Andrea Portes
SECRETS and bad memories are mostly hidden, tucked tightly in a locked box with a key thrown somewhere no one else can find.
To avoid pain, people try to forget a hurtful past and think about beautiful memories instead.
American bestselling novelist Andrea Portes doesn’t forget. She picks parts, including dark and painful ones, of her own reality and develop them into a story to be shared to her readers.
Andrea’s literary journey is not defined by one genre. She writes for both adult and young adult audiences. Her first novel “Hick” was made into a film, starred in by no less than Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Redmayne, Alec Baldwin and Blake Lively, among others. Another one, “Anatomy of a Misfit,” has been optioned for a preemptive deal by Paramount Pictures.
In a sit-down interview, (after she and fellow author Amy Zhang were flown by National Book Store to the country for a book signing), Andrea talks about her Filipino connection, her love affair with writing and that one memorable trip in Istanbul.
How’s your Philippine experience, so far?
It’s been really amazing. The only other country I’ve been to in Asia is Japan. I feel in Cebu, especially in Shangri-La, a little bit of how I felt in Osaka in terms of being one of the only Western- looking women around. But that’s fine, that’s great. I loved it. It was a beautiful, beautiful place so I was just so excited and enchanted to be some place so far away from home. And I find, so far, the Filipino people to be so kind and funny. I’m really enjoying because of the people I met. I mean it’s not always like that in other countries, that have a different culture, a different vibe. I like it here.
Before coming over, what have you heard about our country and its people?
Well, I have heard of you because our long-time nanny for our son, Jennifer, is Filipino-American. She is practically like my best friend and I love her to death— practically family. I took her and my son to Hawaii with me. I don’t really call or think that she’s my nanny. She is part of the family and I have so much fun with her. We really take care of each other and that’s the only Filipino connection that I have. So if she’s any
example, then she’s a great example. There’s also a lot of Filipino population in LA so it’s like I have experienced some Filipino things like adobo and stuff like that.
Your love affair with words, how did it start?
I know I always had it and I think it was more on the affair with expressing myself, sort of expressing what was bothering me about the world, whatever the injustices of the world and things that just doesn’t seem right. So that’s where those came from.
The first book you wrote—tell us about it?
The first book I wrote was “Hick.” And that book I worked on for a long time, like 10 years. I was sort of going back and forth, sometimes not writing at all. I was feeling like I wasn’t really a writer, or like I’m a writer sort of doing stuff… And then at a certain point I became like annoyed and bored, and then I thought… okay, it’s time, I have to get this published. So I went and got it done. It’s a coming-of-age story about a girl from Nebraska.
It’s an adult book, right?
Yes, it’s a literary fiction. And the movie version has Chloë Grace Moretz as the main character and Eddie Redmayne was the guy. And just so you know, he is exactly like what you would want him to be as a person. Like he is kind and smart and very nice and easy. And then here’s Blake Lively and Alec Baldwin. So it was a big deal, the cast.
Did you write the screenplay as well?
I did.
How different is it to write a book from writing a screenplay. Do you prefer one over the other?
I like writing a book and I really really don’t like writing a screenplay. Because when you are writing a book, you are like creating this world and you kind of know where you wanna go, or you don’t know where you wanna go, but you have a general idea and you let your characters take you there. If you have a really good character, he or she will do things they like, even if you yourself don’t want them to do it. So that’s when you really know. But I have to say that with the screenplay, you can’t really do that. You have to sort of know exactly where everything goes. You kind of know what the direction is and stick to it, so it’s not as fun.
ANDREA (seated at the center) and fellow author Amy Zhang (3rd from left) connect with fans at the National Book Store book signing event held at SM City Cebu – Northwing.
Were you always on the set? How did it go?
Yes, I was always on the set. It was great and exciting and sometimes it’s boring because nothing’s going on. But that was really an exciting set to be on, and the cast was great. Standouts were Eddie Redmayne and Chloe. Like they were the sweetest and the kindest. Yeah, and there could be a lot of worse things in life other than having a beer with the director, definitely. There were moments, like I went to dinner with Alec. I mean, yes, there were definitely moments where I can only say “Wow, what is happening right now? It seems surreal.”
So how did you get into writing young adult literature?
So, I wrote these two books, “Hick” and “Bury This.” My second book is “Bury This,” and it’s dark but it’s critically acclaimed by the New York Times. And then after that I have the story “Anatomy of a Misfit,” which is semi-biographical, about my high school. I figured that while this took place in high school, this one’s got to be a YA (young adult). So that’s what I did and it’s amazing how it was received and the “Fall of Butterflies,” a semi-biographical, is the newest book.
