Photo credit: www.publishersweekly.com
The Rise of Jill Tew: A Journey into Young Adult Science Fiction
As technology evolves at a blistering pace, many are left pondering the implications of such progress. This theme resonates deeply in Jill Tew’s debut young adult science fiction novel, The Dividing Sky, published by Joy Revolution.
Tew’s fascination with the future began in her childhood in Atlanta, where she spent countless evenings enthralled by shows like Farscape and the Animorphs series. The presence of a Black female protagonist in Animorphs was particularly influential for her. Despite this passion for storytelling, Tew felt the pressure to forge a stable future. Following her parents’ guidance, she chose a practical path, earning a business degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
After graduation, Tew found herself charting a successful career as a management consultant. However, the corporate world left little room for her personal aspirations, prompting her to delegate various tasks in her life. This experience sowed the seeds for her dystopian narrative, indicating a growing discontent with societal dependence on technology.
Tew later shifted her focus to creativity by developing online crafting courses, but the idea of writing had yet to crystallize. It wasn’t until a screening of the movie Divergent in 2014 that she was reawakened to the power of dystopian stories. The experience reignited her passion and fueled her decision to pursue writing full-time.
In 2020, during a tumultuous period for the publishing industry due to the pandemic, Tew participated in an online contest aimed at discovering new talent in science fiction. Diana M. Pho, a former editor, offered the winner extensive developmental editing support. Tew’s submission, a manuscript focused on parallel universes, won the contest and opened doors to literary representation with agent Jennifer Azantian, who believed in the genre’s vitality.
Although her initial adult manuscript did not attract a publisher, Tew’s newfound insights led her to revisit her original concept regarding technology’s pervasive influence on society. She rapidly completed the first draft of The Dividing Sky in just 90 days, balancing writing with her duties as a mother to her young children. Her agent recognized the book’s potential, trusting that the right editor would appreciate its complexity without diluting its themes.
The Dividing Sky found a home at Joy Revolution in 2022, under the guidance of editors David and Nicola Yoon. Tew resonated with the imprint’s mission to showcase stories by and for BIPOC individuals, highlighting a rich tapestry of experiences and narratives. “I loved the idea of an imprint that was looking at stories by authors of color, about characters of color,” she shared.
Through the editing process, Tew’s narrative evolved to strike a balance between dystopian elements and romantic threads, as suggested by her editor, Bria Ragin. This collaboration enhanced the story’s emotional stakes, allowing it to explore profound questions about societal trade-offs while delivering a compelling love story.
The book has since received critical acclaim, including multiple starred reviews and recognition as an Indie Next Pick and a PW Best Book of 2024. Looking ahead, Tew is set to release a prequel titled An Ocean Apart, set against the backdrop of a submerged Miami, and her middle-grade debut, Kaya Morgan’s Crowning Achievement, both scheduled for 2025.
For Tew, her work aims to serve as a guiding light for young readers in challenging times. “I wrote this book as a beacon into the night,” she stated. “For a reader to say it’s resonating is all I wanted and all I can ask for.”
Source
www.publishersweekly.com