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.
It's back to school time and if you're a parent you're running from store to store trying to get everything on the school supply list. Well, I have a back to school list for you writers. You must get (okay, look at and ooh and ah over it like me) everything on this list:
Today's touring girlfriend is Jennifer Echols! She's here with her latest book, SUCH A RUSH. Isn't the cover gorgeous?!
About the Book:
High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing
more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her
absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her
flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising
business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies
suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.
But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec
and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying.
Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved
in what now seems like a doomed business--until Grayson betrays her by digging
up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for
secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn
into a battle between brothers--and the consequences could be deadly.
Engrossing and intense, SUCH A RUSH is a
captivating adventure that is sure to keep readers soaring.
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: Would you
ever try writing in another genre?
JENNIFER: Besides YA romantic dramas like this
one, I also write YA romantic comedies. I’ve published five of those already,
with three more forthcoming from Simon Pulse in 2014 and 2015. I also have my
first adult romantic comedy, Star Crossed, coming out with Simon & Schuster
on February 26.
KRISTINA: Who is (or who
are) the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?
JENNIFER: I am a huge fan of the hilarious and
brilliant Rosemary Clement-Moore, and especially her latest novel, Texas
Gothic. A related novel is coming out soon and I simply can’t wait.
KRISTINA: Are you on
twitter? Where can we follow you?
JENNIFER: Yes! Please follow me at
@JenniferEchols.
KRISTINA: What are you
working on now?
JENNIFER: I’m so excited to be writing another
YA romantic drama for MTV Books called Dirty Little Secret, which will be in
stores this time next year.
KRISTINA: Do you prefer
reading on an ereader or book in hand?
JENNIFER: I’m so appreciative of all the
people who have purchased my novels as e-books, but I just can’t get used to
the e-reader. I buy e-books only if a book isn’t available in print.
About the Author:
Jennifer Echols is the award-winning author of
multiple romantic dramas and romantic comedies for teens. She lives in
Birmingham, Alabama.
Today’s visiting girlfriend is Denise Jaden with her latest book, NEVER ENOUGH.
About the Book:
Loann’s always wanted to be popular and pretty like her sister, Claire. So when Claire’s ex-boyfriend starts flirting with her, Loann is willing to do whatever it takes to feel special…even if that means betraying her sister.
But as Loann slips inside Claire’s world, she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Claire’s quest for perfection is all-consuming, and comes at a dangerous price. And Loann is frightened she could lose the sister she’s always idolized.
As Claire increasingly withdraws from friends and family, Loann struggles to understand her and make amends. Can she heal their relationship—and her sister—before it’s too late?
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: How did you get the idea for Never Enough?
DENISE: At the time, I had a close friend who was struggling with a severe eating disorder. I started writing the book mostly so I could understand my friend and her struggles more.
KRISTINA: If your book was made into a movie, who would star as your main character?
DENISE: If Kat Dennings was a little younger, she would make a perfect Loann.
KRISTINA: Would you ever try writing in another genre?
DENISE: Maybe dystopian, but I’m a YA Contemp girl at heart.
KRISTINA: Who is the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?
DENISE: Laurie Halse Anderson
KRISTINA: What is your most favorite (or, weirdest, craziest, funniest, most touching etc.) comment you’ve received from a fan?
DENISE: My favorite comment is that my writing voice reminded her of Laurie Halse Anderson
KRISTINA: Are you on twitter? Where can we follow you?
DENISE: Yes! I LOVE Twitter. I’m at @denisejaden and, sadly, you can find me there at most times of the day.
KRISTINA: What are you working on now?
DENISE: I’m working on another YA contemporary novel, this one a romance/mystery. It’s called FOREIGN EXCHANGE, and is about a girl who sneaks away from her class trip in Europe, along with her crush, to find her missing best friend.
KRISTINA: Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?
DENISE: I prefer a hard book, but I do have two ereaders, and they’re certainly convenient for taking work or reading with me.
