Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Aaron Starmer (A Million Views)!
Meet the Author: Aaron Starmer
Aaron Starmer was born in northern California and raised in the suburbs of Syracuse, New York. Before pursuing writing full-time, he worked in New York City for over ten years as an editor for a travel bookseller and as an operations director for an African safari company. His middle grade and young adult novels have been translated into multiple languages and have appeared on best of the year lists from Time magazine, the Wall Street Journal, New York Public Library, YALSA, Bank Street College of Education, Chicago Public Library, and School Library Journal. His novel Spontaneous was recently made into a film. He lives in Vermont with his wife and two daughters.
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About the Book: A Million Views
Brewster Gaines loves everything about making videos. The planning, the filming, the editing, and especially the feeling of watching his YouTube views tick up and up. So what if he doesn’t have friends to film with or parents who are home every night for dinner? He’s got a phone and a tripod and a lofty goal:
A million views.
But when he enlists the acting chops of charismatic new kid Carly for a ten-second video, he gets more than he bargained for. Her intimidating friend Rosa soon steps in with funding to produce an epic fantasy trailer, and before long, their tiny team is adding cast and crew. What started as a simple shoot mutates into a full-fledged movie production, complete with method-acting cosplayers, special effects, and a monster made out of a go-kart. That’s when Brewster realizes that getting to a million views may be harder than he ever imagined . . .
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
When I was kid, I was obsessed with making movies. I had the passion and I had a camcorder. Only problem was, I didn’t have enough friends who shared that passion. So I could never get any major productions off the ground. By writing A MILLION VIEWS, I wanted to indulge in the fantasy of seeing what would happen if those friends not only shared that passion, but took it to a whole other level. So that’s what happens to the main character, Brewster. And in the process, he finds a family among these friends, which is something he desperately needs.
When I was in the middle of writing A MILLION VIEWS, I was lucky enough to have one of my novels, SPONTANEOUS, adapted into a film. I visited the set for a few days, and after I saw the cast and crew working so tirelessly toward a common goal (which was all launched by a silly idea of mine!) I was convinced that the story I was telling could be a powerful one, as well as a lot of fun. I hope it’s both.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Probably Izzy, who’s essentially the “line producer” in A MILLION VIEWS. That means she’s the kid on set who’s making everything run smoothly. She’s smart, hard-working, resourceful, funny, and optimistic, exactly the type of person you want in that job. And she doesn’t back down from anyone.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
The title. Or at least the idea. When kids today are making TikTok or YouTube videos, they’re probably telling themselves that they’re doing it for the clout. The likes. The views. (At least a million of them, preferably.) While that might seem different from the motivations I had when I was a kid making movies, it really isn’t. It’s always been about being acknowledged and appreciated. That’s something we all want. And it’s a worthy theme for a book, I think.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
Without giving away any spoilers, it’s probably the scene where Brewster comes to terms with some hard truths about his family. And he realizes that even though he’s not feeling the way he’s “supposed” to feel, that’s okay.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
To trust my instincts. If what I’m writing excites me, then it’s going to excite certain readers. Maybe not everyone, but that’s fine. Writing for everyone is a waste of time. By indulging in certain idiosyncratic ideas, I can speak more closely to particular readers. That’s ultimately what I want when I’m reading a book, so it should always be what I’m focused on when I’m writing one.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I just adore how Chris Danger, the artist behind the cover, took my descriptions of the characters and various scenes/props and effortlessly wove them together. I’m still finding little easter eggs in the background that delight me.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2022?
I think it just came out, but Amy Sarig (A.S.) King’s new middle grade novel, ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES, is one I really want to read, especially since it’s about an issue that’s of great urgency right now: censorship and book banning.
YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?
It’s at least five years old, and everyone has probably already read it, but I only recently read Tiffany Jackson’s ALLEGEDLY. I would guess she probably had a lot of fun writing it, because it’s so involving and so delightfully devious. I look forward to reading more of her stuff.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I’ve got a series of mysteries for younger kids coming out next year, and I have a few projects I’m in the middle of (both middle grade and YA) that will hopefully see the light of day in the next couple years.
YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?
Probably the one that describes the first screening of Brewster and his friends’ movie trailer. I’d spent an entire book describing the filming process, but now I had to describe the thing itself. I decided it was best to focus on a different perspective. And I’ll just leave it at that.
YABC: Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?
The main character, Brewster. In the beginning, he’s prickly. A bit anti-social. And that can immediately be a turn-off to readers. So I had to make sure his passion shone through. Because it’s hard not to be invested in a character when they’re really passionate about something. And as the book goes on, he becomes more endearing. Or, at least, that was the goal. We shall see…
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
Family takes many forms, and as you grow older, you can be in control of what that means.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Picking ripe avocados and knowing the perfect size Tupperware for leftovers.
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
Because of perpetual existential concerns, cancer research and environmental non-profits are always at the top of my list. But since I’m thinking about book censorship at that moment, I would ask that everyone be vocal (and vote) on a local level so we can stop the epidemic of book banning and censorship in this country.
YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?
Be patient. Be generous to other writers. And be open to criticism.
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
I just want to encourage kids to support each other. It sounds like broad advice, but simply voicing encouragement and being there for your peers is what will help you all succeed in the long run. Sometimes we’re all too quiet and too timid in this regard. Myself included.
Title: A Million Views
Author: Aaron Starmer
Release Date: October 4th, 2022
Publisher: Penguin Workshop, Penguin Young Readers
Genre: Middle Grade
Age Range: Ages 10+
