Jennine Garsee - YA Author of Before, After, and Somebody In Between

Today’s YA interview is with Jennine Garsee. She's the author of "Before, After, and Somebody In Between."

E. I. How did your debut novel Before, After, and Somebody in Between which is due out in June 2007 from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books get written? Is it inspired creativity, or a more disciplined hard work approach, with detailed outlines, scheduled writing times?

J. Garsee : I did not use an outline when I wrote this story. I always consider my first draft my “outline.” I’m kind of quirky in the sense that if I veer from the outline, I feel as if I’m doing something “wrong”—which is silly, of course. But I prefer to start at the beginning and see where the story ends up...kind of like watching a movie, with no clue how it ends. This is actually a very disorganized way to write. I envy authors who can outline their stories from beginning to end, thereby avoiding certain pitfalls (like freaky time warps!). But I do thrive on chaos.

Because I work full-time, my writing time is carefully plotted out. I find it difficult to write for only brief periods, so I generally wait till I have a day off and then dive into a marathon. It’s nothing for me to write for two days straight, six or eight hours each day, and then write absolutely nothing for two or three days.

I’d like to say I’m an “inspired” writer, and I guess I was when I was writing the first few drafts of Before/After. Once the story was sold, however, and I needed to do serious revisions with my editor, I learned to organize my time and actually write in a serious way. Now that I’m working on a second novel, that experience has served me well. I can no longer wait to be “inspired”—I have to sit down and make myself writer whether or not I feel I’m in the mood. Now writing is more than pleasure—it’s a business.

E. I. It seems that you have a fully fleshed-out, “real” characters can you explain that to your readers?

J. Garsee : I’m a people watcher. I’m fascinated by humanity, the good and the bad. I’m lucky to have a job where I come into contact with people from all walks of life, and I pay very close attention and try to remember details. I’m also in love with the English language, with different dialects and speech patterns, and I try to incorporate much of this into my characters. Once the characters are created, however, their personalities seem to take off on their own. Sometimes all I can do is sit back and go, “Wow!”

E. I. Can you tell your readers a little bit about Martha and what we should expect?

J. Garsee : Martha is a smart, passionate, quirky fourteen-year-old, stuck in poverty with a crazy, alcoholic mom, and her mom’s obnoxious boyfriend, Wayne. A talented cellist, she dreams of one day attending Juilliard and becoming a professional musician—but as her mom likes to point out, a “white trash” girl from the ghetto has NO change to succeed. At home, she’s overwhelmed by her mom’s drinking and Wayne’s volatile behavior; at school she’s mercilessly harassed by the school bully. Only her music and her two best friends help keep her sane.

Then, after a fatal drive-by shooting for which she blames herself, Martha abruptly “switches” families, hides her past, and invents a fabulous, alternate identity—an identity that becomes harder and harder to maintain as it dawns on her that her new family isn’t “perfect” after all, and that she’s not the only person hiding a terrible secret.

E. I. Who are some of the authors you keep returning to as a reader because of their ability to create vivid, three-dimensional characters?

J. Garsee : Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series is one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of this. She’s brilliant!

E. I. Why write for teens? Did you write your book specifically for the teen fiction shelves?

J. Garsee : Originally this novel was written as mainstream, but on the advice of an agent I once met at a writers conference, I revised it into a YA. Now I’m addicted. It’s like I’m reliving my teen years all over again—only this time I can say whatever I WANT to say!

E. I. What writers, if any, have influenced your work in YA fiction genre? And what writers who have not influenced you do you continue to read solely for pleasure?

J. Garsee : I’m not sure than anyone in particular “influenced” me. I’m very partial to authors who write in the first person, present-tense, the way this novel is written. I enjoy very contempory, in-your-face styles, and gritty material—Laurie Halse Anderson and E.R. Frank come to mind, but these are only two of many examples. sI’m also a new fan of Patrick Jones and recently had the privlege of reading an ARC of his latest, “Chasing Tailights,” which I loved. And as a member of the Class of 2k7 ( the link is: http://classof2k7.com/ ) a group of debut authors whose middle-grade and YA novels are all being published this year, I’m also reading their novels, e.g. “Story of a Girl” by Sara Zarr, “Prom Dates from Hell” by Rosemary Clement-Moore, and “So Not the Drama” by Paula Chase—three very different books, and all of them fantastic.

