I've been doing book signings and events with my brand new GCC-BFF Laurie Stolarz. She is such a great writer, so much fun to hang out with and has the MOST amazing reader/fans. We've done a number of signings together (even a spooky one on Friday the 13th!) and I have to say that I am more and more impressed by her writing, by her graciousness and by her total devotion to her fans. So without further ado, here are some of my new and improved GCC questions. Thanks, Laurie!!
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?
I don’t believe in seeking out revenge.I think if you throw negative energy out there, it’ll come back to you.There’s no need for revenge.
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’m not sure it has changed.Mean girls are still out there and thriving.They play on people’s insecurities, including their own, and, yes, I agree they come in all ages.
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 actually have a contest going on that involves this very question.In celebration of the release of DEADLY LITTLE LIES, the second book in the TOUCH SERIES, I’m launching a very exciting contest, the winner of which will have a minor character in DEADLY LITTLE GAME, the third book in the TOUCH SERIES, named after him or her.Please see the official rules here:http://www.lauriestolarz.com/news.html.I had a similar contest for the release ofBLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS.See the winning entry here:http://www.lauriestolarz.com/novels/black_is_for_beginnings.html
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.)
I love The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.I also just read Burned by Ellen Hopkins…amazing.
5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
Your sister Jocelyn when she’s doing her book spotlight on Oprah.
6. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have journalistic hook. ForThe Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies and hazing. What's yours?
Definitely premonitions and supernatural powers.
7. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?
Pretty in Pink.Seriously, that last scene where Ducky shows up at the prom…it still gets me every time. (MKH Note: I love that scene too!! It pisses me off that she ends up with Andrew McCarthy. That ending was totally wrong.)
8. Why should I choose your books for my book club?
Because they've got it all:suspense, drama, forbidden love, character growth, and humor.
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!
For Deadly Little Lies: Last fall, Camelia, 16, fell for Ben, a mysterious bad boy with a special gift – psychometry: the ability to sense things through touch.Brokenhearted, she moves on and starts dating someone else.Meanwhile, she begins to experience premonitions of her own.A chilling sequence of events reveals secrets from the past.Someone is lying, and it’s up to Camelia to figure out who before it’s too late.
For Black is for Beginnings: Prophetic dreams. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey knows that being a hereditary witch isn't all it's cracked up to be, and now her nightmares are back. All she wants to do is go to Colorado and work things out with Jacob. But before Stacey and Jacob can have a future, they must face their pasts—and the secrets they've kept from each other.
Great Publishers Weekly Review for THE LOST SISTER!
The Lost Sister Megan Kelley Hall. Kensington, $9.95 paper (288p) ISBN 978-0-7582-2680-8 Picking up where Sisters of Misery left off, Hall’s sequel finds half-sisters Maddie and Cordelia coming into their psychic powers. With the night of torturous hazing by the Sisters of Misery behind her, Cordelia runs away to Maine with the intention of murdering their philandering father, though her plans change when she discovers his young son (“She couldn’t take away this little boy’s father. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t stick around long enough to make Malcolm Crane wish he was dead”). Meanwhile, Cordelia’s mother has been committed to Ravenswood Asylum following a suicide attempt, and Maddie’s mother is diagnosed with cancer. When a mysterious fire is ignited in the asylum and one of the Sisters of Misery is murdered, Cordelia returns, working with Maddie to find the killer and rescue their loved ones. This suspenseful saga sits between fairy tale and thriller, though readers need not be a diehard fan of either genre in order to appreciate Hall’s intricate story of family history, witchcraft, teenage romance and sisterhood. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)
Yes, you read it right. Both Dan Brown and I have our highly anticipated novels coming out at the same time. His is called THE LOST SYMBOL. My book is THE LOST SISTER. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Quite the coincidence, is it not? Some may even call it FATE.
But the similarities do not stop there. Dan Brown and I both live in Massachusetts. Another coincidence, he's from Andover, and so is my father in law. One more freaky fact? His last name is Brown. My mother in law's maiden name is Brown. Can it BE more of a coincidence? I think not.
