Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit Starring: UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody

The super awesome Jessica Brody is visiting my blog to talk about the first book in her exciting new series: UNREMEMBERED. Jessica makes the BEST trailers for her books—make sure to stick around to the bottom to see her trailer for this new book!

About the Book:

The only thing worse than forgetting her past...is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find a single survivor; which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating amid the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe. She has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories…period. As she struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is, every clue raises more questions. Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

Set in a world where science knows no boundaries and memories are manipulated UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody is the first novel in a compelling, romantic, and suspenseful new sci-fi trilogy for teens.

Our Interview:

KRISTINA:      How did you get the idea for Unremembered?

JESSICA:  A few years ago, I read a newspaper article about a teen girl who was the sole survivor of a plane crash. I was instantly fascinated by the story. Namely because they had no idea why she survived when no else did. I started brainstorming reasons as to why she was so lucky. One particular reason (a rather intricate, science-fiction-inspired one) stuck in my mind and refused to leave. It continued to grow and blossom until I had an idea for an entire trilogy. A trilogy that starts with a mysterious plane crash and a single survivor.

KRISTINA: If your book was made into a movie, who would star as your main character?

JESSICA: This is always SUCH a hard question for me! You would think it would be easier!

However, for the lead role of Seraphina, I’ve always pictured Nina Dobrev from the Vampire Diaries. Seraphina is described as having a “flawless” beauty. I’ve always thought Nina Dobrev fit that description so well. In fact, as I was writing, I took a picture of Nina Dobrev, photoshopped in Seraphina’s purple eyes, and hung it above my computer as inspiration.

Maybe Nina will read this, contact me, and be like, “Cool! I’ll totally be in the movie!” Hey, an author can dream. :)

KRISTINA: How do you come up with the names of your characters?

JESSICA: Well, I will say this much: The name Seraphina actually is a nickname for the character, who was originally named SERA. But this isn’t a random name. It’s an acronym. That’s all I’ll tell you!

KRISTINA: Who is the Young Adult author that turns you into a fangirl?

JESSICA: I just recently met James Dashner at an event and kind of lost it. I was like, “OMG, you’re James Dashner!” And he was like, “Um, yes.” And then my mind went completely blank. It was embarrassing.

KRISTINA: What is your most favorite comment you’ve received from a fan?

JESSICA:  A blogger tweeted me a review of my book the other day and called it “biopunk” novel. I’d never even heard that term before but of course, I immediately looked it up on Wikipedia. Here’s what I found.

Biopunk science fiction is a subgenre of cyberpunk fiction that focuses on the near-future unintended consequences of the biotechnology revolution following the discovery of recombinant DNA. Biopunk stories explore the struggles of individuals or groups, often the product of human experimentation, against a backdrop of totalitarian governments and megacorporations which misuse biotechnologies as means of social control and profiteering.

I totally got the chills because I was like, “YES! That’s exactly what Unremembered is.” I was so grateful to finally have a term for it. I could never figure out what to call it before! I was also excited that this seems to be a “thing.”

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

JESSICA: Please do! I’m @JessicaBrody on twitter and on Instagram! Holla! Folla! (Okay, that was kinda lame. It sounded much better in my head.)

KRISTINA:   What are you working on now?

JESSICA: I just finished writing book 2 of the Unremembered Trilogy, which is called UNFORGOTTEN. And I’m gearing up to start working on book 3, which is called UNTITLED. Haha! But seriously, I’m thinking of keeping that title. What do you think?

KRISTINA:  I think that would be sooo funny! :) Good luck with the new book Jessica! It looks amazing!

About Jessica:

JESSICA BRODY knew from a young age that she wanted to be a writer. She started self “publishing” her own books when she was seven years old, binding the pages together with cardboard, wallpaper samples and electrical tape. She is the author of 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, My Life Undecided, The Karma Club, and now, Unremembered. Her books have been translated and published in over 15 countries. She currently splits her time between California and Colorado. www.jessicabrody.com

Check out Jessica’s latest trailer below, download the firstfree chapters of her book for FREE here, and like UNREMEMBERED on facebook. 

