STACKED

books

Twitterview: Melissa Walker

|

Yesterday, we brought you a review of Melissa Walker’s forthcoming book, Small Town Sinners, and today, we’re excited to have Melissa here to talk a bit about her book, her career, and more. Read the Twitterview, then enter to win a copy of Small Town Sinners for yourself.

Without further ado!

Pitch SMALL TOWN SINNERS in 140 characters.

Lacey is excited to star in Hell House, her church’s annual haunted house of sin, until unexpected events make her question her faith.

What inspired SMALL TOWN SINNERS?

I wrote a story about a Hell House for ELLEgirl, and was captivated by the teenagers I met who were committed to this religious outreach.

SMALL TOWN SINNERS presents a story about faith without being preachy or one-sided. Why go objective?

It’s easy to insert your own beliefs into a story, but giving the narrative over to the characters and their voices is more real, I think.

What was the most surprising part of writing SMALL TOWN SINNERS for you?

It was oddly easy to get back into church-girl mode, though, honestly, I haven’t been to church in years.

What should readers walk away with from SMALL TOWN SINNERS?

I hope readers walk away with a little more understanding of a certain belief system, and a whole boatload of questions to explore.

Prior to STS, you wrote a series about a model and a romantic comedy. Why the change to hard contemporary?

I always write the story that interests me the most in a certain moment, and those evangelical teens I’d met would not leave my mind.

What was the biggest obstacle to overcome in writing something so different from your prior novels?

The characters in this one are very unlike me, which is different from my other books, where I identified a lot more with the protagonists.

What’s been challenging to you in writing something that contains controversial and edgy topics?

Writing religion is scary. It turns people off, and I’m nervous that my personal beliefs will matter too much to the reader. We’ll see.

What should we expect from your future writing?

A return to lighter stuff for sure, but still peppered with serious stories. I hope I can always keep it new. Next up: An emotional affair!

Who or what do you write for?

Is it self-involved to say that I write for my 16-year-old self? Probably. But it’s also the truest answer I have.

Why do you choose write for a teen audience? Is it intentional or led by the story itself?

Teenagers care more than adults, in general. They’re more involved and excited and angry and invested. I’m into passion.

Who are your top three writing influences?

Judy Blume, Anne M. Martin, VC Andrews. They all got to me young — even VC.

Who do you believe is breaking ground in YA right now?

Everyone who sticks to writing the stories they long to tell rather than the trends they see flashing by. A favorite: Blake Nelson.

You keep yourself extremely busy. What other projects do you have a hand in now?

I write for magazines and here’s the website list: iheartdaily.com, beforeyouwerehot.com, readergirlz.com & The Newbie @ blog.zulily.com

What’s the best writing advice you ever received?

An editor once handed a going-nowhere story I’d written back to me with one note: “Someone has to change.” Best edit ever.

Twitterview: Nova Ren Suma

|

Welcome to another installment of the Twitterview here at STACKED. This month, we bring you Nova Ren Suma, author of the upcoming Imaginary Girls, due out June 14 from Penguin. We brought you a review of this one yesterday — it’s a book that impressed both myself (who has a bent to the contemporary) and Kimberly (who has a bent toward fantasy/dystopian/science fiction). Check out what Nova had to say about the book, writing, and her love of chocolate. Bonus: you can enter to win a copy of her book at the end!

Pitch IMAGINARY GIRLS in 140 characters.

Two sisters, their strong bond, and the dead body that threatens to break it. A story about love, sacrifice, and questionable magic.

IMAGINARY GIRLS is a genre-bending novel, neither fantasy nor contemporary nor paranormal. How would you classify it personally?

I think it’s more magical realism than paranormal. I’ve been calling it contemporary realistic with a fantastical, even supernatural, twist.

Why a sister story?
When I was nine, my life changed for the better. I was gifted with a baby sister. My love for her knows no bounds.

Olive, a submerged town, plays a huge role in the lore of both the story and in Ruby’s character. Is this based on anything in our world?

At 16 I stole swims in the local reservoir. Years later, I learned its history, the towns it drowned. From this, a glimmer of Olive emerged.

