Interview with Julia DeVillers, Author of Meet Me at Wonderland

Welcome to Smack Dab, Julia! Meet Me at Wonderland features a theme park setting. What brought you to writing about this setting? I’d say it’s a fantastically fun background, but it’s far more than just background!

 

Hi, Smack Dab! Yes, Wonderland Amusement Park is practically a character in my book. Going to a theme park is such a core summer memory, so having Coco’s family own one so she can go behind the scenes (skip the lines! Be there after hours! Go into the creepy basement of broken down rides and animatronics!) was fun to write.

              

It was actually my editor, Alyson, who came up with that setting, while we were brainstorming. The book is inspired by my teen job at Chuck E. Cheese (as Chuck E. Cheese) but I couldn’t set it there so she suggested the theme park. Which was perfect.

 

The protagonist Coco has a deep connection to her family's amusement park. Does your family have a place that is similarly yours? A business, a vacation spot?

 

Growing up, I spent vacations at my grandparents’ farm in Copake, New York. The house was filled with bookshelves and we weren’t allowed to watch TV. It was basically a book retreat! My grandmother had a friend in book publishing who would send her not only ARCs but handwritten notes on manuscripts in progress, even as a kid I was fascinated at that little peek of how books were made. Now their property is a tree farm and a memorial playground, so that’s my tiny slice of wonderland.

 

In the acknowledgments, you mention your own cancer battle and how that influenced Coco's mother's storyline. What was it like including such a deeply personal experience? I imagine it would have to be incredibly cathartic.

              

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if it would be cathartic or traumatic! This was the first book I wrote since cancer, and having a happily-ever-after romcom story was exactly the right book to write as I could “escape” as I recovered. Once I went into remission, I realized I wanted to put something hopeful after cancer in the book so I wrote Coco’s mom recovered and back to work as, just as I was. So you’re right, and now talking about it with you is cathartic as well. (Thanks, SmackDab!)

 

Henry and Coco's "moose-cute" is such a charming and unique meet-cute. How did you come up with this concept, and was the Morty the Moose character inspired by any real-life mascots?

 

ME! I’m Chuck E. Cheese! (I also was Mr. Munch, a little known sidekick.) So the descriptions of being in the smelly, heavy costume is truly authentic. Also, the meet-cute really happened to me–although I took dramatic license. I didn’t trip and knock over a table and literally fall at a boy’s feet. But, uh, close.

 

 

I’m always so excited to come across books for that sort of space between MG and fully YA. The romance in the book is sweet and culminates in a first kiss, which feels perfect for readers who might be experiencing their first feelings of attraction. How do you strike the right balance when writing romance for this audience?

 

Thanks for appreciating that. Having a crush is such a powerful universal feeling at any age, and I tried to capture the intensity. Plus I love witty banter. I actually had a focus group of teens this age who read my manuscript and told me, brutally, if I misstepped, which helped me capture it more authentically.

 

The summer setting plays an important role in the story. What do you think makes summer such a powerful time for personal growth and transformation, especially for teenagers?

 

Freedom from the school routine and responsibilities and those pressures! Coco and Henry are both at their first job, meeting new people outside of their own bubbles and taking on new responsibilities, so it’s a great set up for personal growth and self-discovery. Add in sunshine and the beach and summer vibes…

 

The book contains a lot of humor, particularly around the moose costume mishaps. Sometimes, it seems serious topics just land better when they come with humor. Do you find that to be true as well?

 

That was my goal! And how I try to live my life now as well as how I actually lived my life for that brief but potent (literally and figuratively) time as a mascot.

 

The story deals with themes of family legacy, change, and finding identity beyond what's expected. Kind of that first big step away from childhood toward being your own person. What message do you hope young readers take away most from Coco's journey?

 

It’s okay to step outside of the expectations other people have of you and create your own path forward. Be true to yourself and find people who support you and cheer you on along the way. Coco and Henry aren’t only crushes, but they developed a friendship that turns from rivals to support systems.

 

Where can we find you?

 

On Instagram and TikTok @juliadevillers, and hopefully visiting bookstores near you!

 

What’s next?

 

Ooh, still secret, but in progress! 

Snag a copy of Meet Me at Wonderland