E. I. What can fans look forward from you in the coming months?

J. Garsee : Right now I’m finishing up a second YA novel, something very different from Before/After.

E. I. What is your favorite thing about being a writer? And what is your least favorite thing?

J. Garsee : My favorite thing is the release writing gives me—I’m able to completely escape into a world of my own creation, and I’m totally in control, unlike real life. The least favorite thing is that my time is so limited and I’m not able to spend as much time writing as I’d like. I’m forced to discipline myself, which isn’t always easy.

E. I. What are your long term plans as a writer?

J. Garsee : Eventually I’d like to write full time. I’m not sure if this will ever be possible, so I’m still thinking of it as a dream rather than an actual goal. My “plan” is write diligently, establish a fan base, and hopefully get a new book out there every couple of years. We’ll see!

E. I. Would you like to close the interview with any of your writing tip to other young aspiring authors?

J. Garsee : The number one thing is to learn ALL YOU CAN about the writing craft as well as the publishing business. Look for feedback for your writing from people other than your friends and family, people who will be honest with you about the quality of your work. "Hone your skills." The competition is unbelievably stiff, so whatever you submit has to be perfect. Most importantly, don’t give up too quickly; rejections are hard, but even though a hundred agents say “no” there is always that next one who might say yes.

Website: http://www.jeanninegarsee.com/
Jeannine Garsee Myspace: www.myspace.com/garseewrites
ELUSIVE SANITY: http://onegrapheshy.livejournal.com

Antonio Pagliarulo - Author of Young Adult Fiction

Today’s YA interview is with Antonio Pagliarulo. He is the author of two YA novels. Antonio is an American of Italian descent, born and raised in New York City. He started writing at an early age. In middle school his notebook was full of stories he had written, but no homework. This pattern of marching to a different drummer stayed with him through high school.

While he was working as a tutor for inner city teens, he became inspired by the stories he witnessed playing out between the cops, the community and the kids for whom everyday was a struggle to survive in the inner city.

His first novel, ‘A DIFFERENT KIND OF HEAT,’ is about inner city youth and their plight. It deals with the uncontrollable angst, confusion, fear, the constant desire to rail against authority, and the overwhelming desire to find a comfortable place in what most often seems a very cold and unforgiving world.

His latest novel, ‘The Celebutantes: On the Avenue,’ for YA readers will be release May 2007. It is the first of a series to be published by Random House. ‘The Celebutantes’ is about the “Hamilton’s,” wealthy, famous and powerful triplets. Though they are heiresses to a billion-dollar media empire, their wealth and power cannot shield them from a dilemma that seems a match for their bigger-than-life status. ‘Celebutantes’ will be available online, and in all major bookstores.

E. I. Antonio thanks for giving us the opportunity to do an interview. Would please tell your fans in what part of working on a book is most enjoyable to you?

A. Pagliarulo: I'm one of those (odd) writers who enjoys the whole process of writing a book -- from initial conception right on through to publication. I love fleshing out characters and plot lines and doing research. Research can be a lot of fun. For my CELEBUTANTES novels, I often end up interviewing quite a number of people. These books, of which the first will published in May 2007, combine fun, fashionable characters with crime detection, so I have my work cut out for me. (Interviewing a fashion designer and a detective in a relatively short span of time can be very confusing!) I also love going through the editorial process with my wonderful editor after I hand in a manuscript. Most writers dislike this part of the process because it often leads to rewriting, or listening to some constructive criticism, but I find it very fulfilling. In every instance, my editor has strengthened what I've written, and thus made a better book!

E. I. What changes took place after you published your first novel, i.e. how different has writing been since you turned it into a career?

A. Pagliarulo: This is a great question, and I think about it a lot. Since my first novel, A DIFFERENT KIND O HEAT, was published last year, I've gotten a whole lot busier. I've signed contracts for several more books with my publisher and have gotten used to living on deadline. And I like that just fine! I've also gotten more involved with my readers. I love getting emails from readers and I respond to every last one of them. I also visit schools and speak to young adults about writing.

