Authors Interviewing Characters: Kim DeRose

About the book FOR GIRLS WHO WALK THROUGH FIRE

Those who would suppress and destroy you stand not a chance when confronted with the power that lies within these pages . . .

Elliott D’Angelo-Brandt is sick and tired of putting up with it all. Every week, she attends a support group for teen victims of sexual assault, but all they do is talk. Elliott’s done with talking. What she wants is justice.

And she has a plan for getting it: a spell book that she found in her late mom’s belongings that actually works. Elliott recruits a coven of fellow survivors from the group. She, Madeline, Chloe, and Bea don’t have much in common, but they are united in their rage at a system that heaps judgments on victims and never seems to punish those who deserve it.

As they each take a turn casting a hex against their unrepentant assailants, the girls find themselves leaning on each other in ways they never expected—and realizing that revenge has heavy implications. Each member of the coven will have to make a choice: continue down the path of magical vigilantism or discover what it truly means to claim their power.

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire is a fierce, deeply moving novel about perseverance in the face of injustice and the transformational power of friendship.

Kim DeRose Interviews Elliott D’Angelo-Brant

She’s sitting on the Franceschi Park bench when I approach, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, her gaze on the Santa Barbara lights below. I recognize her by her pink hair, leather jacket, and badass attitude. And, also, because I created her. It’s surreal to see the protagonist of my debut, For Girls Who Walk Through Fire, sitting there in real life. Magical even. Kind of like walking into a living dream or movie. Or, you know, a book.

Here’s what you need to know about 17-year-old Elliott D’Angelo-Brandt: she’s a Senior at Santa Barbara High (my alma mater), a motherless child, one half of a broken best friendship, and an anonymous attendee of a local sexual assault support group. 

Oh yeah, and she recently started a coven. 

I wasn’t expecting Elliott to answer all—or maybe even any—of my questions, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to slip into her realm and meet her. Below is our conversation, though I’ve omitted her cursing. My thoughts and observations are included in parentheses. 

(I approach the bench beside Elliott’s and calmly take a seat, noticing her stiffen as she side eyes me. When I look over, I see she’s got her earbuds in and is listening to her music, per usual. Sensing me watching, she looks over and raises one eyebrow.) 

Elliott: Yeah? (A hint of challenge in her voice.)

Kim: You like Smashing Pumpkins? (I nod at her vintage t-shirt.)

Elliott: …Yeah. 

Kim: Me too. They were a favorite when I was your age. How’d you get into them?

Elliott: (She hesitates like she doesn’t want to deal with me.) My mom. (She starts to put her earbud back in.)

Kim: Let me guess. Kate Bush?

Elliott: Excuse me?

Kim: You’re listening to Kate Bush?

Elliott: (She frowns and pulls out her other earbud.) How’d you know that?

Kim: You’ve got a hell to pay look on your face, so that means it’s either Kate Bush, Bjork, or Tori Amos. 

Elliott: (She looks half confused half concerned. She narrows her eyes.) Do I know you?

Kim: No. Not really. But I know you.

Elliott: What does that mean?

Kim: It’s complicated. Let’s just say I’m a friend, and I really wanted to meet you, Elliott. 

Elliott: (She gets to her feet.) Okay. How do you know my name? Did Mary send you here?

Kim: No. Though I do know Mary. I know a lot of the people you know. Madeline, Chloe, Bea…

Elliott: What, are you, like, a psychic or something? 

Kim: Something like that. Can we talk?

Elliott: (She tilts her chin toward me, defiant.) Prove it. What else do you know?

Kim: (I hesitate, considering my words.) Those Docs belonged to your late mom, your dad calls you Pigeon, your grandma Prudence is kind of a, well I’ll just say it, a judgmental ass. And you happen to have a puzzle box in your backpack containing a book of witchcraft. 

