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Twitterview: Barbara Caridad Ferrer

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Welcome to another installment of STACKED’s Twitterview series. This month, we’re welcoming Barbara Caridad Ferrer, author of the recently released When the Stars Go Blue, as well as Adios to my Old Life and It’s Not About the Accent. She’s stopped by to talk a bit about Stars and at the end, you can enter for a chance to win your own copy of the book.

Without further ado!

Pitch WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE in 140 characters or less:

A retelling of Bizet’s CARMEN about a fiery dancer, a disciplined musician, a gifted soccer player & the summer that changes their lives.

Why Carmen as your inspiration?

Because it encompasses everything that makes a great story: drama, passion, betrayal, and love.

Take any television show, past or present, and cast Soledad, Jonathan, and Taz in a role. Who would they play?

I think I’d cast them in GLEE. Soledad is Rachel, but not so neurotic, Jonathan is like Finn, but smarter, & Taz is Puck w/o the mean streak

What’s the most surprising comment you’ve heard about WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE?

The many comments on its sensuality. Surprising b/c there are many YA novels more explicit than STARS but sensuality’s different, I guess.

What’s the best advice you’ve received on writing?

You can’t fix a blank page (courtesy of Nora Roberts).

What’s the best advice you’ve given about writing?

Write the story the way it’s meant to be told. Worry about marketing later.

How do you get yourself pumped up to write?

Music. Lots and lots of music. And did I mention, music?

Name three books that have been most influential to you as a writer/reader.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Elizabeth George Speare); Heartbreak Hotel (Anne Rivers Siddons); A Song Begins (Mary Burchell).

Who do you think is doing some of the most exciting stuff in YA lit today?

Jennifer Echols, A.S. King, Saundra Mitchell, & Rosemary Clement-Moore. They’re all doing something a little left of center which I love.

You can’t choose between Haagen Dazs and Ben and Jerry, but you certainly can share your favorite flavor, right?

My favorite flavor is actually from Cold Stone Creamery. Sweet Cream ice cream with crush Snickers. Every. Single. Time.

What’s next for you?

I just finished a proposal for a new YA that’s very different from anything I’ve done before. I’m venturing into paranormal (EEEK!).

Want to win a finished copy of WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE? Enter here. I’ll be sending USPS, so entries are limited to US and Canada only. Winner will be picked around the 20th of the month.

Twitterview: Tara Kelly of Harmonic Feedback

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Welcome to another installment of Stacked’s Twitterview series. We bring an author in to answer our questions in 140 characters or less, giving us a flavor of who they are and what their books are all about.

This month, we are bringing in Tara Kelly, author of the Cybils shortlisted title Harmonic Feedback, which I read, adored, and reviewed right here. Those of you who haven’t read it should get on it: Drea is one of the most real and fully fleshed characters I’ve read in a long time. She’s one who will stay in your mind long after you’ve finished the book. And lucky you: I have a finished copy to send off to one lucky reader. You can enter at the end of the post!

And now a few words from the author:

Pitch HARMONIC FEEDBACK in 140 characters or less

A music obsessed aspie girl starts a band, falls in lust, and learns to question what normal really means.

Tell us a bit about your forthcoming C SIDE TALES

A girl with a great guitar and horrible stage fright. A surly boy bassist with a ’71 Camaro. Lots of music. Lots of kissing.

What’s been the biggest surprise — something you may not have anticipated — to come from publishing HARMONIC FEEDBACK?

How many people not only relate to Drea, but love her!

How did you do your research on ADHD and Aspergers to make such a convincing and likeable character in Drea?

I drew a lot from my personal experience with family and friends on the spectrum. Read Tony Attwood’s book abt girls with Asperger’s.

What is your writing ritual? How do you yourself jazzed to do it?

Playlists for every character that I listen to on repeat. In the car. At work. Even in the shower!

Since each character has a play list for them, give us a sample of Drea’s, Naomi’s, and Justin’s play lists (I graciously granted permission for up to 420 characters – all links hit youtube):

Drea: Goodnight and Go by Imogen Heap; Giving In by Saltillo; X Amount of Words by Blue October; Geek the Girl by Lisa Germano.
Justin: Blackest Eyes by Porcupine Tree; Red Eyes and Tears by BRMC; Ten Million Years by Black Lab; Heaven’s a Lie by Lacuna Coil
Naomi: In The End by Linkin Park; Jars by Chevelle; Crushcrushcrush by Paramore; When I Am Queen by Jack off Jill

What’s the best piece of writing advice you ever received?

