Today we have Daniella Blue with us to answer some questions, celebrating the release of Treading Water!
Welcome! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what got you into writing?
Its funny but I would have to say by watching television. As I kid, I liked reading but my first love was always TV. I would watch my favorite shows and then make up stories for them. Later on when I was a teenager, I realized there was a word for that: “Fanfiction.” So, I wrote fanfiction for years and then original material came about. Incidentally “Moonlighting” was my favorite show to write. It’s a romantic comedy detective show staring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. I’m still super active in my “Moonlighting” fandom. I love to write complicated relationships and Maddie and David are the best template ever!
Are there any books that have really influenced you as a writer? Tom Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities.” I read it in high school and just loved the lament of seriously flawed characters. Plus, there’s a lot of humor. There’s got to be funny in there somewhere to hook me.
What do you enjoy most about writing young adult fiction? I love how everything is important. Everything decision is dire. Thought processes are so raw and untamed. YA is my favorite genre to watch too. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an eternal favorite of mine, for example.
What inspired this book in particular? This book is about an elite athlete’s mental breakdown and what it takes to rebuild her life. When I was growing up I was a competitive ski racer and I saw a lot of people around me who struggled with the pressure and it made me ponder if extreme talent could be less of a blessing and more of a curse. More recently, I inspired by the gymnast Simone Biles’ story. Her comeback after she dropped out of the 2020 Olympics due to the pressure was inspiring. I really wanted to explore the humanity of these public figures.
What helps you write about difficult topics such as a character’s friend dealing with illness, addiction, and complicated family dynamics? I look at it as adversity builds character. It forces people to take risks, evaluate and reevaluate who they are and their place in the world. My favorite thing about writing is to bring a character to life and make them multidimensional. The most compelling characters are complicated ones. Its things like illness and addiction and death where people really figure out who they are and how they operate in the world.
Can you tell us about your writing space? Where do you do most of your writing? My bedroom on my bed. I have the TV on the background very low with a show on that I know by heart so I’m not watching it or being distracted. Usually, it’s Moonlighting or The Office.
What helps you when you have writers block? A chat with my ride-or-die critique partners Kari Leen Townsend and Barbara Witek
What are some things you are really enjoying reading right now? Books, TV, foods, etc.? I’m eagerly awaiting the last seasons of Handmaids Tale and Stranger Things. I’m also excited that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is being rebooted. And then there’s my new obsession with a paranormal show called School Spirits about a bunch of young ghosts who haunt their old high school.
Want to know more about Treading Water?
International media sensation Natalie Collins is an eighteen-year-old Olympic swimmer who has dedicated her whole life to her career. But when her best friend and relay teammate, Annie, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Natalie’s world spirals out of control. A public meltdown exposes her addiction, leading her to The Dunes, an unconventional rehab in the California desert. At The Dunes, Natalie meets a diverse group of individuals, each with their own struggles and stories.
Mitch, a young counselor who all the girls’ crush on, encourages her to write letters to Annie, helping her process her emotions. Through one-sided letters Natalie relays stories about Dr. Blaine, an enigmatic psychiatrist, and Tillie, a nurturing counselor. Among the residents, Natalie befriends Staci, an aspiring artist and heroin addict, and Fiona, a former beauty queen recovering from human trafficking. She also takes on Missy, the rehab bully and her minions, but finds allies in Gia, a former gangster, and Cassidy, a meth addict who believes she lives in a television.
As Natalie navigates her new environment, she reflects on her life in limbo “on the outside.” Her father’s remarriage to Mommy New Boobs, her mother’s churning of her bank accounts and her toxic relationship with Racer, her ex-boyfriend. Through observing others Natalie learns that everyone has their own battles. Inspired by the resilience of those around her, Natalie begins to see life as a gift and the attempts to rebuild her life and career.
“Treading Water” is a story of struggle, redemption, and the power of human connection. From the depths of addiction to the surface of hope.
Daniella Blue has been a writer her whole life, penning her first story in purple crayon at the age of seven. When not at her computer, Daniella can be found on the golf course, tennis court, ski slope and occasionally the bowling alley. She is considering training for a triathlon. Other favorite activities include obsessing over classic 80’s TV and getting her nails done. She lives in western New York with her three boys and two Dachshunds. Purple is still her favorite color.
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