In Conversation With Dana Schwartz Best-Selling Author of 'Anatomy: A Love Story'
Interview & Portrait by Alison Engstrom
Hi Dana! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me about your career and your new book, which is number one in the NYT YA category! I’d love to learn more about your background, what did you dream about becoming when you were little?
I always dreamed of becoming a writer. I was writing stories from the time before I could actually write words—I dictated a book called The Three Ducklings to my mom and made her write it down for me. But I also didn’t really know how to go about actually making a living as a writer, and I thought that science and medicine would be a more stable career path, so when I went to college I was actually pre-med. I made it through Organic Chemistry just to realize on the other side that I would be always wondering what if if I didn’t pursue my real dream with everything I had.
Was there a book or author who left a lasting impression on you?
I remember reading The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury when I was in 7th grade. I became immediately obsessed—not just with the book, but with everything Ray Bradbury wrote, and with the idea of being able to use genre to tell grounded, human stories. I’ve probably re-read that book every year since I was 13. I had the same experience after I read Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
How did your professional path lead you to television writing?
I actually moved to Los Angeles when I was working for Entertainment Weekly, but in the back of my mind, I think I always knew that I wanted make TV and movies instead of just writing about other people who made them. I wrote a bunch of spec scripts—just ideas for tv shows that I thought would be fun. From there, it was just a lot of trying to get my foot in the door. By this point I had already written three books, and a comic book for Marvel, but I eventually got my first TV staffing job on Marvel’s She-Hulk.
Has there been a moment in your career that was defining and game-changing?
Honestly, it’s so hard to say. At the time, nothing felt like an “Oh, I finally made it” moment, but looking back there were a bunch of them. Publishing my first book. Getting the job at Entertainment Weekly. Getting my first television job. I will say: hitting the New York Times Bestseller list is a real “pinch me” moment.
Now to talk about Anatomy: A Love Story, congratulations, even though the book was written for YA, it had me hooked after your introduction. What inspired you to write it and how long did it take you to write?
Thank you so much! I’ve always loved macabre history—it’s just what I naturally gravitate toward, and I love slightly gothic stories. And for a long time, I wanted to write a gothic story set in the world of early European medicine, inspired by Frankenstein and the real life history of the murderers Burke and Hare who sold dead bodies to surgeons in the 1800s. But it did take a little while for the full story of Anatomy to come together. I’ll say it was probably over a year of writing—including the time I spent marinating on the idea, and doing revisions. I will say I am a serial procrastinator.
I love the strength and determination of the protagonist Hazel. Can you talk more about her and the storyline which has both mystery and romance?
Thank you! I wanted a main character who didn’t feel like a generic “everywoman,” and I didn’t want her to feel like she was a modern girl from 2022 who was somehow plopped in the 19th century. I began by trying to think of what type of girl would think she was capable of becoming a surgeon: she would need to be brave but also a little bit sheltered and naïve, brilliant but also still young. I also wanted her to be able to fall in love without it being her entire storyline. Smart girls also get crushes!
The book is set in the 1800s and takes place in Edinburgh. I really love how you brought it all to life. What was your process for researching the story?
I first visited Edinburgh the summer after I graduated college, and immediately fell in love. My friend and I took a whirlwind backpacking trip through Europe, and it was my favorite city I visited. I loved the history, and the incredible museums and culture, and how in spite of all of that it still somehow felt like a small town. I actually began writing Anatomy when I was doing a writing retreat in Edinburgh, actually at a place called Hawthornden Castle. The fellowship was a month long, and the castle had no Wi-Fi, so it was a lot of reading, a lot of writing, and a lot of thinking. That experience in Edinburgh (and at an actual castle) helped me anchor the story. But there was also definitely a lot of research when it came to Regency-era medical practices—I read both history books about surgeons, and a lot of actual medical textbooks from the era.
If this was turned into a film or series, who would you love to play Hazel and Jack?
Oh gosh, I don’t want to jinx it in case it actually happens! I will say I did have a Tumblr moodboard to consult while I was writing, and I had pictures of Olivia Cooke from Vanity Fair to help me envision Hazel, and pictures of the British musical theatre actor named Jamie Muscato from his role in the Heathers musical, for Jack. Anachronistic, yes, but the drawn, pale, trench coat vibes were perfect.
I’d love to tap into your creativity since you have written four books! Where do you get your ideas from and when do you know you are on to something?
I think the only answer is if I’m excited about it! There are so many other fun things to do in the world! I could be on Twitter or watching 30 Rock again on Netflix! I could be sleeping or taking a bath! But when I’m really excited about an idea, it keeps coming back to me. I just can’t wait to write it.
What would you say is a common misperception about writing and publishing a book?
I would say the biggest misconception is that the idea is the hardest part. The idea is the easiest part. The hard part is actually writing it. And the next hardest part after that is revising it. Again. And again. And again. Also: the publishing process is slow!
What is your writing process like?
A lot of procrastination, then telling myself that enough is enough, putting my phone in the other room, blocking social media on my computer, and digging in. I hate getting started, but once I actually am writing, time just disappears.
How do you navigate those moments when you have writer’s block, feel uninspired, or need to make a deadline but feel stuck?
If someone has a good answer to this, please let me know.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently very deep in an idea for what happens next in the story of Hazel and Jack, so an Anatomy sequel might be imminent…. I’m also working on a book inspired by my podcast, Noble Blood, in which I’m researching the roots of monarchy and our collective fascination with it. Aside from that, keeping the podcast going, and hopefully doing more work in the TV space!
