Archive for the 'Interviews' Category

July 8, 2009 • 1 Comment

I’m thrilled to be touring Jennifer Banash’s book Simply Irresistible which is the third and last in The Elite book series.

Simply Irresistible (Penguin) brings us a whole new set of adventures now that Casey has had a big city-haute makeover, courtesy of her classmate and neighbor Madison Macallister – part teen icon and part queen diva-bitch. Wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people, has given Casey the look and the attitude – she’s “in” and loving it! Much to Madison’s dismay, her rival is climbing up the social ladder in a big way and could end up just as popular as Madison now that the two are set to star in their own TV reality show, “De-Luxe.” Yes, showbiz came knocking on two of The Bramford’s most illustrious doors and, as much as Madison thrives on the attention the show brings, she’s not thrilled about having every bit of her life of privilege caught on tape. However, fame comes at a price and Madison is one chick who is willing to pay anything…especially if it means becoming the next reality “it girl.” Casey, on the other hand, is realizing that Reality TV can sometimes beunreal, causing her to wonder if she even knows who she is anymore. With her relationship with Drew, Madison’s ex, currently more off than on, she can’t help wondering if everything i n her life is really just an illusion – and how much longer the illusion can last….

Now for the questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
Reality TV! I’m absolutely hooked on it (I know, I know), and I knew from the very beginning of the series that I wanted the girls to get their own TV show. In the last novel in the series, IN TOO DEEP, the girls get a call from a MTV-esque music television network, and are offered their own series, a look inside the lives of Manhattan’s REAL Gossip Girls. In SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, we get to watch the process as the show is filmed and aired!

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I did some ghostwriting for a popular YA series, and I just fell in love with the genre. I love how excited readers get over these books, and how much fun they are to write. It’s like getting to be 16 again–without having to have bad hair, or be socially awkward

What is your writing process like?
If I’m actively working on a book, I write 5 pages a day, no excuses. I write for around 4 hrs a day, then call it quits, otherwise I’ll be too burned out to write again the next day.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a novel called WHITE LINES, about club kids in NYC in the late 1980′s.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
Read, watch mindless reality TV, pet my beagle and take him to the beach, hug my boyfriend

Who do you like to read?
Megan Kelley Hall–can’t wait for the sequel to SISTERS OF MISERY!, Robin Benway, Melissa Walker, Barry Lyga, Anna Godberson, Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot.

Reviews
“If you love all the drama, scandal, and high-end fashion of Gossip
Girl…you’ll want to check out…The Elite!”–Seventeen.com

“The Elite is Pretty in Pink for the millennium generation.”–Romance
Reviews Today

“An awesome tale of friendship and betrayal with just the right amount
of humor and heart. Seriously irresistible, and impossible to put
down.”-Alexa Young, author of Frenemies and Faketastic

May 31, 2009 • 11 Comments

I’m back from the UK and thrilled to bits that my first post is touring fellow TFCer Melissa Walker’s latest book Lovestruck Summer. I can’t wait to read it. If it’s anything like Melissa’s Violet series I know it’s going to be a fabulous read.

LOVESTRUCK SUMMER is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship. She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts–and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she’s stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name “Party Penny.” Their personalities clash, big time.

But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can’t Quinn keep her mind off Penny’s friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?

Sebastian is the kind of guy Quinn wants, but is Russ the guy Quinn needs? One thing’s certain: Quinn’s in for a summer she’ll never forget!

Now for the questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
A trip to Austin made me want to set a romance in that musical city!

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I love the first teenage love. I mean, who doesn’t? It’s so intense, and usually bittersweet in the end. But the memories: FOREVER.

What is your writing process like?
I read blogs for like two hours, write for 1/2 an hour, spend another hour reading blogs, get mad at myself. Write more. Break for lunch. (Sounds just like me!)

What are you working on now?
I have a new book idea, but I can’t tell yet! I wish I could.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I read, I do yoga, I hang out with my friends, I travel. Upcoming trips: Florida, New Orleans, Rhode Island and finally Vermont for my wedding! (That photo is from a 20s-themed wedding I went to this spring. It was FUN.)

