Elisa Ludwig discusses her latest novel, Coin Heist, and her inspirations behind the heist story.

Tell us about your journey to becoming a writer.

My journey started when I was about eight and decided—at least, according to a school journal I wrote in that era—that if nothing else “worked out,” I could always be a writer. Don’t ask me why I thought it was a safety career! In college and graduate school I studied creative writing and English with some wonderful writers who encouraged me to keep going. When I finished school I had these degrees but no idea how to get published, so I got a job at a newspaper. That led to writing about all sorts of topics (food, health, movies, books, local issues), which was great practice in listening, research and writing clearly for a wide audience. A couple of years after that I went back to writing short stories. The brilliant novelist Julia Glass read one of these stories that had a teen protagonist and told me I nailed the voice and should write YA. I started to read newer YA, fell in love, and knew right away that this was exactly what I should be doing. A few fits and starts later, I had a published book: PRETTY CROOKED. COIN HEIST is my third book. It’s been a fantastic journey overall!

Coin Heist was told in four different perspectives. Did you find it hard to keep the voices distinct? What were some of the challenges writing this way? Some of the perks?

At times, yes, it was definitely a challenge to keep the voices distinct, but it was a challenge I relished, because this was the first time I attempted this approach. That being said, I usually don’t really know my characters until a later draft. With this book, the characters came first—it was the plot elements that needed finessing as I revised. Trickiest: Telling the story in chapters with a recurring pattern of narrators and keeping that rhythm throughout. That took some maneuvering and hey, I’ll just add this extra scene so we can see Benny next. Perks: The multiple narrators kept the story constantly churning, with little time to dwell in the characters’ heads, and writing the story this way was really energizing.

Coin Heist is infused with tech details and US Mint lore. Did you have to do a lot of research to include these aspects?

Yes, I did a fair amount of research. I happen to live in Philadelphia, so I visited the Mint a few times (sometimes wearing my then months-old baby in a carrier, which I hoped made me look innocent as I cased the joint). They have a free tour and you can see the whole production process (this made it into the first scene of the book when the students are on their field trip). I read up on all the U.S. Mints, and various heists and schemes throughout their history. I also consulted with a cyber security expert about the hacking component.

What is your favorite heist movie? Did you have to research different real-life heist stories to craft yours?

Oh, there are so many! The Oceans series is great. I also really love Heist, Thief, Three Kings and Dog Day Afternoon. I did look at real-life stories. There was news story about an inside job at the Philadelphia Mint a few years back, in which a retired cop/Mint guard stole more than $2 million in error coins. So, you know, it’s not all that far-fetched…

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

The toughest thing is getting contradictory criticism because you really can’t please everyone. I actually love feedback, believe it or not. Sometimes it hurts, but it almost always helps me hone my writing and get a better grasp on readers’ expectations. Overall, I’m just very grateful to have readers and books out in the world and criticism comes with the territory!

What has been the best compliment?

Recently, the mother of one of my readers told me I inspired her daughter to get involved in writing at her school—she’s now in a club and has a blog. I’m so excited for her and proud that I could be in any way part of that process.

Do you have things you need in order to write (i.e. coffee, cupcakes, music)?

Coffee—preferably, a large latte—and a glass of water. I don’t usually listen to music, but I do like some ambient background noise in a café to keep me in touch with the world.

What is easier to write: The first line or the last line?

The last line! I agonize over beginnings, and usually rewrite them a zillion times. The last line usually emerges more organically.

What one YA novel do you wish you had when you were a teen?

How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford. I was always looking for good stories about quirky, outsider-y characters, and they were few and far between back then!

What are you working on now?

I’m in the early stages of a new book, which is a contemporary dark drama with a Lord of the Flies feel. I’m superstitious, though, so I can’t say too much more…just wish me luck on getting through the dreaded first draft!