Anna
asked
Leah Raeder:
Why did you make such a big age difference between Evan and Maise? Many books in the genre still use the teacher/student taboo without such a big gap. Any special reason, or did you just pick two ages?
Leah Raeder
Hi Anna. Great question! I put a lot of thought into the age difference. Maise obviously had to be 18--for legal reasons as well as making the point that as soon as you turn 18, the entire* adult world opens up to you, whether you're ready for it or not.
But Evan's age was something I debated with myself. I knew I needed an age gap large enough so they'd be in distinctly different stages of life, which would cause conflict and give them something to overcome together, but I didn't want to make Evan so old he could be her father. If he was too much older it'd skew the power imbalance too far in his favor, and introduce certain psychological overtones I didn't want to get into.
In my mind, Maise and Evan had to be evenly matched with as large an age difference as possible. Because the smaller the age gap, the less taboo their relationship. And that forbiddenness absolutely appealed to both of them. How could they question their love for each other if they didn't have that damning taboo hanging over their heads? What would they have to struggle for? Romance needs conflict--the world tries to drive the star-crossed lovers apart. But I wanted them to question themselves, too. Was it real love, or the thrill of living out a fantasy?
I considered making Evan twenty-something, but that didn't feel right. Personally, I know tons of twenty-somethings who still live at home with their parents, are unemployed, unmarried, and are basically prolonging their adolescence (whether through choice or circumstance--many are mired in student loans, can't find a job, reject that kind of life, etc.). IMO, twenty-something is the new teen-something. It's an extended transitional period. We're taking longer to find ourselves and figure out what we're going to do with our lives.
So early thirties felt just right for Evan--the time when you're supposed to know what you're doing and where you're going. Some thirty-somethings, obviously, still don't know that yet.
I'm also in my early thirties, which feels totally bizarre to write, because I'm continually struck by how very NOT grown-up I feel. My supposedly adult life with all these adult things in it--house, car, partner, etc.--sometimes feels like it belongs to someone else. Inside, I still feel all of 17 or 18 years old, wide-eyed and full of wonder and fear. I'm starting to think that feeling never goes away. So in a way, Evan and Maise, despite their age difference, were really reflections of the same person: someone stuck between adolescence and adulthood, never quite knowing how to be grown-up, lost in a world full of other people faking being grown-ups, too.
* Aside from drinking or becoming the President, obviously.
But Evan's age was something I debated with myself. I knew I needed an age gap large enough so they'd be in distinctly different stages of life, which would cause conflict and give them something to overcome together, but I didn't want to make Evan so old he could be her father. If he was too much older it'd skew the power imbalance too far in his favor, and introduce certain psychological overtones I didn't want to get into.
In my mind, Maise and Evan had to be evenly matched with as large an age difference as possible. Because the smaller the age gap, the less taboo their relationship. And that forbiddenness absolutely appealed to both of them. How could they question their love for each other if they didn't have that damning taboo hanging over their heads? What would they have to struggle for? Romance needs conflict--the world tries to drive the star-crossed lovers apart. But I wanted them to question themselves, too. Was it real love, or the thrill of living out a fantasy?
I considered making Evan twenty-something, but that didn't feel right. Personally, I know tons of twenty-somethings who still live at home with their parents, are unemployed, unmarried, and are basically prolonging their adolescence (whether through choice or circumstance--many are mired in student loans, can't find a job, reject that kind of life, etc.). IMO, twenty-something is the new teen-something. It's an extended transitional period. We're taking longer to find ourselves and figure out what we're going to do with our lives.
So early thirties felt just right for Evan--the time when you're supposed to know what you're doing and where you're going. Some thirty-somethings, obviously, still don't know that yet.
I'm also in my early thirties, which feels totally bizarre to write, because I'm continually struck by how very NOT grown-up I feel. My supposedly adult life with all these adult things in it--house, car, partner, etc.--sometimes feels like it belongs to someone else. Inside, I still feel all of 17 or 18 years old, wide-eyed and full of wonder and fear. I'm starting to think that feeling never goes away. So in a way, Evan and Maise, despite their age difference, were really reflections of the same person: someone stuck between adolescence and adulthood, never quite knowing how to be grown-up, lost in a world full of other people faking being grown-ups, too.
* Aside from drinking or becoming the President, obviously.
More Answered Questions
Linda
asked
Leah Raeder:
Hi Leah, I've been planning on reading Unteachable for ages and today is the day when I can finally say I HAVE READ IT AND LOVED IT. How do you come up with such beautiful sentences and making everything so vivid? Where was your inspiration? Can't wait to read Black Iris! xxx
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more