This month I'm so excited to tour another member of the GCC -- Stacy DeKeyser. Stacy's novel, JUMP THE CRACKS, has been widely praised and is a fast-paced, suspenseful read. (It's on the top of my TBR list for sure!) Here's a little more info about the book and my interview with Stacy:
When fifteen-year-old Victoria witnesses what she believes to be child neglect on a train to New York, she makes a split-second decision and takes the young boy with her on the next train out in order to protect him. But, in her effort to make sure the child doesn’t slip through the cracks and end up back with the neglectful parents, she’s unwittingly branded a kidnapper and is forced to stay on the run until she can clear her name. JUMP THE CRACKS is a fast-paced, suspense-driven thriller set in motion when a young girl is forced to confront the fine line between doing the legal thing and doing the right thing. Debut novelist Stacy DeKeyser offers a memorable and honest portrayal of a teen whose efforts to take on a child’s demons leads her to take on her own in the process.
Jump the Cracks
by Stacy DeKeyser
March 2008 216 pp.
Flux, paperback, $9.95
ISBN 978-0-7387-1274-1
Do you (or did you ever) have a writing group? Who are the first people to read your book once it's completed?
I have a weekly writing group, who are a godsend. They hear one chapter at a time, hot off my computer. Also, I'm lucky to have a mom who's a writer, so she reads my stuff, but she has to wait until I have a complete draft. My other go-to crit partners are writers Laurie Stolarz and Kim Marcus.
What writers do you consider your "sisters"? Are there any published writers that you hang out or tour with a lot? Call? Email? IM?
I'm lucky to have lots of sisters! I have 3 "real" sisters, who are very supportive. Can my mom be my sister? We email almost daily. And author Kim Marcus is my complete soul-sister, writing-wise and otherwise.
If someone was going to join your book club, what would be a "must read" in order to join?
It sounds ridiculously obvious, but you have to actually read the book. I was once in a book club where some members liked the meetings, but didn't want to read the books. I've also gotten "reviews" of my book from people who haven't even read the whole thing. What the heck?
What was your "initiation" to writing?
I've always written, and have always been drawn to the written word. On the first day of second grade, I discovered I'd already read our class "reading book" on my own over the summer. My mom was a writer when I was a kid. To me, it was always an option.
When did you first feel that you'd officially joined the "published writers' club"?
When I signed my first book contract. :)
What was your best/worst memory of high school?
Worst: Once, going up the stairs between classes, I tripped and fell into some guy ahead of me. My face smashed right into his butt. Thank goodness I didn't know him!
Best: Any day where I didn't fall into someone's butt going up the stairs was a good day in high school.
In SISTERS OF MISERY, the last place new members want to go to is
I'd go to the
Finally, what can you tell me about your book? Give me a quick run-down about why I'd want to pick it for my own book club.
It's a great book for discussion, I think. People argue over what they'd do in
Reviews for Jump the Cracks:
“Bracingly realistic….With a combination of lively adventure and humane treatment of its characters, this is an absorbing and emotionally effective read.” — BCCB
"Strong characters and fast-paced action." — VOYA
"Thought-provoking....Introspective tweeners will find plenty to chew on." — Booklist
“Teens are sure to find this an interesting read.” — School Library Journal
- Nominated for YALSA'S Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, 2009
- Nominated for the
- Under consideration for the 2009 Edgar Award
About Stacy DeKeyser:
Despite being “the girl who was always good in math and
science” and getting a BA in Psychology, Stacy DeKeyser
(Connecticut) has always harbored a passion for reading and
writing. Her subsequent Master’s degree in Health Services
Administration led her to a career in hospitals and clinics but
even then, she found her favorite part of the job was writing
reports.
Segueing into life as a full-time mom, she found she had scads of
time but no creative outlet. An editor at a writer’s conference
suggested she try her hand at a novel and when she witnessed an
upsetting incident involving a small child on a train, Stacy knew
what she wanted to write about. Originally from Milwaukee, Stacy now lives in
Connecticut where she’s at work on her next novel.
For more info on Stacy DeKeyser, check out the following links:
website: http://stacydekeyser.com
blog: http://stacy-dekeyser.livejournal.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/stacydekeyser
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1 comments:
Thanks for hosting me and my book, Megan!
Stacy
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