I met Halli Gomez on Twitter, in a group for YA writers, and eventually I asked her to join my Zoom writers’ circle. Say what you will about social media, but it has its benefits!
Halli has written an award-winning YA novel, LIST OF TEN, and her latest YA novel, LOCKED IN, is a hi-lo book, published this summer with Horizon. She’s also written three books in two different middle grade series and has some other projects (YA and MG) in the works. Pretty amazing!
YA Novels by Halli Gomez:
LIST OF TEN: Troy Hayes is a 16-year-old suffering from Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The number ten dictates his life, forcing him to do everything by its exacting rhythm. Fed up with the daily humiliation, loneliness, and physical pain, Troy writes a list of ten things to do by the tenth anniversary of his diagnosis—culminating in suicide on the actual day. But working his way through the list changes Troy’s life: he becomes friends with Khory, a smart, beautiful classmate who has her own troubled history. Khory unwittingly helps Troy cross off items on his list, moving him ever closer to his grand finale, even as she shows him that life may have more possibilities than he imagined. (Order through Halli’s bookstore and receive a signed copy!)
LOCKED IN: Locked In Escape Rooms has a new owner. He’s offering prize money to those who can successfully escape the room. Four very different teenagers answer the call. Tony is a star athlete and honor-roll student. Bea has social anxiety and uses puzzles to tune out the noise. Anna is concerned about the rise in anti-Semitic attacks in her community. And Devin wants to hide that he is homeless and living in the mall. The four agree to work together, all seeking the prize money for their own reasons. But as the game begins, the escape room turns out to be stranger than expected, and they suspect someone might have ulterior motives. Can the teens overcome their prejudices and differences and trust one another in order to escape in time? (Order through Halli’s bookstore and receive a signed copy!)
Read on for my interview with Halli Gomez!
Halli, your latest YA novel, LOCKED IN, is a hi-lo book. Can you explain what that means?
I love that Jolly Fish Press publishes these books. Hi-lo means high interest/low reading level, and they’re written for people not reading on grade level. The subject matter in LOCKED IN, for example, is of interest to high schoolers but is at a second to third grade reading level.
There are so many kids, even more since the pandemic, who have either fallen behind in reading or not had the chance to learn to read. But that doesn’t mean the interest isn’t there. And of course no high schooler wants to read about a second grade protagonist. That’s why these books are perfect.
LOCKED IN is one of your commissioned books. Tell us about the work-for-hire process and how you got into it.
Work-for-hire books include both fiction and nonfiction. In most cases, at least the ones I’ve written, the publisher provides an idea – for example, three kids start a neighborhood newsletter and must research topics – then asks writers to submit a pitch, or synopsis. If your pitch is chosen, you are paid to write the book.
A friend of mine, Rebecca J. Allen, got me into the work-for-hire business, and I am so grateful. She submitted a pitch for a middle grade novel and was asked to write the book. When the publisher asked for pitches for another book, I submitted mine. So far I have written three commissioned middle grade novels and one young adult.
Why does LOCKED IN have your name as the author, but the “What Happened” and “Eastside Extra” books (which were also work-for-hire) don’t?
This is confusing for a lot of people, including me! It’s not so much ghostwriting as using a pseudonym on the cover because the author’s real name is on the inside. Typically, when the publisher accepts pitches from different authors for one series, they use a pseudonym, my guess is to keep it consistent. That was the case in the What Happened series and the most recent one I wrote for The Eastside Extra series. LOCKED IN is in my name because it is a standalone novel.
Your debut YA novel, LIST OF TEN, came out in 2021. What surprised you about the debut experience?
Oh wow, the debut experience is incredibly rewarding and a bit overwhelming! There’s so much to know (which you don’t know until you know) and so much to do. The biggest surprise for me was how terrible I am at marketing.
Marketing is difficult for people like me who prefer to stand in a corner by themselves. If I had a do-over I would figure out how to be more of a go-getter instead of waiting and hoping for opportunities come to me. Lesson learned, and I will definitely remember that with every book I publish.
You often write suspenseful novels with plenty of twists and turns. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I can’t remember the term, but I think like most writers I fall somewhere in between. I have tried outlining, but once I start writing, the characters usually tell me they don’t like my plan and do their own thing. How can I argue with that? However, I usually have a general idea of how I want the book to go and have made notes on chapters I’d like to include. So I am not a complete pantser.
I love mysteries and thrillers and read a ton in all age groups. For those who want to write in these genres, I have two pieces of advice. First, make sure your twists and turns are not predictable. I am constantly thinking of Stephen King’s question: what if? What if the most likely suspect is murdered? Second, write about what scares you. Chances are it will scare others as well.
In LIST OF TEN Troy struggles with OCD and Tourette Syndrome, and in LOCKED IN Bea has social anxiety. Can you talk about the importance of representing mental illness and neurodivergence in books for young people?
Writing and speaking about mental health and neurodiversity are my passion and something that happened later in life. When I was growing up, these subjects were not talked about or written about. Not because they were forbidden, but they were misunderstood. We now live in a time where it’s okay to talk about these issues, and even welcomed.
Books that include mental health issues and neurodiversity are so much more than good stories. They are gateways to empathy and acceptance. They provide a way for people to see themselves and feel understood, while educating those with no personal experience. Even a basic understanding of another person’s life can make a big difference in how we treat each other. And I feel acceptance is the key to happiness.
You work at an independent bookstore. Do you find that being around books all day helps and/or influences your own writing?
It’s an amazing feeling to be surrounded by books. Literally everywhere you turn there’s a book! The beautiful covers and original ideas definitely encourage me to keep writing, even on hard days. And on those days, when writing doesn’t come easily, I go back to the what if question. I walk the bookstore aisles and ask myself, what if I took this historical fiction novel, mixed it with that horror book, then added a bit of self-help or cooking to the pages. Eventually, my creative juices begin to flow again.
Finally, what is your favorite piece of writing advice?
A lot of people will tell you to read, and yes, you should do that, but the best advice I can give you is to remember that this business is subjective. What one person may not like, another will love. Try to keep that in mind when you get a rejection. As my agent likes to say, it only takes ONE!
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Halli Gomez writes stories for children and young adults with neurodivergent characters including her award-winning young adult novel, List of Ten. When no one is looking, she sock skates through the house and talks to dogs like they are human. When people are looking, she’s working at her local independent bookstore, reading, or breaking out of escape rooms with her family. Halli lives in North Carolina with her husband, two kids, and two dogs. Find her on Instagram and Facebook.
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