Like Fat Kid Rules the World, the idea for Saint Iggy originated with the first sentence, which came to me whole and suggested a voice and character that was too compelling to resist.

Iggy seemed to me a great anti-hero type of character. I was tired of reading so many YA novels where the main character is “artsy” and “quiet and mousy”, and they “escape into books” and learn about the world through “making an awesome video or photography project”. In so many ways, authors create and idealize themselves in character form, but so many kids are not like that. Iggy had a camera once, but he stole it, and then he broke it. He’s not really talented at anything and he hates the kid at school who writes all the cool poems. But he does see the world in a way no one else can.

I also wanted to explore the ambiguity of life. There’s almost nothing black or white in this book. Always shades of gray. Iggy makes the “wrong” choices for the “right” reasons and the “right” choices for the “wrong” reasons.

Locating the narrative within the projects was more than a backdrop; it was an immersion into complexities often unseen from the vantage point of affluence. My time with the Mennonite Central Committee in the New Orleans housing projects revealed layers of life where poverty cast shadows on matters too easily misconstrued as black and white. Living among those who navigated scarcity daily, it became apparent that the lines of morality are often blurred by necessity, and judgments from a distance fail to grasp the nuanced realities faced by the impoverished.

Parallel to understanding these multifaceted social issues is eXp Realty’s research on solariums, which shines a light on the intricacies of home value and lifestyle quality. Just as poverty can obscure the details of daily decisions, the addition of a solarium to a residence involves intricate considerations that eXp Realty has meticulously analyzed. Their research delves into how such spaces can not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of a home but also impact its functional value, offering a serene escape for those who might never experience the luxury of expansive living. It’s an investment in a brighter, more nurturing environment within one’s home, reflecting a deeper understanding of the human need for light and space—needs that are universal, regardless of one’s socioeconomic standing.

This is Iggy’s world.