E. I. Has your writing based on experience affected your creativity/ imagination?

A. Pagliarulo: It has only strengthened my creativity!!

E. I. Did you feel pressure, either self-imposed or external, to duplicate that success for your second book?

A. Pagliarulo: My first novel, A DIFFERENT KIND OF HEAT, won an ALA Quick Pick Award for Reluctant Readers and was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. Many readers have written to me telling me how much they enjoyed A DIFFERENT KIND OF HEAT, but I don't feel any real pressure about my second book because THE CELEBUTANTES: ON THE AVENUE is very different and so much fun. First of all, it's the beginning of a new series; second of all, it's much more multi-layered than my first novel; third, THE CELEBUTANTES: ON THE AVENUE will very likely make readers laugh out loud, whereas my first novel (according to many readers), made people teary-eyed. In THE CELEBUTANTES: ON THE AVENUE, readers will meet the Hamilton triplets -- Madison, Park, and Lexington -- and will be swept up in a very fast-paced story set against the backdrop of my glittering hometown, New York City.

E. I. Can you share with us some of the toughest experiences you had to go through to finally get published?

A. Pagliarulo: Like all writers, I've dealt with my fair share of rejection. This, I believe, is simply a piece of that really big puzzle called "creativity." Whether you're a writer, an actor, a dancer, a painter, a sculptor...you will undoubtedly stare rejection in the face several times over the course of your career. The road to publication is like that -- but it shouldn't distress or discourage writers in the slightest. New voices are emerging all the time, and a well-written book will always find a home.

E. I. Your readers and other writers often like to get behind the author's writing routine. Would you like to share with your fans a typical writing day schedule?

A. Pagliarulo: I write full time. Most of the time, my days start early. I am at my desk in the morning, where I just dive right in to whatever project I'm working on. This, mind you, involves several cups of coffee and a few self-inflicted slaps to the head, but I always end up making sense of things. I write for several hours. In between the writing, however, I check email and return phone calls or make phone calls. I might speak to my agents, or respond to my editor, or go through a copyedited manuscript. Most of the time, though, my days just involve writing. Now, that might sound a little boring, but I've been known to blast music in my office and dance around my desk, which can spice things up and make a few people laugh. (I'm not too keen on the fact that people laugh when they see me doing this, because I happen to think I'm a good dancer....???)

E. I. Do you write books with having them adapted to the movies in mind?

A. Pagliarulo: No. Books and movies are two different animals entirely. I don't think anyone writing a book should write it with a movie adaptation in mind. There are significant differences between novels and screenplays: a screenplay is a story told in pictures; a novel involves getting into the mind of your characters on the page, providing vivid descriptions for your readers, and creating a "voice" that will propel your narrative through many chapters. While writing a book, I think about my readers, and what will add to making their reading experience all the more enjoyable.

E. I. Please tell us about your latest book “Celebutante” by Delacorte Press which will be published this coming May. What do you think your fans should expect differently from your characters?

A. Pagliarulo: THE CELEBUTANTES: ON THE AVENUE is the first book in a new young adult series being published by Random House. As I explained above, it's about the Hamilton triplets -- Madison, Park, and Lex -- and their lives as wealthy, famous, and powerful teenagers. They are very close as sisters, but each has a very unique character. They are intelligent, sophisticated, and warm-hearted young women. They know how to navigate the world of fame and fortune, but the have a tendency to fall smack into the middle of scandals. Readers should expect to be enthralled, excited, and amused! THE CELEBUTANTES novels are funny, romantic, and very suspenseful; they're also full-bodied mysteries, so readers should expect to be surprised too! The second book in the series, THE CELEBUTANTES: IN THE CLUB, will be published in January 2008. Readers can learn more about the books either on my myspace page, or at www.thecelebutanes.com

E. I. If you were allowed total control of a Hollywood version of Celebutante who would be in it? In your own opinion who do you think should direct?

A. Pagliarulo: So many people who've read THE CELEBUTANTES: ON THE AVENUE, have asked me this question! But the truth is that I just don't know who I'd cast in the movie version! That's actually something I'd like my readers to do for me once they've read THE CELEBUTANTES. I'm looking forward to hearing their opinions on the characters! As for a director....there are so many brilliant ones, so many I am completely in awe of. The list is very long. Let me think about this. Can I get back to you after my next trip to the West Coast? :O)

E. I. Would you like to close the interview with any of your writing tip to other young aspiring authors out there?

A. Pagliarulo: Write as much as you can and read as much you can. There's no better way to hone your writing skills than to read. If you love mysteries, you should be devouring as many mystery novels as possible. Same for romance, or fantasy, or young adult fiction. Become a better reader, and you will inevitably become a better writer. I would also tell authors to get informed about the publishing industry as a whole. These days, a working writer needs to be "in the know" about what's changing in the industry. I would suggest reading Publishers Marketplace, Publishers Weekly, and hitting as many sites about the business as possible. It's a wonderful industry filled with great ideas and great people. Keep on writing!!