About Denise:
Denise Jaden spent her high school lunch hours trying to tame her frizzy/curly hair in the bathroom, or playing freeze tag in the drama room. She attended the theatre program at college, and then enjoyed a variety of occupations, including stage production, mushroom farming, and Polynesian dancing. The first draft of her debut novel, Losing Faith, was written in 21 days during National Novel Writing Month. This is her second novel. She lives just outside Vancouver, Canada with her husband and son. Find out more online at http://www.denisejaden.comor on Twitter: @denisejaden
Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.
Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.
Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteenth birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.
In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him.
Our Interview:
KRISTINA: How did you get the idea for 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER?
JESSICA: Actually it’s kind of a funny story. I was sitting in my car, watching a meter maid write someone a parking ticket and I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun to be a meter maid? But only for like a week. Just to see what it was like.” Then I start to brainstorm all these other jobs I’d like to do for one week. And I decided, “Well, I’m too busy writing novels to actually do all these jobs, so I guess I’ll just have to write a book about someone else who does them.” And then I tried to think of the funniest character to put in that kind of situation and the answer was instant: a spoiled heiress who has never had to work a day in her life. And alas, Lexington Larrabee was born. But really the joke’s on me, because in researching the story, I actually did take on some of the jobs that are in the book! My favorite was working the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. Those head-sets you have to wear are like something out of Star Trek!
KRISTINA: If your book was made into a movie, who would star as your main character?
JESSICA: This is always a really tough question for me. Actually, the book has been optioned for film and we’ve had some early interest from Victoria Justice (from the show Victorious on Nickelodeon) to star in the film. Nothing has been officially decided yet but I think she would be totally perfect for the part! She definitely looks like how I imagined Lexi to look.
KRISTINA: Would you ever try writing in another genre?
JESSICA: Funny you should ask! Last year I signed a deal with my publisher for a young adult sci-fi trilogy. I just finished revising the first book called UNREMEMBERED which releases in March 2013. It’s about a sixteen year old girl who wakes up amongst the wreckage of a devastating plane crash with no memories, she's forced to piece together her forgotten past with only one clue to her identity— a mysterious boy who claims she was part of a top-secret science experiment.
KRISTINA: Who is the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?
JESSICA: Suzanne Collins! Totally! I LOVE her books! I saw the Hunger Games movie like 5 times in the theatre. I was there at midnight for the opening. I can’t wait for the next movie!
KRISTINA: Do you prefer reading on an ereader or book in hand?
JESSICA: I can only read non-fiction on my ereader. It’s weird. With fiction, I have to have the book in my hand. I think it’s because I really love looking at the cover as I read the book. I like how covers can change the more you get into the story.
KRISTINA: Are you on Twitter? Can we follow you?
JESSICA: Please do! www.twitter.com/jessicabrody
Author Bio:
Jessica Brody is the bestselling author of The Karma Club and My Life Undecided, as well as two books for adults: The Fidelity Files and Love Under Cover. In researching this book, she took on several minimum wage jobs, her favorite of which was working the drive-thru at a fast food restaurant. She splits her time between California and Colorado. Visit her online at: www.jessicabrody.com
This week my son had a boy scout field trip to a rock quarry. I could have just dropped him off with the other scouts and picked him up two hours later. After all, it was freaking hot out (104 degrees according to my car) and I had my other three kids with me too. But I thought hmm, I've never been in a quarry. What if I can use this in a book someday? You never know. I can have a scene where my main character has to sneak into a quarry to meet a mysterious guy. Or hide a body. Whatever. :-) So I decided we should all stay and take the tour with them. And it was so cool! We took a bus down into the quarry, saw the massive trucks hauling limestone, saw the machines shooting the stone up from underground (they're mining underground now), fed the huge catfish in their lake, and picked up pretty crystal rocks. It was basically awesome and I'm so happy we decided to stay.
What about you guys? Do you ever make yourself do something thinking you might someday use it in a book?
Happy 4th of July!! And also, Happy INDIE-pendence Day! From July 2nd through July 5th, the Indelibles are having an INDIE-pendence celebration over at their blog. Click through the list of participating blogs and learn about great Indie authors and have a chance of winning some cool prizes.
Hi and welcome to my blog! I'm the YA/MG fiction author of The Espressologist, My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours, Just Your Average Princess, The Paparazzi Project, and Boy Swap. I'm also the mom to four little ones and a coffee fanatic. Find me on twitter @TinaSpringer.
