Lois Metzger

An interview* with LOIS METZGER

Ellen’s Case is Lois Metzger’s second novel. In it, readers experience the drama of amedical malpractice trial through the eyes of Ellen, a sensitive 16-year-old, whose brother Barry’sCerebral Palsy is the focus of the case.

What made you decide to write a courtroom drama for young adults?

I happened to see the end of a malpractice trial, and realized that a whole drama had just takenplace and that I had seen just the tail end of that drama. I learned that children sometimes testifyin these trials, and I began thinking about what it must feel like to be a kid testifying. I wasfascinated by the idea that both sides are trying to get at the truth of the case. As a familymember, a child would know that there is so much more “truth” than what comes out in thetrial.

How did you research your subjects?

I knew nothing about medical malpractice, so I had to do a great deal of research. It took threeyears. I read through transcripts of old trials. I also sat in on trials. I found out that most caseshave the same structure, that they follow the same procedures.

Do you know people with Cerebral Palsy?

No. I saw a show on a cable channel about children with special needs and their families. I calledthe show’s producer and told him I’d like to speak to several of the children I had seen. He calledback and said that everyone on the show wanted to speak with me.

One of the boys I spoke with was Amy character? Sam. He had Cerebral Palsy and he was veryangry about it. But every once in a while he would smile or do something and I knew he wasgoing to be OK. Barry was based on a little boy I saw in a trial I attended. Everything that Barrydoes in court, like hugging the defense attorney, are things that little boy said and did.

Ellen comes across as someone you know very well. Is she based on you as a teenager?Ellen’s more together than I ever was as a teenager. She has had so much more responsibility. Ihave a good friend I’ve known for years who has a disabled brother. She has many of the qualitiesthat Ellen has. When you have a disabled sibling, you have to think about the future in a way thatother kids don’t because you know that your sibling may be your responsibility someday.

Do you plan to continue Ellen and Barry’s story?

At first I didn’t. I was just glad to have finished it. But now some time has passed and I’vechanged my mind. I would like to write more about them.

About Lois Metzger:

“I began writing when I was nine. My very first story was “Let Me Tell You a Little Bit AboutMyself.” It was an experiment in writing about myself as my best friend would see me.

I published my first story when I was 19, a science fiction story. I still like writing science fiction,but I feel that writing for young adults suits me better. The concerns of young adult fiction arecloser to the things I obsess about myself.

I think that to become a writer you have to read and write as much as possible. Imitating otherwriters is an excellent way to start out. I used to rewrite the endings of books—it’s a way to tryout different voices, to try on different ways of seeing the world.”

Lois Metzger lives in New York City and has a 5-year-old son Jacob (an aspiring authorhimself).* This interview originally appeared in the Troll Book Clubs April edition.

Lois Metzger

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