Let's dig deeper, shall we?
Dan Brown writes about secret religious societies that are murderous and evil. I write about secret cliques of girls that are murderous and evil. Dan Brown's movie starred Tom Hanks. I met Tom Hanks when he was on his honeymoon with Rita Wilson. It's almost freaky how much the stars are aligned on this one.
THE LOST SISTER and THE LOST SYMBOL -- they even sound the same. Say it quickly, three times fast. Can't even tell the difference can you? Come on, SAY IT!
Both of our titles have the same exact number of letters. It's really uncanny, if you think about it.
There's a slight, little, teeny, tiny difference. Dan Brown's THE LOST SYMBOL is currently #1 on Amazon.com. THE LOST SISTER is trailing only slightly behind at the current position of #494,878. Not TOO much of a difference in sales. I mean, if you think about it, the amount printed versus sold is probably the same--if you use that whole geomet--algebraic theorum--er solutions. (So sue me, I was an English major, not a math major. Whatever.) What I'm trying to say is that Dan had 5 million books printed. I probably had closer to 5000 printed. So the ratio of books printed to sold is probably in my favor. Take that, Dan Brown!
But, no, I don't want to start any ill will between me and Dan. We're both writers from Massachusetts. We have that Bay State bond. And I'm pretty sure that he would want people to buy THE LOST SISTER (when they are buying THE LOST SYMBOL, of course) for their teenagers. (It's a YA suspense novel, Dan. Don't worry. I'm not tapping into your market share.) I'll even wager that he and I both saved our WIP (**that's work-in-progress, you know, bestselling writing lingo*** not that I'm a best selling writer, but you get the picture) as TLS. That's what me, my editor and agent called the manuscript as it was sent back and forth over the past year. Good old TLS, right Danny? Yup, pretty cool.
Even our covers are the practically, almost, kind of, a little the same. It's spooky! Like some kind of psychic connection. We have that same color palette of orangey black (you were going for that Halloween connection too, weren't you, Dan?) I mean, yes, Dan Brown's name is very visible at the top of his book. But my name has that sort of blendy feel to it. Like, you don't even need to know the name of the author, you're just drawn in by the cover of the book. It's practically the same cover. I mean, if I weren't such good friends with Dan, I'd think he was trying to copy me and ride my coattails on this book.
No, my friend. I think you have to go this one alone. I have a feeling you're gonna do just fine.
Anyway, I'm pretty sure that Dan Brown is still teaching at Andover and if I'm not mistaken, I think that he put SISTERS OF MISERY and THE LOST SISTER on his required summer reading list! I mean, that's what they all tell me, so it must be true. So, um....if you're in his class I think you were supposed to go out and buy my books and read them or else you get an automatic F for the year. That's just what I've heard. I have no facts or anything to back that up, but I'm just--I'm just here to help, that's all. I'm a helper.
So, Dan, if you'd like to reach out to me...maybe do some local signings in Boston, give me a ring-a-ding. I know that you want to draw a bigger crowd. Or--oh wow, this would be embarrassing-- just in case people show up at your signings thinking that it's for THE LOST SISTER and not THE LOST SYMBOL. How embarrassing for you! I would hate for that to happen. You know what? Just for you, I'll make myself available for any and all signings just in case that happens---no worries! I'm just thinking about what's in your best interest. I'm a giver. That's what I do. I give, I help, I care.
Anyhoo, Dan have your people call my people (or you know, me, I'm not really a big people person....I don't have lots of "people" per se, but you know what I mean) and we can look into this whole freaky fate, coincidence thing. I mean, I'm looking at your book description and I feel like I'm reading about my own book. Just look at what has been said about both of our books "nail-biting suspense," "thrilling mystery," a "page-turner," plus we both feature secret societies, ancient rituals and a brutal kidnapping. We were on the same wave-length or what?
