Interview with Kate Messner, author of THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.

Kate Messner's here to talk about her debut book, THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced copy of this and I have to tell you, I ADORED this book. It's the kind of book that I can't wait to give my kids when they're old enough to read it.

About The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z

Gianna Zales has a lot on her plate this fall – a father who drives her to school in the family hearse, a mother who’s turned into the junk food police, a little brother who thinks he’s a member of the paparazzi, and a grandmother who leaves false teeth in the refrigerator. Worst of all, she’s left her 7th grade leaf collection to do at the last minute. It’s a monster project, and Gianna will miss cross-country sectionals if she doesn’t meet the deadline. She’ll need the help of her geeky friend, Zig, and some brilliant ideas of her own to pull it off.

Our Interview:

Kristina: What's your very favorite thing about your book?

Kate: I loved writing all the outdoor scenes - hiking around New England in autumn and calling it research really can't be beat! And I adore Joe Cepeda's cover art; I feel like he captured Gianna's spirit just perfectly.

Kristina: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?

Kate: I do most of my writing at my desk in the office I share with my husband. It's...umm...messy. But I'm also a teacher and mom, so sometimes I have work to do when I'm out and about. I did most of the revisions for my next book in the coaches' room at the ice rink where my daughter has her skating lessons. (It's a book about figure skating, so that actually worked out perfectly!)

Kristina: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

Kate: I was the school superintendent's daughter and was afraid to do much of anything wrong! I did occasionally steal more than my share of the ice cream out of the freezer when my parents were out, though.

Kristina: What did you do on the release day of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z.?

Kate: Release day was pretty quiet - some swimming and biking with the family. Our launch parties - one on each side of Lake Champlain, where I live - were the following weekends!

Kristina: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

Kate: I love the frozen mocha latte with skim milk from Koffee Kat, our local coffee shop and favorite writing hangout, too!

Kristina: Yum, you're making me thirsty. Thanks for stopping by Kate and good luck with your book!

Interview with Jackson Pearce, author of AS YOU WISH

The always entertaining Jackson Pearce is visiting my blog today to talk about her debut book, AS YOU WISH:

About As You Wish

Seven months ago, Viola's boyfriend told her he was gay—moments before she was going to lose her virginity to him. Heartbroken, Viola has resigned herself to near invisibility, until she inadvertently summons a young jinn out of his world, Caliban, and into her own. Here he will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to get back to Caliban, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid her wishes will be manipulated into curses. Jinn knows that should she wait too long, the Ifrit, guardians of earthbound jinn, will press her to wish by hurting those around her.As they spend time together, Jinn can't deny that he's slowly falling in love with Viola, blurring the lines between master and servant. It's only after Viola makes her first wish—for a popular boy to love her—that she realizes the feelings are mutual.

With every wish Jinn's time with her diminishes, but the longer she waits to wish the greater danger she's in from the Ifrit. Together, Viola, Jinn, and Viola's ex-boyfriend try to outwit the Ifrit while dealing with their own romantic complexities and the alcohol-laced high school social scene.

Our Interview:

KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)

JACKSON: My favorite thing about AS YOU WISH is the part with the words.

KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?

JACKSON: I have an office by my bookshelves:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11439721@N00/3232375013/

KRISTINA: Oooh, pretty! Ok, what's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

JACKSON: I cheated. All the time. Seriously. I kind of sometimes feel bad about it, to be honest. I mean, is my degree still mine? Is someone going to come snatch it away? The biggie was this online math course I took, where me and this other student had a little ring of cheating...oh I feel bad. Maybe I shouldn't share this. Don't judge me. I love you.

KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of AS YOU WISH?

JACKSON: I slept in, ate ice cream with gummi bears for lunch, got a massage, and had dinner with my parents. I felt very luxurious getting a massage, but I think the ice cream and gummi bears was the best part of the day.

KRISTINA: Sounds like a fun day! What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

JACKSON: I don't like coffee. But I drink Diet Coke like it's going out of style in a serious way. I can throw down some Diet Coke. I dare you the challenge me to Diet Coke drink off.

KRISTINA: You would totally win! Thanks for stopping by Jack and good luck with your book!

Interview with Jennifer Jabley, author of LIPSTICK APOLOGY

Next stop on the 2009 Debs Blog Tour is with Jennifer Jabaley and her book LIPSTICK APOLOGY. Before we jump into the interview I want to ask you guys a question about her lovely cover---




















Doesn't this girl look like the blond chick from Dawson's Creek? The one who was married to Heath Ledger? Ok, had to get that out of my system. Now onto the book.

