Thankful Thursday–the SEA t-shirt addition!
1. I’m Thankful my friend Phili just visited with her little girl. She is the proprietor of this funky vintage clothesline for babies and kids http://lissoos.com/ AND AND AND…she’s going to design a tank-top and t-shirt for SEA!
I’m thrilled beyond thrilled, because I love her stuff and have dressed my kids in it AND this guy dresses his kid in it too:
This is not one of her t-shirts, but his kid really was photographed wearing one. What are the chances of Jon wearing a SEA tank? I know, right? VERY HIGH.
So anyway, we were brainstorming DESIGN and COLORS and I’m SO excited! She loved my slogan dare to hope, dare to live, dare to love so we’re thinking of variations of bits of that phrase. These will be nice shirts too– in super super soft hand-dyed organic cotton. And of course, I’m thinking GIVEAWAYS!
2. I’m thankful for coffee. And lots of it. Also, Yoga. Lots of that too. I’m also thankful for the golden orb in the sky whose been teasing us all week with games of peek-a-boo. Why not come out and stay for awhile? K-thnx!
3. I’m thankful for my new babysitter who is awesome and smart and playful and who gives me time to work. I love working! Working is a special treat. Seriously. I’m weird like that.
4. I’m thankful for BOOKS. I’ve read so many good ones lately and love to sing their praises from rooftops. Just finished the ARC of Everlasting by fellow 10_ers angie_frazier
Everlasting is a romantic, old-fashioned adventure with a slow-simmering magic. I devoured it. It comes out in June, too.
5. I’m thankful for TV! Yes. That terrible box people are always saying bad things about that I happen to love. In small, high quality doses. This week I love this show:
Life Unexpected is charming and heart-felt and the main character Lux? More over, Jon-Stew, she’d look even better in a SEA tank-top!
6. I’m super thankful for this. My editor sent it yesterday. And, as you know, I heart Independent bookstores so much so this made my day. It comes from an indie store in Tennessee. Thank you, Cover to Cover and thanks to indie stores everywhere who are working so hard to reach readers and sell our books.
Sea – Heidi R. Kling
Loved it!! An excellent, well written teenage love story. It was full of emotion, with real pain and grief, which I think makes for a more enjoyable and believable story. Sienna Jones is still struggling to get over losing her mother to a plane crash (well lost plane) that happened 3 years before when her dad surprises her with tickets to Indonesia to help orphans deal with the aftermath of a tsunami. Along the way she finds a little romance and more importantly the part of herself she has shelved out of fear for the last 3 years. Full of adventure, as well as tenderness this book was hard to put down.
I think it is a great book for teenage girls. Not the same formula that is everywhere which I really like and find refreshing. —Michelle, Cover to Cover.
What about you? What are you thankful for today?
Radio Show!
Turns out I survived* my first radio interview. The most nerve-wracking Before part was making sure my CLOCKS were set right. Our house is like Correct Time Fail. All of them are off by something. So I grabbed my laptop, my phone (those are set by a satellite, right?) rushed my husband and kids out of the house and with quivering hands called in at 7:55 a.m. (which I hoped was 7:55 a.m.)–Barry, the lovely British house answered and we chatted for a bit then he left me on the line. Alone. Quickly, I typed in my website URL. Grabbed my SEA ARC in case there were specific questions about the cover or anything (turns out there was!) I heard the opening notes to the Book and a Chat theme song, which is this folksy/cute tune and then the exciting part…
You’re on the air in
FIVE…
…FOUR
THREE…
…TWO
ONE!
(Yes, my palms are sweating as I type this…)
If you want to hear what happened next, here’s the link!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/across-the-pond/2010/01/23/ya-radio-month–a-book-and-a-chat-with-heidi-r-kli
And Barry’s (very kind) recap afterward:
http://storyheart.vox.com/library/post/ya-month—a-book-and-a-chat-with-heidi-r-kling.html?_c=feed-atom
Thanks to all the bloggers, friends and family members who called in. It was such a treat!
Barry asked me to be on his show again June 5 (five days before SEA debuts).
I’m already checking the clocks!
*By “survived* I mean *loved*. It was truly fun!
No, Barry didn’t provide any food
but I LOVED the music!
RADIO SHOW with Heidi R. Kling TOMORROW, Saturday, 11 a.m. EST
Lovely British Barry invited me on his A Book and a Chat radio show!
