Today we are chatting with Brenna Ehrlich, author of
Killing Time!
Read on for more about Brenna and her book!
Meet Brenna Ehrlich!
Brenna Ehrlich is a journalist and author who resides in New Jersey. She’s Senior News Editor at Rolling Stone, as well a young adult author, short story writer and freelance journalist. Her YA thriller, Killing Time, is out in the winter of 2022 via Inkyard Press/HarperCollins. She has written pieces for the likes of Rolling Stone, CNN, MTV News and Broadly, and has had short stories published in Moonchild Magazine, Cease, Cows and the Ginger Collect. She’s the co-author of the blog and book Stuff Hipsters Hate and the author of the YA thriller, Placid Girl. Brenna resides in Hackensack with her husband and their two strange gray cats, Nimbus and Hazel.
Meet Killing Time!
Summer in Ferry, Connecticut, has always meant long, lazy days at the beach and wild nights partying in the abandoned mansions on the edge of town. Until now, that is.
Natalie Temple, who’s never been one for beaches or parties in the first place, is reeling from the murder of her favorite teacher, and there’s no way this true-crime-obsessed girl is going to sit back and let the rumor mill churn out lie after lie—even if she has to hide her investigation from her disapproving mom and team up with the new boy in town…
But the more Natalie uncovers, the more she realizes some secrets were never meant to be told.
“Expertly-plotted and brimming with suspense, Killing Time is more than just a mystery. It’s a thoughtful novel about true crime stories and how we tell them.
~ Author Chat ~
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
It’s actually a tie between Jonathan and Katie! It’s always tricky writing supporting characters that aren’t just there to serve the story, but I think these two became people in their own right — especially Jonathan. He started out kind of a bland golden boy on the page when I was writing my first draft, but he surprised me as I kept writing — much in the same way he surprised Natalie. I think they’re definitely going to stay friends in college and beyond.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
The title definitely came second — but only when I finally figuring out what to call Natalie and Katie’s podcast. I’m a big fan of puns — perhaps unfortunately?
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
Writing is such a three-dimensional process. I’m a very linear writer so it’s actually pretty hard for me to balance different plotlines/timelines, but the more you immerse yourself in a story, the easier it is to step back and see what’s happening at any given time. If that makes any sense. This is all to say that KILLING TIME really challenged me to tackle a much less straightforward style of writing and expand the story into a whole universe. And that took, really, time. I’m a fast writer, so I can sometimes rush to get to the end of any given story, but spending time with, well, KILLING TIME, was definitely key.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2022?
I’ve already read it, but I loved Lily Sparks’ Teen Killers in Love, which is the sequel to her Teen Killers Club novel, about a group of teenage psychopaths trained to kill for the U.S. government. It’s totally hilarious and weird in the best way. And, of course, I can’t wait for Courtney Summers’ next thriller, I’m the Girl.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
Oh, too many! I absolutely loved Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka, about a serial killer on Death Row and, more importantly, the women affected by his crimes. It’s such a gorgeous, thought-provoking book. I’m extremely jealous of how tenderly Danya writes all characters, from the innocents to the villains.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Currently, I’m working on another true crime feature for Rolling Stone that combines murder and rock & roll that will see me traveling to the wilds of Ohio. I’m also working on a new story idea with my agent that’s inspired by all lot of the true crime reporting I’ve been doing over the years.
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
I don’t really like to write with a message in mind, but KILLING TIME is very much about making sure not to forget humanity when you’re reading/watching/listening to true crime stories. It’s something I try to remember myself when writing both fiction and non-fiction.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to write every day to be a writer. You need a lot of time to live and marinate in your experiences — and books, movies, TV, music, etc. — to really get to the point where you have the story you want to tell in-hand. A book is kind of a living thing, and the more you think and grapple with it in your mind, the more alive it will become. Of course, you do have to sit down and actually write it someday.
Killing Time
Authors: Brenna Ehrlich
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Publish Date: March 8th, 2022