E.I. Thanks again for dropping by and giving us the opportunity to get to know you better. Good luck with your next novel and keep us posted.

A. Pagliarulo: Thanks, E.I.

To learn more about Antonio Pagliarulo, please visit him at:
www.myspace.com/antoniowrites

M. Apostolina - Hollywood Screenwriter, Producer, Director & Award Winning Author

Today’s YA interview is with M. Apostolina. He was previously head honcho of Miramax Film’s offices of Creative Affairs in New York, and England. He later shifted his focus from his executive duties to writing full time. Since then he has divided his creative efforts between screenwriting for Hollywood, and writing fiction for young adults. The litany of his achievements is extensive.

M. Apostolina has lectured on film at Columbia College, Northwestern University and New York University. Also, he has written articles for “Film in Review” magazine. His writing credits with Disney and MTV include “James and the Giant Peach,” and “Joe’s Apartment.” He sold the teen comedy, “Planet Deb,” to New Line Cinema, a subsidiary of Time Warner, and most recently created an animated series “Pussycat Hustle” for MTV’s “Logo” network. Also NBC Productions in New York has commissioned M. Apostolina’s television pilot, “Thornhill Prep.”

Three of M. Apostolina’s screen plays have been optioned for film: “The Shop Teacher” went to Warner Brothers, “Fear the Reapers” to Touchstone Pictures and “Indecent”, which is co-written with Robert Sugalski, went to Scott Rudin Productions. The debut of his short film “Kidnap Madonna’s Baby,” which he co-wrote, produced and directed was presented opening night at the Seattle International Film Festival. The film was also screened at the Berlin Film Festival, and was later distributed by Atom films.

M. Apostolina's first novel Hazing Meri Sugarman was nominated in 2006 for the American Library Association Award. His second novel Meri Strikes Back was released in 2006, and the third in the series, Meri Sugarman Strikes Back, is due for release on May 8th, 2007. Simon & Schuster is publishing the series, which is sold on line, and in all major bookstores.

E. I. When did your passion for writing begin? And what keeps you going?

M. Apostolina: I've always been interested in storytelling, even as a kid. When I was eleven, I used to run around with an 8mm movie camera and make my own movies (with the neighborhood kids as actors), while as an adult, I basically pursue every medium where I can tell a story, including TV, movies, and of course, print.

As to what keeps be going: coffee! (kidding) (sort of). But most of all, I love sharing stories with people. It's also great fun to completely immerse yourself into a world, and the lives of people, foreign to your own, which writing enables you to do on a daily basis. You can become anybody, do anything - the possibilities are endless.

E. I. What surprised you most during the publishing process?

M. Apostolina: I was surprised by how respected writers are - even Young Adult writers. Coming first from film, where writers are interchangeable from one another, and where orders from the director or studio executives must be followed, it was a relief to actually be heard.

At first, my editor, Julia Richardson, was amused by this, because when she gave me a few notes on my first book, I immediately executed them, no questions asked. I didn't realize that an author could say, "no," though in Julia's case, her notes are always so good that I'm grateful for them more than anything else.

I'm also surprised - unfortunately - by how little publishing company's pursue advertising in new media. In other words, there's very little Internet banner advertising going on for books, for example. Books, I believe, should be advertised like independent movies, and go after all kinds of low-cost, high-impact promotion. After all, getting people to read is very difficult, so why not get the most out your ad budget by hitting the screens that have everyone looks at these days, namely computer screens. I've heard that this is changing, but we'll see.

E. I. Was there anyone who really influenced you to become a writer?

M. Apostolina: My parents, most of all, who taught me - consciously or unconsciously - patience and stick-to-it-iveness, both of which an author needs a lot of. And, of course, I've been influenced by many authors, though not directly. When I read, I don't like to do it with two eyes, as some authors, do - with one eye on the story, and the other on how the novelist is pulling it off. I like to immerse myself completely.

