The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love Author Sarvenaz Tash Talks Fandoms, Storytelling, and Grand Romantic Gestures
Brooklynite Sarvenaz Tash didn’t need to travel far to research her new YA rom-com, The Geek’s Guide to Unrequited Love. It takes place at New York City Comic Con’s Javits Center, just a few subway stops from home. As a bonus, the swoon-worthy cover was shot at the real-life locale. Fun, funny, and deeply heartfelt, Geek’s Guide is about self-described geek Graham’s quest to declare his love for his neighbor, best friend, and comic book cocreator, Roxana. Already appearing on several “Best of Summer” reading lists, it’s a must-buy for anyone who has ever crushed on the girl or boy next door or obsessed over a fandom. (So basically all of us, right?) We chatted with Tash about her geek bona fides, favorite fandoms, and the most romantic gift she has ever received.
The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love
Hardcover $19.99
The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love
In Stock Online
Hardcover $19.99
What are your top 3 fandoms, and why?
Without a doubt, Harry Potter is my number one. They are my go-to books and world when I need a pick-me-up, a primer on masterful storytelling, or—honestly—just a good laugh/cry. My second would be Jane Austen, who provides me—again—with all of the above. I think she is hands-down one of the funniest authors who ever lived. And for my third, I’m going to go with Doctor Who, even though we recently gave up cable and I haven’t yet seen the latest season! (I know…I know. I promise I will as soon as it’s available on demand…)
If you could fix or change anything about one of your favorite fandoms, what would it be?
Hmmm…I think I could’ve done without the epilogue in Deathly Hallows, though I did appreciate knowing what happened to everybody (and obviously now it’s going to lead to a new adventure with Cursed Child, which I am sooooo excited about…).
How did you come up with the Chronicles of Althena, Roxy and Graham’s favorite comic book series, which has elements of progressive sci-fi? Was it enjoyable to have all the power in creating a world for them to love?
This was one of those cases where I recycled a different project. A couple of years ago, I was in between writing books, and feeling rather burnt out with publishing and, on a whim, I decided to try my hand at writing a screenplay again (I went to film school and wrote dozens of screenplays before I tried writing a novel). And since this was going to be a purely “for me” project, I had a crazy idea to try to write a space opera based on the music of the Killers. I didn’t get very far with the idea, but I did have enough of the skeleton (Althena and Charlie Noth, for example) to be able to easily lift it when I needed Graham and Roxy to be obsessed with a fandom. It was absolutely fun to incorporate it into this book!
Main character Graham is a writer who subscribes to the adage that story endings ought to be “surprising yet inevitable.” Do you agree? If so, how did you apply that concept to Geek’s Guide? Do you think readers will be surprised by the ending?
Well, I have to admit I lifted that adage from my favorite screenwriting teacher. It was one of the ones that really stuck with me and, yes, I do think some of the best stories’ endings are like that. All I can tell you about the ending of Geek’s Guide is that I was surprised by it. It was not the ending I originally wrote! But thanks to some very trusted beta readers, and some soul searching, I do think it is the right ending.
Graham is determined to win over his longtime best friend through a grand gesture at Comic-Con. What’s the grandest, most romantic gesture you’ve given or received?
My husband [Graig Kreindler] and I began dating just a little under a year after my beloved grandmother passed away. We had only been dating a couple of months before my birthday came around. When I opened my gift that year, I was stunned. It was a gorgeous portrait of my grandmother that he had painted (he’s a professional artist). Unbeknownst to me, he had been in touch with my sister to get an old photo of my grandmother from when she was young. I have to be honest: a part of me knew right then and there that he was going to be the guy I married.
Is there any bookish/geekish event for which you’d stand in line all night?
Oh, yeah. I’ve stood on a very long line for the release of the 7th Harry Potter book at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square (it was worth every minute!). I’ve stood for a while in the rain to see David Tennant at the stage door of his latest play (also worth it!). I mean, honestly, writing a book about fandom came pretty easily to me because, frankly, I’ve lived it!
