Words Composed of Sea and Sky
by Erica George
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Release Date: May 25th 2021
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Historical Fiction
Synopsis:
This modern summer romance set on Cape Cod features two young adult poets divided by centuries.
Michaela Dunn, living on present day Cape Cod, dreams of getting into an art school, something her family just doesn't understand. When her stepfather refuses to fund a trip for a poetry workshop, Michaela finds the answer in a local contest searching for a poet to write the dedication plaque for a statue honoring Captain Benjamin Churchill, a whaler who died at sea 100 years ago.
She struggles to understand why her town venerates Churchill, an almost mythical figure whose name adorns the school team and various tourist traps. When she discovers the 1862 diary of Leta Townsend, however, she gets a glimpse of Churchill that she didn't quite anticipate. In 1862, Leta Townsend writes poetry under the name Benjamin Churchill, a boy who left for sea to hunt whales. Leta is astonished when Captain Churchill returns after his rumored death. She quickly falls for him. But is she falling for the actual captain or the boy she constructed in her imagination?
Can you briefly describe WORDS COMPOSED OF SEA AND SKY and its characters?
So I would say that WORDS COMPOSED OF SEA AND SKY is a contemporary YA romance with historical elements about Michaela, living on modern day Cape Cod, who is desperate to go to a poetry workshop at her dream college, but her stepdad won’t fund the trip. Instead, she decides she’s going to enter her town’s contest to write the poem for the dedication plaque for local legend, Captain Benjamin Churchill, a whaler who died at sea over one hundred years ago. But when Michaela starts to research him, she discovers the diary of Leta Townsend, a girl who lived in her town in 1862 who wrote poetry under the name Benjamin Churchill, thinking him dead. In 1862, Leta is astonished when Captain Churchill returns, his death just a rumor, and she quickly falls for him. She’s just not sure if she’s falling for the real Benjamin Churchill or the boy she constructed in her imagination.
Could you describe the 2nd book with emojis?
Who is your favourite character in the book and why?
My favorite characters are pretty much the same throughout. But this is an unexpectedly difficult question! I think every author puts a piece of themselves into each character, but I absolutely loved writing Mellie, the main character’s little sister. She’s spunky and sassy; she cracked me up. I also really love Leta. She’s so strong despite everything that’s launched at her.
How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?
Believe it or not, elements of the story came to me when I was in 8th grade! Over time, the story and the characters evolved, and I knew that I wanted to write a book weaving the past and the present and including all of the things that I love about Cape Cod—the history, nature, whales, baseball. And it all just came together for me.
If you could choose one song to describe this book, which one would it be?
I love making Spotify playlists for every book that I’m working on, and for WORDS, I kept playing “The Lament of Eustace Scrubb” by the Oh Hellos. I feel like it captured the vibe
What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?
For an adult beverage, I think the obvious choice would be a Cape Codder! Cranberries are definitely a thing there. But in general, this book feels like a nice, cozy cup of tea on a rainy day. A little oat milk, a little sugar, and you’re set!
Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish WORDS COMPOSED OF SEA AND SKY?
For YA novels that with that historical element, I would recommend REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly and THE PAPER GIRL OF PARIS by Jordyn Taylor.
For more YA novels set on Cape Cod and the islands, definitely check out THE WIDE STARLIGHT by Nicole Lesperance and THE SUMMER OF LOST LETTERS by Hannah Reynolds. And keep an eye out for my second YA novel, THE EDGE OF SUMMER, which also takes place on Cape Cod, hitting shelves summer of 2022!
What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?
Oh, it’s the first draft, for sure. Brainstorming and outlining are amazing because you have this shiny new idea, and you can’t wait to get started. But once you get to the first draft, you start to see the plot holes, the character issues. But I always try to get the words down, because I know I can fix any issues in revisions!
What’s next for you?
I’m almost finished with revisions for my second YA novel, THE EDGE OF SUMMER which comes out with Little, Brown BFYR in June of 2022. It follows Coriander Cabot the summer before her senior year as she attempts to complete a marine biology internship in Provincetown, MA all while dealing with her grief over the unexpected death of her best friend, her developing feelings for a cute lifeguard named Mannix, and disentangling a humpback whale from fishing gear.
Erica George is a writer of young adult fiction. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with degrees in both English and education, and is currently an MFA student at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She resides in scenic northern New Jersey, but spends her summers soaking up the salty sea air on Cape Cod.
Many themes in Erica’s writing rotate around environmental activism and helping young people find their voice. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring river towns, whale watching, or engrossed in quality British drama with her dog at her side.
