The Great Dempseys tells the story of two teenagers from different worlds who discover love, strength, and resilience in each other while navigating the challenges of family, class, and self-discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I have lived in New York State for practically my whole life, and I have always had a special love for New York City. The city is so diverse, vibrant, and intoxicating, and I knew it would be the perfect setting for this story about family legacy, privilege, identity, and love. Family sagas are fascinating to me, and I always knew I’d create my own family saga someday: one that follows the protagonists from adolescence to adulthood.

When it came to writing a novel that starts in 1978 and ends in 1982, I conducted a lot of research to make sure the references I was making were appropriate for the time period. I was a history and political science major in college, so I have always enjoyed the research process.

Though Bobby and Audrey come from different backgrounds, they are also very similar, which helps them connect. As the book progresses, readers get a better sense of why Bobby and Audrey are so drawn to each other, and they watch these two characters go through the trials and tribulations of teenage romance.

Bobby’s character is deeply complex. How did you approach writing his emotional arc, particularly his struggles with trust and family?

Because Bobby is the secondary protagonist of the story, it was important for him to be just as well developed and interesting as Audrey. I wanted to make sure he was much more than just a one-dimensional romantic interest. Hopefully, readers will connect with Bobby and Audrey and root for them as both a couple and individuals.

When it came to writing Bobby’s emotional arc, I didn’t want to insult the readers’ intelligence by overexplaining the Dempsey family’s dynamic or relying on narration to get certain plot points across. Readers don’t get to see a chapter from Bobby’s point of view until 100 pages into the book, so before then, I planted seeds to make it clear that though Bobby doesn’t talk much about his father, there is a distance between them, but the extent of this distance isn’t properly understood until the first real interaction between Bobby and his father.

Bobby’s desire to have a close-knit, happy family is both endearing and tragic. When he meets Audrey’s family, he feels immediately at home; looking at the Nielsens, he sees everything he wants for his future. Bobby’s complicated relationship with his father is one of the key elements of his arc. Even though he and his father aren’t close, Bobby feels the need to defend his father and express his gratitude for all the wonderful opportunities he has experienced because of his surname.

It would be all too easy for Bobby to follow in his father’s footsteps and be the heir his father has always wanted him to be, but Bobby is his own person—for better or worse. The decision he makes at the end of the novel is one that will greatly affect and alter the Dempsey family.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The main themes I explore in the book are family legacy, privilege, class disparities, love, and identity. Throughout the book, the Dempseys and the Nielsens are juxtaposed against each other. While the Dempseys have power and prestige, the Nielsens come from a much humbler background. Consequently, the two families view the world in different ways. The Dempseys, for instance, have always had wealth, so they take many things for granted that the Nielsens do not, such as a spot at the prestigious private school Great Gray. The chapters alternate between Bobby’s and Audrey’s points of view, granting readers the chance to see inside each family and discover their similarities—and, more crucially, their differences.

The book also explores the different meanings of love. Bobby’s and Audrey’s romance, of course, is the heart of the story, but they also have important relationships with the other people in their life. Bobby, for example, has a close relationship with Charles, his family’s butler, while Audrey develops a sincere friendship with Florie Washington, a fellow scholarship student at Great Gray. I have always loved the theme of found family, and that is exemplified through Bobby’s and Audrey’s friendships.

The book’s message of resilience is so powerful. What do you hope readers take away from Audrey’s and Bobby’s journey?

At the end of the book, Bobby and Audrey have to make a serious decision about their future, one that will change the course of their entire lives. Bobby’s decision is perhaps more layered than Audrey’s, as he has to choose to either follow his father’s wishes or do what he thinks is right. The consequences of Bobby’s choice have ripple effects that will be felt throughout the rest of the book series, and readers will have to wait and see what happens.

After readers finish the book, I hope they reflect on their own life, thinking about the difficult decisions they have been forced to make. The ending of The Great Dempseys is hopeful, and it emphasizes the importance of breaking away from toxic relationships to build a better, more positive future. Even in the darkest times, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. As long as you surround yourself with people who genuinely care for and love you, then you have a real shot at living a good, happy life.

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