Any plans to write a Chronicles of Althena tie-in novel or novella, a la Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On?
Ha! I don’t think so, but I absolutely loved what Rainbow Rowell was able to create with both Fangirl and Carry On. I have vaguely thought it might be fun to write the Althena comic series as Robert Zinc (it’s only 24 issues, after all!), but definitely nothing concrete. On the other hand, I guess you never know!
What are your top 3 fandoms, and why?
Without a doubt, Harry Potter is my number one. They are my go-to books and world when I need a pick-me-up, a primer on masterful storytelling, or—honestly—just a good laugh/cry. My second would be Jane Austen, who provides me—again—with all of the above. I think she is hands-down one of the funniest authors who ever lived. And for my third, I’m going to go with Doctor Who, even though we recently gave up cable and I haven’t yet seen the latest season! (I know…I know. I promise I will as soon as it’s available on demand…)
If you could fix or change anything about one of your favorite fandoms, what would it be?
Hmmm…I think I could’ve done without the epilogue in Deathly Hallows, though I did appreciate knowing what happened to everybody (and obviously now it’s going to lead to a new adventure with Cursed Child, which I am sooooo excited about…).
How did you come up with the Chronicles of Althena, Roxy and Graham’s favorite comic book series, which has elements of progressive sci-fi? Was it enjoyable to have all the power in creating a world for them to love?
This was one of those cases where I recycled a different project. A couple of years ago, I was in between writing books, and feeling rather burnt out with publishing and, on a whim, I decided to try my hand at writing a screenplay again (I went to film school and wrote dozens of screenplays before I tried writing a novel). And since this was going to be a purely “for me” project, I had a crazy idea to try to write a space opera based on the music of the Killers. I didn’t get very far with the idea, but I did have enough of the skeleton (Althena and Charlie Noth, for example) to be able to easily lift it when I needed Graham and Roxy to be obsessed with a fandom. It was absolutely fun to incorporate it into this book!
Main character Graham is a writer who subscribes to the adage that story endings ought to be “surprising yet inevitable.” Do you agree? If so, how did you apply that concept to Geek’s Guide? Do you think readers will be surprised by the ending?
Well, I have to admit I lifted that adage from my favorite screenwriting teacher. It was one of the ones that really stuck with me and, yes, I do think some of the best stories’ endings are like that. All I can tell you about the ending of Geek’s Guide is that I was surprised by it. It was not the ending I originally wrote! But thanks to some very trusted beta readers, and some soul searching, I do think it is the right ending.
Graham is determined to win over his longtime best friend through a grand gesture at Comic-Con. What’s the grandest, most romantic gesture you’ve given or received?
My husband [Graig Kreindler] and I began dating just a little under a year after my beloved grandmother passed away. We had only been dating a couple of months before my birthday came around. When I opened my gift that year, I was stunned. It was a gorgeous portrait of my grandmother that he had painted (he’s a professional artist). Unbeknownst to me, he had been in touch with my sister to get an old photo of my grandmother from when she was young. I have to be honest: a part of me knew right then and there that he was going to be the guy I married.
Is there any bookish/geekish event for which you’d stand in line all night?
Oh, yeah. I’ve stood on a very long line for the release of the 7th Harry Potter book at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square (it was worth every minute!). I’ve stood for a while in the rain to see David Tennant at the stage door of his latest play (also worth it!). I mean, honestly, writing a book about fandom came pretty easily to me because, frankly, I’ve lived it!
Any plans to write a Chronicles of Althena tie-in novel or novella, a la Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On?
Ha! I don’t think so, but I absolutely loved what Rainbow Rowell was able to create with both Fangirl and Carry On. I have vaguely thought it might be fun to write the Althena comic series as Robert Zinc (it’s only 24 issues, after all!), but definitely nothing concrete. On the other hand, I guess you never know!