Who do you like to read?
Oh, everyone! I love reading books by people I know the best. I like sneakily looking for their personality quirks in the pages of the book. I’m reading THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han right now and LOVING it. I can hear Jenny’s voice at some parts. Weird, I know, but I enjoy it.
PS-For a chance to win Lovestruck Summer, plus 3 other great beach reads, your readers can go to iheartdaily.com/Harper2009.html

ABOUT MELISSA:
A former editor at ELLEgirl and Seventeen magazines, Melissa Walker knows her indie rock. She hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. She loves talking about books, fashion, magazines and all kinds of pop culture. Visit her at melissacwalker.com or on iheartdaily.com.

May 4, 2009 • Comments

I’m thrilled to be touring fellow Flux author Lucienne Diver and her book Vamped, which I’m hanging out to read, it sounds so funny.

Brief excerpt and description

From “Valley Vamp Rules for Surviving Your Senior Prom” by VAMPED heroine Gina Covello:

Rule #1: Do not get so loaded at the after prom party that you accidentally-on-purpose end up in the broom closet with the surprise hottie of the evening, say the class chess champ who’s somewhere lost his bottle-cap lenses and undergone an extreme makeover, especially if that
makeover has anything to do with becoming one of the undead.

Gina Covello has a problem. Waking up a dead is just the beginning. There’s very little she can’t put up with for the sake of eternal youth and beauty. Blood-sucking and pointy stick phobias seem a small price to pay. But she draws the line when local vampire vixen Mellisande gets designs on her hot new boyfriend with his prophecied powers and hatches a plot to turn all of Gina’s fellow students into an undead army to be used to overthrow the vampire council.

Hey, if anyone’s going to create an undead entourage, it should be Gina! Now she must unselfishly save her classmates from fashion disaster and her own fanged fate.

Now for my questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
The fact that my first draft didn’t have one…not really…and I needed a plot in order to actually sell my work . Okay, that’s not entirely true. It had a plot. Protagonists and antagonists, internal and external conflict and all that jazz, but I let my characters get carried away and the storyline got away from me. My first draft was about 80% voice, which is the part that comes easily to me, 20% plot, which isn’t. With enough blood, sweat and tears, though, I eventually, five or ten drafts down the line, came up with something worth pitching.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I didn’t so much decide as have my protagonist spring fully formed into my head. She was a teen fashionista turned vamp and horrified by the very idea of eternal life without tanning options. She’d put in a full day of extreme shopping to find just the right dress for graduation and now she wasn’t even going to get to walk down that aisle. I felt for her! Her story just naturally leant itself to YA.

What is your writing process like?
As you can tell from my answer to question #1, I’m a bit of a pantser, as opposed to a plotter. I generally have my characters very well developed in my head and only a general idea of where I want to take them, which is why I end up with so many drafts. Lately, I’ve gotten smarter about that and about plotting things out, at least the major points, to be sure that the pacing is there and the suspense/action never flags.

I’m also a hand-writer. My first draft is always done on a notebook. I change things as I type them into the computer, so by the time I hit “save,” I have what amounts to a second draft. Unfortunately, I can’t write creatively on a keyboard. I also can’t edit on screen. I wish I could, but I try to be as green as possible. I’ll print out my drafts on the back of earlier drafts and reuse every piece of paper I can. When I can’t use them any longer, they’re off to the recycling center.

What are you working on now?
A middle grade idea that’s been talking at me for some time. It’s a very different voice from Vamped, but one I’m just as intrigued with. Still has that new idea smell.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a literary agent! I work with over forty fabulous authors of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, suspense and romance. I’m a voracious reader. If I have any time after reading, writing, hanging out with my family and sleeping, I bead.

Who do you like to read?
All of my authors (David B. Coe, Marjorie M. Liu, Susan Krinard, Faith Hunter, Rachel Caine, Debra Mullins, etc.)! Plus Janet Evanovich, Joshilyn Jackson, Sharyn McCrumb, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Stewart, Laurell K. Hamilton…. I could go on all day and not come to the end!