Tell us more about “Fall of Butterflies.”
I lived in Nebraska where it feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere. I went to college in the East Coast, in a posh school. People in the East Coast, those from wealthy families, go to a very nice school. So when I went there, it was a bit strange. I felt like a fish out of water, but I was kind of adopted by these two people, one from New York and one from LA who were basically good. But it was encountering also the world that you know… you have a smooth house, where you have small holes on the wall and kind of insane. So it’s really seductive but when I got to know them more, I realized that all that glitters is not gold.
So, that’s the premise of the story?
Yes, absolutely. That is also the premise of “Hick” but nobody seems to understand that. (laughs)
It’s a theme you came back to?
Yes, I think it’s a good one. Well, many things in society… like there’s the consumer-fetish system, the idea that more is better, or who cares if we are ruining the environment? Or who cares if you take odd jobs? You know, all of those stuff? For what? For the pursuit of money, the pursuit of gold? And I feel like the more I can make a point that it’s meaningless, and what’s really important is love, affection and being kind to each other… The more I can make that point, the better.
You have a receptive audience, the young adult crowd. And they they interact with you, message you and send you e-mails…
Well, I get a lot. I get a bit of interaction on Facebook and Twitter.
Tell us some of your most memorable connections with fans.
The most memorable I think would be with the one who obviously got to read the book because they say specific things or raise questions about the book. Most of their reactions are like, “Oh, my God! I just finished ’Anatomy of a Misfit’ and I laughed so hard, then it broke my heart.” I mean, that is what people usually tell me. And then I write back to them, like “I’m sorry.” (laughs) And then some would ask if there would be sequel for “The Fall of Butterflies.” Or they ask about specific characters, like who will end up together. And I love those because it shows that they read my stories and are really into it.
Will you consider a sequel?
It’s so funny. I never thought of that for “The Fall of Butterfiles.” However, readers got so
excited about it and they made suggestions that I never even thought about. But it seems kind of cool. It’s just that I have five other projects before that, so I guess it would take a while before I could do it.
ANDREA at the book signing
You want to share about upcoming projects?
Of course. Well, I have this project, which is a series of books called ”Liberty,” about a spy who is kind of like me. It’s a spy series, a YA spy series. And that is also taken by Fox. Yes, Fox studios will be doing that one. And then “Anatomy of a Misfit” is now with Paramount Pictures, and they’re doing it. I also have this middle reader series called “Henry and Eva and the Castle on the Cliff.” It’s got some supernatural elements, and it takes place on this cliff.
It seems you got all readers’ ages covered.
Well, I like making myself busy.
How do you do that? You have gotten across all genres.
Honestly, it’s probably how I don’t do it because I’m always having these ideas… like I’ll be in a room and suddenly my husband arrives, and I just say “Go away,” or “Back off.” (Laughs). The problem is not that I don’t have the idea. The problem is what to focus on since they just keep coming, especially when I’m in the shower or while I’m driving.
Do you have to be in a certain mood to write?
Sometimes, but it doesn’t always work. So I just do something different like watch a movie or go to a museum … whatever it is to get inspired, like you know, taking a bath. I try to write in the morning before I do anything, check on e-mails. That is when the good things come.
What are your other interests aside from writing?
I love clothes, but not the really expensive ones. Also, I like going to weird places to find weird things. Like the last time I went to Paris, I went to the free market and I found strange things that nobody has. Oh, and I really love decorating, for instance decorating our house. Obviously, I love to travel, too. I was in Instanbul and first of all I got to meet fans there and sign books. It’s just incredible. And I’m thinking about them now because of what happened. I have been in that airport three times in the past years. Going there and exploring the streets of Istanbul, visiting stores and talking to people from different cultures halfway around the world is one of my favorite things to do.
Will you consider travel writing in the future?
I’m not sure, but maybe after I’m done with all these things. I would never say never. But I wouldn’t want to write the kind of thing like “this hotel is so beautiful and luxurious.”
I want to write about the real experience, like this very remote place that not everyone knows, about maybe somewhere in Mexico, something like that, something that’s about being socially responsible. My husband has this expression that I really love, and he was talking about the White House correspondents dinner. He said that the media that went to the dinner—they are post-its for power and not really news. So maybe I would be a travel writer but not the post-it for power kind. I would talk about when we went to Istanbul and my husband and I visited a music store and next to it there was this Syrian refugee who started a book store. He was there all by himself and he was not going anywhere. My husband and I paid him a visit and we bought a lot of his books to support him. The books were mostly kids’ books. Some people were even asking why we did it. My husband were just there to help and support the man.
