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Francesca Zappia

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.francescazappia.com/

Twitter

ChessieZappia

Genre

Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction

Member Since

June 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/francescazappia

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Writer of MADE YOU UP and ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS. Represented by Louise Fury of the Fury Agency.

Also wrote The Children of Hypnos serial on Wattpad (https://www.wattpad.com/story/9547883...).

Social Media: @ChessieZappia

You can find links to all my social media on my website, www.francescazappia.com. ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

I have two questions: Did you have to do a lot of research on schizophrenia for "Made You Up?" - It seems like the kind of thing that could take some time. Do you have any advice for people who are both wannabe writers and interested in mental illnesses being incorporated into their stories? - I am very interested in mental illness in writing, but unsure of how to approach it.

Francesca Zappia Hi Charlotte! Thank you for your questions. To the first one--I did have to do a *lot* of research on paranoid schizophrenia for Made You Up. I think …moreHi Charlotte! Thank you for your questions. To the first one--I did have to do a *lot* of research on paranoid schizophrenia for Made You Up. I think the only way you could write a book about it without doing research is by having paranoid schizophrenia yourself, which I do not. Because I didn't have access to anyone who actually had the illness, I researched from as many other sources as I could find--books, documentaries, online forums, interviews with paranoid schizophrenics and mental health professionals. With the occasionally-sketchy information provided by the internet and the nebulous nature of schizophrenia itself, it was sometimes difficult to know if I was portraying it as it actually was, or as movies and TV shows have defined it.

For your second question--if you want to incorporate mental illness into a story, I think the most important thing to ask yourself is "Why?" I was a lot younger--maybe thirteen or fourteen--when I decided to make Alex a paranoid schizophrenic, and at the time I did it because it seemed like something cool and different. Later I realized that was actually a terrible reason to include it--it was completely, utterly insensitive and oblivious to the people whose lives are actually affected by it. Most writers whose stories center around mental illness probably know this from the get-go, but it took younger me a little while to understand. I was stupid, and severely influenced by a media convinced that all paranoid schizophrenics are either dangerous serial killers or brilliant thinkers able to overcome their illness by sheer force of will. (For the record, I do love A Beautiful Mind, despite the fact that the "pure willpower" cure does not make a whole lot of sense.)

So, if you've already got that figured out, I'd say just do your research. Know what you're talking about and why you're talking about it, treat the subject with respect, and remember that there are people out there who actually *have* whatever it is you're writing about. Don't let the illness define the character who has it, but keep in mind that it does shape them, and it is an important part of who they are (or maybe who they were, if they've recovered from it).

I hope this helps! Good luck with your writing!(less)

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Hi! I think Made You Up is really beautiful and I really like it. I can't wait to read more stories from you. Do you plan on publishing another book in the near future?

Francesca Zappia Hi there! Thank you so much! I'm really glad you liked the book. I definitely do plan on publishing more books...and I will...maybe...have something t…moreHi there! Thank you so much! I'm really glad you liked the book. I definitely do plan on publishing more books...and I will...maybe...have something to announce...soon.

Oooooooo stay tuned!(less)

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Francesca Zappia’s books

Average rating: 4.07 · 102,996 ratings · 18,109 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	Eliza and Her Monsters 4.14 avg rating — 65,291 ratings — published 2017 — 46 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Made You Up 4.02 avg rating — 30,422 ratings — published 2015 — 45 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Now Entering Addamsville: A Darkly Humorous YA Ghost Story About Murder and Secrets 3.50 avg rating — 3,307 ratings — published 2019 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Greymist Fair 3.80 avg rating — 1,684 ratings — published 2023 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Up All Night: 13 Stories between Sunset and Sunrise by Laura Silverman (Goodreads Author) (editor), Brandy Colbert (Goodreads Author), Kathleen Glasgow (Goodreads Author) 3.52 avg rating — 1,192 ratings — published 2021 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Katzenjammer: A Haunting YA Psychological Thriller About Transformation and Buried Tragedy 3.82 avg rating — 857 ratings — published 2022 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Children of Hypnos 3.98 avg rating — 146 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Monstrous Sea 3.97 avg rating — 108 ratings — published 2017	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Katzenjammer: La paura ha gli artigli. E anche lei. it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Evie and Her Nightmares 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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27 posts
Francesca Zappia's Blog

Ch1Con Blog Tour: Interview with staff member Brett Jonas! (and giveaway!)