Write what you love.

Who are your writing influences?

Growing up I read a lot of Joyce Carol Oats, Poppy Z Brite, Kurt Vonnegut. Countless YA books as well, especially Christopher Pike.

Who do you think is doing groundbreaking stuff in today’s YA market?

Too many to list, but check out http://yaoutsidethelines.blogspot.com/ . We pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of YA.

You are inspired and influenced by music. What three songs are always in your rotation?

Can’t narrow it to three! But you can always count on something by Placebo, something by Catherine Wheel, and something by Skinny Puppy.

Your teen years were some of your most intense years. What one memory sticks out most?

A night involving two cute boys, a dark alley, and undercover cops. Long story.

I won’t ask the inevitable favorite ice cream question. I want to know your favorite kind of cheese!

Provolone!

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Want to win a copy of Harmonic Feedback for yourself? Fill out the form below and we’ll pick a winner on or around January 20. As long as you can get shipment from bookdepository.com, I’ll send it to you.

Twitterview: Debut Style

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Welcome to another installment of STACKED’s interviews, Twitter-style. This month we’re bringing you even more — three 2010 debut authors have stopped by to give us a taste of who they are and what they’re doing. You’ll see their reviews coming soon (with the exception of Daisy’s, which is right here). Each has been given 5 — and only 5 — questions to strut their stuff. Without further ado, please welcome Daisy Whitney, Mindi Scott, and Stephanie Perkins.

Daisy Whitney

Pitch your book in 140 characters or fewer.
THE MOCKINGBIRDS is about an underground, student-run justice system that polices and protects the student body, and the date rape case they try.

The Mockingbirds deals with an issue similar to LHA’s Speak. Have you found yourself responding to criticism or needing to defend your title?

Not yet, but I am fully prepared to as I believe books on tough topics can help us as people to deal with challenging situations.


How has being a journalist influenced your work?
I learned how to write quickly, on deadline, and not be married to my words.

What do you hope readers take away from THE MOCKINGBIRDS?
That it’s cool to take a stand!

What’s next for you?

I turned in a sequel to THE MOCKINGBIRDS and now I am working on an edgy, sexy mystery novel.

Mindi Scott

Pitch your book in 140 characters or less
Seth McCoy just had a terrible summer after finding his friend dead. He *might* be ready to stop being numb; he just has to figure out how.

Seth’s voice is spot on, a rarity for any teen male voice, let alone one written by a female. How did you get so into the male mindset?
At 1st, I read tons of boy POV YA & had my husband read all my scenes. Once I finished a draft, though, Seth’s voice became natural to me.

If you could be a character from any book, who would it be?

Someone once said that I remind her of Jessica Darling from Megan McCafferty’s series. I can get behind that. 😉 (Kelly says: That was Me! 🙂

You’re an ice cream fan (after my own heart!). What’s your flavor?

Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food. Marshmallow cream, chocolate ice cream, caramel & chocolate candy. Oh, did I mention marshmallow cream? Yum!

What’s next for you?

I’m working on more contemporary YA. So far, the manuscripts I have in progress are all from girl points of view, so we’ll see what happens!

Stephanie Perkins

Pitch your book in 140 characters or less:
It’s about true love in the City of Light.

You’re stranded in Paris. You don’t know a soul. What three things would you eat and what three things would you do?

Fleur d’oranger macaron, banana Nutella crepe, non-pasteurized yogurt. Walk beside the Seine, drink wine, visit Notre-Dame.


Share your most embarrassing moment:

Having to admit to my parents that I’d done something terrible.

What are you doing to celebrate the release of Anna and the French Kiss?

A release party at my favorite indie bookstore (Malaprop’s in Asheville, NC) with French pastries and my friends!

What’s next for you?

Two companion novels: Lola and the Boy Next Door (2011) & Isla and the Happily Ever After (2012).

Twitterview: Siobhan Vivian

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Welcome to another installment of the Twitterview. You read my review of Not That Kind of Girl earlier this fall and today, Siobhan Vivian is sharing with us her thoughts about “Jersey Shore,” ice cream, and, of course, writing.

