HELEN COMERFORD is a Black mixed-race British debut author is fuelled by a love of all things super-powered, feminism, and chocolate raisins. Her debut novel The Love Interest is a swoony and speculative YA novel with a satirical take on the conventions of the superhero-verse.
We asked Helen what her desert island reads are and what inspired the superhero elements in her story.
What are you reading now?
The rain has finally stopped in my little Welsh village, so I’m able to read O R Sorrel’s Apocalypse Cow out in the garden. It’s an absolutely hilarious, LGTBQ+ love story about an animal led apocalypse.
If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only have five books– what would they be?
This is so hard!
I’ll take The Hunger Games which I’ve read many times and is probably my favourite YA dystopian novel.
I’ll pop Joanne Nadin’s A Calamity of Mannerings in my bag, for some Bridgerton-inspired comedy.
Is there such a thing as a one-volume edition of Alice Osman’s ‘Heartstopper‘ series, so I can take books one to five but it counts as one pick? Great news! I’ll take that too.
Elizabeth Acevedo’s Clap When You Land, is coming, because it’ll be fun to read out loud to the coconut-head friend I’ll craft.
And you can’t beat Good Omens, which has both Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s writing at its best.
Where is your favourite place to read?
It’s a tie between my garden in the sunshine and snuggled up on the sofa with a fresh cup of tea, which is lucky given the previously mentioned Welsh weather.
Do you read one book at a time or multiple?
I love an audiobook and I tend to have one of those on the go at the same time as the paper book I’m reading. There’s nothing better than a rom-com on a dog walk.
Do you use a bookmark or fold the corners of pages?
Erm. Don’t judge me; I have bookmarks, but I don’t always use them …
What can you tell us about your novel The Love Interest?
The Love Interest, is my debut Young Adult Romcom. It’s set in a brand-new superhero verse and follows the story of Jenna Ray, a 17-year-old swimmer, from the coastal town of Nine Trees, who has a bit of a hero complex. After running into a burning building to save someone, Jenna is rescued by the new hero, Blaze. In their world the hero’s ‘first’ goes on to play a big role in their story and, since they’re similar ages, the entire world decides for Jenna that she is going to be Blaze’s love interest.
While Blaze might be cute, Jenna is not remotely up for this, but other heroes, villains and super-powered pigeons keep pushing them together …
The Love Interest has a diverse cast of characters and a strong feminist message, but mostly it’s a lot of fun. I like to call it a popcorn book. It’s an action packed rom-com with a pinch of enemies-to-lovers and a generous splash of fake dating. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
What inspired the superhero elements in your novel?
I wanted to write a story about self-determination and finding your own way, and the superhero’s love interest was the perfect trope to subvert, but that’s not the only reason I wrote my own superhero story:
I am a SUPERHERO SUPERFAN. I grew up watching the X-Men cartoon every Saturday morning. (I always loved Storm, because she was a powerful Black woman who could fly.) I’m a big fan of Marvel and the MCU too, especially Spiderman (Parker and Morales) and Ms Marvel.
I crammed everything I love about superhero stories into The Love Interest – the plucky best friend, the amazing costumes, the high stakes, the overdramatic bad guys, the phrase ‘for the sake of the world’ …
What does a day of writing look like for you – do you have any particular habits?
I’m a freelancer and still do event and theatre work when I’m not writing, so my writing days are really special. I will treat myself to a long dog-walk in the middle of the day, otherwise I get my head down and try and do office hours, a chunk of writing in the morning and a chunk in the afternoon (and, if it’s getting close to a deadline, a chunk in the evening too). When I get tired or distracted, I do a bit of yoga or play hide and seek with my dog. Oh! And if I get really stuck, I have a shower – it’s absolutely magic, so many things suddenly make sense when you’re in the shower.
What book character would you be, and why?
Probably Cassie from the ‘Animorphs’ series. I think morphing into a dolphin would be a great way to spend your weekend.
If you could meet one author (living or dead) – who would it be and why?
I’d definitely pick Terry Pratchett. Mostly to say thank you for all the times his books kept me company in the library.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Helen Comerford is a Black mixed-race British debut author and is passionate about Black British and mixed heritage representation. She centres her diverse cast of characters in narratives they have historically been excluded from and celebrates their joys, strengths and everyday teenage experiences. She is fuelled by a love of all things super-powered, feminism, and chocolate raisins. When she’s not writing, you can find Helen hiking around the Welsh countryside with her dog, Cocoa. The Love Interest is her debut novel.
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