Q&A with 'Switching Skates' author Pru Schuyler
The body-swap RomCom features a former figure skater as an FMC, and is one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year.
As you might have gathered from reading my site, I watch a lot of figure skating. But I also read a lot of figure skating too. I’ve read 30 different books about the sport this season, ranging from non-fiction to memoirs to romance novels, and there are few that have resonated with me more than “Switching Skates” by Pru Schuyler. Known for her steamy hockey romances, Schuyler pivoted to one of her other loves, RomComs, for “Switching Skates,” in which Daphne Summers, a former figure skater, switches bodies with Mason Holt, a college hockey goalie who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend and the older brother of her best friend and roommate. It’s “Ten Things I Hate About You” meets “Freaky Friday” and is so much fun to read (and yes, it has some spicy scenes too, for you lovers of steamy romance novels).
Schuyler recently took some time out of her busy schedule (she has another book coming out later this year) to answer some questions for the Kingdoms of Ice-olation audience.
Q: You’d written a lot of hockey before Switching Skates, but not much figure skating. Piper Hartwell in “Find Me in the Fire” was a former skater, but it wasn’t a huge part of her story in the book. What made you want to explore that world for Switching Skates?
A: I’VE always been a fan of figure skating from afar but never really incorporated it into a story before. I knew I wanted to bring it into the fold for switching skates to add that classic cliche combo of a hockey player with a figure skater. Figure skating is such a beautiful sport and while Switching Skates doesn’t delve into the fine details of it, I knew I wanted it to play a part with this book.
Q: How much research into the world of figure skating did you have to do for Switching Skates, particularly where it came to the Learn to Skate classes?
A: A lot of the research I had done was fairly easy. Most of it was for younger skaters. I researched appropriate skills for the age range I was discussing, as well as the movements so I could better translate it to page. I also watched a lot of how-to videos on YouTube.
Q: You mention in your author blurb that you watch a lot of minor league hockey, but I’m curious if you watch much figure skating, or if it was just something that appealed to you creatively as an author?
A: FIGURE skating has always appealed to me both as an author and as a connoisseur. While I watched a lot more figure skating when I was younger, I still find myself on the deep dive every once in a while.
Q: Are there any skaters past or present you’ve particularly enjoyed watching?
A: DOES saying Michelle Trachtenberg in Ice Princess count? [Ed. note: It 100% counts. RIP Michelle.] Haha I’m just kidding. Skaters that I’ve loved watching over the years are Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, Shizuka Arakawa, Yuzuru Hanyu. More recent discoveries of mine have been Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, and Vasilisa and Maxim—specifically their Joker and Harley Quinn number!!
Q: Have you ever skated yourself, and if so, how would you describe your skill level?
A: TRUST me, you do not want to see me in skates. I’ve gone skating only a handful of times in my life and nearly every time ended with me on my butt with a few new bruises.
Q: Was there anything about Daphne’s figure skating past that you wanted to include in the story but you just weren’t able to make fit with the narrative you were trying to tell?
A: OF course. I would’ve loved to include more on-page skating, the competitiveness of it all, and the grit it takes to be a skater. But unfortunately, that didn’t fit well into this story and the pace of it without spending a lot of time in the past.
Q: The Nighthawks series is very grounded in reality, so what made you want to explore something supernatural like a body swap?
A: THIS past Christmas, an idea came to me of doing a novella called The Holiday Hockey Swap. But when spring rolled around, I realized I wanted it to be a full-length novel and not themed around a holiday. Around the same time, I discovered Freakier Friday was set to release in the fall and I knew I had to act. Immediately, I changed my release schedule for the entire year and began working on Switching Skates.
Q: What was it like to return to the Minnesota setting after the past couple Nighthawks books had been so focused on New York?
A: I’M actually a Midwest girl so I was so excited to create a small town vibe in a state I love. The nostalgic coziness of this 2000’s inspired romcom, I knew that I wanted the environment to match.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing a dual POV body swap novel?
A: I love writing dual POV in all of my books because nothing beats seeing the characters through each other’s eyes. Although, Switching Skates certainly brought a new challenge, it was so fun to explore this new dynamic.
Q: When Mason is in Daphne’s body, he has to deal with her leg trauma, her celiac disease, and then on top of it, he gets her period. Were you ever concerned that maybe you were putting him through too much -- or that maybe you’d put Daphne through too much pre-swap?
A: I think I may be known for putting my characters through a lot, and while Mason did go through a lot of challenges in Daphne’s body, I think they were imperative to make amends for the way he ended things in high school. I think both characters faced their hurdles at different times accordingly so that they were compatible to finally be together once reunited.
Q: A lot of your stories involve interesting character dynamics in the main relationship, whether it’s a coach’s daughter, a player’s sister, or things like that. In this story, Daphne’s best friend is Mason’s sister, which allows Mason (in Daphne’s body) to see how his sister views him. What was it like exploring that dynamic?
A: EXPLORING this dynamic was so much fun! As the younger sister to an older brother, I definitely pulled inspiration from my childhood for the banter and humor while rooting their relationship in love.
Q: This is probably like asking a parent their favorite child, but do you have a favorite scene from this book? One that really stands out as having been enjoyable to write?
A: OH gosh. I would say that my favorite scene from this book would be the moment when Daphne and Mason share a kiss while in each other’s bodies. I found it so beautiful that they didn’t care about anything else except sharing that moment of pure love.
Q: In the book, Daphne has her list of 52 RomComs. Have you seen every single one on the list? Do you have a favorite? And were there any movies you regret leaving off the list?
A: I could have made this list 1000 movies long. Of Daphne’s 52 movie watch list, I have seen every single one. Many of them I have watched countless times.
Q: If you had to swap bodies with any one of your MMCs, who would you want to be for a little while?
A: You’ve done standalone before, but you’re well known for your ongoing series, and Freaky Friday did get a sequel this year. Is there any chance we might get more of Daphne and Mason’s world in the future?
A: I have a horrible tendency of turning all of my books into series which is why I was so adamant on keeping Switching Skates a standalone. At this time, there are no plans for future books.
Switching Skates is available in both paperback and eBook, and is coming soon as an audiobook. It is free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. “Find Me in the Dark,” the next book in the New York Nighthawks series, Pru’s ongoing connected standalone hockey universe, will be released on December 4. You can keep up with updates on all of Pru’s books by following her on Instagram @pruschuylerauthor.