Perception vs. reality was a huge theme that came through for me in reading. So, answer: is Ruby as powerful as she seems?

I wrote the story through Chloe’s eyes, so those are the eyes I see through, even now. Chloe wholly believes in Ruby’s power, and so do I.

What should readers walk away with from IMAGINARY GIRLS?

That’s up to the reader. Maybe they’d find themselves taken up by the world of the town, and by Ruby, forgetting all else for a while.

What was the most surprising part of writing IMAGINARY GIRLS for you?

How exciting it is to stray from reality, explore the surreal. Once the dams open and the impossible becomes possible—there’s no stopping.

Who or what do you write for?

I write for the girl I was, but mostly for the girl I longed to be.

Your first novel, DANI NOIR, is a middle grade mystery story. Why the jump to YA?

DANI NOIR wasn’t written first; it pubbed first. I wrote two adult novels and started IG before DANI. After, I was itching to return to YA.

How has the transition been in your writing?

A big transition for me was more from writing for adults to writing for young readers. It felt exhilarating. It felt right. I won’t go back.

Who are your top three writing influences?

Jean Rhys showed me a voice. Aimee Bender introduced me to the surreal alive in the everyday. And Laura Kasischke inspired me to write YA.

Who do you believe is breaking ground in YA right now?

I find myself especially taken with dystopians, so I’d have to say those writers reimagining our worlds and foretelling our futures.

What’s the best writing advice you ever received?

“Why don’t you write a YA novel?” The editorial director at my former day job said this to me. Unfortunately it took me years to listen.

What’s your best writing advice to give?

Don’t be afraid to give up. Yes. Give up on what’s not working and start something new. Abandoning novels and starting over brought me here.

What’s next for you?

I’m deep into writing my next novel with Dutton, also YA, a fantastical, ghostly story I’m holding close. I hope it will be out in 2012.

What’s your writing routine?

Writing every day. When I can’t—too busy, too distracted—a terrible guilt descends. Writing every day is the routine I aspire to anyway.

How do you get yourself jazzed up to write?

Music and mochas. Mochas come first thing in the morning. Music loops from my novel’s carefully cultivated playlist all throughout the day.

What’s your favorite ice cream? 🙂

Chocolate chocolate chip, with chocolate sauce on top. Did I mention I like chocolate?

Twitterview: Blake Nelson!

|

Once in a while, blogging gives you gifts you weren’t expecting. Today, I bring you one of them.

I’m a big fan of Blake Nelson, and I’ve offered my reviews of Destroy All Cars, Paranoid Park, and Recovery Road. So when he contacted me about a potential Twitterview a few months ago, it was hard not to do it right then. But I waited. And today I bring you an exciting interview with him. Blake may have been the first author to actually email me after a review — way back in 2009 — and it was one of those awesome blog moments that stuck with me. So, I’m giving away GIRL, PARANOID PARK, DESTROY ALL CARS, and RECOVERY ROAD to celebrate our 2-year blogging anniversary here at STACKED. I’ll add that RECOVERY ROAD is also signed by Blake himself, who I had the pleasure of meeting during his stop in the area for Sister Spit (oh yes, photo evidence below). Here’s your chance to sample Nelson’s style which I have grown to appreciate more and more with each book of his I read.

But first — let’s hear from him.

What influenced RECOVERY ROAD?

I did a school visit at a girls reform school. The girls were smart, interesting, unusual. I wanted to write about them.
Maddie ultimately recovers in the story, but she’s the only one. Why did you make this choice?

The characters decide, not me. She was just sooo determined. That’s what made the book: her ferocity.

As a reader, I found your setting a hugely important part of Maddie’s story and know Portland is where your stories are usually set. Why?

The rainy gloom of Portland! It is in my soul … and it was perfect for this kind of love story.

GIRL, your first novel, has been in print for over 15 years now and it’s a cult classic. Would you change anything about the book today?

No way! We love people because of their flaws. GIRL has many many flaws. But it still kicks ass!

Each of your books is entirely different — you don’t fall into a single category. How do you make your style/voice decisions?

I feel sorry for series authors, writing the same thing over and over. Poor J.K. Rowling. I think I’ll send her a card.

