Neal Schusterman is a New York Times best-selling author with a prolific body of work, numbering over thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults. His newest release, All Better Now, portrays a dystopic future where a deadly virus, if survived, leaves behind the long-term side effect of utter contentment. As the masses start to revel in the relief of everyday stress, the powers that be, begin to see the potential for catastrophic effects on their hold on society. Here ensues the power struggle between numerous factions in society. As one of many compelling and mesmerizing concepts in Neal’s collection of stories, I had to ask where the idea for this storyline came from. He revealed; “At a speaking event, someone commented that my darker books are often prophetic – and then they said, “Can’t you predict something happy?”  Everyone laughed, but I took the challenge to heart.  But, of course, not even an exploration of happiness can be all peaches and cream.  Our society isn’t designed to function if everyone is happy.  So, what are the consequences of a virus that threatens to bring about universal happiness?  Developing this idea involved exploring how absolute contentment could disrupt power dynamics and challenge fundamental human desires and motivations.

With such a successful career and a large body of work, I wondered what influenced him to pursue writing as a career. He explains, “My biggest influence was a combination of the books I read growing up, from Lord of the Rings to Lord of the Flies, and teachers who believed in me and encouraged me along the way.  I developed a love for storytelling early on. I’ve always been drawn to the power of long-term narrative to provoke thought and emotion.” He went on to explain that he is drawn to these more serious and thought-provoking themes because, he believes that, “young adults are capable of grappling with complex issues and deserve literature that respects their intelligence. Exploring serious themes allows [him] to engage readers in meaningful conversations about life, ethics, and society’s challenges while doing so in an entertaining way. These are questions we all grapple with – not just as teenagers but as adults as well.”

Knowing it’s one thing to write about serious topics but another to connect with a key audience of young adult readers, Schusterman explains his approach. “My main concern is authenticity, and reaching readers where they are emotionally and psychologically. I also try not to pose easy solutions, because so often the situations are far too complex for a simple solution.  I get frustrated with literature that suggests simplistic solutions to complex questions.  I think that tends to add to the problem, rather than improve it, so I’m always trying to look at things from as many perspectives as possible, then leave readers to find their own solutions.”

Since provocative, serious themes can weigh heavy on the mind, I asked Neil how he balances writing in this vein and offering hope and inspiration to his readers. He explains, “Balancing heavy themes with hope and inspiration is crucial. It’s important to show that even in dark times, there can be moments of light and growth. While delving into these topics can be emotionally challenging, it’s always worth it!”

Having such a large fan base, I have to imagine that Neil impacts many aspiring young writers. I asked for his insight into creating similarly impactful stories characterized by emotional depth and powerful storytelling. He offers this sage advice. “Focus on something you care about and make yourself vulnerable in the writing. Don’t shy away from difficult topics—embrace them with empathy and honesty—and don’t assume you know the answer—be more focused on the nuances of the question!  Always remember that the most impactful stories are those that leave readers thinking long after they’ve finished the last page.”

In times when lots of things feel serious and heavy, I asked Neil if there are times he shifts to writing lighter topics and whether or not this exercise feels like an indulgence. He happily replied, “Of course! Can’t be heavy all the time.  I actually began writing as a humor columnist and still love to write humor as well – such as “The Accelerati Trilogy”, and “The NOAH Files”, which I co-wrote with Eric Elfman.  (Tesla’s Attic, and Shock The Monkey, from those two series, are two of my favorite books.)  It doesn’t feel like an indulgence but rather a necessary balance to keep the creative juices flowing

While wrapping things up, I couldn’t resist asking if he is already working on his next project and if he could indulge us in a preview. He offered this, “Yes, I’m currently working on ALL OVER NOW – the second book in the duology, as well as a Scythe prequel that introduces us to the founding scythes when they were teenagers, and the Thunderhead, before it became the Thunderhead!” I’m sure Neil will have his loyal readers lining up for both of these titles!