Story retellings: Interview with A. K. Pittman

Allison Pittman, writing as A. K. Pitman, has a brand new book out, and it’s a YA P & P retelling, Pudge and Prejudice, set in 1984 North Texas.

February is Body Image Awareness Month, and the timing felt perfect to ask Allison a few questions about her book, which deals with body image.

I love the idea of mingling one of my favorite Austen novels with a more recent historical setting.

I love the idea, too! It really showcases the timelessness of Austen’s story. Human emotions and motivations and desires are so transcendent, even if our surrounding society changes.

What was the strangest thing you had to research or the most surprising thing you learned when you were researching for this project?

Well, I learned that high schools outside of Texas don’t do homecoming mums. They are huge in Texas (literally and figuratively).

As a fellow Texan, I can attest to the hugeness of mums.

What are some of the unique challenges you faced when writing Pudge and Prejudice?

I was always surprised when I learned that something—some TV show or song—that I clearly remember from that year (1984) actually hadn’t happened yet.

Time passes, I guess, and everything gets mixed up. Over and over I was “redirected” by my lovely editor who hadn’t even been born yet! Quite a humbling experience.

Your novel is set in the 80s. How do you feel the landscape of the current high school culture has changed since then? What are the main things that have stayed the same?

It’s much easier to mention what has stayed the same: Kids still group themselves and establish crushing hierarchies within their ranks. What has changed? There’s such a lack of naiveté and innocence. They are exposed to so much, and with cellphones, they are never more than a click away from hurtful messages.

If you had fifteen minutes to talk to a young person who was struggling with body image, what is one main thing you would want them to understand?

I would want them to understand that, right at this moment, they are exactly what God intendeds them to be.

That’s hard to understand and accept, especially if they are unhappy, but that unhappiness can be channeled into something positive.

And then, I would emphasize that they need to compare themselves with themselves, not other people. You have to accept yourself, but you don’t have to accept your habits. Find out what is best for you, and don’t allow anything less.

Do you have any resources you’d like to share for young people struggling with body image issues?

As a blanket answer, I would say to step away from social media and develop good, in-the-flesh friendships where you interact outside of a tiny screen. That said, I would caution against any resource that promises anything other than restoring health in mind, body, and spirit. In fact, stay away from outside promises, period.

A healthy body image comes from within. You’ve made the decision to eat healthier? Study up on healthy cooking. You want to exercise more? Test your body to see what it can do and go from there.

Finally, there is no greater resource than God’s word—for anything, but most of all for inspiration about just how beloved and valuable you are.

Psalms 139:14 says, “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well. Part of that “wonderfulness” is how our outer appearance reflects our inner care. We need food, water, sleep, rest, and purpose—all in balance.

Find the best of those things, and you will find the best of yourself.

Allison K. Pittman is an award-winning author of thirteen novels. An enthusiast for all things writing, she leads two writing groups where she gets to blend her two passions: writing and teaching. (She gets to teach every day, too. Middle School.)

You can follow her around on Instagram (@allisonkpittman) or Twitter (@allisonkpittman) and keep up with the latest writing news on her Allison Pittman Author Facebook page—all of which will keep you up-to-date on not only her books, but also life with her husband, Mikey, and Snax, the world’s worst dog.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.