You successfully capture both male voices and female voices, giving your books wide appeal. Talk about the experience of writing each.

Girls think. Boys do. Girls analyze. Boys criticize. Girls think about people. Boys think about things.

Two of your books — PARANOID PARK and GIRL — have been made into films. Did both/either come out as you’d imagined?

It’s always profoundly weird to see what your story looks like in someone else’s brain. But after the shock, it’s fun.
This spring, you’re on the bus for the Sister Spit tour. How did you get involved with this?

They’re GIRL fans, and SASSY freaks. I’m a big fan of their stuff. Michelle Tea is one of my heroes.

What influences your writing?

Hearing people talk about their lives. Watching teenagers. Thinking about being young.
Which of your books has been most meaningful to you and why?

Probably RECOVERY ROAD. It is my fullest, most complete book. Maddie changes so much. And it feels so real.

Of all your books, which character from which book would be closest to your heart and why?

I still love Andrea Marr. From GIRL. I would love to meet her now, fifteen years on, she’s probably a librarian.
Same question as above, but this time tell us who is most like yourself?

Alex in PARANOID PARK: Clueless, funny, sometimes profound in an accidental way.

Given your career as a whole, if you could redo something in any of your books, would you?

No. I do TONS OF REWRITING, POLISHING and OBSESSING, so I know there’s nothing really wrong with any of them.

You’ve seen the rise of YA in the last few years. What’s changed in the time you’ve been publishing? Is it easier or harder now to write?

Too much trend-chasing. Someone yells “DYSTOPIA!!” and everyone runs to their computer and starts typing.
What is your writing routine?

Six hours, every day.

Best piece of writing advice ever received?

“Get rid of the little words”
Best piece of writing advice you’ve ever given?

“Maybe you should stick to acting, Gwyneth.”

Who do you think is doing some of the most influential work in the YA world today?

Love Frank Portman. Love Natalie Standiford. And Sara Zarr. I like more realistic stuff.

What three books or writers would you consider the most influential to you and your career?

John Updike, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry Rollins

Like all authors for teens, you get letters from your readers. What was the most memorable thing someone has said to you about your work?

I love it when my books keep people company. Like a good friend. Kerouac does that for me.
Share one of the most memorable moments of your teen years.

Falling in love the first time. And having my whole psyche re-arranged by it.
What are three surprising things we should know about you outside of writing?

I was a teenaged redneck. In high school I played football, drove a pickup and hunted and fished on weekends.

And the most important question — favorite ice cream flavor?

chocolate!

Twitterview: Holly Schindler

|

Welcome to another edition of STACKED’s Twitterview series. This month, we bring you Holly Schindler, author of A Blue So Dark and the recently-released Playing Hurt. She’s here to talk influences, March Madness, water imagery, and much, much more. I even let her cheat a little on character count. We’re giving away a copy of Playing Hurt, too, so get your entry in at the end.

Pitch PLAYING HURT in 140 characters or less:
Two former athletes stumble onto love—and the light that can still exist in their lives, healing their long-lived heartache in the process.

What inspired PLAYING HURT?
When I took my team to March Madness back in senior year…
(The people who know me are belly laughing. I have zero athletic ability. Ziltch. I’ll try that one again…)

What inspired PLAYING HURT?
The strong desire to reinvent a cute summer romance drafted years ago. Wanted to give it a meaty backstory. My pub journeys = looooong.

Chelsea and Clint both have to give up something they love and not by choice. Have you had to do something similar in your life?
I did the opposite—clung to writing, love of my life, at the sacrifice of most everything else. (Took 7 1/2 yrs. to get 1st acceptance!)

Do you relate to either Chelsea or Clint?
When writing 1st person, pieces of me always slip through—even into male characters!

How hard was it to write a male voice?
Clint’s voice wasn’t in itself difficult. The main difficulty was drafting new material. 1st draft=Chelsea’s POV. Writing Clint=new novel!

Both PLAYING HURT and A BLUE SO DARK feature significant water imagery and setting. Care to talk about that and its significance?
Water imagery seems odd for a girl in landlocked MO, doesn’t it? LOVE the calm of being near water. Would love a house near the lake.

