Emma Beazley is only 15 years old and is already the author of a young adult book grappling with grief, sacrifice and emotional trapdoors called Secrets of the Building. Who wouldn’t want to sit down with her and have an in-depth discussion about life? Reading her book is one way to do it, indirectly of course, and reading this spotlight is another way to get some details directly from the precocious author. We’re all ears, Emma!
Mark and Josie wake up as very confused fellows at a hospital. How did they get there? What happened to each of their siblings who were missing before the pair’s strange arrival at this new place of lodging? What do their parents know, or not know, about all this? And why are they locked in? These two are in a dangerous situation indeed. When they manage to flee, they run into a wandering young adult named Austin who gives them a ride and winds up being their getaway driver. A wild adventure laced with suspense ensues. Read our review of Secrets of the Building here, and read on for our Q&A with this debut writer.
Q: When you started writing Secrets of the Building, did you set out to write a novel, or did it just turn out that way? Did you plan out the plot beforehand, or did it develop while you were writing?
A: Secrets of the Building began as a dream in two different senses of the word. Writing a book had been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember, but I could never come up with an idea that stuck. One morning I woke up after a strangely vivid dream and jotted down some notes, which isn’t something I normally do. Over the next couple of days I found myself adding to it. Before I knew it I had a pretty solid beginning. As I wrote, the story constructed itself. I never really had a solid idea, more so small ideas along the way. Up until the day I finished, I didn’t know how it would end.
Q: Secrets of the Building is your first novel. What was the hardest part for you in writing it? What was the biggest thing you learned from writing a book-length work?
A: I’m a person who loves to write, so writing every day wasn’t challenging. However, the difficulty came from deciding what I would write that day. I wanted the book to move quickly, but at the same time, not too quickly. One of the biggest takeaways I have from this experience is the importance of doing a little bit every day. It would be impossible to sit down in one day and write a book. The work has to be done over the course of a timeline, and consistency matters. The longer you go without working on the book, the harder it is to remember what you’ve already written.
Q: If you were in Mark or Josie’s shoes, without knowing the motivations of the researchers or what would happen as a result, would you undergo the experiment? Why or why not?
A: If I had the opportunity to be part of the experiment I don’t think I could do it. I definitely see why someone would want to, because losing someone important to you is an unbearable pain. Dealing with the pain is pretty close to impossible, but I think the memories we have of our loved ones are what keep us going.
Q: If this book were to be made into a TV series or a movie, who would you cast as the characters?
A: This is actually something I’ve thought about for a long time, even before I finished writing the book. Austin was written with Chris Pratt in mind. Almost as soon as I introduced the character, I pictured this actor and actually wrote his personality around him. Other actors didn’t jump out to me quite as much, however, the physical descriptions of characters gave me some idea on the actors. I would cast Cole Sprouse as Mark, Olivia Rodrigo as Josie, Scarlett Estevez as May, Miranda Cosgrove as Ava and Anthony Hopkins as Doctor Bennet.
Q: What are your plans for future projects?
A: Currently I am working on a Secrets of the Building sequel and I have a little more than half of the first draft. Once I finish that, I’ll decide if there’s room for a third. I’ve also tossed around the idea of a prequel so I could dig into Bennet’s backstory, but not much thought has gone into that yet. As far as new projects, that is definitely something I’d be interested in. I hope to continue publishing for a long time.
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About Emma Beazley:
Emma Beazley is 15 years old and Secrets of the Building is her literary debut. Growing up, she spent her days reading fiction novels that were full of lovable characters, thrilling plots and adventures you could only dream of. From these works, she pulled inspiration for her own book. At a young age, she was drawn toward writing anything from essays for school to a personal journal, and everything in between. Outside of writing, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing softball and watching her city’s baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.
