Interview: Jessica Martinez

Recently I reviewed Jessica Martinez's debut novel, Virtuosity. She kindly agreed to answer a few questions for HDS regarding her new novel and her writing career. Read on!

How did you come up with the story for Virtuosity?
I started with one scene—a girl lying on a balcony, dangling her million-dollar violin off the edge—and envisioned all the different things that could lead her this point of desperation. With every attempted draft (there were many and they were all different!) I came back to that same scene and knew it had to all come from there.

There are three major story lines - Carmen's budding relationship with Jeremy; Carmen dealing with anti-anxiety medicine; and Carmen's relationship with her mother. What made you want to focus on each?
The central theme of breaking free from control is developed through both the relationship with her mother and her addiction to the medication. I like that they are both things that a normal teen may be dealing with—drugs and moms—so even though Carmen’s world is so unique, her problems aren’t. As for Jeremy, the novel is not a romance in the sense that it’s the central storyline. He’s a catalyst for her move towards independence. I like that about him and wanted to show that he doesn’t solve her problems, but he helps her realize she must solve them on her own.

What do you want your readers to get out of Virtuosity?
I want them to feel Carmen’s transformation from being controlled to making her own decisions. I also want them to respect her integrity. She consistently chooses the high road, and I love that about her.

I saw that you were a former violinist. What was your favorite song to play on the violin?
I’ve got too many to list, but one of my favorite concertos to play is the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. It’s the concerto Carmen is learning for the Guarneri competition in the book. It’s passionate and beautiful and DIFFICULT.

Do you have plans for another novel?
I do! My next novel (title still being decided) comes out next fall. It’s about sisters and secrets and lies and love—how’s that for vague?! Oh, and my good news: I just signed a deal with Simon Pulse for two more books in fall 2013 and 2014. They will both be stand-alone contemporary realistic fiction.

Thanks Jessica!