And for those of you doing your little *Google* searches for THE LOST SYMBOL. Once you get to THE LOST S---- stop---take a minute--- turn that Y into an I and take a peek at THE LOST SISTER. You might just be pleasantly surprised. And, don't worry about taking sales away from Dan. What are a few hundred sales to him? Not even a blip on his radar. (Okay, maybe not hundreds of sales, but tens of sales would be nice...hello? anyone? Anyone still out there?)
While I know you are all hunting high and low for copies of The Lost Sister (keep the updates coming, so I know where to tell my publisher to send books ASAP!), I did a little tour on The Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit. Some of them are even featuring giveaways. So, here is a list of links to all my interviews on the Girlfriend Cyber Circuit. And I will answer my own questions (because I don't think I ever answered the ones from SISTERS OF MISERY) based on THE LOST SISTER.
Try to contain your excitement. I know that you're all as excited as McSteamy right now. (Shame on you, Eric Dane! I hope Shonda gives you a good talking to).
Anyway, here are the links to my interviews on the FABULOUS Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit.
Okay, so my book has been out for approximately one week. **yippee** and yet no one has been able to spot them in bookstores across the country (we already know from my #1 blogger in Canada, Cat, that spotting a Sisters of Misery book in Canada is as easy as spotting Bigfoot.)
But, I digress...
So...in honor of all the contests that are going on for YA authors, I decided to give it a try. I'll be touring on my GCC blogs next week and hopefully they will all let you know about this supercool contest.
If you come across a copy of THE LOST SISTER in a bookstore, take a picture of it and post it HERE. Use your cell phone, blackberry, polaroid, whatever works... I will pick 5 entries at random and will send a *signed* copy of THE LOST SISTER with a one of a kind bookmark drawn by my very own artist-in-residence/famed bubble blower in MallCop actress/six-year-old Avril Lavigne wannabe, Piper Elizabeth Hall. She takes these pieces of artwork quite seriously and so do I. ;)
If you are one of the rare few to actually come across a copy of THE LOST SISTER and SISTERS OF MISERY together!! (be still my heart), take a pic and post it here and I'll enter you into the drawing for a signed copy of both books. (I'll be picking one entry, because, I don't even have that many of my own books, so I may have to go out and buy them myself. Oh, the glamorous life of an author...)
I'm hoping to see entries from across the country, because, quite frankly, I'm not convinced that my books are being carried in all the places I'm being told they are. This will hopefully prove me wrong.
So, let THE LOST SISTER sightings begin. This contest will run through the end of August. More details to come. Be on the lookout, everyone!
GCC Tours Stephanie Kuehnert's BALLADS OF SUBURBIA.
I'm kicking off my new set of GCC questions with an interview with Stephanie Kuehnert. I was superpsyched to hear all about her new book and the answers to my brand new GCC questions. First off, here's what you need to know about the book, BALLADS OF SUBURBIA. Then read my interview and then GO OUT AND BUY HER BOOK TODAY! What are you waiting for?
There are so many ballads. Achy breaky country songs. Mournful pop songs. Then there’s the rare punk ballad, the ballad of suburbia: louder, faster, angrier . . . till it drowns out the silence.
The critically acclaimed author, Stephanie Kuehnert, returns with another gripping and incisive novel. In BALLADS OF SUBURBIA (MTV/Pocket, July 2009, $13.00) Kara McNaughton reveals the darker side of suburbia.
In high school, Kara McNaughton helped maintain the “Stories of Suburbia” notebook, which contained newspaper articles about bizarre and often tragic events from suburbs all over, as well as personal vignetteswritten by her friends,which Kara dubbed “ballads”. Ballads are the kind of songs that Kara likes best.
