Author Interview: Caroline Schley, Author of The Weight of the Sky

Thank you so much to Xpresso Book Tours for introducing me to Caroline Schley, author of The Weight of the Sky. Before we hear from the author, let’s take a look at her new book.

The Weight of the Sky
Caroline Schley
Publication date: May 20th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Speak meets Gossip Girl in this searing contemporary Young Adult novel where the most courageous three words a teenage girl will ever have to say are, “I need help.”
But fifteen-year-old Chris Miller is far from courageous. She does nothing when her best friend is sent to juvenile detention for a crime Chris knows she didn’t commit. She stays quiet as her mother steamrolls her into a scholarship program at St. Catherine’s Prep for her sophomore year. She acquiesces when her new friends introduce ‘drinkstagram’ at their sleepovers. Chris understands that quiet insecurity isn’t the most valiant approach to life, but it gets her through the day unscathed. Until she’s sexually assaulted.
In the aftermath, Chris’s fragile coping mechanisms crumble, alongside her grades and her tenuous happiness. When Chris is forced to volunteer at an afterschool program to maintain her scholarship, she finds herself catapulted back to the very neighborhood she has been struggling to escape. When her family is thrust into the crosshairs of a gang war, she discovers just how much damage her silence can cause. Ultimately, she must decide if she will continue to stay quiet as others call the shots and remain a victim, or if she can forge the strength to stand up, declare the truth and call herself a survivor.
Trigger Warning: This story contains content that may be sensitive for some readers including sexual assault and drug/alcohol consumption

Goodreads / Amazon

I am a writer, teacher and outdoor enthusiast, always looking for a new adventure.
Originally from New York City, I have also lived in China, New Zealand and Spain. I’m on a constant quest for the best food and views in the world. Some of my favorite places are the GR 221 in Mallorca, the top floor of the Musee D’Orsay in Paris and the window seat on a Fifth Avenue bus in Manhattan.
I’m have received comprehensive work training in a large variety of fields including political street canvassing, freelance writing, white water rafting, latte making, childcare and secondary science education.
I have an undergraduate Magna Cum Laude degree in Environmental Science with a focus in Hydrology from CU-Boulder and a graduate degree in Secondary Science Education from NYU. I’ve served as an NSTA New Teacher Fellow, a Jhumpki Basu Fellow and participated in the Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots Training program.
I’ve just completed my first YA contemporary manuscript and I’m seeking agent and publisher representation.
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

And now a Books, Tea, Healthy Me exclusive interview with Caroline Schley!

Is there something special about the book you are currently promoting that you want everyone to know? Your inspiration maybe? A fun hidden fact?

This is my first novel! Creating it was such a special experience and one of the most unique learning opportunities of my life. I wrote the majority of the story in 2018 and I was profoundly inspired by all the women coming forward in the #metoo movement. It’s a large reason why there is a theme of sexual assault present in the book. In particular, I was captivated by the Senate testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. I came back to her story repeatedly as I created the character of Chris Miller, the protagonist in my book.

Where do you begin when you develop new characters? Physical characteristics, personality, plot? What comes first and how do you go from there?

I usually start with dialogue and work outwards from there. When I’m stuck, I’ll consider the questions on a character development worksheet. Gotham Writers Workshop has some great ones.

Does writing exhaust or energize you? Why?

Writing energizes me. It’s how I start my days. I love the feeling of freedom when I’m in the creative space of imagining my own worlds, before the craziness of my real life starts each morning.

What is your writing kryptonite? And what is the cure?

The hardest part is always sitting down and getting focused. I love to play meditation music from Insight Timer to help block out all the other noise in my mind.

What book are you reading right now?

‘Attached: The Science of Attachment Styles’ by Dr. Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller. Science books always provide interesting details for fiction writing!

What do you do to keep yourself healthy? What is your #1 healthy lifestyle tip?

I try to stay active and I’m in an ever-losing battle to remember to drink enough water. For a healthy lifestyle, I think it’s essential to stay connected with other people. Stop for a five-minute conversation. Take a walk with a friend. Nurture the important relationships in your life.

What is your go-to recipe when you cook at home? It doesn’t have to be healthy – just yummy.

I love recipes that are easy, easy, easy. A few years ago, my boyfriend introduced me to an old New York Times recipe for pasta with a tomato and brie cheese sauce that tastes like it came straight out of a restaurant. We make at least once every couple of weeks.

Fun Facts!!

Favorite snack to eat while you are writing?

I can’t eat while I’m writing! But I drink decaf coffee with almond milk by the gallon.

If you were a WWE Superstar, what would your entrance music be?

Enter Sandman by Metallica (the part right when the vocals cut in). Of course!

What do you enjoying doing when you aren’t writing or reading?

I love hiking, learning Spanish and playing the keyboard (badly!). I also always seem to be falling down strange YouTube holes as I do research for my books-the most recent ones have included the origin of the band One Direction and learning everything about Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach.

How do you take your tea??

My favorite ‘teas’ are actually herbal infusions (Tension Tamer by Celestial Seasonings is my all-time number one). I just add hot water and take deep breaths while they’re seeping.