Happy Friday, friend! Welcome to an interview with author Charlotte Brough about her book, All Our Faults. This is a contemporary Young Adult novel featuring twin brothers. This book explores the struggles with eating disorders and I am excited to make time for it. Let’s welcome Charlotte and learn about the book.
Get to know the author: Charlotte Brough
Hi Charlotte! Welcome to Armed with A Book. Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
Hi, thanks for having me! Although I have a degree in forensic investigation and have tried several different jobs over the years—from shop assistant to holiday rep, waitress to intelligence researcher–-my passion has always been writing. Now as a stay-at-home-parent to two little boys, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to pursue that passion, and have just completed my second novel, which I hope to publish next year.
When I’m not running around after the children, you can usually find me watching reruns of my favorite teen dramas (or Supernatural!), reading or working on new story ideas.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
A very long time! I wrote the first draft in fits and starts over the course of four years, then decided it was terrible and hid it away until shortly before the lockdowns started in 2020. I decided to change it from third person to first person multi POV, and spent just over a year reworking it into the story it is now.
What makes your story unique?
Although we’re now seeing a lot more mental health representation in fiction and in the media, one aspect that is still rarely covered is eating disorders in young males. Among athletes in particular, they’re surprisingly common, and we see this here in Jack, a sports star who is determined to be the best, whatever it takes.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
That it’s not just okay but important to ask for help if you are struggling. Don’t try to deal with things by yourself. Similarly, don’t be afraid to reach out if you think someone you know is struggling. Just taking the time to really listen to someone could be all it takes to save a lot of heartache later on.
What is something you have learned on your author journey so far?
There are exceptions to every rule, and there’s no real right way or wrong way to write a book – cite any so-called writing rule, and someone will give you an example where not only was it done, but done well!
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
Don’t try to write to the market – write the kind of book you’d like to read yourself. You’ll be spending a lot of time working on it, and if your heart’s not really in it, it will feel like a chore.
Where can readers find you on the Internet?
My website, Twitter and Instagram.
All Our Faults
Young Adult
Published 2023
A school rivalry.
Twin brothers with dangerous vices.
A fatal accident.
Lakemere High’s star athlete, Jack Porter, is a master of denial. He doesn’t have an eating disorder, and his twin brother, Jared, definitely doesn’t have a drinking problem. Everything is rosy in Jack’s world–he’s headed to Duke, has his pick of the dating pool, and Lakemere are winning in their prank war with rival school, West Valley. Younger brother, Alex, is practically a genius, and Jared…he’s fine. Probably.
Then the boys’ estranged mother returns, setting in motion a chain of events that will devastate their entire community. Spiraling into depression, Jack tries to play peacemaker between the schools, but Jared isn’t about to forgive and forget. Fueled by his escalating addiction, he’s out for blood…
Content notes include Language, (gun) violence, drug/alcohol abuse, eating disorder, mental health issues
Book Excerpt from
All Our Faults
Alex
A thud from the next room tells me Jared is awake. I sit up and listen to him crash around, wondering what the hell he’s doing. Drinking, probably, and hurling things around, by the sound of it.
It’s silent again. I lower my head back onto the bed. Perhaps Jared has fallen asleep, or is busying himself drawing. He has on his bedroom wall several large canvases covered in sketches so graphically violent that you can feel the anger bursting from them, with a few cartoons and animals thrown in for some light relief. He’s a brilliant artist and always says drawing helps him to relax.
Not tonight, however.
Another loud bang and the creaking of a door opening signals that my brother is on the move. Noiselessly, I peer around my own door, just in time to see Jared staggering down the stairs. No one else is up; Jack and Dad are both fast asleep and Mom is staying at a nearby hotel. I throw on some clothes and follow.
I find him in the kitchen, stumbling around and swigging from a bottle of bourbon.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Hey, little bro. Wanna drink?” Jared holds the bottle out to me.
“No.” I push it away.
“Come on, Mom’s back! Celebrate with me!”
“I don’t want a fucking drink!” I cry, irritated that we’re here again. “What are you doing?”
“S’it look like?” Jared shrugs. He pulls open the fridge and stares into it. “I got hungry.”
“Whatever,” I say, pulling a face as I make to go back to bed. “Just keep it down, some of us are trying to sleep.”
Jared slams the fridge shut without taking anything. Too late, I spot what has caught his eye—Jack’s keys, lying on the counter. Jared has lunged and grabbed them before I even have time to react, spilling his drink all over the floor as he does so. Gripping the keys tightly, he makes his way unsteadily towards the garage.
“J, where are you going?” I ask warily. “Jared, give me the keys!”
I dash after him into the garage, where the door is gliding open and he is attempting to unlock the BMW.
“You can’t drive like this!” I say.
“Watch me.” Still fumbling with the keys, Jared finds the unlock button and climbs into the driver’s seat.
“You cannot take Jack’s car!” I pull open the passenger door and lean over to try and take the keys. Jared roughly knocks my hand away. “He’ll kill you! Assuming you don’t kill yourself first.”
“We could always take yours,” says Jared, indicating the brand new SUV parked next to the BMW.
“No way, Dad won’t even let me have the keys.” Since I failed my driving test, I’m still not allowed to take my birthday present for a spin without a responsible driver riding along. And responsible, Jared is not. “Besides, we are not going anywhere.”
“Jack’s car it is.” Jared revs the engine, preparing to pull out. “Coming or what?”
“No. Get out of the car.”
“Fuck you, then.” Jared leans over to close the door but when I refuse to let go he pumps the gas, jerking the car forwards.
“Hey!”
“Last chance,” warns Jared, tapping the gas again.
“Wait!” I hesitate. Obviously, I’m not going to talk him out of the car. Perhaps if I go along I can persuade him to switch and let me drive after a few minutes. If I’m lucky, he might even get bored. In any case, I can’t let him go alone. He’ll only get himself into trouble.
I slide into the car and buckle up.
You are so going to regret this.
Interested?
Find All Our Faults on Goodreads, IndieStoryGeek, and Amazon. Thanks for taking the time to join us for this interview!
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