The Hiding Girl (Emily Calby Book 1) was the SECOND PLACE fiction winner of the 2021 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Dorian Box.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The Hiding Girl (Emily Calby Book 1), published June 15, 2020.
What’s the book’s first line?
“Two men.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Plot-wise, in one sentence: A twelve-year-old survivor of a home invasion on the run as her psyche splinters makes an unlikely ally in an ex-gang member who trains her to kill before more tragedy launches her alone on a terrifying journey for justice.
So one major thread is this diverse, unusual relationship that develops between Emily, the young girl from rural Georgia, and Lucas Jackson, the hardened former gang member in Memphis. From the outside, they couldn’t be more different, but they’re both lost souls who’ve suffered terrible losses. Their platonic love story is central to the book and series.
But the real pitch is Emily herself and her evolution from a traumatized young survivor of horrific crimes to a still-traumatized master of her own destiny. Emily’s someone you root for. Whenever things can’t get worse for her, they do, yet she keeps pressing forward through the power of her intelligence, resourcefulness, and indomitable will.
I pitch The Hiding Girl as a thriller, but it’s more than that. It’s a dark and gritty coming-of-age story, but one that carries a lot of heart and hope, even humor. The book also tackles themes like racism, religion, and mental illness, which you don’t find in most genre fiction. I was thrilled that IR recognized these aspects in selecting the book for a Discovery Award in Fiction rather than a sub-genre like mystery/thriller.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Nothing really specific, although Emily is made up of parts of my daughter and parts of me. Who knows how these things come to us? That’s what I love about fiction writing. Half the time I’ll be typing along going, “I can’t believe that just happened!”
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Emily is obviously distinctive in that she can and does kill people who “deserve to die,” but she’s also vulnerable and full of fear. I think this second part—her essential innocence even after everything that happens—is what makes her particularly interesting. She struggles with guilt for failing her family and with what she’s become compared to the good person she used to be and desperately wants to be again. This inner turmoil dictates many of her actions. She’s also burdened with trauma-induced dissociative disorders that both help and hinder her. These themes continue through the series.
Fictional characters who remind me of Emily include Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and Maddie Ross from True Grit. As with Emily, both were courageous and relentless in pursuing their goal even though they were vulnerable and afraid. And like Dorothy, Emily meets some interesting friends along her journey, not just Lucas.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
First, it’s a nail-biting page-turner with high stakes and plenty of twists. Emily’s first-person present point of view puts readers in the moment. But the characters and their relationships are what carry the day. I like books that make me feel and try hard to accomplish that in my own work. One reviewer said her husband kept asking her why she was crying while reading it. I loved that! Not that she was crying, of course, but I can’t think of any greater compliment.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I’d need a time travel machine, but I could see a young Dakota Fanning being perfect for Emily, and Terrence Howard from his Hustle & Flow days (filmed in Memphis, coincidentally, where much of The Hiding Girl takes place) making an excellent Lucas.
When did you first decide to become an author?
Back when I was a kid, although I waited a long time to take on fiction. My mother was a newspaper reporter and journalism professor and infused me with a love for writing and books. I wrote nonfiction books and articles throughout my career as a law professor, but didn’t publish my first novel, Psycho-Tropics, until 2015. I worked on that thing forever!
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Usually a few hours a day.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
Having control over your creation is probably the best part, although you also need to seek out and listen to feedback from beta readers. I think most indie authors would agree that the hardest part is promoting/marketing. About a million new books are published on Amazon each year. It’s hard to get the word out.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Where do I sign? Haha. Yes. Even though there are a lot of really great indie books, they still carry a stigma with some people. And it would be amazing to have a supportive editing and marketing team.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Other than pure enjoyment, I would say respect as a fiction writer. That’s why recognition like this award means a lot. Of course, a little fame or fortune would also be welcome!