Hi all! We're breaking out the blog posts again for the Ch1Con blog tour! If you haven't heard of it before, Chapter One Young Writers Conference is an annual conference for teen writers, by teen writers. This year, the con will take place on Saturday, August 6th in St. Charles, Illinois, and registration is currently open on the Ch1Con website for writers from a middle school to undergraduate Read more of this blog post »

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Published on May 23, 2016 06:00

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Francesca’s Recent Updates

Francesca Zappia is now friends with Jacie Farris
Nov 03, 2025 02:39PM · like
Francesca Zappia has read Don't Fear the Reaper (The Indian Lake Trilogy, #2) by Stephen Graham Jones (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 08, 2025 08:58AM · 4 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Francesca Zappia has read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (Goodreads Author) Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee in Readers' Favorite Horror	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 01, 2025 09:43AM · 4 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Francesca Zappia has read My Heart Is a Chainsaw (The Indian Lake Trilogy, #1) by Stephen Graham Jones (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 01, 2025 09:42AM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Francesca Zappia finished reading Strange Houses by Uketsu	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 09, 2025 01:16PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Strange Houses by Uketsu. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Strange Houses by Uketsu <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Francesca Zappia wants to read Strange Houses by Uketsu	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 26, 2025 07:32PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Strange Houses by Uketsu. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Strange Houses by Uketsu <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Francesca Zappia wants to read Strange Pictures by Uketsu	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 26, 2025 07:32PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Strange Pictures by Uketsu. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Strange Pictures by Uketsu <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Francesca Zappia has read The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 14, 2025 08:15PM · 4 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Francesca Zappia finished reading Revenge by Yōko Ogawa	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 06, 2025 07:03PM · 1 like · like
Francesca Zappia wants to read Everyone on the Moon Is Essential Personnel by Julian K. Jarboe (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 04, 2025 09:58AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Everyone on the Moon Is Essential Personnel by Julian K. Jarboe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Everyone on the Moon Is Essential Personnel by Julian K. Jarboe <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by Francesca Zappia (?)

“Broken people don't hide from their monsters. Broken people let themselves be eaten.”
― Francesca Zappia, Eliza and Her Monsters

tags: eliza-and-her-monsters, monster, monsters

380 likes

“You found me in a constellation.”
― Francesca Zappia, Eliza and Her Monsters

tags: youngadult

379 likes

“Sometimes I think people take reality for granted.”
― Francesca Zappia, Made You Up

tags: alex-ridgemont, mental-illness, reality, schizophrenia

324 likes

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Polls

Which Standalone should we read in July?

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

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Uprooted by Naomi Novik

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

0 votes, 0.0%

The Changeling Sea by Patricia A. McKillip

0 votes, 0.0%

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

0 votes, 0.0%

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

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Trafficked by Kim Purcell

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0 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Seasonal Read...: Summer Challenge 2015: Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE POSTS)	3424	694	Sep 01, 2015 07:40PM
Crazy for Young A...: 2015: A-Z Reading Challenge	233	1180	Jan 07, 2016 09:13AM
College Students! : Fall/Winter 2015-2016: Leaderboard and Completed Tasks	89	91	Mar 01, 2016 01:03PM
Stress Free Readi...: SFRC Hearts Free and Cheap!	36	56	Dec 03, 2016 01:31PM
2025 & 2026 Readi...: Esther's 2017 Challenge Corner	5	20	Dec 16, 2016 11:36PM
2025 & 2026 Readi...: Modern Mrs. Darcy Challenge - 2016	451	1187	Jan 06, 2017 11:22PM
The Seasonal Read...: Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD	3039	705	Feb 28, 2017 09:01PM
Ultimate Popsugar...: * April Challenge: I finished!	38	291	May 11, 2017 09:30AM

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Francesca’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-2) post a comment »

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message 2: by Francesca

May 22, 2015 07:09AM

Anya wrote: "Haaaallo Francesca and thank you so much for adding me. I read your book only yesterday and I absolutely loved it! ^.^

Your're awesome. <3"

Haha thank you!

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message 1: by Anya (last edited May 22, 2015 11:24AM)

May 22, 2015 06:15AM

Haaaallo Francesca and thank you so much for adding me. I read your book only yesterday and I absolutely loved it! ^.^

You're awesome. <3

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