What is your writing routine / how do you get yourself in the writing mindset?
My writing routine is 24/7. Really. I write incessantly.

Best piece of writing advice you’ve received?
Don’t quit; keep going; you’ll get there if you just put your butt in the chair and pay your dues—Advice to self.

Best piece of writing advice you can give?
People WILL tell you you’re nuts for writing. The only truly nutty thing is listening to them.

Who do you think is doing groundbreaking work in the YA lit world today?
I always think of L.H. Anderson as a seminal author who ushered in current contemporary YA.

Name three books or authors who inspire you.
Zevin, Ockler (especially for how she handled herself during Scroggins debacle), Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Share one of the most memorable moments of your teen years.
Guitar lessons with former Ozark Mtn. Daredevil. Most innately talented person I’ve ever known…

Twitterview: Michael Northrop

|

Welcome to another Twitterview/Giveaway installment here at STACKED. Today, we’ve got an author who knows a thing or two about guy reading. Michael Northrop is the author of the recent Trapped and Gentlemen. He’s stopped by to give us insight into his latest book, as well as his influences and inspirations. Looking for a go-to for guy reads? Look no further. As a bonus, one lucky reader will win their choice of either Trapped or Gentlemen to add to their own collections.

Pitch TRAPPED in 140 characters or less: 7 students stranded in their high school during a weeklong blizzard, no power, no heat… It’s like Mother Nature gave them detention.

What inspired TRAPPED? Too many nature documentaries as an adult, a lot of snowy winters as a kid, and a few blows to the head along the way.

And why THE BREAKFAST CLUB? The comparison is hard to avoid when you have mismatched teens stuck in a school. And why avoid it? Acknowledge it—it’s a classic!

So Scotty finds himself in a tricky situation during a snowstorm. What would you do if trapped in a school during snowpocalypse? Now, I think I’d handle it pretty well: I’ve seen EVERY EPISODE of Man vs. Wild. As a teen, I’d handle it about as well as Scotty.

If you were to cast yourself as a character in TRAPPED, who would it be and why? Speaking of which… I’d be Scotty. He’s v. good at sports & pretty good at school. I was the other way around but it’s the same basic idea.

How has your background in writing for publications like SPORTS ILLUSTRATED influenced your writing style? Journalism is great training. It teaches you that reality is inconvenient: People rarely do/say just the right thing @ just the right time.

What is your writing routine/how do you get yourself in the writing mindset? I write in the morning (morning person) all hopped up on caffeine and sugar & I do 1,000 words/day (give or take).

Best piece of writing advice you’ve received? I’m not sure it’s advice, exactly, but I copied the thousand words/day thing from Stephen King. He mentions it in On Writing.

Best of writing advice you can give? Read, including some books outside the genre you’re writing. You don’t want to be a Play-Doh Fun Factory (i.e. YA in, YA out).

Who do you think is doing some of the best guy-friendly writing in the YA world today? Scott Westerfeld. Of course, his stuff is also v. girl-friendly. That’s some good writing right there.

What three YA books do you think are essential guy lit? Well, it really depends on the guy, but I’ll give it a go: The Outsiders, Hatchet, and half a dozen issues of The Uncanny X-Men.

Tell us a bit about your forthcoming series with Scholastic that kicks off with PLUNKED. I’m doing 2 middle-grade sports novels. Plunked is up 1st: about a young slugger who gets hit by a pitch & loses his nerve.

When you’re not writing, you’re a bit of a cartoonist. Care to share a piece or two of your finest works? 1) Darth Vader vs. the Diabetic Jedi 2) Get Trapped!

Have any movies changed your life recently?
OKIE NOODLING! A doc. about people who catch huge catfish w/ their hands; a fantastic, folksy intersection btw the everyday & the extreme.

Share one of the most memorable moments of your teen years.

I got a concussion at football practice. Coach asked me what day it was. I said Friday. It was Tuesday. I think I was just hoping.

Want to win a copy of either TRAPPED or GENTLEMEN? Fill out the form below, and I’ll pick a winner around the 15th of the month.