GCC Tours Eileen Cook

Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!! Happy, Happy!!

Now that I'm back from an EXHAUSTING holiday season, I'm kicking off the new year with a GCC Tour of Eileen Cook's new book,

The Education of Hailey Kendrick

Here's some info about the book:

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

Reviews:

"Hailey may be an A student headed to the Ivy League, but when it comes to taking a chance on life, she’s clueless. She’s also enormously appealing and great company throughout this breezy read. Yes, it’s chick lit, but of the highest quality—like a gourmet truffle. Cook has whipped up a real treat.” --Kirkus starred review

"Cook effectively builds both Hailey's (justified) feelings of rebellion and the social dynamics of her ostracism, especially in her growing friendship with a challenging townie, Drew, who supervises her punishment working with the janitorial staff....Cook coaxes considerable empathy for the otherwise privileged Hailey as she abandons the achievement treadmill to explore her independence." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

Now, for my interview with Eileen. 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’ve certainly spent time plotting all sorts of evil revenge plans, but I’ve never put them into action. I do believe the adage the best revenge is living well and not letting your energy get focused on someone else.

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 think that unfortunately mean girls will always exist. There are people who measure their value by comparing themselves to everyone else. I think where it has become worse since I was a teen is with the focus on social media. It is much easier to say something cruel on the internet than it is to say it to someone’s face. Not to mention it has a life of it’s own and can be spread everywhere with a click of a button.

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?

Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked.

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.)

How do you ever pick a favorite? John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany has been a long term favorite, but recently I loved the quirky mystery- Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

I wouldn’t mind being my dogs. They have a pretty good life. They sleep in, they have dinner delivered, they run around in the backyard, lay in the sun, take a nap and have their bellies rubbed. They seem very low stress.

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’m terrible about picking a cast. This is why I’ll never be a director. I have such a clear vision in my mind of the characters that they never tend to match with the real world. If I had to pick I would find a way to give Nathan Fillion a role just so I could meet him.

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?

How much will you risk to get what you really want?

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

I love 80’s movies. Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink and the ever famous Red Dawn.

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

I suppose saying because I asked nicely isn’t a good answer. I think readers will have fun debating what they think Hailey should do in order to get her life back on track- and if it was ever on track to start with.

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!

This is where I would stare vacantly at you in the elevator and try not to swallow my own tongue. It is perhaps a good thing that I don’t bump into powerful movie producers very often (or at all.) If I managed to spit anything out I would tell you it has humor, a love triangle (complete with a bad boy), popularity, pranks and the ultimate question of how do you define yourself.

Thanks for stopping by, Eileen. Now everyone, make a New Year's Resolution to go out and buy and read some books from the Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit writers this year. Thanks!! And Happy 2011!!