What inspires your writing?

I love the stories that come from real life, from real girls. Honest, true, heartfelt. That’s the bullseye I strive to hit w/ my writing.
When you sit down to write, what do you need to get in the zone?

Music, coffee, and a clear sense of what I’d like to accomplish.
What’s your music of choice for writing?

Depends. When polishing a scene, I pick music to match the mood. When I’m lost, I type to a rain storm. Anything else is too distracting.
Your writing features incredibly well developed and fully fleshed characters. How are you able to get that deep into someone else’s psyche?
This is funny, because I always say that character is the thing I’m worst at. So…I have no idea. #unhelpful
Who are some of your writing inspirations?

Melissa Bank is probably the biggest, but I also love Blake Nelson, Natalie Standiford, Jenny Han, JD Salinger. I could go on and on.
If you were recommending any of your books, how would you pitch them?
Realistic coming of age stories that focus more on friendship and girl identity than romance.
You’re a Jersey girl by birth. What’s your take on Jersey Shore?
I was too pale to fist-pump convincingly. Seriously though, my inability to tan was THE JOKE made at my expense growing up in NJ.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?
Well…I applied to two undergrad programs. Writing and Broadcast Journalism. So I’d prob be behind a desk with a very coiffed hairdo.

Will you share your shrinky dink Ramona with our readers? (You can just share a link if you’re so inclined).

Totally! BTW, this is a perfect representation of how I look when I’m writing.
What’s next for you?
My new book is about a list of the prettiest and ugliest girl in each grade in a high school, and the lives of those girls over one week.
Ice cream is a very important thing in my life. What’s your flavor?

I HATE ICE CREAM! but if i am forced to partake, peanut butter or caramel must be involved somehow.
How much do you GoogleStalk yourself?

Hardly. I am much more interested in stalking other people.
Social media: yay or nay? Best experience and worst experience with it?
Yay! It’s how I made all my new friends when I moved to Pittsburgh.
And now share your deepest, darkest secret?
I usually think I’m no good at what I do.

Thanks for stopping by, Siobhan!

Twitter-view with Jessica Warman

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Yesterday, you read my review of Jessica Warman’s new book, Where the Truth Lies. Today, we have a Twitterview with the author, who shares insight into her writing process, her passions, and whether what she shares about the private school life is close to reality or not.

What’s your writing process like? Writing is meditation for me. It takes me to a place of complete concentration and inner stillness.
Do you have a writing playlist? What’s included on it? I need total silence to write. Any distraction – phone, music, TV – drives me nuts.

If you were to compare WHERE THE TRUTH LIES to a book, a film, and a television show, what would those be? I honestly have no idea. I can’t think of many stories that it’s similar to.

If you could have written any book in the world, what would it have been? Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. Best book ever. Wallace was a genius. Unfortunately, I am not.

In BREATHLESS, your main character is a swimmer and in WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, the main character is a singer. What are your biggest passions? Aside from writing, running is my passion. I had a chance to explore that further in my upcoming novel Between, in which the main character is an avid runner.

Both of your books are focused on prep school life. You attended prep school, so dish: how close or far from reality are your settings? They’re actually very close to reality. Many of the events in Breathless, and a few from Where the Truth Lies, were taken from real life.

What’s the most embarrassing thing to happen to you? I was twenty years old before I learned that reindeer were real animals, not mythical creatures like unicorns. I don’t know how that fact slipped by me for so long.
Have you ever had a secret as deep as Emily? No, thank goodness!

How has social media impacted your relationship with your readers? I love that it gives me a chance to interact more freely with readers. Nothing makes my day better than getting an email from a reader who has truly enjoyed one of my books.

One of my favorite parts in your writing is silence, indicated with “…” “…”. This technique stood out. What made you decide to do that? That technique is borrowed from the late, great David Foster Wallace. I hope he wouldn’t mind my using it!

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Mmmm… Chocolate peanut butter.

If you were going to prison forever, say, because of some breaking and entering or vandalism, what would you want as your last meal? Sushi.

With what character in WHERE THE TRUTH LIES do you most identify? Probably Renee. Like her, I was pretty rebellious in high school!

What’s next for you? My third book, Between, comes out next year. I could not be more excited about it. I loved every single minute that I spent working on it.

Thanks for stopping by, Jessica!