentee. She lives in Pennsylvania with her partner and their two kittens, Roanoke and Renegade. I Will Never Leave You is her debut novel. Find Kara online at karakennedywrites.com and follow her on X/Twitter and Instagram at @karaaislinn, and on TikTok at @karakennedywrites.
Website * Instagram * X * TikTok
About the Book: I Will Never Leave You
Maya has always belonged to Alana. After four years of dating, and on the precipice of graduating high school, Maya has been too terrified to consider the idea of life outside of their volatile relationship. Until she finds the courage to break up with Alana while they’re hiking in Southern California.
Then Alana goes missing. As the police get involved and the media run wild with the story, everyone seems to think that Maya is lying about Alana’s disappearance. Secretly, Maya knows they’re right: if Alana’s dead, she’s the one to blame.
But that’s not Maya’s only secret. Alana isn’t gone, not really—and she isn’t going to let Maya go so easily…
Amazon * B&N * IndieBound
~Author Chat~
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love all of them for different reasons! I feel super bonded to Maya because I went on such an emotional journey with her, but I had the most fun writing Alana. Her dialogue was a blast to write – sometimes I wouldn’t know what was going to come out of her mouth next. Writing really becomes a joy when your own characters start surprising you, and that happened constantly with Alana.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
Definitely the novel! The book was originally called GIRLS WE USED TO BE, taken from a line near the end of the story, but I felt it was too similar to some other titles of published works. I changed it to THE MOST BREAKABLE THING, which is the title it had when I signed with my agent and when we sold to Delacorte Press. It kept this title until the day before the deal announcement ran in Publishers Weekly – my editor suggested I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, and I immediately fell in love with it.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
Without spoilering anything, there’s a scene where Maya is essentially being walked through a series of Alana’s memories that I really loved writing. It’s a bit more speculative and experimental, but exactly the type of thing I like writing, and I had fun making it as eerie as possible.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
My cover artist, Carolina Rodriguez Fuenmayor, did an absolutely amazing job! I love the way that she incorporated California poppies, which are a major symbol throughout the book.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2024?
I’m beyond excited for Allison Saft’s latest release, A DARK AND DROWNING TIDE. I’ve also had the privilege of reading Rachel Moore’s adventure romcom called US IN RUINS that comes out in September. Her sparkling prose and quick wit are fully on display in this book, and I can’t wait for it to hit shelves.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
I absolutely adored EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THAT SONG by Jenna Voris. She blended together so many things I love in YA – a sapphic enemies to lovers romance, a fun coming-of-age story, commentary on fame and the music industry, and a twisty mystery.
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
I spent a lot of time rewriting the scenes where Maya spoke to, or was interrogated by, the police. Aside from making sure those conversations were accurate and engaging, I had to pay close attention to how much information Maya would choose to reveal, what she would actively conceal, and what she would give away without realizing it. It was tricky to balance, and challenging to keep all the info straight throughout multiple rounds of revisions!
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
Throughout the four years I spent on I Will Never Leave You, from the earliest drafting stages to final copyedits, the story’s message never changed: I wanted to not just paint a clear picture of the realities of emotional abuse and toxic relationships, but illuminate a path for anyone who has walked that particular gauntlet. Maya says near the end of the book, “to save myself, I can do anything,” and my hope is that this is helpful to survivors of any type of trauma – you are stronger than you think.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Read widely – across genres, across styles, across age ranges. I’m always learning from the different books I read, and I know I’ll never stop learning! I’d also extend that advice beyond books: consume as much media as you can, and pay attention to the writing. I’ve learned so much about craft from TV shows like Arcane and The Bear, video games like Life is Strange and The Last of Us, movies like Do Revenge and Cloud Atlas. These all seem like super random examples, but I love paying close attention to the different ways stories are told across all varieties and genres of media and bringing those influences back into my own work!
Title: I Will Never Leave You
Author: Kara A. Kennedy
Release Date: July 23, 2024
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural, LGBTQ
Age Range: 12 and up
Tags: Delacorte Pres, I Will Never Leave You, Interview, Kara A. Kennedy
Kennedy, Kara A. I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU Delacorte (Teen None) $19.99 7, 23 ISBN: 9780593707463
Those who love you will always be with you; those who control you will never let you go.
Los Angeles teenager Maya is about to graduate from high school. She and her longtime girlfriend, Alana, set out on a hike to see the superbloom of brilliant wildflowers in Antelope Valley, just like they do every year. Maya, who struggles with anxiety, loves Alana fervently, even though she can be mean and cutting, dismissing Maya's needs whenever she actually manages to voice them. Showing some real strength, Maya breaks up with Alana as they stand among the flowers--and then, after Alana mocks her, Maya leaves her there without a ride. But back at home, Maya's anxiety flares--Alana hasn't reached out to Maya or her own mom; what if something happened to her? Soon, Alana is declared missing, and Maya is anxious that she'll get blamed for ditching her. In a panic, Maya returns to the lake house where her family used to summer, and where ghosts, both literal and figurative, haunt her. This eerie and captivating debut manifests deep-seated internalized trauma as living paranormal metaphors. The narrative reads like a gothic romance that acknowledges the intense damage that unhealthy relationships can cause: Maya, who suffers from depression and panic attacks and experiences emotional abuse at Alana's hands, courageously struggles for the right to live for herself and pursue her own happiness. The teens are both white.
A healing paranormal tale. (Supernatural. 13-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Kennedy, Kara A.: I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793537097/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=11c723a2. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.
I Will Never Leave You
Kara A. Kennedy. Delacor te, $19.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-5937-0746-3
In Kennedy's sun-drenched paranormal thriller debut, a toxic love story that extends beyond the grave plays out via morally gray characters. Seventeen-year-old, white-cued Maya Rosier is not looking forward to graduating from Coldwater Canyon School for Girls in Los Angeles; due to challenges surrounding her mental health that led to a hospital stay, her grades suffered, and she didn't get accepted into any colleges. While hiking through Antelope Valley with her longtime girlfriend Alana Murray, also white, Maya breaks up with her, citing Alana's impending move to Massachusetts for college. Yet Alana's cruel and cutting reaction prompts Maya to leave her on the trail and head back home without her. When Alana never returns from the hike, Maya contends with conflicting feelings surrounding her emotionally abusive exgirlfriend suddenly vanishing from her life. Then Alana reappears as a ghost with an ultimatum: either Maya helps her possess someone so she can renew her lease on life, or she will frame Maya for her disappearance. Urgent feeling first-person prose shifts between past and present, simultaneously depicting a serpentine ghost story alongside flashbacks to Alana and Maya's relationship. Ages 12-up. Agent: Chloe Seager, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (July)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"I Will Never Leave You." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 15, 15 Apr. 2024, p. 59. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A799108504/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6ae0c08b. Accessed 23 Oct. 2024.