– Thanks for joining us here at YALC. We would love you to introduce yourself
I grew up in Germany, first moved to the UK to study in Edinburgh and stuck around! I have published a few books in German, mostly romance and nonfiction, but this is my first time getting published in English. As a reader, I’ve attended YALC a few times throughout the years, on the prowl for proofs.
– Can you give our readers an overview of your YA novel ‘Boy Friends’?
It’s a romance about two boys – Simo & Luca – who have been best friends for ten years. The whole time, Luca has been in love with Simo, but he’s too scared to admit his feelings…until their entire hometown starts shipping the boys and they’re forced to act.
– And, if you could do it in just 5 words or less, what would they be?
If Gilmore Girls was gay.
– Who was your favourite character to write and why?
Tough choice, but Luca’s dad, Maz, is my fave.
– When you write a novel, do you plan the story from start to end, or do you see how it evolves as you write?
I work with a rough outline and key moments, then fill out the gaps.
– Are any parts in the book based on a real experience?
The central friendship dynamic – of being besties but rarely opening up about deeper feelings – is one that’s based on my own experience and something I wanted to explore with Simo & Luca. And growing up as a queer kid inspired pretty much most of the book.
– Are there any books or authors that influence your style while writing?
I’m fascinated by Federico García Lorca, a gay Spanish poet and playwright who was killed nearly a century ago. He had a strong influence on Simo’s character and inspired a couple of poems.
– How important was an authentic LGBTQ+ representation within your book?
My core cast of characters is queer and I wanted to explore the messiness and joy of that experience, while also giving these characters room to grow into themselves – at any age – without tight labels.
– Why do you think stories like Boy Friends are important for younger readers today?
Queer stories are important then, now, and always. Beyond that, I wanted to create a story that navigates coming of age and finding yourself but also allows readers to escape into a warm and safe fictional universe, no matter who they are.
– Did you listen to music while writing?
I have a playlist for every story I write in order to capture the overall atmosphere or the feeling of a certain moment. Sometimes that means listening to the same song on repeat for hours.
– Where do you write?
Anywhere that allows me to sit for at least an hour or two and get sucked into my manuscript, whether that’s at my desk at home, in a café, or on a train.
– What is your favourite genre to read?
I’m a contemporary YA reader at heart, but the real joy comes in exploring multiple genres and books that blend them together into something new.
– Where can our readers find you on social media?
On insta and tiktok @kaispellmeier.
– Finally can you give us your favourite quote from a novel (it can be yours!)?
Let’s go for the quote that inspired Simo & Luca:
‘To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves.’– Federico García Lorca, Blood Wedding (1932)