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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 · 102,614 ratings · 18,046 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	Eliza and Her Monsters 4.14 avg rating — 65,138 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 — 30,315 ratings — published 2015 — 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
	Now Entering Addamsville 3.50 avg rating — 3,290 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 3.79 avg rating — 1,611 ratings — published 2023	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 — 1,178 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 3.82 avg rating — 836 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
	Brumagrís 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	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 Zappia has read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (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 09:43AM · 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">
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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 · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Revenge by Yōko Ogawa. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Revenge by Yōko Ogawa <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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">
Francesca Zappia finished reading Autonomous by Annalee Newitz (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
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Francesca Zappia started 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
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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

323 likes

See all Francesca Zappia's quotes »

Polls

Which Standalone should we read in July?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

9 votes, 32.1%

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

9 votes, 32.1%

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

5 votes, 17.9%

The Changeling Sea by Patricia A. McKillip

3 votes, 10.7%

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

1 vote, 3.6%

Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris

1 vote, 3.6%

Trafficked by Kim Purcell

0 votes, 0.0%

28 total votes

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