Four years later, Kara returns to face the music, and tells the tale of her first three years of high school with her friends’ “ballads” interspersed throughout. Among them are her best friend Stacey, who dates guy after guy trying to find the one who will take care of her the way her parents never did; Cass, who copes withher mother’s mental illness and her older brother’s abandonment by doing copious amounts of acid; Adrian the creator of the “Stories of Suburbia”, who has “Thrown Away” tattooed on his forearms to express how he feels about his adoptive parents and his birth parents; Christian, who seems like the nice guy type that Kara belongs with, but has a violent streak; Kara’s little brother Liam, who idolized Johnny Cash as a preschooler and has idolized Kara all his life though she lets him down again and again; and Maya, an eccentric but beautiful redhead who refuses to talk about her mother’s suicide.
Then of course, there’s Kara. She begins high school as a loner, who copes with her lack of friends and her rapidly unraveling home life by going to concerts with Liam, smoking the occasional joint, and cutting herself when things get really bad. She’s reluctant at first when she tags along with Maya to ScovillePark, where the "misfit" kids hang out, but she really wants “a life.” The summer after junior year thatlife nearly ends with a heroin overdose, the event that triggers Kara’s exit from Oak Park.
All the things that happen in between make up the ballads of suburbia.
Early praise for Ballads of Suburbia:
"....an intensely real and painfully honest novel of high-school anxiety." "....Kuehnert nails the raw vulnerability of teendom and delivers a hard-hitting and mesmerizing read." —Booklist
"Like an American Beauty for the teen set." -NewCity"With her first two novels, Kuehnert has created vivid pictures of teenage lives that lie in that borderland that abuts adulthood. It is a fertile, confusing and intense place, and Kuehnert never holds back. But like a good ballad, she keeps the stories taut and precise, with a touch of heart thrown in for good measure." -Chicago Sun-Times
"This book is powerful. It's been haunting me for days. Yes, haunting me." - The Story Siren, 5 star review, Recipient of the Luminous Pearl Award
"BALLADS OF SUBURBIA is a remarkable achievement that hits you right where it counts (your heart) and lingers where it matters (the brain). I’m truly looking forward to seeing what Stephanie Kuehnert will do next." - Steph Su Reads, 5 out of 5 rating
"This novel was addicting. It was harsh, raw, cruel, sad, and painful, but the scariest of all is that this is real. In one powerful novel, whole worlds are exposed. I recommend this novel to anyone ready to see the truth." - Reading Is Bliss
"All that really needs to be said about Ballads of Suburbia is that it's spectacular, and that I can't recommend it enough." - Frenetic Reader
Additional praise for Stephanie Kuehnert:
"Acidly incisive and full-out entertaining...Kuehnert’s smart gal, punk rock narrator is irresistible."—Booklist
“Kuehnert’s language is slick.The punk references bite with genuine angst and hunger, and Emily’s tough, sardonic attitude, as revealed through chunky, poetic language, is feverishly tempting.”
—Kirkus Reviews
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephanie Kuehnertgot her start writing bad poetry about unrequited love and razor blades in eighth grade. In high school, she discovered punk rock and produced several D.I.Y. feminist ‘zines. She received her MFA in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago and lives in Forest Park, Illinois. Her first novel, I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, was released by MTV Books in July of 2008. BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, also published by MTV Books, is her latest release.
Here's my GCC interview with Stephanie....ENJOY!!
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?
I definitely think living well is the best revenge. In fact it's something I say often. I've never really done anything to get revenge on anyone though there was this one girl in high school that I was terrible to because I'd heard she'd spread rumors about me and a friend of mine. Who knows if she actually did spread the rumors. Certainly just talking to her would have been a better way to address the issue. Eventually we did talk things out, but our relationship always was weird because of how things began for us. In high school, I had an emotionally abusive boyfriend. I called him out on all the things he did in a zine I wrote, so maybe that was kind of like revenge, but it was an important part on my path to healing. I used to plot other things I could do to him, like break up his bands or tell his new friends exactly what a creep he was, but this gets back to the living well is the best revenge thing. Ultimately I just focused on myself and my own healing and I started writing from my wounded places. I get way more pleasure thinking about him flipping through a local newspaper and seeing an article about me and my books and realizing that I *survived* him than I probably ever would have by slashing his tires or something.
