Debut novelist Stephanie Burns admits she’s been consumed by pop culture for as long as she can remember. “I love television, movies and music more than anything. I even studied acting in college,” she says.
But Burns’ obsession with the entertainment industry goes far beyond boy bands and must-see TV. “I’m compelled by the real human beings behind the public personas,” she says. “So many people desire fame, but what does it do to their private lives and mental health?”
Ultimately, these big questions inspired Far From the A-List, Burns’ juicy and delightful new novel. “I thought a lot about child stars of the ’80s and ’90s who rose to fame in an age when everyone was watching the same movies and shows. There were no streaming services, so these stars were in millions of living rooms weekly.”
Burns’ smart, witty, emotionally messy main character, Michaela Turner, is a former child star herself, and now she’s facing the equally daunting challenge of navigating her twenties in the 2000s, when Far From the A-List takes place. “The world still sees Michaela as seven-year-old Daisy Breyer from the hit show Breyer’s Town, but blogs and tabloids are making a sport out of dissecting her life,” Burns says. “Plus, social media hasn’t taken off yet, so when a story is put out there, Michaela can’t hop on Instagram live and tell her side of the narrative.”
To flesh out Michaela’s social and romantic challenges, Burns conducted extensive research. “I read memoirs, biographies, articles and interviews. I watched documentaries on the effects of stardom and the celebrity culture of the aughts. I cringed over old tabloid pieces. I also watched a lot of TV reruns and listened to my favorite pop music from that time.”
To celebrate the launch of Far From the A-List, Burns and I sat down to reminisce about her favorite idols, icons and trends from years past.
Which ones would you choose?
Backstreet Boys or *NSYNC?
*NSYNC but add in AJ McLean. I had such a huge crush on him and also that voice.
Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera?
I can’t choose. I love them both. I learned all of their dances from TRL, and then there was their performance together — with Madonna! — at the VMAs.
Full House or Growing Pains?
I’ve seen every episode of both about a million times, but Full House has the edge for the catchphrases and Uncle Jesse. When I was a kid, John Stamos made an appearance at my local mall and it became such a mob scene, he had to be ushered out before speaking. Years later I was able to see him on Broadway in Bye, Bye, Birdie, though, so it all worked out.
Nickelodeon or Disney Channel?
Nickelodeon! SNICK? The big orange couch? All the slime? And we can’t forget Clarissa Explains It All.
Seventeen or YM?
I subscribed to both. And Teen. And Sassy. Seventeen was probably my favorite, though. It was thicker and had more perfume ads, so I felt very mature reading it.
90210 or Melrose Place?
They were both must-see TV for me, but I’ve got to go with 90210. Not only do you have the Brenda-Kelly-Dylan love triangle, you also have the Kelly-Dylan-Brandon love triangle. Plus, I was in love with Brian Austin Green.
Team Ben or Team Noel?
I literally recorded every episode of Felicity on VHS and would be happy to give you a dissertation on why Ben was always the onlychoice.
Matchbox Twenty or Goo Goo Dolls?
Oh my gosh, you’re picking all my favorites here. I’ve seen both in concert so many times and I even have a blue bath towel from a Goo Goo Dolls show that Johnny Rzeznik used to dry his sweat before throwing it into the crowd. Yes, I said have. You don’t think I was getting rid of that, do you? Having said that, Matchbox Twenty was my absolute favorite band in high school and college. I basically followed them around the East Coast every time they toured.
Blockbuster or the movie theater?
Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but I’m going to say Blockbuster. That sweet smell from all the candy when you walked in the door. The suspense of not knowing if they were going to have the movie you wanted in stock. That little bit of static electricity you got walking on the gray carpet. Man, those were the days.
MTV or VH1?
While I did always want to be on one of those VH1 “I love the 90s” shows, MTV has the edge, not only for TRL but for The Real World, Laguna Beach and The Hills.
Platform shoes or chokers?
Both, paired with a baby blue vinyl jacket that I thought was the most iconic piece of clothing anyone had ever owned. I wore it the first time I met Matchbox Twenty and Paul Doucette, the drummer, told me, “Hey, cool jacket.” I was sixteen and I basically lived in that moment for the next several years.
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About Stephanie Burns:
Stephanie Burns is an author, beagle mom, and marketing professional with an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College. She’s drawn to stories about people making mistakes and finding their way, even when the world has other ideas. As the proud COO and Director of Social Media for the award-winning Tall Poppy Writers, she is dedicated to lifting fellow writers and getting unforgettable books into the hands of smart readers. She lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts where she plots by the ocean with her almost-famous beagle, Ollie Twist. Her debut novel, Far from the A-List, releases December 9, 2025 from MIRA/HarperCollins.