Kate Elliott Interview – Adventures in YA Publishing

Thanks to Adventures in YA Publishing for the recent interview on Kate Elliott’s YA debut, COURT OF FIVES!

What scene was really hard for you to write and why, and is that the one of which you are most proud? Or is there another scene you particularly love?

The hardest scenes to write were those in which Jes is running the Fives. It’s difficult to combine describing a sport that doesn’t exist with the physical effort and emotion of a person playing it, and I worked over and over again on the Fives scenes to make them feel immediate and emotional, and to give the reader a visceral sense of Jes on the court. I wanted readers who love playing and/or watching sports to be excited by what’s happening on the obstacles, while also giving an emotional hook to draw in people who might otherwise skim over that kind of action scene.

I’m most proud of the final scene in the book, but if I told you why it would be a spoiler!

Read more about staying true to your vision, advice for other writers, and more on COURT OF FIVES at Adventures in YA Publishing.