Rachael Fernandes: 'Writing is sometimes a game of chance'
BY Emily Powter-Robinson
13th Jun 2024
Rachael Fernandes studied on our three-month Writing YA & Children’s Fiction course in 2021. Her debut YA novel The Mercury in Me is out now with UCLan Publishing!
We spoke to Rachael about the inspiration behind her book, incorporating social media into books for teenagers, and the best piece of advice she received from Catherine Johnson whilst studying with us.
You studied on our three-month Writing YA & Children’s Fiction course in 2021. How did studying with us impact your approach to writing?
I applied for CBC the day before it closed after umming and ahhing about it for weeks - and it was the best thing I ever did! Until that point I was completely self-taught, having never studied English past GCSE. I learnt a lot of fundamentals about constructing a good story, and also having a core critique group not only gave me useful feedback, but critiquing others' work taught me how to be a better writer.
Many of our students find lifelong writing friends on our courses. Are you still in touch with anyone you met on the course?
I studied during the tail-end of the pandemic, and a few of us kept in touch on a Slack group afterwards. Two of my coursemates helped me with my submission to Lauren, my agent, and I’m pleased that I will be meeting another two in person for the first time at my book launch! Writing is sometimes a game of chance, I was very lucky to get an agent in 2021, but someone else this year has just been signed to a Curtis Brown agent!
Your debut YA novel The Mercury In Me is an ode to romcoms, musicals and being British Indian, perfect for fans of Sex Education and Never Have I Ever! Can you tell us a bit more about the book and the inspiration behind it?
The Mercury in Me is about 17-year-old Maya Pritik, who just wants to get through school in one piece, avoiding school bully, Candice Riley. Maya’s parents believe in no dating until university, to avoid distractions. Maya runs into handsome Harry Wu and finds out that, like her, Freddie Mercury is also British Indian, and is encouraged to do the school musical of We Will Rock You. But can Maya resist Harry’s charms?
I remember Catherine Johnson saying that your first book is the most autobiographical, and while this is truly a work of fiction, (and my parents are not like Maya’s at all, I have to keep saying), there are elements inspired by my own life. I was a hideously shy teenager, until my friend made me do the school musical in Sixth Form, which was We Will Rock You. I’ve loved musicals my whole life, but since then I’ve loved being on stage, and I wanted to capture the camaraderie of being in a show.
I also wanted to write a British Indian love story, as there are so few for teenagers. I grew up never seeing myself in any of the books or films I loved so much. I would love a teen British Indian girl to be able to see part of herself in this.
Social media plays a big role in your story, with the school bully, Candice Riley, running the not-so-anonymous Hot-Or-Not Instagram account. Do you have any tips for authors who are wanting to incorporate social media into their book, especially those writing for teenagers?
This was a bit scary, mostly because social media changes so much. When I started writing this in 2021, TikTok was on the rise, and I wasn’t sure if I was even using the right device anymore, but luckily teens still use Instagram. I think it’s impossible to ignore social media in contemporary YA as it’s central to teenagers' experiences of growing up. I would say, if you’re going to make social media a plot device, make sure you use social media a lot and understand it. Don’t write about TikTok if you’ve never used the platform!
Beyond writing, you have a first-class degree in Maths and Chemistry, a diploma in Art and perform regularly in an improv group! How do you manage to find the time to write alongside spinning so many other plates?
Luckily the degree and diploma is well in the past now. I like keeping busy, I think living life is the best way to be inspired for writing. Having said that, I blasted out most of this novel during 2021 when I was constantly working from home. Since starting to work and commute more, and performing with my improv groups, I have definitely found that I need to be more disciplined about writing. My tactic is this: find half an hour a day to write, and it’ll eventually be done!
What’s the best piece of advice you received from your tutor Catherine Johnson during the three-month Writing YA & Children’s Fiction course?
Catherine once said 'Write the book you would have wanted to read', and I can safely say I did that. It gave me the courage to change my novel from a coming-of-age story to a romcom, because I knew as a teenager I would have wanted romance.
Finally, what’s next for your writing journey?
I am signed for a second YA book with UCLan so am working on that! I am also keen to try out adult fiction at some point, so watch this space. Being published has been my dream since I was a teenager, so I can’t wait to see where this journey goes!
The Mercury in Me is out now!
The books linked in this blog can be found on our Bookshop.org shop front. Curtis Brown Creative receive 10% whenever someone buys from our bookshop.org page.