The Story, the Title, the Inspiration: I was inspired to write this project after my third or second listen to Logic's "Gang Related." Right from the start once I knew I was going to attempt this, I knew Nash was Asian, and when I thought of the films I grew up watching and shows, I thought about Latino gangs and thus Nina was born. I think that's my favorite part, how organically they came to be and how two different minorities that are underrepresented in YA just came forth without force. I loved not thinking about it and how they just were
Originally, drawing from my obvious inspo, the title was called Gang Related, but then I came across this hip-hop/indie music blog called Pigeons & Planes and I had always thought that was a dope title and I sorta wanted to use it, but then you can't just take that kind of a title for anything. Ironically, I realized the connection to my story, because I was five chapters into the story and Nash had his signature phrase: Sometimes you just gotta let pigeons fly, and it was fate, but then I had to stop and think about the planes bit and how I could work with it via Nina. From there it was simple when I wrote the sixth chapter I just made it a thing to where she wishes to leave home and travel, and planes were her way out, her shooting stars so to be speak, but I think per my story, I focused a tiny bit more on paper airplanes because of her grandmother giving her the necklace and her wishing on it more than the actual planes.
I think I'm really proud of this book, because 1) I'm always proud of my works that feature POCs and when I finish a project I give a little fist pump because my works of color pile is increasing. 2) I would happily sit this story next to Crossing Court because I'm really proud of that story too and how it all came to be, and I could see Reichen and Nash getting along as well as Nina and Giana in a crossover someday. I know the story is more romance heavy than action despite the genre, but I liked this attempt because it was emotional writing some of these scenes and I had to kill people left and right, Alec's death was heavy and I hope for some readers it makes the story less cliche if it is at all for some, because I didn't want to be too sparing via the ending, because I wanted to keep with the theme of tragic. I tried to make the story have enough violence as well because it's about gangs and that life isn't pretty
I did label this and intend to have the story be YA, but the more I wrote, the edgier it got and the more mature it felt, to me, this is just a New Adult (thriller, romance?) set in high school *shrugs*
The Characters: I knew from the moment I planned to have Nash crash abuela's funeral that he was going to become one of my top #10 male leads I've written. I'm all about moments, and him breaking the rules to be there for his girl made me fall in love with him. I love Nash, because he's such a fun character, he's got this rude, arrogant and mean streak, but then he's such a sweetheart. I think my favorite thing about Nash is that from the very beginning he always had a sense of respect for Nina, like he definitely called her a "street rat" a few times, but when you look at the action, he was just respectful towards her, from giving her money, to saving her and treating her in a nice hotel, he was just a great guy to her. One of the records on the official playlist for this book is "Summertime" by Vince Staples and one of the lines I love so much that defines Nash goes: 'Cause if I never knew ya, I could never do this to ya, hope you understand, they never taught me how to be a man, only how to be a shooter, I only need the time to prove it. I LOVE that line because Nash wasn't taught to be a man in the sense of being a good man, like Soh, he was taught to be a shooter and to destroy
My sweet Nina, I adore her because she's always had this tick to kick ass and ask questions later. From the rip she had an attitude issue and I love how falling in love allowed her to soften up and lessen her ways. Despite her abhorrence for her mother, she definitely has a natural maternal instinct because she nurtures Nash so well and calms him, giving him what he lost when Hye went away, and I can see her being an amazing mom, albeit a tough one, but just really gentle and loving. Her devotion and loyalty for her brother and best friend was something I always admired about her character, as well as her drive to be one of the boys and get dirty and be a mechanic.
Sequels / Spinoffs: Due to the high word count this novel came out to be (141K), I view it as two books, so in time the story group will be renamed back to Gang Related, as I will view these two books as the Gang Related books, with chapters 1 - 29 being Pigeons & Planes and chapters 30 - the epilogue being Roses & Flames. I do intend to edit and if I can bring my word count down maybe we can keep this story soley as Pigeons & Planes, though I love Roses & Flames as a follow up title. Or maybe I'll make book one Gang Related, and book two Battle Scars, we'll see. [I am now contemplating going with Gang Related as book one, and Battle Scars as book two; June 11, 2016]
This goes against everything I stand for as a reader and writer, but I wouldn't be against writing a third book (second) about Ortiz and the Asian girl from his school (lowkey I already LOVE Ortiz), should I find inspiration and a storyline, I already have the title Foxes & Wolves ready with a pretty cover ;) Mostly, I endeavor to stop it with Nash and Nina because I love a good standalone
Special thanks to: esommer for messaging me and giving me a list of Korean songs to listen to, through that I literally became obsessed, not only with Jay Park but his whole AOMG movement, as well as other Korean hip-hop artists. I'll never be the same...and neither will my bank account lol Also, special thanks to all those who read this story from day one, I was going to list you all, but you know who you are, especially October, because your in-depth comments line for line were what motivated me to post most. This story isn't that popular for me, especially compared to my Arlington High books / Misfits & Outcasts book, but the comments and the connections you guys as readers drew to the characters made me love this story most! I will miss this readership a lot
Korean Playlist / Musical Influence: Initially I was going to create a Korean playlist to follow the story, but then as I got more into the music and saw some videos, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wouldn't work out for P&P because of Nina and her vibe (I tend to pick songs / genres the actual character likes) and I would want an Asian couple for a Korean playlist. Coincidentally my dream book to read right now would be an Asian teen romance (still searching!) and it's also one of my goals to attempt to write. Ironically, book two of my Misfits & Outcasts trilogy is called Memoirs of a Badass and is about Kiersey Tan and Ioney Vue and they both happen to be Korean and I like where that's going ;) I'll probably fill that playlist heavily with K-Hip-hop and K-Pop
As for P&P the playlist has a lot of Vince Staples and Taylor Swift, they both have the most songs each with four records a piece, and there's some Kanye West. The more I talked about hell and Nash being the devil, the more a lot of records from Miguel's Wildheart album fit the story, and when Nash was in a dark place in the end, a lot of songs from the Weeknd's Beauty Behind the Madness fit too. Even before that, when they were being all intimate there were some Miguel records that suited them. Just from this experience alone, I endeavor to write a black New Adult romance with a playlist strictly filled with Miguel x the Weeknd :D
Next: This book is inspired by the 2000 movie Romeo Must Die, it will be another risky romance featuring an urban setting with dangerous elements.
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Thanks for reading,
Whitney D. Grandison
Quote for the Novel
"Sinful and forbidden pleasures are like poisoned bread; they may satisfy appetite for the moment, but there is death in them at the end."
