Bestselling author Emma Straub reveals the inspiration behind her new novel, "American Fantasy," where 50-year-old Annie goes on a life-changing boy band cruise.

I’m a pop-culture writer covering everything from TV and movies, to music, Broadway, books, and games.

When I first read an advance copy of American Fantasy, I was intrigued by the premise: 50-year-old Annie embarks on a cruise featuring her favorite boy band, only for it to turn into a much deeper experience. As a fan of multi-POV storytelling, I enjoyed seeing Annie's story unfold alongside the memorable supporting characters, from a tough-as-nails cruise director to the band members themselves.

To learn more about the inspiration behind the novel and Emma's writing process, we hopped on Zoom to chat all things American Fantasy.

Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity, and is spoiler-free.

Emma: There was no time in my head before I knew I was a writer. I was writing books before I could read — I have all these ridiculous stapled-together little things. My father [Peter Straub] was a writer, so it was the only job that I saw up close. 

There were definitely books I read as a kid, like The Baby-Sitters Club, that made me feel like I was a part of them. A boy-crazy blonde from New York City — I felt just like Stacey. Like, these are my girls; these are my friends. 

I also loved Nancy Drew and all the scary books, like Lois Duncan and Christopher Pike. I read so many books. I just ate books!

(Talk about manifestation! Emma is a co-writer on the upcoming The Baby-Sitters Club Fan Edition to celebrate the BSC's 40th anniversary!)

Emma: Around the same time that I was reading The Baby-Sitters Club, Lois Duncan, and Nancy Drew, I loved the band New Kids On The Block. They were my favorite. There was no one else even close; it was like they existed and there was an ocean around them.

As I got older, and especially as I became a novelist, I became interested in their evolution as people. I almost started thinking of them as characters in a certain way.

In 2022 my father died, and I wrote my previous book, This Time Tomorrow, about that. Afterward, I thought, "What’s the opposite?" I didn’t want to cry anymore; I wanted joy. I saw something about a New Kids On The Block cruise, and it was like a light bulb went off in my head.

It took about a year from seeing that cruise ad to actually booking it, but I went in 2023. I had that year to think about the book and figure out the characters. I knew it had to be fiction, and I needed to make up a boy band — so it took a while, but that’s how it started.

Emma: Annie, who's really the center of the book, is definitely the closest to me. But for me, writing multiple perspectives is about giving myself permission to express different points of view. 

For example, Sarah, the younger, very capable cruise employee, is able to express opinions and observations that I couldn’t get from anyone else. So part of choosing who gets a point of view is also about thinking, "How can I smush in everything that I want to express?"

Writing Keith's character, one of the actual boy band members, was the most satisfying. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what it's like to be in that position — not in a creepy way, I hope, (laughs) but from a place of genuine empathy and interest. 

It was really satisfying to go into Keith's head and think about what his life is like. For me, writing books is never about transmitting what I know to the reader. It's always about discovering, and learning, and exploring the unknown.

Emma: Oh, yes. I am an easy crier. I often make myself cry when I write, which, to me, usually makes me feel like something good is happening. I felt really proud of her for going through this experience. I feel like she leaves walking a little taller. For middle-aged women, there's so much stuff that is pelted at our heads that's about bone density, or eating protein, or wearing a weighted vest — all of the parts of ourselves that are getting "worse." 

But in my life, I know women who are just getting better — I know women who are changing their lives in a million different directions, and who are more themselves than they have ever been before. That's what I wanted for Annie.

Emma: I'm actually a bit impatient. I would rather write a draft — not that I'm going to hand in the very first draft that I finish — but I would rather turn it in to my editor and say, "Let's talk about it," knowing that we're going to go through some work.

I've been working with my editor for 12 years now, and she's really smart. She always makes my books so much better, and I look forward to knowing that she and I will put our heads together and really work on it. I'll also send it to a few other people to get some eyes and get their perspectives.

BuzzFeed: Were there any reactions that surprised you?

Emma: (Laughs) My mother said it's my sexiest book! That is a reaction I don't know if I needed, but there is so much of me in this book. In that way, it's really fun to give it to people who know me well.

Emma: I do feel like it's an open ending. What I will say is that when I was writing American Fantasy, [author] Ann Patchett said to me that my experience writing this book should be my next book. I feel like I'm not done with the whole experience. So, we'll see!

Emma: What I really want people to take away is that your passion is wonderful. To love something is wonderful. I have two sons, and one of them is full throttle with Magic: The Gathering, and my other son is like that about basketball. To me, that's perfect. It's perfect because they both have things that they love. 

I think it's meaningful to love something and to be a fan of something — to care and to talk about that thing with other people who love it. Fandom sometimes gets in trouble in the internet age for being toxic, and there are darker sides of it, but there's also the beautiful, sweet heart of it. That's what I want people to take away.

Keep up with Emma on Instagram and her Substack.