What people are saying:
“VAMPED is a total delight! Diver delivers a delightful cast of undead characters and a fresh, fast take on the vampire mythos. Next installment, please!” — Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series

“I really sunk my teeth into Lucienne Diver’s VAMPED. A fun, frothy, teenage romp with lots of action, a little shopping, and a cute vampire guy. Who could ask for more?” — Marley Gibson, author of GHOST HUNTRESS: The Awakening

“This book rollicked along, full of humor, romance, and action. Gina is a smart-aleck heroine worth reading about, a sort of teenage Besty Taylor (Undead and Unwed) with a lot of Cher Horowitz (Clueless) thrown in. Fans of Katie Maxwell will devour “Vamped.” — Rosemary Clement-Moore, author of the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series

“Move over Buffy! Lucienne Diver transfuses some fresh blood into the vampire genre. Feisty, fashionable and fun–Vamped is a story readers will sink their teeth into and finish thirsty for more.” —Mari Mancusi, author of The Blood Coven Vampires series

Bio
Lucienne Diver is a long-time book addict who went to work for NYC’s Spectrum Literary Agency fifteen years ago to feed her habit. Recently, she traded in her high-rise for a lake view. She now lives in Florida and works for The Knight Agency . Through various play-dates and in various coffee bars, on the backs of envelopes, carry-out bags and anything else within reach, including, sometimes, her checkbook, she’s penned the serio-comic tale of what happens when a young fashionista goes from chic to eek.

Websites:
Publisher: www.fluxnow.com
Author: www.luciennediver.com
Author blog: http://varkat.livejournal.com

April 28, 2009 • 3 Comments

I’m very excited to be touring the fabulous Linda Gerber and her new book DEATH BY DENIM.

Here’s what it’s about:
Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .

Now for the questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
To be honest? The title. With this series, I came up with the first title – DEATH BY BIKINI – myself, but my publisher suggested the next two titles, based on the locations I had proposed. When I said the third book would go international and be set in Europe, I was kind of surprised when the title they came up with was DEATH BY DENIM. Great, I thought. Now I have to figure out how to kill someone with denim without using the methods in the first two books (strangulation would have been so easy, right? Or maybe poison in the fabric that would leech into my victim’s skin…) As I researched the denim in Europe, looking for ideas, I discovered a really cool connection that steered the plot in a whole new direction.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I write YA and romantic suspense/mystery because it’s what I love to read.

What is your writing process like?
Sit at desk, stare at screen, ponder, procrastinate…
Seriously, though, my “process” is constantly evolving. For instance, I never used to outline, but I’ve learned to because I sold several books on proposal. I’m also trying harder to resist self-editing before the first draft is done. This is surprisingly hard for me!

What are you working on now?
I’m just getting ready to dig into the revisions for my paranormal YA that will be out next year. At the moment, it’s about two trance-writing sisters who have to learn to trust their gift – and each other. We’ll see what revisions do to that concept!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
At the moment, when I’m not tethered to the desk, I’m outside. The weather is finally getting nice so my favorite afternoon activity is to sit in the shade of our big trees in the backyard with a great book. I might even start to make a dent in my TBR pile!

Who do you like to read?
So many authors! My list of YA and MG faves is pages long… with new names being added all the time. For instance, I just read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (I know, I am seriously behind) and now I’ll have to grab everything else he’s written. I also just discovered Cassie Clare. Again, behind, I know, but I bought her books when she was here signing with Lisa McMann (another favorite) and I’ve enjoyed City of Glass so far. Out of the YA realm, I tend to go with thrillers by Lee Child, Barry Eisler, Brad Meltzer and Lisa Unger. And I’d probably really like Richard Castle if he were real!

Early praise for DEATH BY DENIM:

“Starting with a heart-pounding chase scene… Gerber weaves in some major cultural landmarks as Aphra races through Paris and then Italy on a mission to expose the would-be assassin and rescue her love interest, Seth. Taut suspense… along with interesting tips of the espionage trade, will propel readers to the neat ending.” – Booklist

“Death by Denim, the third book in Linda Gerber’s fun, action-packed, and suspenseful series, is just as riveting as its prequels. Gerber’s style is not only modern and down to earth, but cunning and intelligent as well… Aphra is an engaging and lively narrator whose bravery and smarts readers will admire. Equal parts action, romance, and mystery, Death by Denim is a fun-filled and engrossing read that will appeal to fans of Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series.” – The Compulsive Reader

“Gerber does not disappoint with this exciting novel from her Death by… series. Gerber’s strength is by far in creating such a thrilling and fast paced plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. …Death by Denim is a wholly enjoyable read, full of action, romance, and international flair. Fans of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte, the earlier installments in this series, won’t want to miss Death by Denim. Teen girls in particular looking for a fast and fun mystery to devour will enjoy Gerber’s Death by… series.” – The Book Muncher