GCC Spotlight on: 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER by Jessica Brody

Jessica Brody stop by the blog to talk about her new book, 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER.

About the Book:

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

Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit: Starring Jessica Brody!

Jessica Brody is stopping by with her new Young Adult novel The Karma Club. I already started reading it and it's so good!! I've been dying to read this book for awhile truthfully. Partly because Jessica is already a bestselling author of women's fiction (like The Fidelity Files and Love Under Cover) and because this book deals with a group of girls getting revenge! As you may remember I wrote a book called Revenge Queen that I love and am still revising. What is it about revenge that is so darn fun to write about?






















ABOUT THE BOOK:

When you mess with Karma, Karma messes back...

Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. Do good things and you'll be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what you deserve. But when Maddy’s boyfriend cheats on her, nothing bad comes his way. That’s why Maddy starts the Karma Club, to clean up the messes that the universe has left behind and get back at the people who have wronged them. Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. It turns out Karma often has plans of its own.

Praise:

"Written with wit and panache. Readers will have fun with this one, and it might make them think a little, too."
--Booklist

“Fresh, funny and engaging. This is one YA debut you won’t want to miss.”

-Alyson Noël, NYT bestselling author of The Immortals series

"A well-paced comedy, with a nice balance of cinematic physical humor and genuine teen emotions."
--Publisher's Weekly

OUR INTERVIEW:

KRISTINA: In my book, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, Jane, a coffee barista, matchmakes people based on their favorite coffee drinks. What’s your favorite coffee drink? (If you don’t like coffee, tell me what your favorite drink in general is. But I am sorry, you’ll never find love. Kidding!)

JESSICA: When it’s in season, I love me a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I wish they had it all year! Gosh how those long, lonely, decaffeinated months from March to September drag on without them!

KRISTINA: I am always curious about when and where writers write. Can you tell me about your schedule and your favorite place to work?

JESSICA: I can only write for about 2-3 hours a day. For one, I get antsy and can’t still for much longer than that and I always seem to have so many other things to do. I’m a full time writer, but you’d be amazed at how much other work besides writing piles up. When you work for yourself you also end up being your own tech person, graphic designer, accountant, publicist, assistant, photocopier, filer, and online marketing specialist!

So in the morning, I usually go to my favorite coffee shop and write for a few hours until I fulfill my daily word quota (which is normally 1000 words a day), then I come back to my home office and take care of everything else that needs to be done.

KRISTINA: What is the title of the first book you ever wrote?

JESSICA: “The Kitty and the Puppy.” I wrote it in second grade. And it was also the first one I ever published (with wallpaper, cardboard and electrical tape, that is). When I go back and read it now, I realize not only did it lack an inspired title, but also most of a plot. Although there were some good twists and turns throughout. Ones I’m sure the reader didn’t see coming!

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

JESSICA: But of course! Please follow me @jessicabrody

KRISTINA: What are you working on now?

JESSICA: Ooh, lots of fun stuff! Right now I’m working on a new YA book that will be out in 2012 called 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER about a teen heiress who is forced by her ever-absent mogul father to take on a different low-wage job every week for a year if she wants any hope of getting her trust fund. I’m SO excited about it! Plus, I just finished the copyedits on another book that will be out in 2011 called MY LIFE UNDECIDED. And I’m also working on a new YA series that I can’t quite talk about yet. But it’s gonna be SOOOO cool!

KRISTINA: Oh my gosh, that all sounds great! I can’t wait to read more from you! I wish you tons of success with The Karma Club and hey, if you guys haven’t seen Jessica’s freakin’ awesome trailer for Karma Club, watch it now!

And don’t miss her cool contest!

FREE FLIP GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate the release of The Karma Club on April 27, Jessica is giving away FOUR Flip Video Cameras (as well as TONS of other cool prizes!) on her site. Visit her website, http://www.jessicabrody.com for all the details and to enter to win!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica Brody is the author of two books for adults. The Karma Club is her first book for teens. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California where she is working on her next novel. Despite what some people from her high school might claim, she has never sought revenge on an ex-boyfriend. Visit her online at: http://www.jessicabrody.com

Click here to order The Karma Club!