What would you like readers to know about you? 

Oh man. Like, anything?  Well, my name is Rachael Lippincott. I write YA contemporary romance novels when I’m not working on the food truck I own/operate with my girlfriend. (That’s a lie…I sometimes write WHILE I’m working on the food truck…DON’T TELL ALYSON!) I live in Pittsburgh, PA, which I love, despite the fact I hate the cold and spend most of my time grumbling about the fact the sky is, yet again, grey.  I’ve got a dog named Hank, and I’m a huge fan of vanilla lattes.  

What is Five Feet Apart about for those who haven’t read it? 

FIVE FEET APART is about two teens with Cystic Fibrosis that, despite initially butting heads, fall in love. This is complicated by the fact that they have to stay six feet apart at all times to prevent cross infection.
 

What has been your inspiration for writing Five Feet Apart? 

The inspiration for FIVE FEET APART was raising awareness about Cystic Fibrosis. 

The initial idea came from a conversation between the director of the movie, Justin Baldoni, and his good friend, the amazing Claire Wineland, who was an activist and a YouTuber that had CF. He pitched the idea to CBS, the screenplay was written by the incredible Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, and I wrote the book from that screenplay.  
 

What was your favorite scene or part of Five Feet Apart to write? 

I really loved the scene just before Stella goes into surgery. All the things Will does to get to her and make her feel unafraid truly shows how much he cares about her, and how much he’s been moved and changed by her. It’s such a sweet and intimate moment. 

What books or authors inspired you to become a writer? 

WE ARE OKAY by Nina LaCour is one of my favorite books. She is incredibly talented at writing, and her podcast, KEEPING A NOTEBOOK is a must-listen for anyone that writes.
Also, my former teacher at the University of Pittsburgh, Siobhan Vivian. She’s an incredible mentor, and her books have an enormous amount of heart and depth to them.  

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write a book? 

STICK WITH IT! There are going to be days where you will feel absolutely defeated or will stare at whatever you’re working on and never see an end, but I urge you to listen think of the times someone read your work and loved it. Workshop classes that went extremely well. The feeling you get when you have an idea SO GOOD that you just NEED to sit down and get it on paper. Cling to moments like those when it gets tough because it WILL get tough. 

And always listen to that tiny voice inside of you telling you that YOU ARE A WRITER! Sometimes it may be hard to hear, but it will always be your guide.