The Restitching of Camille DuLaine Author Q&A with Lindsay A. Franklin

Lindsay A. Franklin is the Carol Award–winning author of The Story Peddler and ECPA best-selling author of Adored. By day, she wrangles chaos as Managing Editor of Enclave Publishing. By night, she spins whimsical tales fueled by hot drinks, rainy days, and the thunderous purrs of her spoiled cats. Lindsay lives with her family among the misty evergreens of the Pacific Northwest. She is currently on a quest to discover the sparkliest nail polish on the planet. Connect with her on Instagram @LinzyAFranklin.

FF: What inspired the story in The Restitching of Camille DuLaine?
I answer this question differently every time I’m asked because there are so many true answers! One inspiration that carries strongly through both books in this series is my real-life sister. I first brainstormed The Rivenlea Sphere during a time when I intensely missed my sister, who lives far away, and Emlyn’s quest to find Camille is infused with that longing.

FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
I wrote Emlyn DuLaine for the first time twenty years ago, before I got into the publishing industry. The Rivenlea Sphere looks very different from the first story where Emlyn showed up, but Emlyn herself remains unchanged. As young novelists often do, I wrote a lot of myself into Emlyn, and later, I very intentionally crafted Camille around my real-life sister. Growing up, my sister and I were often framed as opposites, and some details about Emlyn and Camille that may seem like literary tropes are actually true (I do have dark, curly hair, and hers is straight and blonde).

But as I grew up, I realized my sister and I are not actually opposites at all, more like inverses or mirror images. There is something fundamentally the same about us, yet we’re expressed differently, turned in different directions. This was a fun dynamic to play with in the story, especially considering some of the reality-shaking revelations Emlyn is dealing with. I got to experiment with the question of what really makes someone family.

FF: Which character surprised you the most?
Hadeon Exan, hands down. I don’t want to be too spoilery, but The Restitching of Camille DuLaine afforded me the opportunity to write chapters from Hadeon’s point of view. Going into drafting book two, I knew I wanted to do this because there was a lot of backstory that needed to be explored, and this was best done through Hadeon’s perspective. His POV is the most emotionally complicated of the series, so I did not expect it to be the easiest to write, and I still can’t explain why I connected with him the way I did.

FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
Story emotionally connects us to truth in ways that simply stating information cannot. When we hear stories, we’re pulled in, able to place ourselves in the shoes of the characters, imagine ourselves in these scenarios that paint powerful pictures and reveal deep truths. Information appeals to the mind, and story appeals to the heart. I think that’s why Jesus used story so frequently in his teaching. There is both intellectual and emotional appeal within the truths of God’s kingdom.

FF: What can you tell us about your next book?
With The Rivenlea Sphere duology officially wrapped up, I’m onto the next story world! I have been describing my next project as “no plot, just vibes,” which is to say I’m in the very early planning stages. I’ve written one fantasy series with a medieval feel (The Weaver Trilogy) and one that takes place in our contemporary world (The Rivenlea Sphere), and I think the next one will be something quite different from both.

FF: How do you get into the right frame of mind to write young adult fiction?
My goal in writing YA fiction is to tell stories that can be enjoyed by teens, parents, twenty-somethings, and beyond. When my oldest kids became teenagers, it was frustrating to try to find media we could all enjoy together. There seemed to be quite a void between kids’ stuff and R-rated content I didn’t particularly want them consuming. I want to write in that in-between space, so I think a lot about my teen readers when crafting stories, even though I aim for my books to be enjoyable for all ages teen and up.

Having teenagers around the house for the past decade-plus has really helped me stay connected to my intended audience. However, my youngest child recently became an adult. Now what??

FF: What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?
I hope this story will spark wonder and recapture some of that joy I think all young readers feel when discovering a favorite classic for the first time. Throughout my childhood, libraries felt like magical portals, offering gateways into infinite adventures. I’ve tried to take that feeling and put it on the page (quite literally), and if readers experience even a little bit of that wonder, I’ll have done my job.

FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as an author writing in the young adult/fantasy genre?
Fantasy is a very fun space to write in, but I think it’s challenging to come up with ideas that feel fresh. Fantasy is a trope-heavy genre, like romance or mystery, so it’s challenging to take those beloved tropes and spin them into something both familiar and new. Writing for teens adds another layer of complexity because protecting my audience is important to me. First and foremost, I’m a mom, and while my young readers are not my children, I know how powerful stories are. What I put on the page can shape the young minds of those reading it, and I take that responsibility seriously. I want to address issues and emotions that are real for teens and young adults without dwelling in darkness, and I want to point them toward truth, hope, and love without preaching at them or telling them how to feel.

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