Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit Starring POPULAZZI, by Elise Allen

This week's visiting girlfriend is Elise Allen with the newly released version of POPULAZZI.

About the Book:

WHAT WOULD YOU DO if you had the chance to erase your past and reinvent yourself as the person you’ve always wanted to be? Would you grab it? Would you stick with it, no matter what the consequences?

Cara Leonard always wished she could be one of those girls: confident, self-possessed, and never at a loss for the perfect thing to say. One of the Populazzi.

It always seemed impossible… but now could be her chance.

When Cara moves to a new school just before junior year, her best friend urges her to seize the opportunity and change her life… with the help of The Ladder. Its rungs are relationships, and if Cara transforms herself into the perfect girlfriend for guys higher and higher on the Popularity Tower, she can reach the ultimate goal: Supreme Populazzi, the most popular girl in school.

The Ladder seems like a lighthearted social experiment — a straight climb up — but it quickly becomes gnarled and twisted. And when everything goes wrong, only the most audacious act Cara can think of has a chance of setting things even a little bit right.

Our Interview:

KRISTINA: Have you ever based one of your characters on someone you know? If so, did that person find out? How did they react?

Elise: Trista’s dog in the book is my dog Riley.  He’s described to a tee, and even has Riley’s name.  Riley did find out, and he has demanded a share of the royalties, paid in chicken.

KRISTINA: Would you ever try writing in another genre?

ELISE: Yes… and I have!  I’ve written for prime-time sitcoms, an MTV soap opera, preschool TV, Barbie DVD movies… and in the book world I’ve written a non-fiction travel guide and an early reader book series.  I really enjoy writing in a variety of genres – keeps things interesting.

KRISTINA: Who is (or who are) the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?

ELISE: Laurie Halse Anderson.  I reached out to her for an interview when I was blogging with The Debutante Ball, and when I got an email reply from her assistant I startedshaking.  I have some major worship issues there.

KRISTINA: What are the last five young adult books you read?

ELISE: I’m bad with chronology, but I can tell you five that I’ve read recently, loved, and highly recommend:

Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer

Boy 21 by Matthew Quick

Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

KRISTINA: Are you on twitter? Where can we follow you?

ELISE: Yes!  You can follow me @EliseLAllen. 

KRISTINA: Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?

ELISE: I prefer a book in hand, but I always need to have at least one book at the ready on my iPad and/or phone so I’m never without something to read.

About the Author:

After starting her career in television, ELISE ALLEN has emerged as a vibrant new voice in teen fiction. She is the co-author of Hilary Duff's New York Times Bestseller Elixir, as well as its sequels, Devoted and True. She received an Emmy nomination for her work on the PBS show Dinosaur Train, and fulfilled a lifelong dream when she wrote for the Muppets. She lives in Los Angeles, where she indulges her inexplicable desire to run marathons. Visit her at www.eliseallen. com, or on Twitter @EliseLAllen.