I also related to Laurel because as she was processing the loss of her sister, I was still processing the loss of my mother. And my own Aunt Amy (who passed away when I was in middle school) inspired the character of Laurel's aunt. For example, the fairy games that my younger sister and I played as little girls inspired Laurel and May's. While the book is decidedly a work of fiction, I drew upon a lot of my own memories of growing up with my family and friends as I was creating Laurel's character. Joyce: Your author bio says: Ava 'believes this book began when she bought her second album ever - Nirvana's In Utero - which she listened to on repeat while filling the pages of her journal.' Is there a lot of you in the character of Laurel?Īva: Yes. One of my favorite things about writing the book was discovering how Laurel's relationship to the celebrities to whom she writes changes and deepens over the course of the story, as she begins to come to terms with her feelings surrounding her sister's death. And, most importantly, each of the people to whom Laurel writes evokes a memory of her sister, May, or brings up emotions about Laurel's relationship to her. She often writes to Amelia Earhart, for example, when she wants to feel brave, to Judy Garland about her absent mother, to River Phoenix about falling in love and struggling with her first relationship. As I was learning to listen to Laurel, I was also discovering her connections to the people to whom she writes. How did you decide who Laurel would write to?Īva: Great question! I began with a few celebrities who I myself loved, but the list changed and grew as I got to know Laurel over the course of writing the book. well, letters to the dead, including Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger. Joyce: Welcome to HEA, Ava! Your new release, Love Letters to the Dead, is about high school student Laurel, who writes. Ava Dellaira, author of Love Letters to the Dead, joins us to talk about her new book (out today!), its music theme, binge-watching TV and favorite authors.

Book love letters to the dead