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 dealt with mean girls mainly from age 8 to 15. After that age I made it a point to avoid mean girls and cliquey people and do my best not to let their attitudes get to me. Also because I dealt with it at such a young age, I do my best to be open and accepting of everyone and not be judgmental. But yeah, I still see and hear about women and girls dealing with that mean girl mentality and I wonder when women will finally realize that cutting down another woman will NOT raise them up.
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 actually create a playlist for each book. You can see all 36 songs that inspired Ballads of Suburbia here: http://www.stephaniekuehnert.com/ballads/soundtrack.html It's really hard to pick just one song or artist to sum up the book. I was listening to a lot of PJ Harvey, Screaming Trees, and Johnny Cash while writing it. I guess if I had to use one song to sum it up though, it would be "The Kids Aren't Alright" by the Offspring.
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.)
I tell people that it's Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and that honestly is my all time favorite book. But I read a lot of different stuff, mainly YA like Francesca Lia Block, Melissa Marr, and Cecil Castellucci. And I have enjoyed some "trashy" books. Like Pamela Anderson's books. I gobbled those up when I was living in LA, something about reading them poolside in my apartment complex just seemed right ;)
5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
Liza Graves from Civet. I'd love to be the front woman of a punk band. Instead I live vicariously through her adventures on her blog: lizagraves.blogspot.com Dude, right now she is on tour with Social Distortion! And she just came back from Europe? Yeah, that would be sweet.
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!)
What's funny is I can totally cast my first book, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, but I really can't cast Ballads. I either don't know enough teen actors or I would just really imagine it as a new, fresh cast. The only thing I can sort of see is Silver from the new 90210 as Maya and maybe Adriana from the new 90210 as my main character, Kara. See the new 90210 is the main teen drama I 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?
It's teen addiction and self injury. Self injury in particular is an issue close to my heart since it is something I coped with as a teen, so I do hope this book brings light to it.
8. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?
Oh man, this is a really, really hard one because I love 80s movies! I think I'm gonna go with the classic Breakfast Club though.
9. Why should I choose your book for my book club?
Because it's the kind of book that will generate a lot of discussion. It brings to light some hard issues and I really hope it will get more people talking about them. Also there are so many different characters with different experiences that it would be interesting to see which character each person in your book club relates too. You could also do fun activities with my book like write your own ballad.
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!
It deals with issues real teens deal with like divorce, depression, addiction, and self-injury. It's got all the drama of a show like 90210, but with more realistic every day characters that teens will relate to. I joke that it's Weeds (for the suburbia angle, but with heroin instead of pot) meets 90210. And it's itching for a killer soundtrack!
Blog: stephaniekuehnert.blogspot.com A cyber launch party for Ballads of Suburbia is running there through August 14 with lots of guest bloggers and daily prizes!
So, today THE LOST SISTER (sequel to Sisters of Misery) officially launched. I don't know if this means that they are currently available in your local Barnes & Noble, Borders or Indie store, but Amazon says that it's available and what Amazon says goes.
Last night was pretty intense. Here was my Facebook update.
45 minutes until THE LOST SISTER goes on sale. I know that you're all out there waiting in line dressed up like...um...really mean girls and um...witches? or not...Hey, doesn't everybody get a midnight book launch party? Why do Meyer and Rowling get all the hoopla? Get my agent on the phone! Heads are gonna roll! ;)
So shortly after that was posted, thousands of fans descended upon bookstores across the country dressed like Maddie, Cordelia and even a few Kate Endicotts. It was exhausting! I don't know how Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling do it. But, you gotta do what you gotta do. It's a business, you know?
I mean, it wasn't like I was sitting home in my PJs anxiously Googling myself to see if any early reviews were in...that would be so lame. I mean, acceptable and understandable, given it's only my second book...but....whatever.
