Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to us like a lightning bolt, through the lyrics of a song, or in the fog of a dream. Ask any writer where their stories come from and you’ll get a myriad of answers, and in that vein I created the WHAT (What the Hell Are you Thinking?) interview.

Today’s guest for the WHAT is Jesmeen Kaur Deo, author of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove, a charming rom-com about high school debater who—after becoming the subject of an ugly meme—makes a resolution to stop shaving, plucking, and waxing, and prove that she can be her hairy self and still be beautiful

Ideas for our books can come from just about anywhere, and sometimes even we can’t pinpoint exactly how or why. Did you have a specific origin point for your book?

I do remember the idea to write a book about body hair stigma came to me all at once. But I don't remember exactly how, or what I was thinking at the time. I think it had something to do with discussions I'd been having with a friend about how ugly women are rarely afforded love stories. That, and the culmination of my teen years wondering how all these female YA protagonists never seemed to care about or mention their body hair at all, were big catalysts for this book.

Once the original concept existed, how did you build a plot around it?

I'd always wanted to write a story about high school debate, but hadn't found the right angle for it until the body hair stigma idea came to me. I wondered if the two concepts could co-exist in the same story. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. And so debate became the structural basis for the plot. From an emotional standpoint, I knew where I wanted TJ to start and where she should end up; a lot of the main beats of the story got filled in with debate related things!

Have you ever had the plot firmly in place, only to find it changing as the story moved from your mind to paper?

Many times! The bones of this book didn't change from what I wanted it to be, although it grew more nuanced and refined as time went on. But other stories I've written for sure have changed a lot. Sometimes the vision in your head doesn't translate well on the page because there are so many things you're forced to think through when actually writing it down! And sometimes I start out with a vision but quickly realize I'm not passionate enough about it. That it needs something else, which I can only figure out by writing through it.

Do story ideas come to you often, or is fresh material hard to come by?

Very hard to come by. I'm not one of those amazing authors who can develop new ideas at the drop of a hat. If I'm lucky, I get 1-2 new book ideas a year. But I'm also a slow writer, so it's fine!

How do you choose which story to write next, if you’ve got more than one percolating?

Part of it is my mood and what's going on in my life at the moment. For example, sometimes I need to write something light when life is challenging (such was the case with TJ, actually), and other times I want to write something heavy precisely because life is challenging and it's cathartic. Another factor in my decision making is strategy. I look at what's going on in traditional publishing, what's selling, what's hot right now, and then look at my WIPs and try to figure out which one might have the best shot at getting published in the current climate. I would try to prioritize that one. But sometimes, I can't control it. If my heart is set on a particular story, and just that one thing, then strategy be damned. I will chase that story that speaks to me.

I have 6 cats and a Dalmatian (seriously, check my Instagram feed) and I usually have at least one or two snuggling with me when I write. Do you have a writing buddy, or do you find it distracting?

That sounds adorable! I don't have any pets, so I don't know whether I'd find them distracting. I do know I don't like writing with other people. I need it to just be me and the story. Some writers find that lonely, and I completely get why. But I love it!

Jesmeen Kaur Deo grew up in northern British Columbia, where she spent most of her childhood daydreaming. She loves books that can make her laugh and tug at her heartstrings in the same paragraph. When not wrapped up in stories, she can be found biking, playing the harmonium, or struggling to open jars. TJ Powar Has Something to Prove is her debut novel.