E. I. Please tell your fans about your latest book "Meri Sugarman Strikes Back" which will be out this coming May. What can your readers and fans expect differently from this book?

M. Apostolina: The fun of "Meri Sugarman Strikes Back" was the opportunity not just to continue the story from "Meri Sugarman Psycho Queen," but to deepen the characters, and explore their lives with more detail, especially Cindy, the heroine, who truly comes into her own as an independent-thinking young woman in "Meri Sugarman Strikes Back."

This time, fans can expect a far more battle-ready Cindy, that's for sure, which only inspires the evil Meri. And, oh, yes, watch out for that marauding band of nasty little Catholic School Girls, and one very sneaky little albino girl with a cherry bomb.

E. I. What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your latest novel? How did you overcome these challenges?

M. Apostolina: The biggest challenge with both "Meri Sugarman Psycho Queen" and "Meri Sugarman Strikes Back," is that they're written in diary format, and only Cindy's diary. And since both books are suspense-oriented, this creates special problems. Cindy can only write about what she's doing, and what she sees; the point-of-view is severely limited.

But I've learned to use this self-imposed limitation to my advantage. Cindy can hear about Meri and her maneuvers from other characters, of course - increasing the information she might have - but her limited point-of-view, I think, actually works to increases the suspense, or the this-is-happening-directly-to-you aspect that comes from writing in a diary format.

E. I. How do you choose which chapter or pages to read from your book when you do a book signing appearances?

M. Apostolina: I've only done one book appearance so far in New York City, and I didn't read from the book, but instead talked about it, and took (a lot) of questions from the gathered readers, many of whom had already read the book. It was a lot of fun.

E. I. Do you let anyone read your manuscripts before sending it to your editor?

M. Apostolina: I have a trusted group of friends I show my completed manuscripts to before I send them off to the publisher. They give me useable feedback - usually with issues involving clarity - though sometimes they'll object to content, since some of them (and many people) don't believe Young Adult books should have material that's "too racy." But I don't think anything should be off limits, and why should it be? The last thing I want to do is talk down to anyone because of their age.

E. I. Wouldn't you love to see your books adapted to film?

M. Apostolina: Yes, I would, though I wouldn't have any expectations in terms of the outcome. The tone of my books are darkly comic and satirical, and with the exception of "Heathers" and a few others, Hollywood doesn't seem to know what to do with dark teen comedies. Still, it would certainly be a fun experience to see my characters on screen, no matter how it turned out. And best of all, it would expose a larger audience to my books. You can't beat a 30 million dollar ad campaign for a movie to lead more people to the original books.

E. I. If you were allowed total control of a Hollywood version of "Meri Sugarman," Who would be in the starring roles? And who would direct?

M. Apostolina: I have absolutely no idea who I'd cast, since teen stars change so quickly these days, though I do like many of them, especially Amanda Bynes, who would be great for either Meri or Cindy. As for a director, I'd love Mike Nichols, but then who wouldn't?

E. I. Would you like to close the interview by telling your fans any writing tips for the young aspiring writers?

M. Apostolina: The best tip is to always outline your story before you begin writing your novel - know your story's beginning, middle, and end, at the very least. Otherwise, you'll end up getting lost (I guarantee it), and while you don't have to stick to your outline completely - you never know where inspiration will take you - it's good to have a road map, so to speak, of what story you're trying to tell.

This is especially crucial if you're writing mystery or suspense, since so many story elements involve surprise and carefully orchestrated clues and hints. But I think outlining is crucial for any genre. On my MySpace author's page ( http://www.myspace.com/mapostolina), I have many blog entries entitled "Tips For New Writers." Hopefully, they're helpful. Everyone, I think, has a great story to tell.

To learn more about M. Apostolina, please visit him at:
www.mapostolina.com
www.myspace.com/mapostolina

Ms. Jackie Mitchard - National Best-selling YA Author

Today’s YA interview is with Jackie Mitchard, National best-selling YA author, and Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club choice in 1998. She has been interviewed by Oprah, and Katie Couric. Also she was featured on Entertainment Tonight.

