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YA Book Prize shortlist: Lisa Williamson talks about First Day Of My Life
Caroline CarpenterCaroline is deputy features editor at The Bookseller and chair of the YA Book Prize, as well as being a co-host of children's book radio ...more
Lisa Williamson answers our questions about her novel First Day of My Life (David Fickling Books),a novel about teenage friendships, truth and an unexpected surprise, which has been shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2022.
Caroline is deputy features editor at The Bookseller and chair of the YA Book Prize, as well as being a co-host of children's book radio ...more
How would you describe your book to someone who hasn’t read it?
First Day of My Life is the story of best friends Frankie and Jojo and takes place over 24 hours. When Jojo doesn’t turn up to collect her GCSE results, Frankie is rattled. When she finally gets hold of Jojo on the phone and hears a baby crying in the background, she becomes convinced that Jojo is responsible for the kidnap of a local baby earlier that day. She ropes in her ex-boyfriend Ram to help track Jojo down, and when they do, there are even more surprises in store than they could have anticipated. It’s a celebration of friendship, first love and new beginnings, all wrapped up in a fast-paced mystery.
What inspired First Day of My Life?
An offhand comment a friend made about why someone might want to steal a baby. I couldn’t stop considering all the possible reasons. When I was still pondering it a few months later, I realised there might just be a book in it.
Which character in the book is your favourite, and why?
I’m very attached to all three lead characters (Frankie, Jojo and Ram) and love them all in different ways, but I think Ram was the one who surprised me the most. In an early draft, he was a bit of a jack-the-lad, but the more I got to know him, the more I realised what a sweet, sensitive soul he actually is. Following the sudden death of his father, he took it upon himself to become "the man of the house", and as a result, tends to disguise his feelings in order to maintain this image as the solid, steady patriarch. However, the events that take place over the course of the book force him to become more vulnerable and realise it takes real strength to admit that you are struggling. Peeling off Ram’s many layers was really satisfying for me to explore, and created some of the emotional scenes in the book.
What’s your favourite scene in First Day of My Life, and why?
It’s probably the scene that takes place between Ram and Jojo on New Years Eve. Without giving too much away, it is pivotal to the entire plot (indeed, it inspired the title!).
What does being on this year’s YA Book Prize shortlist mean to you?
The YA Book Prize has an incredible track record at putting together blinding shortlists and selecting truly varied and worthy winners. It really celebrates the very best that UK YA has to offer and I feel very proud that First Day of My Life has been made the grade this year, alongside nine phenomenal titles. No matter the result, I already feel like a winner!
What’s the best thing about writing for young adults?
Being a teenager is an intense ride, full of highs and lows, which in turn makes for great stories. I love taking myself back in time and recalling the pain and triumph and confusion of being on the cusp of adulthood. No day at the writing desk is ever dull.
What was your favourite book as a teenager?
I was a BIG Judy Blume fan. It’s possibly more of a middle-grade title, but I read Starring Sally J Freedman As Herself so many times my copy almost fell apart. I love the way Judy is so respectful of her audience. Reading her books, I was never in any doubt that she remembered what it was like to be young and scared or unsure or confused. I also loved that she wrote about ordinary kids. She made it very easy for readers to put themselves in her character’s shoes.
What is your top writing tip?
Keep a diary! It’s such a brilliant way of getting used to expressing yourself using the written word. Also, don’t be afraid to write badly. For years and years, I never made it beyond the first page because I was obsessed with every word being exactly right before moving on. Be messy and imperfect – you can always polish later.
What songs would be on a playlist for your book?
There is actually a sequence about midway through the book where Jojo and Ram play a load of his Dad’s old records. Tracks they select include "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles, "Because the Night" by The Patti Smith Group, "Superman" by Black Lace, and "First Day of My Life" by Bright Eyes. The latter also inspired the title of the book.
Which book, film or TV show would you recommend to someone who enjoyed your book?
Trouble by Non Pratt. It was on the very first YA Book Prize shortlist back in 2015 and is probably one of my favourite YA novels of all-time. It’s about a pregnant teenager called Hannah, and Aaron, the new boy at school who volunteers to pose as the unborn baby’s father.
Read the first chapter of First Day Of My Life here.
