This month, we’re excited to have Amy Spalding as our Twitterview guest of honor. Amy is the debut author of The Reece Malcolm List, reviewed here. She’s eager to talk about musical theater, her book, and her biggest, darkest secret about ice cream, and much more.

We’ve also got a finished copy of The Reece Malcolm List to give away to one lucky reader.

Pitch The Reece Malcolm List in 140 characters

Long-lost mom, L.A., performing arts school, boys with good hair, complicated friendships, amazing burgers.

What inspired The Reece Malcolm List?

I’m a sucker for long-lost family stories and wanted to write my own! I thought, who is least likely to be the mom. Boom. That’s the mom.

How would you describe your main character, Devan?

Always defined herself by what she didn’t have (her mom). Overflowing with doubts/observations. Never so comfortable as when onstage.

What about Reece Malcolm?

Brilliant, intimidating, bad at cooking, caffeine addict. ANY MORE MIGHT SPOIL THE BOOK.

Your book is set in Los Angeles and the setting is noteworthy. You’re an LA transplant yourself. What’s your favorite part of LA? (*Readers: this is a trick question that makes a lot more sense when you’ve read the book)

People here are part of thriving creative communities. Also the weather’s great, restaurants are amazing, and bands rarely skip our city.

The Reece Malcolm List features musical theater. What’s your favorite show?

TIE: Ragtime, Hair, Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Merrily We Roll Along.

Honorable mention: A Little Night Music, Floyd Collins, Chess, Evita

Favorite show song?

“Journey On”

“Flesh Failures”

“Opening Doors”

“Wig in a Box”

“A Weekend in the Country”

“Big Ass Rock”

“Rainbow High”

“Skid Row”

Oh, sorry, did you ask me to keep going? (*No, but keep going, Amy)

“Science Fiction Double Feature”

“Getting Married Today”

“I’m Not That Guy”

“Real Big News”

“Git Comfortable”

“I Can Hear the Bells”

“Nobody’s Side”

What about your least favorite?

People say Phantom of the Opera’s “All I Ask of You” is romantic. I believe those people to be very wrong.

If you had to give your book a “____ meets _____” pitch, what two (or three! or four!) books/films/shows would The Reece Malcolm List be a meeting of?

Dramarama + Gilmore Girls + High School Musical? THOSE THINGS ALL HAVE ME BEAT BUT STILL.

What should readers walk away with from The Reece Malcolm List?

Don’t be a wild squirrel.

This is your first book. What’s been the best/most exciting part of the publishing process so far?

1. Getting offer. 2. Getting blurbs. 3. Getting ARCs.

What’s been the scariest or most stressful part of the process so far?

My books took a long time to sell. It was depressing and upsetting and I wanted to give up constantly.

Outside of writing, what do you do with your free time? 

I do tons of longform improv, playing on indie teams. Also I love television.

Who or what do you write for?

Sometimes I write books I would have wanted to read at 14, sometimes I write books for me now. I like them all!

What was your most influential read as a teenager?

Most influential books were as a tween: Lois Lowry’s A Summer to Die, Ann M. Martin’s Babysitters Club.

Who are your top three writing influences?

People always think I’m kidding about Ann M. Martin, but it’s true! Also Lois Lowry again here. Current YA, E. Lockhart.

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

Excited about Sarah Skilton’s, Bruised and Leila Howland’s Nantucket Blue. Think CK Kelly Martin should be more famous.

What’s the best writing advice you ever received?

Not to me personally but Jennifer Westfeldt said to write EVERY character like you had to play them. Changed how I wrote supporting “cast”.

What’s your best writing advice to give?

Write what you love. Trends change, but if it takes longer AND YOU LOVE YOUR BOOK you’ll be glad you never wrote a robot romcom.

What is your writing routine?

I’m the worst. Hunched over a coffeetable. Camped out at Starbucks. Lunchtime at work. Don’t write like me, kids.

What gets you jazzed to write?

When I have A Big Idea. When things start to gel. When I can crack myself up like an obnoxious douche.

Do you have a writing soundtrack? Care to share a bit?

I try to center it around book’s soundtrack. For Reece it was pretty much nonstop showtunes, especially cast recordings of Merrily.

What’s next for you?

Editing my next book, Ink Is Thicker Than Water (Dec 2013!).

Favorite ice cream?

Maple bacon.

Your deepest, darkest secret?

Actually I used to hate ice cream. Then I got onboard! LIKE IN MY LATE TWENTIES.