“Nancy Drew meets “Alias” in the latest fast-paced, murder-mystery romance.”
- Paddyfield

*** Top Choice Award – Flamingnet Book Reviews ***

Praise for the series:

“Will capture mystery fans.” – Booklist

“Strong writing and plenty of plot twists.” -The Providence Journal

“Fast-paced, fun, and maybe just a little scary.”-YA New York

Just “the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance.”-Flamingnet Book Reviews

“Five enchantments.”-Enchanting Reviews

“Refreshing read.”-Simply Books

Bio

Linda Gerber recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE and the YA mysteries DEATH BY BIKINI, DEATH BY LATTE and DEATH BY DENIM. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, kids, and one very naughty puppy.

Check out the launch part at Linda’s website 14th 15th and 16th May for the chance to win some fabulous prizes.

April 15, 2009 • Comments

I’m thrilled to be touring Jennifer O’Connell and her book EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT BEING A GIRL I LEARNED FROM JUDY BLUME. It’s edited by Jennifer and the contributors include: Megan Cabot, Megan McCafferty, Cara Lockwood, Melissa Senate, Laura Caldwell, Stacey Ballis, Shanna Swendson and 17 other acclaimed women writers.

Whether laughing to tears reading Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great or clamoring for more unmistakable “me too!” moments in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, girls all over the world have been touched by Judy Blume’s poignant coming-of-age stories. Now, in this anthology of essays, twenty-four notable female authors write straight from the heart about the unforgettable novels that left an indelible mark on their childhoods and still influence them today. Drawing on their own experiences of feeling like a Fourth Grade Nothing before growing up to become Smart Women themselves, these writers pay tribute, through their reflections and most cherished memories, to one of the most beloved authors of all time.

So, here are my questions for Jennifer:

What inspired the plot for your book?
I was about to begin writing my first teen book, PLAN B, and I sat at the computer and thought to myself, “Everything I needed to know about being a girl I learned from Judy Blume.” And so the idea for the collection of essays was born. Because I knew I wasn’t the only one who felt like that.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I thought that this should be non-fiction because it sounded fun to have other writers remember what it was like when they read Judy Blume. I thought about having them write short stories, but then I decided that the “real life” stories they could tell would be even better.

What is your writing process like?
Pretty straightforward. I don’t write sequentially, so in any one sitting I’m writing the third chapter, the 17th chapter, the final chapter. I just write what I feel like writing that day.

What are you working on now?
A new teen book. I’m not terribly far yet, but I have it all in my head. That doesn’t help much when you need it on paper!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I have a “real job” in advertising.

Who do you like to read?
Sarah Dessen, John Green, Sonya Sones, I’m not a big fan of fantasy or paranormal, I just like reading about ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives.

Reviews:

“Fun tributes to a beloved role model.” —People

“Wry pieces… make this more than a nostalgia trip.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Each writer is fearlessly honest… it’s emotional reading.” —Chicago Sun-Times

“Funny, poignant, honest, and reverential, these stories will resonate strongly with the legions of readers who, like the authors, are grateful and lifelong Blume devotees.” —Booklist

“From bittersweet to laugh-out-loud hilarious, the essays in this collection all sparkle with charm, style, and wit. No doubt about it, if you grew up reading Judy Blume, you will love this book.” —Sarah Mlynowski, author of Spells & Sleeping Bags and Me vs. Me

“Writing in the spirit of Blume, these women present their experiences as a series of personal truths: ‘girl moments. Woman moments. Human moments.’” —Publishers Weekly

“Judy Blume’s adolescent books have left such an indelible mark that two dozen of today’s female writers of young adult fiction wrote essays about the impression her novels left on them. . . . This is the gift we Judy Blume-raised mothers can give our daughters now: the voice that told us everything we were feeling was normal.” —The Record (Bergen County, NJ)

“By turns funny and poignant, this essay collection captures the essence of Judy Blume’s appeal.” —Library Journal

“These stories are intensely personal recollections that offer an insight into the influence that Judy Blume’s works have had on everyone who reads them.” —Teens Read Too

Bio:
Jennifer O’Connell is the author of ten books, the most recent of which are her two teen novels Local Girls and Rich Boys. She received her BA from Smith College and her MBA from the University of Chicago. Visit her website at www.jenniferoconnell.com and www.jennyoconnell.com.

