Lauren Oliver and H.C. Chester Discuss Their New Middle Grade Series, Curiosity House

Though literary lore would have us believe that Chester is an eccentric artifacts expert, he is actually the alter ego of Harold Schechter—prolific author, renowned true crime scholar, and Oliver’s very own paterfamilias. Here, Oliver and Chester—who remains delightfully in character—discuss their new book, the relics that inspired it, and the superhuman powers they most covet.
How did the idea for the Curiosity House series first come to you?
Lauren Oliver: I was inspired by a series of photographs I found in Paris, displaying a series of fascinating characters and relics purporting to be from a certain dime museum that existed in New York in the 1930s. This sent me on a quest to track down the original artifacts, which of course led me to the fascinating, reclusive, and singular HC Chester.
H.C. Chester: I blush at Ms. Oliver’s description of myself as “fascinating” and “singular,” though I must admit to the accuracy of such characterizations. Indeed, she might have added several other encomiums, such as “illustrious” and “incomparable.” But I digress. As for your question, the idea for the series emanated largely from the fertile mind of Ms. Oliver during her initial visit to my personal museum. At the time, I myself was busy cataloguing my extensive collection of Inuit soapstone talismans, and had no intention of embarking on such a project. But I was persuaded to do so by Ms. Oliver’s irrepressible enthusiasm.
Which of the artifacts from the museum particularly ignited your imaginations?
LO: I think, generally, my favorite artifacts are those that embody the way that museums of the time took advantage of, let’s say, the elasticity of truth and the desire of the public to see marvelous and magical things, regardless of how improbable it was they were authentic: a Fiji mermaid fashioned from a doll and a fish tail, for example, or doctored photographic “proof” of fairies.
HCC: While it is true that the proprietors of early dime museums often fobbed off flagrant hoaxes as the “real thing,” my own personal collection is rigorously limited to 100-percent certifiably genuine artifacts. I will admit, however, that I have begun to harbor some doubts about the absolute authenticity of the 6th-century B. C. statuette of the Greek deity Poseidon that I purchased some years ago, particularly since my recent perusal of the underside of the object with a high-powered magnifying glass revealed the previously unnoticed inscription, ”Made in Occupied Japan.”
The story takes place in 1930s Manhattan—was there anything about that era that you were especially drawn to writing about in this book?
LO: Well, the 1930s were really the time when the dime museums that had been so critically a part of the cultural fabric were slowly dying off. And admittedly, although we worked hard to make sure the story feels timeless and accessible to young readers, I have trouble writing really modern-feeling middle grade. As soon as someone whips out Candy Crush on an iPhone, the transformative magic of middle grade fiction is done for me.
HCC: Though somewhat before my time, I have powerful nostalgic yearnings for the halcyon days of the 1930s, when—despite such minor drawbacks as the Great Depression, massive unemployment, and the inexorable buildup to apocalyptic global conflict—the world was a simpler, more innocent place.
Lauren, you live in New York City. How did your relationship to the city influence the story and the settings you chose to include?
LO: From the time I was a kid and my dad used to tell me stories about growing up in New York and buying a hot dog, a movie ticket, and a soda for 25 cents, I’ve been fascinated by old New York, its vibrancy and evolution, and its narrative possibilities. To tourists, New York City often feels overwhelming and even unfriendly, but to people who live here and grow up here it’s a kind of magical world of possibility and coincidence, adventure and discovery. So I tried to give the kids that sense of magic and also ownership. This is their city.
The museum is both workplace and home for the performers, and together the group forms an unconventional family. What is your favorite aspect of their alternative family unit?
LO: I can’t tell you how much I loved writing about the other characters in the museum. I’ve never written a true ensemble piece, and since reading Harry Potter have always longed to evoke a world that feels truly self-contained and is populated by memorable characters of every age. This felt like my tiny, small attempt to emulate one of the classics.
HCC: I have profound empathy for the characters to which you refer, since I myself enjoy a blissful life with what you so aptly describe as an “alternate family unit.” I refer, of course, to my faithful canine companion Trudy, who provides all the domestic comforts necessary for a healthy emotional existence, despite her occasionally vexatious habit of gnawing on one of the pieces in my priceless collection of fossilized Ichthyosaur bones.
What was the biggest collaborative challenge?
LO: Honestly, the greatest challenge was probably getting access to HC Chester in the first place! When I finally did track him down, I was really intimidated by all the Beware The Dog signs, and it took me three days to work up the courage to walk through the gates. I was deeply relieved to find out the guard dog is a twelve-pound Norwich Terrier who likes to give ankle kisses.
HCC: In the interests of strict accuracy, I must say that—owing to Trudy’s fondness for table scraps and my own perhaps overly indulgent behavior in that regard—her weight has ballooned to something over nineteen pounds. I keep intending to put her on a diet, but when she stares up at me during mealtime with those imploring button eyes, I find it impossible to resist . . . . What was the question? Oh, yes. For me, the great challenge was not so much collaboration per se as having to interact at all with another human being, a mode of behavior I have happily managed to avoid for the better part of my existence. My work with Ms. Oliver, however, has been so gratifying that I have recently given serious thought to the possibility of occasionally associating with other people, though I am reluctant to commit myself to such impetuous action until I have had further time to consider it.
If you could possess one of the kids’ superhuman abilities, which would you choose and why?
LO: Wow, that’s a great question! I have to say I’d choose to be a mentalist, like Pippa, with the caveat that I would only choose to be able to read minds (or, more accurately, the contents of pockets and bags and occasionally minds) if I could choose it, the way she does. Otherwise it would be far too terrifying. I definitely don’t want to accidentally tap into what other people are thinking about me!
HCC: I might choose Thomas’ ability to squeeze himself into exceptionally small spaces, an ability that would help me retrieve the priceless fossilized Ichthyosaur bones that Trudy enjoys hiding in highly inaccessible places around the house.
In 85 years, if a collector were to come across a box of relics from your lives as writers, which five items would he or she find?
LO: A coffee-stained, water-warped notebook; a really, truly filthy computer; a mug crusted over with leftover coffee; a Blackberry (yes, a Blackberry; I still own one and write on it); and plane ticket stubs.
HCC: The quill pen with which I do my writing. The pen knife I use to keep the quill sharpened. The ink bottle into which I dip the quill. The oil lamp that occupies a corner of my desk and that provides the necessary illumination. The small pewter receptacle containing the matches I use to ignite the wick of the oil lamp.
What can you tell us about Book Two, and any other projects you have in store for readers?
LO: In Book Two, the children think they’re free of the devious Rattigan and have happily put their crime-solving pasts behind them. But then a series of murders rock the city and the beloved sculptor Siegfried “Freckles” Eckleberger, they’re again drawn into the search to find his killer. It’s more fun, more characters, and more rollicking adventure!
HCC: I believe readers will find even greater thrills, suspense, and excitement than they would derive from my own bestselling books, The Magical World of South American Fruit Bats and Adventures in Pre-Columbian Cookware Collecting.
Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head will be out on September 29.