First of all, I have to give a HUGE congrats to my fellow GCC-er, Carrie Jones, because her books NEED and CAPTIVATE both debuted in the top ten on the NYT Children's Bestsellers List. Way to go, Carrie! You totally deserve it. I also saw a ton of people drooling over her latest books at the recent ALA Mid-Winter show in Boston (I was so excited for her, that I took a quick, crappy, cell phone pic and sent it to her right then and there).
In any case, Carrie stopped by during her whirlwind tour of her NYT bestselling books to answer some questions for me and let me know a little bit about her new book CAPTIVATE. She also discusses mutilating ninja toys and her fascination with Zachary Quinto's eyebrows (he's from Heroes, right?), and the smack-down fight she had to endure in the third grade (watch your back, Lynelle -- you have the GCC-ers to contend with now!)
So, here goes:
1. First topic: Revenge. What is your experience with it? Have you ever sought revenge? As the old adage goes, do you think that living well is the best revenge?
I am such a wimp. I’m totally afraid of conflict, so no….I’ve never sought out revenge. Except once, but it was a group thing. And it involved mutilating a ninja action figure and leaving it on someone’s door step. Does that count? We bought the action figure. It wasn’t his.
Wow. I am so dull.
* hides head *
2. Cliques and mean girls are everywhere. At book signings I've had everyone from 12 year old girls to 45 year old women tell me they still encounter them. Do you? How has it changed since you were a teen?
I’ve always been pretty immune to mean girls ever since Lynelle Quick beat me up on the school bus in third grade and then became my best friend the next day and told me all about sex, but they are really still out there. It’s horrifying really. There’s a clique of them in my town. They are wealthier than everyone else and they have a tendency to berate other people. It’s sad that they are so insecure. I find them amusing in a weird way. I don’t find their hurtfulness amusing, but just how childish they are? That is amusing in a sad, sad way.
3. I have a "Writing Music" playlist on my iPod. What would be on yours? What one song or artist captures the essence of your book?
Right now I think it’s Cheryl Wheeler because there’s just so much pain and loss.
4. What do you tell people is your favorite book/author? Now what is your "real" favorite book/author. (i.e. I tell people Pale Fire by Nabokov is my fave, but right now I'm really intoAre You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.)
Dude! I totally tell people it’s PALE FIRE, too! But right now my favorite book is actually THE BELOIT POETRY JOURNAL’s retrospective, which actually is just as hoity-toity sounding. I’m also into OUTLANDER. I totally have the hots for Jaime. (MKH Note: PALE FIRE is the BEST! Second best for me, The Secret History).
5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
I’d like to be Zachary Quinto and see what life is like with eyebrows. My eyebrows are pitiful.
6. Who would be in your dream cast if your book was made into a movie or television series? (And multimillion dollar salaries were no issue--they'd all do it for free!)
I don’t know! I am so bad at this! I am terrible TERRIBLE terrible at this.
* sobs *
* hides under chair *
(MKH Note: Is there a role for Johnny Depp? If so, can I come to the set and stalk--oops, er, I mean watch?)
7. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have journalistic hook. For The Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies and hazing. What's yours?
For CAPTIVATE, it’s mean pixies, love, and choices.
8. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?
Red Dawn
9. Why should I choose your book for my book club?
Because I would love you forever if you did?
Because it talks a lot about choices and empowerment but in a subtle way?
Because you are nice like that?
(MKH note: Awwww! You are so sweet! Of course, I'd pick your book!)
10. I'm a huge and fabulously powerful movie producer and you have 30 seconds (an elevator pitch) to sell me on why your book is great and should be made into a movie. Go!
Um…..um…..because people keep emailing me that it should…..um…..ah…..cough, cough….. gee I like your shirt.
About CAPTIVATE:
In this NYT-Bestselling sequel to NEED, Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.
A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.
What People are Saying About NEED and CAPTIVATE:
“If you asked Stephen King and Stephanie Myers to co-author a book, they would come up with NEED.” – Justine Magazine.
"An exciting venture filled with nasty evil creatures,
nail-biting action and heart-pounding romance."
—teenreads.com
“Romance, suspense, and a very clever heroine
make this a must-read!” —
"Genre fans will enjoy the sizzle between Nick and Zara
as well as the paranormal cast." —PW
“This book is for fans of Holly Black and Melissa Marr… fairy lovers crowd in! It’s got some really good reviews coming in already. We’re talking a love story people, with fairies - please, who would not buy this? So look out!”— Annette’s Book Blog
"Jones masterfully blends paranormal fantasy, suspense, and romance to craft a new supernatural tale that is certain to appeal
to fans of dark urban fantasy like Marr's Wicked Lovely and paranormal romances like Meyer's Twilight books. A likeable cast
of engaging and interesting characters combine with a plot that grabs readers and refuses to let go." —VOYA
"A fast-paced novel worthy of the fantasy greats, Need will take you for a ride." —VOYA, teen reviewer
About Carrie Jones:
1. Carrie can not drink coffee. It makes her insane. Do not give her caffeine.
2. Carrie is very responsive to loving strokes on the hair, kind of like a puppy. However, do not do this without asking first unless you are a ridiculously handsome man or an editor who is about to offer her a trillion dollars for the first draft of her novel.
3. Carrie is secretly really, really shy even though she’s pathetically outgoing in person. She has a very hard time calling people. So, if you want to talk to her, make the first move. And, if you’re her in-Maine female best friend, Jennifer, do NOT get mad at her because she is so bad at returning emails.
4. Carrie sometimes wears mismatched socks, if you do not think this is cool, do not tell her. You will hurt her feelings.
5. Carrie really, really wants you to like her books. Please like her books. PLEEEAASSSEEEE. She’ll be your best friend forever. That is, if you want a friend who is shy about calling and emailing and who wears mismatched socks and can’t drink caffeine and likes being pet on the head. Hhmmm….
6. Carrie is not above begging.
7. Carrie, like Belle in TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND drinks Postum. It’s for the same reason, too.
8. Carrie loves Great Pyrenees dogs. They are huge and white, and furry and it looks like they have white eyeliner and mascara on, which is way too cute. Do you have one? Send a picture!
9. Carrie lives in
Forget that. She’d still probably come.
Links:
http://www.carriejonesbooks.com
http://www.needpixies.com (This is where sneak peaks and contests are. You can win a computer. Seriously!)
http://www.facebook.com/carriejonesbooks?ref=profile
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Need-by-Carrie-Jones/53387039515?ref=ts
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