When I first got the email on my website account, I thought it was spam. Why would anyone want me on a radio show? But then he said he asked around Twitter, and I was one of the most popular requests.
That made me giggle.
I told you I was addicted. It’s all the Team Peeta and Damon from Vampire Diaries content SURELY.
Anyway, the show is an hour long and we will talk about SEA and whatever else he wants to talk about.
Please call (347) 237-5398 (8:00 a.m. for you West Coast peeps!)
or chat-in questions! Except for all you Team Gale people. You just slowly. back. away. ;D
Thanks!
Details on the link below:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/across-the-pond
Peeta and Gale WHO?
Beauty
The rain fell side-ways today and so fierce that umbrellas blew from wet hands, flipped inside-out and this is California and people shudder when thunder strikes and their eyes grow wide and they worry, “What if we lose our electricity?” because we are spoiled like that.
Still streets flooded. Puddles oozed. Cars slipped on oil-slick roads.
And I sat in a cafe and wrote.
And wrote and wrote and wrote. About some nasty, sometimes scary things involving monsters. YES. Me. Monsters. I know.
And when I got back in my car, the sun was shining.
And reflecting off still-wet streets.
And an arch of color filled the sky.
A rainbow.
And I came home and All Was Well and I read this post by my friend Jackie in response to something that could turn ugly even though what she wrote was something beautiful. And this is it:
http://fabulousfrock.livejournal.com/344808.html
Another reminder that Beauty is Everywhere.
Peace.
Big Award Day!
And I’m not talking about the drizzly Golden Globes (Summary of Red Carpet: Astounded journalist: Can you stand ALL THIS RAIN?? Audience: Um, yeah? It’s an umbrella. It’s not going to eat you.)
BUT I’m talking about books! With excited hands I just searched for the ALA Winners and WHOA, what a line up it is! I’m especially thrilled for LK Madigan who was awarded the Morris Award for debut authors for her fabulous novel Flash Burnout. I’ve been cheering Flash Burnout on and spreading the word of its awesome since I read it. The beloved-by-all When You Reach Me taking home the Newbery is fantastic, as is Libba Bray’s Printz for Going Bovine. The author took a chance writing outside her original historical paranormal genre, and I’m thrilled that risk paid off for her in such a major way. My favorite picture book of the year All the World was awarded a Caldecott mention. Congratulations, everybody on this list, everyone who was nominated including all the behind the scenes people: agents/editors/cover designers/marketing. And all the writers who had books out in 2009! Without further adieu, the complete list.
Morris Award Winner, FLASH BURNOUT, by LK Madigan
A list of all the 2010 literary award winners follows: (from the ALA.org website)
John Newbery Medal for most outstanding contribution to children’s literature
“When You Reach Me,” written by Rebecca Stead, is the 2010 Newbery Medal winner. The book is published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.
Four Newbery Honor Books also were named: “Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice” by Phillip Hoose and published by Melanie Kroupa Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; “The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly and published by Henry Holt and Company; “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin and published by Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers; and “The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg” by Rodman Philbrick and published by The Blue Sky Press, An Imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Randolph Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book for children
“The Lion & the Mouse,” illustrated and written by Jerry Pinkney, is the 2010 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was published by Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers.
Two Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “All the World,” illustrated by Marla Frazee, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and published by Beach Lane Books; and “Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors,” illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Joyce Sidman and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults
“Going Bovine,” written by Libba Bray, is the 2010 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House.
Four Printz Honor Books also were named: “Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith” by Deborah Heiligman, published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; “The Monstrumologist” by Rick Yancey, published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Group; “Punkzilla” by Adam Rapp, published by Candlewick Press; and “Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance, 1973” by John Barnes, published by Viking Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults
“Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal,” written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, is the King Author Book winner. The book is illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
One King Author Honor Book was selected: “Mare’s War” by tanita s. davis and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award
“My People,” illustrated by Charles R. Smith Jr., is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Langston Hughes and published by ginee seo books, Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
One King Illustrator Honor Book was selected: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” illustrated by E. B. Lewis, written by Langston Hughes and published by Disney – Jump at the Sun Books, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award
“The Rock and the River,” written by kekla magoon, is the Steptoe winner. The book is published by Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.
Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement
Walter Dean Myers is the winner of this first-ever Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. Myers’ books include: “Amiri & Odette: A Love Story,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “Fallen Angels,” published by Scholastic Press; “Monster,” published by Amistad and HarperTeen, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers; and “Sunrise Over Fallujah,” published by Scholastic Press.
Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience
“Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros,” illustrated by Rafael López, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner. The book was written by Pat Mora and published by Rayo, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were selected: “Diego: Bigger Than Life,” illustrated by David Diaz, written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and published by Marshall
Cavendish Children; “My Abuelita,” illustrated by Yuyi Morales, written by Tony Johnston and published by Harcourt Children’s Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; and “Gracias Thanks,” illustrated by John Parra, written by Pat Mora and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Pura Belpré (Author) Award
“Return to Sender,” written by Julia Alvarez, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.
Two Belpré Author Honor Books were named: “Diego: Bigger Than Life,” written by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, illustrated by David Diaz and published by Marshall Cavendish Children; and “Federico García Lorca,” written by Georgina Lázaro, illustrated by Enrique S. Moreiro and published by Lectorum Publications Inc.
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience
“Django” written and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen and published by Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, wins the award for best young children ages 0 to 10.
“Anything but Typical” written by Nora Raleigh Baskin and published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, is the winner for middle grades (ages 11-13).
The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Marcelo in the Real World,” written by Francisco X. Stork and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
William C. Morris Award honors a book written by a first-time author for young adults
“Flash Burnout,” written by L.K. Madigan, is the Morris Award winner. The book is published by Houghton Mifflin, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Odyssey Award for excellence in audiobook production
Live Oak Media, producer of the audiobook “Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken” is the winner of the Odyssey Award. The book was written by Kate DiCamillo and narrated by Barbara Rosenblat.
Three Odyssey Honor Audiobooks were named: “In the Belly of the Bloodhound: Being an Account of a Particularly Peculiar Adventure in the Life of Jacky Faber,” produced by Listen & Live Audio, Inc., written by L. A. Meyer and narrated by Katherine Kellgren; “Peace, Locomotion,” produced by Brilliance Audio, written by Jacqueline Woodson and narrated by Dion Graham; and “We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball,” produced by Brilliance Audio, written by Kadir Nelson and narrated by Dion Graham.
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for most distinguished beginning reader book
“Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!,” written and illustrated by Geoffrey Hayes is the Geisel Award winner. The book is published by TOON BOOKS, a division of RAW Junior, LLC.
Four Geisel Honor Books were named: “I Spy Fly Guy!” written and illustrated by Tedd Arnold and published by Scholastic; “Little Mouse Gets Ready,” written and illustrated by Jeff Smith and published by TOON BOOKS, a division of RAW Junior, LLC; “Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends,” written and illustrated by Wong Herbert Yee and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; and “Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day,” written by Kate McMullan, illustrated by R. W. Alley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults
Jim Murphy is the 2010 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793,” published by Clarion Books; “Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Great Fire,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Long Road to Gettysburg,” published by Clarion Books; and “A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy,” published by Clarion Books.
Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children
“Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream,” written by Tanya Lee Stone, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Candlewick Press.
Three Sibert Honor Books were named: “The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors,” written by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tony Persiani and published by Charlesbridge; “Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11,” written and illustrated by Brian Floca, and published by Richard Jackson/Atheneum Books for Young Readers; and “Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice,” written by Phillip Hoose and published by Melanie Kroupa/Farrar Straus Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award
“Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith,” written by Deborah Heiligman, is the winner of the first-ever YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award. The book is published by Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video
Paul R. Gagne and Mo Willems of Weston Woods, producers of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!,” are the Carnegie Medal winners. The video is based on the book of the same name written and illustrated by Willems; it was narrated by Willems and Jon Scieszka with animation by Pete List.
Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States
“A Faraway Island” is the 2010 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in Swedish in 1996 as “En ö i havet,” the book was written by Annika Thor, translated by Linda Schenck, and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books.
Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “Big Wolf and Little Wolf,” written by Nadine Brun-Cosme, illustrated by Olivier Tallec, translated by Claudia Bedrick and published by Enchanted Lion Books; “Eidi,” written by Bodil Bredsdorff, translated by Kathryn Mahaffy and published by Farrar Straus Giroux; and “Moribito II: Guardian of the Darkness,” written by Nahoko Uehashi, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu, translated by Cathy Hirano and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences
“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope” by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
“The Bride’s Farewell” by Meg Rosoff, published by Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Group
“Everything Matters!” by Ron Currie, Jr., published by Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Group
“The Good Soldiers” by David Finkel, published by Sarah Crichton Books, an imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
“The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir” by Diana Welch and Liz Welch with Amanda Welch and Dan Welch, published by Harmony Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House
“The Magicians,” by Lev Grossman, published by Viking Penguin, a member of Penguin Group
“My Abandonment” by Peter Rock, published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
“Soulless: An Alexia Tarabotti Novel,” by Gail Carriger, published by Orbit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group
“Stitches: A Memoir” by David Small, published by W.W. Norton & Company
“Tunneling to the Center of the Earth” by Kevin Wilson, published by Harper Perennial, an imprint of HarperCollins
May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site
Lois Lowry will deliver the 2011 lecture. The internationally acclaimed author’s career spans more than 30 years. She is a two-time recipient of the Newbery Medal, in 1990 for “Number the Stars,” set in Denmark during World War II, and in 1994 for the eerily dystopian “The Giver.” Both books are published by Houghton Mifflin.
Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit the ALA Web site at www.ala.org.
SEA’s FirstEver TEEN blog review!
http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/01/sea-by-heidi-r-kling.html
The above is written by a real-live teenager who doesn’t know me, which makes it all the more special (and scary!)
First thing this morning I read (okay, five minutes ago) and happy-tears are slipping down my cheeks.
Thank you so much for having me Reggie!
:)
Author Chat with Anna Jarzab author of All Unquiet Things
“Part mystery, part character study, the story hooks readers immediately, propelling them through a serpentine path of secrets and lies.” - Booklist
It’s a slow-building, slow-burning mystery—Jarzab is as interested in probing Neily and Audrey’s emotional states and the ramifications of Carly’s murder as she is in solving it—but the author’s confident, literary prose makes for a tense and immersive thriller.” - Publisher’s Weekly
Welcome to Author Chat, Anna! Congratulations on your debut novel All Unquiet Things, which is out today.
What is the basic premise?
Two teens team up to figure out who murdered their friend in cold blood, even though they can’t stand each other. Unlikely allies! My favorite.
Where did you get the idea?
The book basically grew out of Neily, the main character. I invented him, and the story followed, albeit in a roundabout fashion and not as swiftly as I would like. I’m sure the mystery element grew out of my childhood obsession with Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie novels.
Your cover is brilliant. How do you think it reflects your book and its theme(s)?
I love the cover, too! Obviously it reflects the plot–dead girl–but it has that verdant look that reminds me of California the way I describe it in the opening paragraph. It’s also simple, in contrast to the complexity of the plot, and elegant in a way I hope the plot unfolds.
Did you have any cover input?
Not a bit. My editor asked me if I had any ideas, and I gave her one, and they didn’t use it, which is totally fine because I used it for my website.
Who are some of your favorite authors (YA or otherwise):
My favorite classic (meaning dead) authors are Jane Austen, Nancy Mitford, E.M. Forster, Shakespeare, Evelyn Waugh, Virginia Woolf, Truman Capote, C.S. Lewis, John Steinbeck, Madeleine L’Engle, Charlotte and Emily Bronte. My favorite living authors are Douglas Coupland, Alice Munro, David Sedaris, J.D. Salinger (he actually is alive! I checked!), Chris Adrian, Anne Rice, Stephen King, and Ian McEwan. My favorite YA writers are Courtney Summers, C.K. Kelly Martin, J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, John Green, Robin Benway, Ally Carter, Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah Dessen, and all the Tenners. ;)
If you could cast your novel as a movie, who would star?
Normally I would say unknowns, but I saw Jennifer’s Body recently and thought that either Kyle Gallner (Galner? too lazy to check) or Johnny Simmons would be excellent as Neily. I’ve always liked Amanda Seyfried for Audrey, even though she’s not tall enough, and Amber Tamblyn as Carly, even though she’s probably too old now. Actaully, they all probably are, but this is Hollywood!
Did you write to music? A playlist?
I have a playlist for AUT [link: http://www.annajarzab.com/aut/all-unquiet-things-playlist/], but I don’t normally write while listening to music–I can’t concentrate. I listen to my playlists while I’m on the subway or walking around town and working on my books in my head.
If you were forced to move to a deserted island with one of your characters who would it be and why?
I guess I’d have to say Neily, because if I had the opportunity to meet any of my characters, it’d be him. Harvey would probably be better company, though.