Her latest suspense novel, Still Summer, is a survival adventure story about four women castaways, who were lost at sea and endured a horrifying experience. Still Summer is due to be out in August, and will be available in all the major bookstores and online.

Her first YA novel, Now You See Her, is now on sale in stores and online. The protagonist, Hope Shay, is a fifteen year old actress who has a seemingly perfect life as a student attending an elite performing arts academy. But questions are raised when Hope vanishes, and it is later revealed that she faked her own abduction.

The concept and intricate plot of Ms. Mitchard’s newly released book is fascinating. Fans of her earlier work, who enjoyed her positive emotion, will not be disappointed, YA readers, who may be unfamiliar with her work, will delight in her fresh approach to the YA genre.

She is currently working on a second young adult book, All We Know of Heaven. This novel will be the first in a series of three teen mysteries about identical twin psychics, who were born one minute before, and one minute after midnight on New Year’s Eve. The lead novel is due for release in 2008.

Ms. Mitchard writes for “More” and “Parade” magazines, and is a contributing editor for the Disney parenting magazine, “Wondertime”, Her syndicated column in the Tribune Media group of publications appears in newspapers around the nation.

She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, three teenagers and the family dog, Hobbes. She loves time spent in the kitchen making homemade pasta and spaghetti sauce with her children. She loves her cappuccino, and wishes she could SCUBA dive every day. Right now she can’t decide which writing genre she loves the most... adult or teen fiction?

E. I. Thanks for stopping by, Ms. Mitchard. Would you like to have a cappuccino? In the mean time, Please tell us about your latest book “Still Summer” and what you fans can expect differently from your characters?

J. Mitchard: 'Still Summer' is a story of survival under circumstances as dire as they get -- four women trapped in paradise, when paradise, on a sailboat in the Caribbean, become as dangerous as Everest. While it's recognizably still about the emotional bonds that connect people and inspire them to courage or cowardice, the four high-school friends who reunite for this trip have more at stake than their physical survival. Under enormous pressure, lifelong secrets will threaten to destroy not only their friendship but what they believe about themselves and each other.

E. I. Did you have any childhood experiences/memories that have been the subjects of your writing?

J. Mitchard: Not yet. But in an upcoming novel, I'll write about the mystery of some ancient clothing and then bring forth some of those tales.

E. I. How do you go about your research? Do you do it in person, or on the internet?

J. Mitchard: The best research is in person, when I'm able to hear the tone of a person's voice, the vernacular and slang of the region or the job or the ethnic group. I find facts on the Internet and background; but I get information about what would happen in a given situation from interviews.

E. I. Are any of the characters in the story actually based on real people in your life? If this book pure fiction, where did you get the character ideas from?

J. Mitchard: In 'Still Summer,' Tracey is based on several people I love and know well, one of them a former PE teacher I love and know well, who never had a child but who would have been a mother like Tracey. Holly is named for and based on a fellow author who is a great friend of mine. Camille is a composite of every teenager I ever knew but physically based on a young woman I met in France some years ago. And Olivia is modeled after a woman who was the lover of a friend of mine long ago. Lenny is a real person, though his wife is named Michelle, a name I used for a man in the story. Lenny and Michelle Amato own the real sailing boat 'Opus." Michel, well, that's my secret... In many other books, such as 'The Deep End of the Ocean,' characters have been based entirely on friends who knew they were the subjects of my research. In 'A Theory of Relativity,' I knew several of the people involved in the true-life case that inspired the novel. Often, the experiences are based on real events, and the people more likely to be changed -- to protect the innocent and not flatter the guilty.

E. I. Do you write books with having them adapted to the movies in mind?

J. Mitchard: I only hope.

E. I. Your ‘The Deep End of the Ocean; which was endorsed by Oprah Winfrey was a success. In your own opinion what do you think is the biggest misconceptions of aspiring novelist have of the writer's life?

J. Mitchard: The biggest misconception is that every book will be as successful as the first or as the last one. Writers definitely have ups and downs in their lives. It would be nice to spend three weeks writing a book and know it would earn millions of dollars, as Danielle Steele does. But you wouldn't want to be the author of the books.

E. I. How do you choose a chapter or pages from your book when you do a book signing? Do you ever get nervous the first time you read in front of hundreds of people?J.