My FB friends (we're super tight, almost like family, really) were giving me ideas on what drink I should have to celebrate. But, as you all know, you are NOT allowed to drink alcohol in bookstores. It's a rule. I'm pretty sure. So, then I realized that the whole crowd control thing was getting a little crazy and I decided to call the whole thing off. And I didn't want to pull a Britney and be totally surrounded by bodyguards and not be able to mingle with my fans. I know a lot of you were disappointed, and I apologize. I'm truly and deeply sorry. Some of you put a lot of work into your "mean girl" costumes, and I really appreciate that.
So, I went home and considered the list of drinks that my FBFs (Facebook Friends--they're the new BFFs -- keep up, okay?) suggested and decided that while dirty martinis, malbec and dark chocolate, pomegranite margaritas(?) were enticing, I went for the more low key Fiji neat (no ice), not shaken, not stirred.
Sitting at my computer while my husband and daughter slept in the next rooms, I realized that I was doing a disservice to my tens of fans out there. I decided that my next book will have a huge coast-to-coast launch party. Even if it's just online--it will be a party to remember! People can dress up like characters while sitting at their computers. There can be role playing, give-aways, silent auctions, you name it.
Then today, the day of the book launch was just exhausting. Here's my FB update from the actual day.
Just a typical launch day for my second novel, THE LOST SISTER. Fielded phone calls from Clooney, Pitt, Johnny Depp--you know, the usual. Paparazzi at my doorstep. Hounded by the press (enough is enough--I'm just a person, you know.). Robert Pattinson, stop calling and begging to be in the movie version of my book already! Please! I'll let you know, okay? My people will call your people. We'll do lunch. *sigh*
Again, it's hard for people to understand that I'm a person just like everybody else. I don't like to live my life on a stage. I'm a writer. I prefer to be behind the scenes. And Johnny, Brad, George, Tom, Leo, Toby, Ashton, Jonai (that's what I call the brothers, it's just easier that way), I'm sorry that I couldn't take all of your calls, but you know how it is. Everyone wants a piece of you. Your life isn't your own anymore. I just wish people would understand how hard it is to keep fans happy, because that's what it's really all about---the people, the fans. Not the jets, the parties, the trips to the French Riviera, the swag, the premieres, the money, the luxury vacations. That's meaningless.
It's about the book. And that's what today was about. The launch of my book. Which is why I chose to spend it at home with my daughter (after her gymnastics camp) cleaning my house in the insane humidity and working on my next novel. Because the work comes first, people. That's what it's all about. Everything else is just distractions.
In any case, I hope you all go out and purchase THE LOST SISTER at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com. Amazon.com purchases will help me achieve my goal of getting into the under 100,000 rank. I think we've all had quite enough of Stephenie Meyer taking up the top spots in the Amazon ranking system. Time to give it up, Ms. Meyer. Move along, now. You've had your time in the spotlight.
I wanted to take this time to thank everyone for making this day possible. And also a quick disclaimer ** (please see below).
**Any and all persons mentioned in this post have not approved being mentioned here and may or may not have actually contacted the author of this post, so let's just keep this between you and me, because I really don't want to end up on Oprah getting yelled at. This isn't a memoir or anything. It's a blog post. A blog post of a fiction writer at that. So anything I have said cannot be used against me in a court of law. It could all be purely a work of fiction--or not. Either way, I take no responsibility for any of the things posted above and will not be held accountable if anyone gets their feelings hurt by said post.
***Additional disclaimer: Johnny Depp, I was kidding. Feel free to call me anytime you want. I'm never too busy to talk to you.
I am so excited to tour one of my FAVORITE authors of the hot NY teen society, Jennifer Banash, who doesn't fail to deliver on her third and final book in The Elite series. You simply cannot help but fall in love with SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE--it's the perfect summer read. Don't waste your time watching the overpriviliged and uber-annoying kids on Bravo's NYC Prep (P.C., seriously? do you really think you're God's gift to the world?), and instead dive into the world of Casey McCloy, Madison Macallister, Meadowlark Academy, The Bramsford and the rest of NY's Upper East Side as deftly described by Banash. Coincidentally, reality television is exactly what comes into Casey and Madison's lives, creating even more delicious drama, tensions, and scandal! So much more fun than "real" reality shows, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE takes the reader into a world that cannot be captured more accurately than by someone who's been there.
