GCC Tours new member Lauren Strasnick and Her and Me and You.

Welcome back, GCC-ers. It's that time again! Let's welcome Lauren Strasnick, author of Her and Me and You

About the Book:

Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, October 2010

First love, broken friendships, and heartache all play a part in this evocative, voice-driven novel about Alex, a girl whose world is ripped apart when her father’s affair splits her family in two.

Alex moves with her mess of a mother to a new town, where she is befriended by hot, enigmatic Fred–and alternately flirted with and cold-shouldered by Fred’s twin sister, Adina. Others warn Alex to steer clear of the twins, whose sibling relationship is considered abnormal at best, but there’s just something about Fred–and something about Adina–that draws Alex to them and makes her want to be part of their crazy world, no matter the consequences.

“Strasnick’s slim second offering packs a lot into its short chapters: divorce, broken friendships, crushes, the lines between love and sex and more. Characterization, scenes, dialogue and setting are seamlessly distilled into so few sharp, image-rich phrases that the novel reads almost as if it were written in verse. Less is definitely more here, and readers are plunged into Alex’s physical and emotional world within three to four words. Although the plot moves swiftly, the author’s ability to capture Alex’s inner world in so few words give the novel depth and balance. Complex and thought-provoking.” –Kirkus

Now, I'm going to take time away from my TOP SECRET project (which is almost ready to announce - phew!) and post my GCC interview with Lauren:

My second novel, THE LOST SISTER, deals with revenge and the repercussions of what happens when a hazing incident goes too far.

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?

Oh, gosh! I don’t think I’m really all that vengeful. Not that I don’t ever get pissy or mad – but my head never really goes to that place of wanting to enact revenge… And if I’ve ever been on the receiving end of some vengeful scheme (!) – I’m oblivious.

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 don’t know if I’ve ever been victim to any serious mean girl activity. There was a girl a girl at my high school who would occasionally threaten to beat me up (yikes!), but otherwise, I’ve been really fortunate -- I know a ton of spectacular women.

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?

I am a huge music person and make playlists for all my projects, but for some reason this book went without! I’m not sure why! It was a hard book to write – so perhaps that has something to with it?! Poor, neglected book.

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 into Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.)

Some favorites: The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon, The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler, The Secret History by Donna Tartt (MKH Note: The Secret History is my all-time FAVORITE book too!!)– these really are my true favorites. I could play this game better with TV: I adore Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock – but I’m also a massive Real Housewives fan and will watch any incarnation of the series.

5. 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!)

Such a tough question, because I’m not totally up on young Hollywood – but I like Kat Dennings a lot, and there’s this actress from the Brit series SKINS that I think is adorable – Hannah Murray.

6. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have a journalistic hook. For The Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies and hazing. What's yours?

Um. Twincest? No, no. ah… co-dependant, claustrophobic relationships? I think I’m bad with journalistic hooks.

7. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?

Too many! Just a few: St. Elmo’s Fire, Sixteen Candles, Heathers.

8. Why should I choose your book for my book club?

Creepy twins! Who doesn’t like a good ol’ fashioned story about rich, unsupervised, teen twins who may or may not be in love with each other?! Kidding! Kind of.

9. 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!

H&M&Y has infidelity! Divorce! Anorexia! Binge-drinking! A crazy, possessive twin! Girl-on-girl kissing! Boy-on-girl kissing! Ta-da! Make my book a movie, please. J

For more about Lauren, visit her website & blog: www.laurenstrasnick.com