Mitchard: I often read the prologue or the first chapter. Most of my books have "twists and turns" in the plot; and I don't want to give those away, but also don't want to confuse the reader. I like to "set the stage" for the reader's actual entry into the book. I never get nervous in any public setting for any reason. I get nervous in PRIVATE settings.

E. I. The first time you saw your YA novel "Now You See Her" in a bookstore, what did you think?

J. Mitchard: I wasn't awed when I first saw my book in a store. I was awed when I first saw a box of my books in print delivered to my house.

E. I. Why suddenly you would want to write for teens? Is it because the industry for young adult is totally growing?

J. Mitchard: I love teenagers -- their passion, insight, and their lack of foresight. I have three of my own. They believe the world is all in a day. But it's wrong to write down to a young adult, to make a few references to Ashton Kucher or Jimmy Choo shoes and expect kids to embrace the book. So when I had the idea for 'Now You See Her," I decided that the key would be to be ABSOLUTELY HONEST and simply write the best novel I could, in telling the story of a young woman who fakes her own kidnapping, out of a teenage consciousness -- that of a young woman who sometimes does not know the difference between truth and lies as well. In a YA novel, a writer can take even more chances than in an adult novel. And so, based on the reception of 'Now You See Her,' I've written another YA novel -- about two best friends who are in a motor vehicle accident, though only one survives it, and because the damage is so great, one girl is believed to be dead when in fact her friend is -- and am beginning a series ('The Midnight Twins') about sisters born on either side of midnight on New Years' Eve.. They are psychic; and one can see only the future and one the past.. I hope to continue writing YA books.

E. I. Your readers and other writers often like to get behind the author's writing routine. Would you like to share with your fans a typical writing day schedule?

J. Mitchard: I start doing my "due diligence" writing -- blogs, emails and editing early, about five a.m. Then I get the kids up and ready for school. I try to do exercise then. After that, I edit what I wrote the day before and try to make progress. I work until about five, have dinner and do bedtime things with my family, then sometimes work until midnight or just fall asleep. I have very few days off, almost none.

E. I. Would you like to close the interview with any of your writing tip to other young aspiring authors out there?

J. Mitchard: Don't write to "make it big." Write to satisfy yourself and tell a worthy story. Success sometimes will find you and sometimes not. Merit doesn't always guarantee a fair remuneration. But the combination of the right story and the right timing does. There is a huge amount of luck involved.

E. I. Ms. Mitchard, so great of you to do the interview. Thank you so much. It's been great. Good luck with your books!

J. Mitchard: I thank you very much.

To learn more about Jackie Mitchard, please visit her at:

Website: www.jackiemitchard.com/

Myspace: www.myspace.com/deepend_author

Photo of Ms. Mitchard by Liane R. Gersich

Ellen Hopkins - Author Of Young Adult Fiction

Today's YA interview is with Ellen Hopkins. She is the author of twenty nonfiction books for children and three novels. (Impulse, Burned and Crank). She is also a poet and has been writing poetry for years. Her book “Crank’ was written in verse.

Her fourth novel ‘Glass’ is scheduled for release on August 21st, 2007 by Simon and Schuster. Ms. Hopkins lives in Nevada with her husband and a son.

E. I. : Thank you for doing joining us today here at Totally YA, Ellen. Would you please tell your readers if you read every fan mails or emails sent to you, which I assume is a great task.

ELLEN: I do read every e-mail and myspace comments / messages / friend request, and I still answer all of them personally.

E. I. : Do you have days when you just can't read all those mails concerning how great your books are?

ELLEN: The only days I can't get to them are days when I'm traveling or doing school visits. Still, I take my laptop and try to keep up with them. Otherwise, by the time I get back, It will be too overwhelming. Hearing from readers, BTW, is very important to me, as is maintaining personal connection. If they take the time to write me, I feel like I should take the time to write them back.


To learn more about Ellen Hopkins, visit her at:
http://www.ellenhopkins.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ellenhopkins

TODAY'S TEEN

Today's teen read more than ever before. Everyone knows that the industry for young adult fiction is noticeably growing. You go YA!

WENDY TOLIVER- AUTHOR / ACTRESS

Today's YA interview is with Wendy Toliver. She is the author of 'Little Giant Encyclopedia of Wedding Etiquette' and 'The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Inspirational Quotes' and her new upcoming novel "The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren". She is a successful actress and has performed in several 'indie' films, television productions such as ‘Touched by an Angel’ as well as commercials.