Note from Heidi: After seeing Johnny with the surfboard, I’d say: Good choice. :)
What’s up next for you?
A new YA mystery with an as yet unspecified title! (Legal killed the old one, boo, but I understand.) It’s about a disappearance.
And most importantly, where can we buy this book and find out more about you?
You can by this book any old place! Borders, B&N, Books a Million, Amazon, and your favorite local bookstore. You can find out more about me on my website [link: http://www.annajarzab.com]. I’m also on Twitter [link: http://www.twitter.com/ajarzab], Goodreads and Facebook.
Thank you, Anna! I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this beautiful written mystery (I’ve had the pleasure of reading the first chapter, and its gorgeous!) Congratulations on your book birthday!
Putnam Week!
http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2010/01/publisher-week-7-putnam-week.html
Includes interviews and reviews from upcoming Putnam authors and our editor. :)
SEA is highlighted on Wednesday.
Happy Monday, everybody.
SEA Giveaway on Goodreads!
Enter down on this linky to enter! http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/2423-sea
Contest ends in April.
Happy Friday, everybody!
Author Chat with The Secret Year’s Jennifer R. Hubbard
I’m thrilled to have fellow 10_ers Jennifer R. Hubbard of Author Chat this morning. I devoured her dark and lovely debut The Secret Year last month and needed to find out more.
So here goes!
What is the basic premise of THE SECRET YEAR?
After his secret girlfriend’s death, seventeen-year-old Colt finds the notebook she left behind, but he is unprepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship.
I’ve had the good fortune of reading this book and was amazed how well you (a woman) wrote your MC’s voice (a teenaged boy.) It was totally believable and consistent. Did you grow up with brothers? Otherwise, how…?
I grew up reading the work of male as well as female writers, having male friends and teachers and co-workers and boyfriends. I have a father, a husband, and a stepson. So a male narrator’s voice doesn’t seem that foreign to me. Also, I don’t think of “male” and “female” as rigid roles with mutually exclusive experiences and characteristics. There is a whole spectrum of male experience and a whole spectrum of female experience, and the spectra overlap.
I love the whole “wrong side of the tracks” concept–I’d always been drawn to stories like that (The Outsiders/West Side Story etc.) I assume you have too?
The characters in The Secret Year are certainly familiar with that storyline and those roles, and they play up their differences to enhance the excitement of their relationship. They deliberately exaggerate the divide, making a sort of game out of it—but at the same time, they deceive themselves about what effect it really has on them. And that comes back to bite them, I think.
Did you grow up in a small town where there was such a rich/poor divide? How did that help you write this book?
All my life, I’ve observed the transition of farmlands to suburbs. I’ve seen small towns that were traditionally centered around industries such as mines or quarries or mills, but where the industries have faded and wealthier people are now building homes or second homes. Seeing these transitions, and seeing such vast differences between the older and newer homes in such places, gave me the idea for the setting of The Secret Year.
Did you journal as a teen?
Sporadically. I could never keep it up regularly—I was more interested in fiction.
If you could cast this movie with current actors, who would you choose?
I’m not up on current actors at all. I see very few movies, and I don’t watch much TV, because I’d rather spend the time reading or writing.
(Author note: Because I like Jenn so much I’m going to forgive her this flaw ;) )
If you could live on a desert island with ANY character from YA, who would you pick and why?
Hmm … I’m torn between looking to the dystopian/survival novels for characters who would know how to fish and crack open coconuts, and humorous novels for someone who could keep me entertained. I might go with Connor from Neal Shusterman’s Unwind, because he learned how to live in many different environments, and he grew up a lot over the course of the book.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
In YA right now, I like Sara Zarr, Brent Hartinger, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Neal Shusterman, among many many others.
What is up next for you?
I plan to stay with realistic, contemporary YA novels for the foreseeable future. I can’t name specific projects yet.
Where can my readers find out more about you and most importantly buy this awesome book?
My website is http://www.jenniferhubbard.com/ and my blog is at http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/; I have a blog post that gives all the ordering information for The Secret Year at http://writerjenn.livejournal.com/112201.html.
Thanks!
Thank you, Jenn! Best of luck with your novel!
Check out the FIVE star review here too: http://www.thestorysiren.com/2010/01/secret-year-by-jennifer-hubbard.html
Folks: She’s running a contest with a giveaway on her blog now, so run!
Also, forgive me for referring to you as “folks.” Haven’t head my coffee yet.
:)
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