We caught up with author CHANNELLE DESAMOURS to discuss her debut novel Needy Little Things, a page-turning thriller with an unusual psychological twist. Read on for a Q&A.
What inspired your novel Needy Little Things?
Needy Little Things was inspired by the 2021 disappearance of a young white woman named Gabby Petito. Gabby’s story was a tragedy, but the virality of it ultimately played a crucial role in solving the case. Her disappearance reignited difficult but important conversations about whose stories get told and why. The stories we see most often do not reflect the actual demographic breakdown of those who go missing in the United States. Minority groups – especially indigenous and Black – are notably underrepresented. I am a high school teacher, and it was watching the way my students processed Gabby’s story that led me to write this book.
What was the most surprising or challenging part of bringing this novel to life?
Writing Sariyah’s magical ability was a unique challenge as she exists in a very grounded world. I didn’t want to delve too deeply into the how and why of her gift. I wanted it to feel like a natural extension of who she is. And like any other teen, Sariyah’s just trying to navigate school and relationships while juggling her own unique set of challenges.
Needy Little Things deals with the disappearances of young Black girls and the police negligence surrounding their cases. What reflections or conversations do you hope your novel sparks?
I hope this book sparks conversations about how systemic biases in law enforcement and the media affect which missing persons cases receive attention and resources. I want readers to consider how those disparities can shape not only the outcome of an investigation, but also the emotional and psychological toll they have on the loved ones of the missing. I’d like Needy Little Things to serve as a reminder to young people that while they are growing in independence, they still deserve love, guidance, and rest – and forever will. They deserve safety and protection. And when they are lost, they deserve to be found.
Was your character Sariyah inspired by anyone in particular?
One of my favourite shows is the original Twilight Zone series. Sariyah’s need-sensing ability was inspired by an episode called ‘What You Need.’
Mystery writing requires careful plotting. What was involved in your writing process?
I like to start with a loose outline before writing a very short first draft. Once I have a high view idea of how I’d like the story to play out, I go back and layer in the clues, twists and red herrings. Adding those layers takes time and occurs over multiple drafts as my own understanding of what I’d like to do with the work ripens.
Do you have any writing habits or rituals?
I’m a big data, charts and graphs person! Every single one of my writing projects has a multi-tab spreadsheet associated with it. I use spreadsheets to set goals, track my word count as I draft, and organize revision plans.
Where do you get your love of storytelling?
I was a pretty shy kid growing up. I had so much that I wanted to say and share, but it was really hard for me to do that, so I spent a lot of time letting my imagination run wild on paper. Writing let me be whoever I wanted to be, go wherever I wanted to go, and meet whoever I wanted to meet. Storytelling has always been so safe and comfortable and fun for me – falling in love with it was easy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Channelle Desamours lives and writes just outside of Atlanta, Georgia where she currently teaches high school science at a STEM academy. Her students motivate, challenge, and inspire her daily (and they’re always good for a laugh). She spent many years coaching lacrosse and even enjoyed a brief stint at Zoo Atlanta where she taught children about wildlife conservation and handled all sorts of critters from opossums to juvenile American alligators. Channelle has a BA in biology from Agnes Scott College and an MS in biological sciences from Clemson University. Beyond nerding out about life science in front of large groups of teenagers, Channelle enjoys listening to audiobooks, caring for her house plants, and plotting twisty novels with a touch of magic.
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