Kilby Q&A: 10 Things You Always Wanted to Know About “Young Buck” (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Q: What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
A: I wanted to write a character who felt past her prime in some way. Creating a romance between an older woman and a younger man was a great way to set up that theme. Being pursued by a younger man exposed Loretta’s inner narrative about Buck’s advances, which told a lot of how she feels about herself. I find that to be very really relatable–the way that our self-image changes in middle age and how those changes impact our goals, expectations, and how we navigate the later years of our lives.
Q: Have you ever been cheated on? Were your own experiences with cheating reflected in the book?
A: Sadly, I have been cheated on. It’s a really painful reality of modern culture. I loved the idea of writing a book that took a hard topic and turned lemons into lemonade. I think women who are cheated on have wishes and fantasies about what could help them cope with the pain. Cheated-on Onymous is all of that rolled into one. In real life, women don’t always tell their friends when they’ve been cheated on. They often suffer in silence and carry shame. When I was cheated on, I told very few people. In Young Buck, Cheated-on Onymous represents the fantasy of a space for women to openly seek support. Loretta being a private investigator helps vindicate women by getting them proof and answering some of the “why”. Dora has a divorce party thrown for her, etc. I wanted to write a book that showed sisterhood and fresh starts. .
Q: Some would argue that Buck doesn’t seem or “act” that young. What do you have to say to that?
I’d say 1) they’re right and 2) that’s deliberate. Buck isn’t supposed to seem young. I know a lot of May/December romances emphasize the younger of the two seeming naive or inexperienced by contrast to the elder. My vision was different. I wanted to show the experience of someone who is young but underestimated based on his age. Buck was identified at a young age as intellectually gifted, which led him to be accelerated, and therefore the youngest at everything he’s done. I was pretty subtle about Buck’s neurodivergence, but it’s common for people with high IQs to have friends far outside of their own age range. As a child, Buck was surrounded by people who were older by virtue of his father’s political ambitions. Buck was never socialized with people of his own age and would likely not be happy with your average 25-year old woman.
Q: Did you identify with any parts of the Loretta character?
A: The parts of her that are all about women helping women are most similar to me. I’m a very “down with the patriarchy, up with the sisterhood” type of person. I also identify with feeling that I’m “too old” for certain things. Loretta’s character is ~10 years younger than me, so I probably projected some of my own feelings about getting older onto her. I’ve reached the age at which some of the cute male heroes on TV shows are young enough that I’ve had to check myself and say, wait, they are wayyyyy too young. I also pay more attention to skin care than I once did (I love a good sheet mask, just like Loretta!)
Q: What scene in Young Buck was your favorite to write?
A: The scene that takes place in the Green Valley Fire Department on the day when they’re taking photos for the annual firefighter calendar. Writing that scene was good fun. I loved the details about the huge army of women volunteers who show up to “help” but are mostly there to ogle the firefighters. I loved the idea that, out of all the volunteer jobs, the most desirable job was using baby oil to grease one of the firefighters up. Some of the other authors who have written in the Green Valley Universe have created other moments that involved firefighter ogling. It’s kind of turned into a thing 😀
Q: Are any of the places or situations in Young Buck inspired by real places?
A: Great question. Their first “official” date was inspired by the treetop walk in Anakeesta, TN.
Q: What parts of Young Buck give you a giggle when you reread them?
A: I can’t help it. I love the scene where Buck is in a little towel shaped like a lightning bolt after getting pranked. I rather enjoy Loretta’s bad date with Percy. And, of course, the cryobank scene is a ton of fun to reread. In my mind, as I was writing how the building looks like a phallus, I was picturing the gherkin in London. I knew the whole cryobank thing was going to happen before I even started writing the book.
Q: What parts of Young Buck make you cry?
A: I cry at Loretta’s graduation every. Single. Time. It’s not like I didn’t write it myself and, as I’m rereading, it’s not like I don’t know it’s coming. I can vividly remember crying while I was writing that scene. I dictate a lot of my writing, and I do a lot of my dictation while I’m out for walks and hikes in my neighborhood. I was literally wiping at my eyes with my sleeve while I was dictating that one.
Q: Will Grizz Grady get his own story?
A: I’ll let the record show I’m only answering this because it’s the most frequent question I receive. I, too, find Grizz to be pretty entertaining and I’ve enjoyed giving him new character quirks and traits with every book I write. I love Grizz in all his card-cheating, LaCroix drinking confidence. The question is: what kind of woman would be his perfect mate?
Q: If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
A: In a lot of ways, this book is about sisterhood. On the surface, it’s a romance, but Loretta has made her whole life about supporting other women and the parts of this story that have to do with healing and community shouldn’t be missed. When people read my books, I want to do more than reinforce faith in love. I want to reinforce faith in humans.