There was just me and the story and the constant internal battle of convincing myself it was worthwhile to finish. I didn’t even have a writing circle or critique partners during that period. I didn’t have an agent or editor waiting for it, there were no deadlines. The biggest challenge was simply finishing the first draft when I was convinced no one else besides me cared. I constantly doubt myself when I’m faced with a blank page. It took many drafts to get the balance between light coming-of-age and intense family drama it was important for me to showcase how both trauma and joy can move up and down between family generations.Ĭan you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?ĭrafting is always the toughest part of writing for me. That woman became Mama Letty, my main character’s grandmother. I had an image of a very angry woman who had so much grief wrapped up in her life that she felt like a ghost of herself. It was such a volatile, unsettling time in US politics and I needed something to do with my anger and anxiety.
I started writing the book in November 2016. Where did the inspiration for We Deserve Monuments come from? If you like reading books with a box of tissues nearby, We Deserve Monuments might be up your alley! Readers can expect a multigenerational family drama, a tender love story, and a slow-burn mystery. Your debut novel, We Deserve Monuments, is out November 29 th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?īlack Queer Multigenerational Bittersweet Heartbreaker Suessīook that made me want to be a writer: Alice in Rapture, Sort of by Phyllis Reynolds Naylorīook I can’t stop thinking about: Daughters of Jubilation by Kara Lee Corthron Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!įirst book: There’s a Wocket in My Pocket by Dr. English and Language Arts remained my favorite subject all the way through college. My mom always tells me how I used to crush those “read X amount of minutes a month” challenges in elementary school. I’ve always loved reading and refer to myself as a reader first and a writer second.
When did you first discover your love for writing? As a military kid, I grew up moving around constantly and I never broke the habit-I’m a flight attendant now! When I’m not flying or writing, I enjoying reading, working on jigsaw puzzles, and making my surroundings as cozy as possible. Hi! I’m Jas Hammonds (they/she) and I wrote We Deserve Monuments, a queer coming-of-age YA novel. Hi, Jas! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself? Family secrets, a swoon-worthy romance, and a slow-burn mystery collide in We Deserve Monuments, a YA debut from Jas Hammonds that explores how racial violence can ripple down through generations.
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