When it All Syncs Up | Author Interview | Book Tour

I’m so excited to be a part of the book tour for When it All Syncs Upthat is hosted by TBR and Beyond Tours. I was really excited to also be able to interview the author for this book!

INTERVIEW

How would you describe When it All Syncs Up in one sentence?

A ballerina’s journey toward processing past trauma and reclaiming her dance practice as a form of healing.

Can you introduce us to the main character(s) of When it All Syncs Up?

Aisha is a talented and ambitious teen dancer. Ballet is her life. She goes to a prestigious dance academy and dreams of joining a respected ballet company one day. Due to discrimination that keeps her from getting lead roles, her mental health suffers. The major challenge she faces throughout the story is learning how to put her health and wellness first.

Do you know from the beginning how your books will end or do you let your characters decide their journey?

Sometimes I get book ideas where the first thing I think of is the ending. That wasn’t the case for When It All Syncs Up, I thought of the characters first and how I imagined them interacting with each other. The plot came to me last and there were lots of different endings that I tried out before landing on the final version.

Do you have a favorite scene, moment, or quote from the book?

My favorite scene is when Aisha and Ollie are meditating together and Aisha has a moment of clarity about her sense of self. The quote from that scene is “I’m not a dancer. I’m not a girl with dissociation and an eating disorder. I’m not the color of my skin. Who I am at my core is beyond definition.”

What is something readers will find in When it All Syncs Up that they may not realize based on the
synopsis?

There’s a lot of fun and sweet lighter moments sprinkled into the book along with heavier topics. I think those lighter moments help to balance out some of the more difficult scenes.

What’s something you hope readers will take away from When it All Syncs Up?

I hope that young readers especially realize the power of their words and try to be a bit kinder to their peers whenever they can. Often bullying can be seen as harmless, but I hope to highlight some of the long-lasting trauma that can be avoided if young people treat each other with more compassion despite their differences.

What are three books you would recommend if someone enjoyed When it All Syncs Up?

I would recommend Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, Pointe by Brandy Colbert and The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Synopsis:

A Black teen dancer with dreams of landing a spot in a prestigious ballet company must learn to dance on her own terms in this explosive debut about the healing power of art and friendship, perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Tiny Pretty Things.

Ballet is Aisha’s life. So when she’s denied yet another lead at her elite academy because she doesn’t “look” the part, she knows something has to change–the constant discrimination is harming her mental health. Switching to her best friend Neil’s art school seems like the perfect plan at first. But she soon discovers racism and bullying are entrenched in the ballet program here, too, and there’s a new, troubling distance between her and Neil. And as past traumas surface, pressure from friends and family, a new romance, and questions about her dance career threaten to overwhelm her. There’s no choreography to follow–for high school or for healing. Aisha will have to find the strength within herself–and place her trust in others–to make her next move.

Content Warning: Brief mention of physical and sexual abuse, on page verbal abuse, racism, colorism, depictions of an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, disassociation/depersonalization, depression and alcohol dependency

ABOUT THE AUTHOR