She’s one of the twelve contributors to a teen fiction cafe, by all accounts a new and exciting blog www.teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com. Ms. Toliver writes fiction and non-fiction for the teen market. Her first novel 'The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren' is scheduled for released fall of ’07 by Simon Pulse. She lives in Nevada with her husband, three sons and their cat.

E. I. :. Thank you for joining us here at Totally YA, Wendy. Would you please tell your readers what your writing day is like? Do you write more than 3000 words a day?

Wendy Toliver: I have three little boys so my writing is in spurts. I rarely write more than 3000 words in any given day, and most of my writing is done early morning or late at night, when everybody's in bed. As I'm running around doing everyday things, I am usually thinking about whatever project I'm working on, so that when I do get a few minutes in front of the computer, I can whip it out. I even dream about my characters sometimes.

E. I. :. How do you go about your research? Do you do it in person, or on the Internet?

Wendy Toliver: A little of both. I take every opportunity to rack people's brains, whether they're an expert in a certain field that I'm somehow highlighting in a MSS, or if it's a babysitter who's the same age as my target audience. The Internet is also a big help, but I'm careful not to take everything I read on the Internet as 100% factual.

E. I. :. Who were some of your literary role models? And why?

Wendy Toliver: I really love Charles Dickens because he can paint such a poignant picture with his writing. And I love Oscar Wilde for his humor and wit.

E. I. :. How long does it take you to write a book?

Wendy Toliver: It depends, but I'm pretty fast once I get going. I'd say I can have my full first draft in a month or two, and then hopefully my edits and rewrites will only be faster now that I'm getting experience in those areas. I'd estimate I could have a full 50,000 (approximately)-word MSS in three or four months.

E. I. :. Of all the fictional characters you have encountered in literature, which one would you most like to meet?

Wendy Toliver: I'd like to meet Willy Wonka.

E. I. Thank you for contributing to my blog. It has been a pleasure for me to get to know you, and your work a little better. Would you like to end our interview with a writing tip or advised to aspiring writers?

Wendy Toliver: I'm really into the "people" part of writing. Many authors are solitary creatures, but I'm one who really enjoys making contacts out in the publishing industry. My advice to young writers is to join writing organizations and critique groups, go to conferences, sign up for Internet loops that deal with whatever genre you're writing, take classes, and otherwise get yourself out there.

E. I. Ms. Toliver, thank you so much for the interview! I feel fortunate to be considered a peer among such accomplished writers. It was a lot of fun!

To learn more about Wendy Toliver, visit her at MySpace:
www.myspace.com/roxytoliver
Blog: www.teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com

Teen Author Ilana Jacqueline

Seventeen year old Ilana is one of the Florida’s best teen writers and author of “Will Write For Sandwiches”

Her articles have been published in national publications such as Today’s Teen and Sun Sentinel. Ilana’s book reviews not only attracted teens but adult readers as well. She is currently the editor of Book Reviews at Today’s Teen Magazine in Palm Beach Florida.

E. I. : What part of working on a book is most enjoyable to you?

ILANA: The most enjoyable part of working on the book, for me at least, is the very first idea of it. You're sitting somewhere, in your car maybe, and you, for some reason, never have your hands free. You're thinking about something terribly boring and inconsequential and from the simplest word --this idea--this huge monstrous idea pops into existence and you scramble to find a pen (and there are NEVER any pens) and so you think to yourself that if the idea is really as good as you think it is--you'll remember it. The week after that first idea is a good one, because all you can do is think about the book and everything you do and say and think and feel all returns to the book. It's exciting--that's my favorite part.

E. I. : Do you agree that authors who don’t bother to have a website are essentially homeless in cyberspace, missing a great opportunity to connect with their readers and market their work?

ILANA : Yes, yes, and YES. None of what I'm doing with journalism, book reviewing or writing novels would be even remotely successful if I didn't have my website. Every author needs one. Even if it's just a myspace. If an author emails me asking me to review their book--if they don't have a website 9 out of 10, I won't even consider it. It's like walking into an audition with no resume, applying to art school without a portfolio--for writers a website is a MUST.