Authors Interviewing Characters Series: Olivia Swindler

For today’s interview, I will be interviewing Eleanor Quinn from my novel Cynthia Starts a Band. Eleanor Quinn is a member of America’s favorite band, Kittanning. She is currently dating her bandmate and American heartthrob, Art Bishop.

Eleanor, what has it been like for you to grow up in the spotlight?

Eleanor: It is hard for me to remember anything different. I grew up in front of America. A life not in the spotlight is weird for me to think about. But I love what I do. I mean, I have the world’s most incredible job. Even before I joined Kittanning, I had dreamed of being in the music industry somehow. My sister and I would dance around our house, singing songs we made up ourselves. When I think about my childhood, those snippets of moments feel like the most authentic version of me. Being a member of Kittanning is beyond my wildest dreams.  

Are you and your sister still close?

Eleanor: (Shifting awkwardly in her seat) No, I moved away from home so young; she is even younger than I am. I love her dearly; our schedules just don’t align, I guess.

Oh, okay, well, speaking of schedule, you have another tour coming up. What can we expect from Kittanning on the Home tour? I know I am counting down the days until the opening show.

Eleanor: Thank you. I am really excited about it. Touring is my favorite part of being in the band. I feel like a little kid at Christmas every night. It is the best feeling. Like the name suggests, Home is a tour about coming home. One of the values of Kittanning is our deep love for our hometown–I mean, we love our town so much that we named our band after it! But it is going to feel more personal, more intimate, just like our album.

Intimate, I have to ask, is that theme inspired at all by your new relationship with Art Bishop? You two are seriously #couplegoals!

Eleanor: (Shifts again in her seat, her fingers nervously pick at the label on her water bottle) Well, you know what they say, the songs are a reflection of us. (She laughs, almost to herself.)

I have to ask because I know that most Americans are just dying to know how did it happen?

Eleanor: Well, we have been writing songs and coming up with melodies for the album since our last tour. I think we were really inspired by–

No, Eleanor dear, I don’t mean the album. I meant your relationship with Art. After all of these years, how did you finally get him to fall for you? I mean, your fans have been wanting this forever! I honestly just can’t believe it took this long!

Eleanor: Oh gosh. (Her face blushes, and she accidentally rips the label completely free from the water bottle. She takes a deep, measured breath.) I have known Art since high school. We have walked through so many significant life events together. There is really no one else in the world who knows me as well as my bandmates. I don’t know what I would do without them, who I would be without them. So, when it comes to Art, it was natural. It was just like (she pauses as if she is debating her word choice) coming home. 

Oh my gosh. Seriously, that is like what actual dreams are made of. So, when did you first start crushing on Art?

Eleanor: It is hard to say for sure. I think that it was natural; our lives just crossed. The stars aligned or something. One day I just knew I was supposed to be with Art. (A look of resentment briefly flashes across her face before it is replaced with her signature smile.)

Wow. And is it true that you wrote the song Home for Art?

Eleanor: I did. Our manager came to me late in the recording process and told me that we needed another song for the album, a ballad. He wanted me to write a moody lovesick duet for Art and me to sing together. The words just wrote themselves. 

I am sorry, but that is just so cute like it is from a movie or something. So, do you know if Art has ever written a song for you?

Eleanor: Well, I do most of the lyric writing for the band. The man can really sing, but he isn’t the best songwriter in the world. (A satisfied smile takes over her face.)

Okay, one more Art question and then I promise I will ask you more about your tour. I just can’t resist! So, I heard a rumor that Art is falling fast. Someone even let it slip that you might be coming home from tour with a new piece of jewelry. 

(There is a long awkward pause.)

Eleanor: Sorry, I didn’t hear the question?

Well, fine, I’ll just come out and ask it–do you think Art is going to propose to you while on tour?

Eleanor: (The shock of the question almost causes her to do a spit take.) No, I don’t think you can expect to see Art settling down anytime soon. 

Man, can you imagine your wedding? It would be like the American version of the Royal Wedding. Okay, like I promised, back to tour questions, what are you looking forward to on this tour in particular?

Eleanor: I love traveling to each city and seeing our fans across the world. One of my favorite things we do on tour is cover a song from a singer from the town we are playing. On this tour, we have a lot of fun covers lined up. I always love working those into our set. I can’t spoil what we will be covering, but you might get to see Chip, in particular, showing off his rap skills.

That sounds really exciting. I know that your fans love that aspect of the show as well. One last question. Since the title of the tour is Home, what are some things you do while traveling the globe on tour that make you feel at home?

Eleanor: Being with the band is so good for my soul. They know me so well, and I honestly feel at home when I am with them. I know that sounds cheesy, but I am so thankful for Kristy and Chip.

Well, and of course Art.

Eleanor: Yeah, duh, of course… (Her voice slowly trails off.)

Thank you for your time today, Eleanor.

Eleanor: Thank you!

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Olivia Swindler was raised in Spokane, Washington, but currently resides in Grenoble, France, and is the Communication Coordinator for Young Life in Europe. She spends most of her spare time wandering through the mountains and eating her weight in bread.

Olivia believes that through fiction we can learn and grow from one another because there is something magical about picking up a book and allowing it to transport you someplace new. Cynthia Starts a Band is her debut novel, which she hopes will create and foster hard, real-life conversations, inspiring readers to have the courage to discover who they are when the world isn’t looking.

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CYNTHIA STARTS A BAND

Eleanor Quinn lives a life most young girls dream of. She’s the lead singer of a wildly successful band, dating the most beautiful man in America, and in love with her life on tour. She pours her heart into every song she writes and genuinely enjoys connecting with fans. So, when she disappears after her fiance’s fairy-tale perfect proposal on stage, the world is shocked. Worse yet, he starts telling interviewers that Eleanor is crazy — possibly even a danger to herself and those around her. As the weeks go by, the world wants to know: Who is Eleanor Quinn really?

But Eleanor needs to find that out for herself.

Broken and filled with self-doubt after the proposal, Eleanor embarks on a journey to regain agency in her life. She needs to reconnect with the Ellie Quinn underneath pop sensation “Eleanor Quinn.” Determined to find herself again, she moves in with her cousin in Seattle, picks a new name, and enrolls in a local university’s writing class. But she starts to realize that running away and starting over isn’t as easy as it seems in movies. Crushed by self-doubt and subconscious fears, ghosts from her past refuse to leave her alone. She realizes the only way forward is to share her version of the past.

Olivia Swindler’s debut novel embraces the values of family, empowerment, and healing and draws on the #metoo movement. Reminiscent of Evvie Drake Starts Over (Linda Holmes) and Searching for Sylvie Lee (Jean Kwok), Cynthia Starts a Band tells the story of starting over, discovering who you are when the world isn’t looking, and summoning the courage to be honest with yourself and the world.

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Category: Contemporary Women Writers, Interviews, On Writing