For the Record Author Charlotte Huang on Rock Stars, Riders, and Writing Your First Novel

Melissa Albert

Charlotte Huang’s debut, For the Record, is the addictively dishy (yet down to earth) story of a girl whose temporary fame on an American Idol-esque singing show leads to something much bigger: the chance to step into the frontwoman shoes for mega-popular rock band Melbourne. Inexperienced, at odds with her judgey band leader, and not completely recovered from her status as a high school outsider, Chelsea hits the road to support Melbourne’s newest album. But her “glamorous” life on the bus is just as much sleepless nights, weird shared-bathroom situtations, and bandmate drama as it is screaming fans, rock-and-roll stardom, and backstage romance. Here’s Huang on how Chelsea’s story came to be, her For the Record playlist, and what’s next.
You have loads of contacts in the music business, including your music agent husband. Was there a moment—an experience or hearing an anecdote—where the idea of a book set in that world really started to take shape?
Actually it was more like the information and anecdotes taking up space in my brain reached critical mass and I felt like it was time to let it all out! I always knew I wanted to write about a band on tour because that’s a unique aspect of the music world that I’ve been around a lot, but ultimately as an outsider looking in. I thought I could represent the main character’s fish-out-of-water point of view accurately, while still providing the detail needed for an authentic glimpse behind the scenes.

Notes From Your Bookseller

What was the first scene you wrote (whether it made it into the book or not)?
The first scene I wrote is the first scene! I had to bring the first fifty pages of something to a conference workshop in the summer of 2013. I even read some of the pages in the workshop. To my amazement, they are more or less intact in the final version!
I loved the realism of the book—for every moment of glamour, there’s a counterpoint (your bassist steals your tour bus food, you’re last in line for the venue’s only shower). Can you talk about how you maintained that balance in the book?
I think it came about organically, given that one of the things I wanted to do was demystify the process of getting to that level of success. We all have certain notions about the excitement and glamour of being a rock star. Those moments do exist and are so easy to access that almost every one of us could write them. But the part I’m aware of that maybe most aren’t has to do with the hard work and sacrifice that comes with having that amazing life. I respect that musicians love what they do so much that they’re willing to put up with some crazy stuff, and I thought that was important to show.
Chelsea is a great heroine—she doesn’t take her new fame for granted, and she takes responsibility when she messes up. Do you think that’s a more realistic view than the popular idea of a spoiled rock star with a weird M&M rider?
From what I’ve seen, definitely. Granted, I know a very small subsection of rock stars! I’ve heard some stories about artists being demanding, but for the most part, I haven’t seen it firsthand. Although I have to say that even the requests that seem weird at first glance make some sense upon closer inspection. Being on tour would be really disorienting. Backstage areas and dressing rooms are their homes for months at a time, and they probably just want the things that they’d normally be able to get for themselves. But the artists I know personally are extremely professional.
What’s a great tour story you’ve heard that didn’t make it into the book?
Hmmm. I’ve heard of one artist who won’t allow any ramps in the backstage/stage area. I have to imagine that this would be very challenging/inconvenient/annoying for the crew trying to set up production, etc. While I thought this was an interesting tidbit, it’s the sort of thing that would have to be called back too many times for it to remain interesting!
Who’s your all-time favorite front woman?
I really like Gwen Stefani of No Doubt. The front people I get most mesmerized watching do this thing I can only describe as gathering the energy. It sounds like New Age corniness, but it’s an almost tangible thing when you’re in the audience. Gwen is one of the best.
If you could step in and sing for any band, which one would you choose?
First of all, let me be clear: I cannot sing. But if I could, maybe Journey. I don’t do karaoke (I mean, never say never, but it hasn’t happened yet), but if I did, some of their hits would probably be on my go-to list. I think it’s something about the combination of melody and emotion in their songs.
If For the Record came with a playlist, what songs would have to be on it?
This is a tough one to answer because I really hope people will envision a band they love when they’re reading about Melbourne. That said, here are a few songs I think could fit the mood:
“Bros,” by Wolf Alice
“The Mother We Share,” by CHVRCHES
“Our Own House,” by MisterWives
“How to Be a Heartbreaker,” by Marina and the Diamonds
“Punching in a Dream,” by The Naked and Famous
“If I Could Change Your Mind,” by HAIM
It’s National Novel Writing Month! As a debut novelist, can you give any advice or insight to people who might be trying to write their first novel right now?
My advice is twofold. Number one: don’t be afraid to write badly at first. Number two: finish something. In my experience, it’s usually the fear of writing badly that prevents you from finishing a project. And you have to finish because the real work comes with revising, and it’s hard to know what you have until you’ve reached the end.
That’s why I love NaNoWriMo. It encourages you to barrel to the end of something without looking back. It will likely need tons of rewriting, but at the end, you’ve written 50,000 words and that is a big accomplishment. I’m sad I’m not doing it this year.
What were some of your favorite YA reads of 2015—and what are you looking forward to reading in 2016?
I’ve loved so many of my fellow debut authors’ books—too many to name them all. But in terms of nondebuts that came out this year, I really enjoyed The Truth Commission, by Susan Juby, and Tonight the Streets Are Ours, by Leila Sales.
I’ve already read some fantastic 2016 debut YAs—trust me, it’s going to be a happy reading year—but for nondebuts, I’m looking forward to The Unexpected Everything, by Morgan Matson, and Dead Girls Society, by Michelle Krys.
You leave For the Record in a good place for a sequel. Any chance that’s going to happen?
I would love that! There hasn’t been any official talk of it, but I love the characters and the world, and revisiting them would be so much fun for me.
If you’re able to share, what’s next for you?
I’m in the middle of the editorial process for my second YA novel from Delacorte, titled Going Geek. It’s about a girl who has the perfect life at boarding school but then has to start over senior year when she’s caught in a lie. It’s due out next fall!
For the Record is on sale today!

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