Writing ... or should that be Righting ... Roommates

Page Powars is the author of two YA novels, the one discussed in this interview is the second, both are brilliant and a third is promised for 2026. Personally, I am thrilled that the publisher asked me if I'd like to not only read this story but also follow up with a feature for this Blog. Page is amazing, his story is hilarious and heartwarming and now that I know more about how the poetry part of it came about I am in awe - I don't think I'd even know where to start, writing good or bad let alone writing a novel too!

My thanks to Page for taking time out to answer these questions. Please visit the Armadillo website to see a review of And They Were Roommates, which is Book O' the Week and remember, always be true to yourself, it takes courage but be proud of who you are and what you can give the world.

Firstly, I think our readers would love to know – what part of the story came to you first?

The setting came first—along with the overall premise. I felt that it was an ideal place for a trans narrative to occur. Then Jasper. Then Blaze Alpha Destroyer. Then Charlie, the main character, came last. Sorry, Charlie.

Was your school experience anything like Charlie and Jaspers? Did you attend, or know anyone who attended a boarding school?

I wish! I did briefly attend Interlochen Center for the Arts’s summer camp program, which also has a boarding school through the year like Valentine, and pulled from that.

You are, of course, an author. Jasper is a poet. How challenging was it to include poetry alongside the prose and did you put pressure on yourself to make both outstanding?

I have many friends in this industry who write novels in verse and have won many accolades for their poetry. I however, know nothing. I knew that if I tried to “crash course” how to be a poet when they’d spent their whole lives developing their crafts, it wouldn’t turn out pretty. Thankfully, since Jasper is quite silly, and this is a comedic romance, I could write bad poetry on purpose. Rather, lean into the ridiculousness of Jasper’s character and feelings and then have the main character be confused by his fame due to his very bad poetry. I found that more interesting plot-wise, anyway.

The trope of enemies-to-lovers is a popular one, how do you take it and not only tell your story differently but also own it?

I try to ensure that the main characters have a lot of flaws, especially when they’re teens, and that it’s directly contributing to them being enemies. Not just because they “don’t get along” because “someone did something once” and now they both hold a grudge. Then, over the course of the book, I like to break down why these characters are acting that way—usually out of fear—and then have both characters learn from one another and change due to being in each other’s lives.

Alongside boarding school, enemies-to-lovers and prose/poetry there is mention of a summer-camp where the pair first met, was it important to you that they had a back story?

Yes! Logistically, that’s the only way the plot would have worked to my liking. If these roommates hadn’t known each other, then this book, in my opinion, would’ve centred fear and the concept of hiding your identity as a transgender person instead. That doesn’t sound as fun to me, personally, as trying to hide from your ex who kissed and ditched you! Trauma-heavy books are important, especially for queer writers, but I try to centre romance and the silliness of high school. I want more trans kids to see themselves in those books, too.

Books featuring trans characters and especially trans teens are few and far between. I know it can be a contentious issue for some but what do you think could aid understanding?

I’m not an expert in transness. I just happen to be trans. Activists would have a better response. But I do know that the more data that’s conducted on trans youth, the more that those fighting against youth transitions grow stumped. Because the data keeps saying that less than 1% end up regretting their choice to transition. Obviously. No one wants to go through years of psychologist and therapist appointments, medication, name changes, and surgery—which all individually cost thousands—just because. And definitely not now, when political tensions are so high.

I know authors are often asked; but do any of the characters in any way resemble people you knew at school – teachers especially, you write them so well!

Not at all. My books technically take place in the real world, but I try to make them as “fantasy-adjacent” and “unrealistic” as possible. I love making readers suspend disbelief—and help them escape, if they’d like.

The story feels authentic, real. I read it feeling that I was at Valentine Academy, seeing, knowing Charlie and Jasper. How important is that sense of reality to you as an author?

Worldbuilding is regularly discussed when it comes to fantasy and sci-fi novels, but it’s just as important in books that take place in reality. In fact, my editor’s worldbuilding section of my first edit letter was longer than the worldbuilding section for the high fantasy novel he was simultaneously working on. It’s super important! Details help a reader believe that a story is actually happening and not “just a book.” That helps them care more.

Dealing with serious questions, filled with humour and warmth this book charmed me and I hope will charm our readers. Is this your natural writing style or did you purposefully choose it for this book to make it accessible to more readers?

I was a reluctant reader until university. I didn’t even fully realize the young adult section of a bookstore existed until university. So, even though I constantly read now, I refuse to forget who I was and continue to write for that same teen now. I try to keep pacing tight and sentences shorter—whatever helps people say that my books are “easy reads” and that they’re escaping reading slumps. Which I do get a lot!

Will we see more stories featuring Charlie and Jasper or are you leaving us to imagine their happy ever after and instead delivering brand new stories in the coming months/years?

A special edition of And They Were Roommates is releasing October, 2025, which will include a bonus chapter from Jasper’s POV. Follow me online for updates!

Do you hope to continue writing LGBTQIA+ stories so that young people everywhere can not only see themselves in a story but also understand they are not alone as well as sharing with family, friends and anyone who will listen?

Absolutely. I have another queer young adult book releasing Fall, 2026—and a few other queer projects that I can’t announce yet!

You have a final dedication thanking all those who keep books transgender teens on shelves, I hope we can support that too and that you will continue to write them for us!

Thank you! Me too. Thanks for having me.