What writers do you consider your “sisters”? Are there any published writers that you hang out or tour with a lot? Call? Email? IM?
Yes! I just had lunch with Robin Benway, who is an amazingly awesome writer, and a great girl to boot, and I talk to Alexa Young quite a bit. And, of course, I like to think that you and I are virtual buddies as well (MKH NOTE: OF COURSE!! XOXO) ! I've exchanged emails with Alyson Noel, and we've talked about meeting for lunch, but haven't had time to set something up a of yet.
Who do you find yourself being compared to or are often put together with in reading lists or book clubs?
Gossip Girl. The Luxe. Anyone who writes about the rich and privileged set or anyone who writes about NYC.
What writers do you wish would be in your “clique”? (It doesn’t have to be in your genre….doesn’t even have to be living! For example, I’d pick Alice Hoffman, Jodi Picoult, Sarah Dessen, Oscar Wilde, Stephenie Meyer, Meg Cabot, Stephen King and Joan Didion).
Oscar Wilde, because every girl needs a fabulously witty, gay best friend, Roberto Bolano, Joan Didion, Bret Easton Ellis, Sarah Dessen, and JD Salinger (MKH NOTE: Just don't suggest a sequel to Catcher in the Rye!).
If someone was going to join your book club, what would be a “must read” in order to join?
Lolita. It is a modern masterpiece.
What was your “initiation” to writing?
I started writing poems when I was around 12, and wanted to be a serious poet for a long time. I still read poetry, I just don't write it anymore.
When did you first feel that you’d officially joined the “published writers’ club”?
Er . . . I still don't feel like I'm there! (MKH: Of course you're there!! You're one of the coolest!)
What was your best/worst memory of high school?
I was a club kid, so I went to school pretty sporadically. Suffice to say, I don't have many clear memories of that time, or none I can really talk about here!
In SISTERS OF MISERY, the last place new members want to go to is Misery Island. But if you had the choice, what island would you go to and what would you take with you?
Anywhere with a white sand beach, clear blue water, and copious amounts of frothy blender drinks. I'd take an enormous stack of paperbacks, my Trina Turk bikini, and my boyfriend!
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.
Third and last in The Elite book series – brings more adventures from the spoiled, rich teens in Manhattan who nearly ate Casey McCloy alive when she first arrived in the Big Apple from her small town of Normal, Illinois. Casey learned very quickly after she moved in with her grandmother at The Bramford, the most exclusive luxury apartment building on New York’s Upper East Side and got into the prestigious Meadowlark Academy on a full scholarship, that it’s not who you are but who you know!
More about SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE:
Simply Irresistible (Penguin) brings us a whole new set of adventures now that Casey has had a big city-haute makeover, courtesy of her classmate and neighbor Madison Macallister – part teen icon and part queen diva-bitch. Wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people, has given Casey the look and the attitude – she’s “in” and loving it!
Much to Madison’s dismay, her rival is climbing up the social ladder in a big way and could end up just as popular as Madison now that the two are set to star in their own TV reality show, “De-Luxe.” Yes, showbiz came knocking on two of The Bramford’s most illustrious doors and, as much as Madison thrives on the attention the show brings, she’s not thrilled about having every bit of her life of privilege caught on tape. However, fame comes at a price and Madison is one chick who is willing to pay anything…especially if it means becoming the next reality “it girl.” Casey, on the other hand, is realizing that Reality TV can sometimes beunreal, causing her to wonder if she even knows who she is anymore.
With her relationship with Drew, Madison’s ex, currently more off than on, she can’t help wondering if everything in her life is really just an illusion – and how much longer the illusion can last….
Although The Elite series is obsessed with fashion and glamour, Branash does an impressive job of examining real issues that teens face, such as cutting, divorce, infidelity, and drug addiction. Having personally attended high school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan provided the author with the background for her ample insight and imagination portrayed in The Elite Series.
