Interview with Alisse Lee Goldenberg, Author of The City of Arches

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The City of Arches?

The City of Arches began as a prequel to The Sitnalta Series. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to make it a part of Sitnalta’s story in the main timeline. However, how could that be possible? From there, I was hit with a vivid memory of going through old photos and papers with my mom. There is so much history there that the notion of Sitnalta finding her mother’s things, and these papers and items being a window into the past, took hold. The book became a real exploration into how the past can shape and have a real, visceral effect on someone’s future and who they are as a person.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The City of Arches, what would they be?

This is fun. For Sitnalta, I would definitely go with “Journey to the Past” from the musical Anastasia. Kralc is going a little bit emo with this one, and he’s got Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. I’m going to give Queen Kika “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Disney’s Tarzan, and Aud has “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack. I’m not going to give Learsi a song. You’ll have to read the book to find out why.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

This is definitely one of my favourite genres to read. I love the escape that fantasy can give you. There’s a certain freedom to writing it as well. Once you establish what your world is, it truly feels as if anything is possible. Some days, it’s important to find that escape, to believe in the impossible. With a good fantasy novel, you can find that, and as a writer, it’s wonderful to have these worlds of my own creation to run away to.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I am reading The Extraordinaries by T.J. Klune. It’s a great fantasy superhero series, and it’s told from the perspective of a boy with ADHD. The narrative in it is absolutely incredible. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good book.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Without giving too much away, there are some scenes towards the end of the book, where I get to revisit scenes from the first book of the series. However, now the reader finally has the whole story, and I tell them from an entirely new point of view. It was a lot of fun to write, and in some ways, rewrite older material and make sure everything dovetails together to create a picture that’s finally full.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Definitely writing a lot of my stories out in pen. I just got this beautiful new notebook, and I can’t wait to break it in. Every time I come home with another one, I’m asked why I needed to buy another notebook. But this one’s purple! And it has a zipper, so I won’t lose my pens!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I recently had the remarkable chance to visit my cousin Oscar Knoblauch for his one hundredth birthday! He is an absolutely incredible human being. He gave one of my sons some advice, and I will certainly be making it my own personal motto from now on. He said, “If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me”. How true is that?

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I would like them all to remember that we may be shaped by our pasts, and by the pasts of our parents, but it doesn’t have to define us.