March 30, 2009 • Comments

I’m very excited to be touring Torched by April Henry. I love the sound of her book and can’t wait to read it.

About the book:
When Ellie’s parents are busted for growing marijuana, the FBI gives her a choice: infiltrate the Mother Earth Defenders (MED), a radical environmental group, or her parents will go to jail. At first Ellie is more than willing to entrap the MEDics, but the more time she spends undercover—particularly with Coyote, the green-eyed MEDic that she can’t stop thinking about—the more she starts to believe in their cause. When talk turns to murder, Coyote backs out, but Ellie is willing to risk everything to save her family—even if it means losing Coyote and putting her own life on the line.

And now for the interview:

What inspired the plot for your book?
Earth Liberation Front has long been active in the Northwest. The FBI considers them domestic terrorists. I was driving to work one morning, listening to the news, and the broadcaster said, “The FBI says they have been unable to infiltrate ELF.” And I thought, what else are they going to say? Yeah, we have someone who is working there undercover? And then I started thinking that most Elves are young, and FBI agents have to be at least 23, and they might need an informant.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I like the fast pace of mysteries and thrillers.

What is your writing process like?
I write 2-5 hours a day, often including weekends. I usually start by re-reading and tweaking what I wrote the day before. I’ll try to move on to the next section of the story, but if I get stuck, I “treat” myself by skipping ahead to a different section.

What are you working on now?
The Girl in the Mini Cooper, about a pizza delivery girl who is kidnapped. Everyone thinks she’s dead, her body dumped into the river. Everyone but two of her coworkers, who team up to find her.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I run, slowly, five miles four days a week. I love to cook. I like to talk to my teenager, who can always make me laugh. And of course, I love to read.

Who do you like to read?
Susan Beth Pfeffer. I am a complete fan girl. I’m really looking forward to next book in The Hunger Games series. I also love Scott Turow. I And I just read my first Michael Marshall, called The Intruders, and it was so fun!

About the autho:r
April Henry knows how to kill you in a two-dozen different ways. She makes up for a peaceful childhood in an intact home by killing off fictional characters. April had one detour on her path to destruction: when she was 12 she sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to noted children’s author Roald Dahl. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children’s magazine.

By the time she was in her 30s, April had come to terms with her childhood and started writing about hit men, drug dealers, and serial killers. She has published six mysteries and thrillers, with five more under contract. Her books have gotten starred
reviews, been on Booksense (twice!), translated into four languages, short-listed for the Oregon Book Award, and chosen as a Quick Pick by the American Library Association.

April writes for both teens and adults. This month Face of Betrayal will be published. It’s the first in a new series for adult mystery series co-written with FOX legal anaylst Lis Wiehl.

What others are saying:
Kirkus: “Romance and big explosions … the thrills and action will keep readers interested as she navigates her way between terrorists and self-centered Feds.”

Booklist: “The contemporary mix of politics and thrilling action will grab teens, not just environmentalists, as Ellie must decide how to save her parents and save the earth. Romance adds to the conflict as she falls in love with gorgeous MED member Coyote, who is both an activist and an ardent pacifist. Both the MEDs and the FBI have good guys and bad guys, and this suspenseful story will spark discussion about what it means to fight for right “by any means necessary.”

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books:
“Henry keeps a number of slick tricks up her sleeve, and when the plot takes off with a MED tree sit to stop clear cut logging, a cascade of treachery and betrayal is unleashed that should keep the pages flying. This is a far cry from the more whimsical take on environmentalism of Hiaasen’s Hoot, but readers who cut their teeth on that amiable escapade may want to explore the ethical implications of wielding vandalism and violence to achieve a worthy end.”

School Library Journal:
“Educators and environmentalists will appreciate the similarities between Ellie’s adventures and the exploits of Julia Butterfly Hill, as it will allow them to engage in a discussion about endangered species, corporate responsibility, and logging.”

Teens Read Too:
5 stars
“Torched is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. The book starts with a prologue that puts readers in the thick of the action, and things don’t slow down from there.”

Links:
April’s Website