Venus Girl of the Month: Camille A. Collins

This author took inspiration from '70s punk and '60s Motown to pen a YA novel with a musical twist

By Siera Cerny
Published: September 22nd, 2010 | 2:40pm

In her new novel The Exene Chronicles (Escrava Anastacia Press, September 15), Camille A. Collins illustrates how music, friendship and young love can provide sources of hope, identity and understanding for anyone, especially when the going gets tough. The story is based on two strong women in music history—Exene Cervenka of the '70s punk band X and Ronnie Spector of the '60s Motown group the Ronettes. She talked candidly to Venus Zine about her inspirations, writing process, and ever-changing California dreams. Her book mixes punk rock, equality, and girl power—and that's the reason Camille is our Venus Girl of the Month.

VZ: Your book seems very accessible to a wide audience. Did you write with a specific type of reader in mind?

CC: I imagined that it might work best for a younger audience, possibly as a young adult novel. But part of that ingrained thinking comes from the way books are marketed these days, which sometimes leads to excessive categorization. Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite books. It’s a text that works for different age groups because, fundamentally, it’s just a good book. I was pleased when two of my adult friends read The Exene Chronicles and really liked it. I hope that others will give it a chance, even though the protagonist is a teenager.

VZ: Can you explain what the band X means to you, how it influenced your novel, and why you felt the band's story was something you wanted to integrate so thoroughly into your book?

CC: While my story is fictional, one true-to-life aspect of the book was the influence of X in me in my early teen years. Being into the band and saving my babysitting money to go to their shows with my friends was one of the pivots around which my social life revolved during that time. The music allowed us to express our own feelings in a way that was innocent and fun.

Also, I had a precocious appreciation for a band that wrote all of their own songs and included handwritten liner notes with all of the lyrics in Exene’s beautiful handwriting. I was really drawn to the authenticity I recognized in X; I think that discovery was one of the first things that educated me about what art is and what it means to be an artist.

VZ: Was there anything that you found especially beneficial in helping you tap into the mindset of a 14-year-old girl?

CC: Just memories, I guess, my own personal experiences. I’ve heard many people say they hated high school and hated being a teenager, but I didn’t have that experience. I really enjoyed myself. But of course, when you’re that age your friends are everything to you. I suppose that’s why the storyline considers the inception and demise of a really close friendship.

VZ: What was your process like while writing the book? Anything about it that surprised you?

CC: I think most writers will tell you that some projects start out promising and then stall out after a few pages. With others, you immediately see that there is a full story to be told and that you have enough material for an entire short story collection or novel, whatever the case may be. I wrote a few pages, then came back to them after a few days and realized—yes, I like these characters and I’m excited to share their experiences and points of view.

VZ: There’s a version of the ‘illusion vs reality’ theme that is especially apparent when we get into Greg Payne’s point of view after being so close with his daughter, Lia. What effect do you think that has on the reader?

CC: In juxtaposing the dreams of the kids and the hopes they have for their futures against the reality of what their parents are experiencing, I was considering the difference between youth and adulthood. Here are two families, one African American, the other white, who come from different parts of the country to pursue this dream of living in California. As a kid you can dream as big as you want. As an adult, making those dreams a reality is often much more challenging than you ever imagined.

I wanted to give a sense of perspective from the African American father to the white mother to the kids while using their differing points of view to create an idea of their individual environments and challenges. I think readers, adults included, will be able to relate to such struggles.

VZ: What are some things you wish to accomplish with The Exene Chronicles?

CC: My goal was to tell a specific story about very specific characters living in Coronado, California. I also hoped to share an example of one type of “black” experience. Out of a myriad other “black” experiences in America, this one happens to involve some really awesome punk rock music.

I sometimes dream of having grown up like my father did, in the heart of the black community on the south side of Chicago, or like my mom, in Kingston, Jamaica, but that wasn’t my experience. I grew up in suburban environments where I was usually one of a very small handful of minority kids, which is becoming more and more normal for a lot of people. I think I accomplished the goal I embarked on, my only hope is that people will like it.

VZ: What piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?

CC: Respect the craft of writing. Understand that it is involved and laborious, but also rewarding. Love and believe in your own work, and don’t ever get discouraged. Also, don’t write in a vacuum. You don’t have to run around showing everyone your manuscripts and seeking constant approval, but getting feedback from intelligent readers in an essential part of the process. Aside from that, work hard, write passionately, and have fun!

For more info on The Exene Chronicles and to buy a copy, visit Escrava Anastacia Press online. Want to nominate yourself or a friend to be our next Venus Girl of the Month? Email us at intern@venuszine.com or leave a comment below and tell us why!

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justinvenget (about 1 year)
yope i have read that two women story.. http://venuszine.com/

Anne Haggerson (about 1 year)
Wow! Camille. I am so excited to see yo published this book. That is so amazing. I met you at PASB awhile ago in Salvador and heather let me know about your book. I hope to read it!