E121: Isabel Canas and THE HOUSE OF GARDENIAS
Summary
Isabel Gane joins Agatha Andrews to discuss her new gothic YA novel, The House of Gardenias, which follows a maid fleeing an abusive home into a haunted mansion during a political coup. Gane reflects on her return to young adult fiction, the personal grief and life events that shaped the book’s creation, and her refusal to condescend to teen readers. The conversation also covers the parallels between the novel’s fictional fascism and contemporary realities, emphasizing themes of agency and powerlessness.
Topics discussed
Introduction and welcome back to Isabel Gane
Plot summary of The House of Gardenias
Why YA fiction is important for readers
The editing process and personal losses in 2024
Career growth and the impact of The Hacienda
Working with a new editor at Berkeley
Challenging YA stereotypes and reader intelligence
Intentional use of complex vocabulary
Trusting young readers and avoiding condescension
YA readers' exposure to adult literature
Setting the story in a specific historical context
Personal experiences with political unrest in Chile
Ordinary life during political friction and coups
Why dark themes are appropriate for YA
Historical inspirations from South American dictatorships
Dealing with powerlessness in the current political climate
Finding agency and taking action as a young person
The terror of human monsters vs. supernatural ones
The role of the gothic in reflecting societal fears
Dreams and the origin of the ghost character
Experimental point of view and narrative structure
Struggles with plotting and changing tenses
Pantsing vs. plotting: A writer's preference
Teaching gothic horror and romance in fiction
The final result of the writing process
Upcoming book tour dates and events
Closing remarks and show support information
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