Elliott: (She takes a step back.)…Okay, what the actual f—

Kim: You don’t need to worry. I’m not interested in blowing your cover or ratting out your coven. I just really wanted to ask you something. 

Elliott: (She scoffs.) Yeah, okay, I’m gonna just sit down and talk to some rando lady who approaches me out of nowhere in a park late at night accusing me of something as crazy as witchcraft. Riiiight. Seems super safe. Yeah, no thanks. (She picks up her backpack.)

Kim: You have mace and a knife in that backpack, so something tells me I have more to worry about than you. Besides, worst comes to worst, can’t you just hex me?

Elliott: (She watches me a moment. Adjusts her backpack over one shoulder.) What’s your deal? 

Kim: I just want to talk. Can we talk?

Elliott: You are talking to me, dumbass.

Kim: Right, let me be more specific then. I want to ask you a question.

Elliott: (Uncertain) What?

Kim: Do you think it will help?

Elliott: Do I think what will help?

Kim: The witchcraft? Do you really think it will help?

Elliott: (She stands there, debating something, and then slowly sits back down.) Let’s say you were right, and I did have a book like that. And I actually used it, hypothetically speaking. 

Kim: To get revenge. Hypothetically speaking 

Elliott: (She hesitates, like she’s surprised I know about the revenge.) Right. To get revenge. Do I think it will help? Yes, I f****ng think it will help. Have you looked around this dumpster fire of a world lately? Do you have any idea how many girls and women endure unbelievable amounts of s**t? 

Kim: Some idea, yes.

Elliott: And I’m not just talking about the harassment and stalking that gets reported, or the assaults and rapes that actually make it to court and get into the news and then inevitably go unpunished or end with the a**hole getting a slap on the wrist. No, I’m talking about the millions of other offenses, the majority of offenses, that go unreported, and unpunished. The pain that remains unspoken. Do you know anything about that? 

Kim: Yes. I know a little something about that.

Elliott: (She looks at me for a long time.) You do?

Kim: (I stare back) I do.

Elliott: Then you understand why I want—no, I need to use this book. Hypothetically speaking.

Kim: The thing is, I didn’t ask if you were justified. I asked if you thought it would help.

Elliott: (She looks at me like I’ve spoken another language. Or am a lost cause. Or both.) You see, that is just like your generation. You never really stand up for anything. Gun control, climate change, this. Honestly, it’s— (She turns her head, noticing a car pulling into the lot. A Prius.) S**t. Okay, lady, you’ve gotta go.

Kim: (But I’m already on my feet. I hesitate.) …Hey, Elliott?

Elliott: (She glances at me, annoyed.) What?

(There are so many things I want to say to her—that I can see her pain, that it’s not her fault, that she’s not alone—but I know she won’t believe any of it. Just as I know she ultimately needs to follow her own path, complete her own journey. So, I do something entirely unexpected. I step forward and give her a hug. She tenses at first, and then relaxes a little, like someone who’s forgotten how good it feels to be held. When I let go of her, I see tenderness in her eyes, but almost immediately she puts her wall back up.)

Elliott: What was that for? 

(But there’s no way I can properly explain. No way I can tell her all she means to me. How much I see her and understand. Besides, her coven mate, Madeline, is coming. So, I don’t answer. I simply squeeze her arm, and then melt into the dark.)

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Kim DeRose writes dark, magical stories about strong, magical girls.

She grew up in Santa Barbara, California, where she spent childhood summers reading books and writing stories (which she was convinced her local bookstore would publish). She now lives in New York City, where she spends all seasons reading books and writing stories.

Kim earned her MFA in film directing from UCLA, and currently works in digital media.

When she’s not reading or writing she can be found listening to podcasts on long walks, drinking endless cups of coffee, and spending time with her family.

She is represented by Kathryn Green of Kathryn Green Literary Agency. For Girls Who Walk Through Fire is her debut novel.

Photo by Sylvie Rosokoff

 

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews, On Writing