9 Fun Questions With The Authors Of "Whiteout" And Why It Should Be Your Next Read
Author's Note is a short segment where we interview authors in hopes of introducing you to your new favorite book!
This week, we had the pleasure of asking critically acclaimed and bestselling authors Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, Angie Thomas, Nicola Yoon, and Dhonielle Clayton some questions about their latest YA novel, Whiteout, which is available November 8th.
Can you describe Whiteout in a single tweet?
Dhonielle: A group of friends try to help their bestie pull off the most epic apology of her life to win back her girlfriend.
Tiffany: Will snow ruin the perfect love story for a group of friends or will holiday magic save the day?
Nic: Snow in Atlanta is always bad, but will it stop a young genius, with the help from some friends, from recapturing the heart of her beloved?
Angie: Southerners can’t handle snow, but love is worth the risk.
Ashley: Stevie has a midnight deadline to win back the girl of her dreams. Will a massive snowstorm ruin her second chance at love?
Nicola: A group of friends discover that, like the song says, love can keep you warm.
Choose 6 songs that encapsulate the vibes of this book.
Dhonielle: "Love Song #1" by Meshell Ndegeocello
Tiffany: Anything by Migos (It’s Atlanta, DUH!)
Nic: "Cuff It" by Beyoncé
Angie: "Winter" by Khalid
Ashley: "Girl in Red" by Girls
Nicola: "Sweater Weather" by The Neighbourhood
Describe Whiteout using 6 emojis.
Dhonielle: 🌨️ 💔 😰 🤦🏾♀️ ❄️ 🖤
Tiffany: 🌨 ❤️ 🎁 🎅🏾 🎶 👩❤️💋👩
Nic: 🤪 😒 💔 😰 ❄️ 💡
Angie: 🥶 🌨 🫶🏾 ❤️🩹 🌃 💝
Ashley: ❄️ 🛩 🚗 🎁 🙏🏾 ❤️
Nicola: 💔 ❄️ 🎁 ❄️ 🎁 ❤️
What’s the wildest thing you Googled for this story?
Angie: We don’t want to give away who wrote which character, but here are a few things we had to google: ASAP Rocky interviews. So many of them; Can light drones fly after it snows?; Who invented the jet bridge? What is the scientific name for jellyfish?
Tiffany: Daylight hours in the south and snow forecast. That doesn’t sound wild, but it’s crazy to think that NYC can be in pitch blackness at 7pm and the sun is just setting in Atlanta.
Was there a piece of pop culture that inspired any part of this book?
Ashley: Maybe Love, Actually, and all the holiday movies that never showed Black people, or Black kids falling in love. We deserve a dreamy, snowy love story too!
Universal Pictures
Share your favorite quote from the book that will leave us wanting more.
Dhonielle: “A good kiss is not just about the lips.”
Tiffany: "My grandmother always told me that anger grows like a weed in the soul, and now it threatens to stretch throughout my arms and legs and torso, consuming my entire body."
Nic: “Even then, you knew what you wanted.”
Angie: “Ever wondered what sound a heart makes when it’s breaking?”
Ashley: “No trap music during the Jesus Season!”
Nicola: “What is the biochemistry of modern teenage love?”
Share something interesting that happened behind-the-scenes while writing.
Dhonielle: While researching this book during the pandemic, I tried to scout locations with Tiffany while in Atlanta. We walked from the aquarium to the Fox Theater but also went through Centennial Park as research, but we neglected the fact that it was closed to the public. We got chased out by security guards.
Tiffany: Dhonielle almost got me arrested. I’m too pretty for jail.
Nic: Dhonielle, Ashley, and I went on a writing retreat in Joshua Tree, CA while working on edits, and Ashley and I took a break to go on a hike and wound up getting lost in the desert. For like five hours.
Ashley: What Nic said. We thought we were gonna die, lol.
What do you hope readers take away from this story?
Dhonielle: Love is messy and complicated but worth it.
Tiffany: Ain’t nothing like loyal friends you can count on. *waves at this group*
Nic: It’s okay not to get it right on the first try. Or even the second.
Angie: Don’t give up on love.
Ashley: Being brave enough to forgive can lead to unexpected joy.
Nicola: Love is worth all the risks.
If you like Whiteout, then also check out…
Dhonielle: Love Radio by Ebony LaDelle
Tiffany: Obviously, if you haven’t yet, check out Blackout by us. 🙃
Nic: All The Things We Never Knew by Liara Tamani
Angie: You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith
Ashley: Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest
Nicola: Charming as a Verb by Ben Phillipe
Learn more about these authors by visiting their websites, and get Whiteout from Bookshop or from your local indie bookstore via Indiebound.
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— 7 Questions with Ali Hazelwood