About the book:

Four little words written in lipstick mean Emily must say goodbye to everything she knows. Emily Carson has always been a good girl. So when she throws a party the night her parents leave for vacation, she's sure she'll get busted. What Emily doesn't know is that her parents will never return. That their plane will go down. And the only thing left amidst the wreckage will be a tray table with the words: Emily please forgive me scrawled in lipstick - her mother's last words.



Now it's fall in New York City and Emily's trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Her public tragedy captures the attention of more than just the media - and soon two very different boys at her new school are pursuing her: the cute, popular Owen, and the quirky chemistry partner slash pastry-baker-by-night, Anthony. But even with such delicious distractions, Emily can't let go of her mother's mysterious apology. Does she have the courage to face the truth?



With help of a whole new kind of family - one that includes a make-up artist to the stars, a teen hand model, and a wacky hairdresser - Emily must choose between the boy who makes her forget it all, and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately, heal.


Our interview:

KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)

JENNIFER: I love the cover - I think they did a fantastic job. And I'm very partial to the ending.

KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing?

JENNIFER: When I wrote LIPSTICK APOLOGY I did most of my writing while my son napped, so I worked at the kitchen table, or sometimes, if it was pretty, outside. Now that my son no longer naps and I have a baby girl as well, I have a babysitter come. I've been going to a German Bakery in town that has big wooden tables, great, strong coffee and awesome pastries.

KRISTINA: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

JENNIFER: Hmm, I was mostly a good girl, but one time my best friend and I decided to skip school. We were going to hang out at my house, and it just so happened my mom stayed home that morning! So we didn't know what to do! We wound up going to my neighbor's house and waiting in the garage until my mom left. The entire time we were freaking out that the neighbor would come home and we'd get in trouble. See, I'm just not cut out to break the rules :)

KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of LIPSTICK APOLOGY?

JENNIFER: I visited all the bookstores within driving distance of my house and just generally freaked out that my book was on their shelves.

KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

JENNIFER: I love Caramel Macchiatos. Love regular coffee with french vanilla cream. But actually my favorite Starbucks drink is their hot chocolate. Yum!

Thanks, Kristina!

KRISTINA: Thank you Jennifer! And good luck with your book!

Got bookmarks.

I got my bookmarks! I also posted about how you get them made on Author2Author today.

I swear I'll start updating this blog...

:-)

Back to School Book Giveaway!

Hey Guys,

We're giving away YA books again all week in honor of everyone going back to school! Visit us at Author2Author and comment for your chance to win.

-Kristina

Meeting Rock Stars

(Cross-posted from Author2Author)

How lucky was I to be able to meet three of my FAVORITE YA authors this week? Yes, the fabulous Anderson’s Bookshop had Lauren Myracle, E. Lockhart, and Sarah Mlynowski in to sign their new book, HOW TO BE BAD on Monday night. How to Be Bad is an older YA about three girls on a road trip, all struggling with their individual reasons for needing the escape. And they throw in a couple of cute boys of course (must always have the cute boys). I have to say, I felt like an 11-year old girl at an American Idol show screaming for David Archuleta.



Ok, I wasn’t that bad. But I did sit in the front row about 6 feet away and hung on their every word.

And, they rocked. They started with an intro to the book—giving a set up about each of the three main characters in the book and which author was writing which character’s POV and how these characters came to be on the road trip to begin with. Then they each took turns reading from one of the chaps that they wrote (and even did fun accents).

(e. lockhart)

(Lauren Myracle)

(Sarah Mlynowski)

Following that they answered a zillion questions about the book and their other books. One of the interesting ones was how they wrote the book--all via e-mail. They did it chapter by chapter (kinda like when we were in school and would pass a story around--each adding on a line or paragraph or whatever. But with chaps. You never knew what the person in front of you was going to throw at you) with no plotting whatsoever. They said this was a fun way to do it but that it took mega revising afterwards. It sounds like it was a lot of fun (well, the writing, not the revising). One of the funniest questions was from a young girl who asked, "Are you guys going to write any new books?" To which Sarah answered, "Yeah, that's what we do." I had to cover my mouth to stifle the laugh. I don't think she meant to respond like that but it was funny.

After the Q&A, it was signing time and I was so excited to get to meet the ladies and have a minute to chat. Lauren even remembered me from commenting on her blog. They were impressed that I had my gigantic 39-week pregnant self there and I confessed that I secretly hoped my water would break during the signing so that I'd have a cool story to tell my kid later. They agreed that it would make an interesting addition to their vlog.

I just love going to signings and meeting authors and I learn so much about what I should and shouldn’t do in the future when I have signings. And seeing three of my favorite YA authors made the whole thing 10 times better.

(From L to R, Sarah Mlynowski, Me, Lauren Myracle, and the also pregnant, E. Lockhart)