Praise for The Elite Series:
"If you love all the drama, scandal, and high-end fashion of Gossip
Girl...you'll want to check out...The Elite!"--Seventeen.com
"The Elite is Pretty in Pink for the millennium generation."--Romance
Reviews Today
"An awesome tale of friendship and betrayal with just the right amount
of humor and heart. Seriously irresistible, and impossible to put
down."-Alexa Young, author of Frenemies and Faketastic
About the Author: Jennifer Banash Jennifer Banash attended high school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and currently divides her time between Paris and the Midwest—where she lives with her Beagle, Sigmund, and her vast designer shoe collection. She is the co-founder and co-publisher of Impetus Press, an independent publishing house that champions serious literary fiction with a pop edge. For more info, check out her website at http://www.theelitebooks.com/
SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE by Jennifer Banash Publisher: Berkley Trade (July 7, 2009 ISBN-10: 0425227839 ISBN-13: 978-042522783
Recently I attended Book Expo America in New York City. This is the fifth year that I've gone (third time in NYC). As always, it was lots of fun. Got to meet up with friends, editors, agents, publishers that I hadn't seen in awhile. And I also got to meet up with writers that I've corresponded with online for awhile, but never met in person (Hi Maureen Johnson! It was great to finally meet you!) Ran into some writer friends from home that I don't get to see while I'm in Boston (Hank Phillipi Ryan and Laurie Stolarz), which is kind of funny to go all the way to New York to meet up with people who live right around the corner from you at home.
Anyway, I brought my daughter, Piper (as I always do) and this year she was excited to see Olivia the pig, Clifford the dog and check out all the new kids books. Chester by Melanie Watts is her new favorite. (Melanie is also the author of Piper's favorite series, Scaredy Squirrel. Definitely check them out!)
Okay, so some of you may or may not know this about Piper, but she has a *collection* of tiaras that she absolutely must, must, must (I'm channeling Eloise here) wear when she's on vacation. We usually bring about two or three, depending on her mood. Now these aren't like hundred dollar, kid pageant tiaras here. They are typically plastic, some have sparkles on them, some have feathers, some have ruffles. It really just depends on her mood.
So, of course, when we heard that Meg Cabot-- the author of The Princess Diaries -- the woman who brought tiaras back into style -- was signing her new series Allie Finkles Rules for Girls, we knew we had to meet her. My sister, Jocelyn, who is a HUGE Meg Cabot fan waited in line with Piper, while I got to carry all of Piper's loot that she'd acquired throughout the day: a gigantic balloon dog courtesy of the Guinness Book of World Records balloon guy, lots of books, stuffed animals, bags, snacks, you name it. Meg's assistant told me that I looked like Piper's sherpa, which I basically was.
Anyway, Piper got to meet Meg and it was worth the wait! Meg was so sweet and wonderful with Piper and they took this picture together, which ended up on Meg's Website! So, in all the years that I've been going to BEA, I've never gotten as much publicity or notice as my six-year-old daughter, who got to meet "the most famous writer in the world" (that's what she told her fellow kindergartners when we got back from NYC).
Maybe I should start wearing a tiara.
In any case Piper is smitten and she now wants to be a famous illustrator when she grows up (not a writer, because that's what her mommy does and it's boring, according to her). Perhaps she'll illustrate a series about a little girl who always wears tiaras and goes to New York to meet a famous writer...and a slightly more famous (at least in Piper's eyes) pig named Olivia.
I'm not one to usually toot my own horn, but the reviews for THE LOST SISTER are just starting to come in and I realized that I never shared all the wonderful reviews and things said about SISTERS OF MISERY. (At least not all in one post.) So before I start posting new and wonderful reviews (thanks to those who have them up so early!) of THE LOST SISTER, here are some of the amazingly kind and wonderful things said about SISTERS OF MISERY. (These are the things that I read when I'm on the verge of giving up being a writer--and believe me, those days are not few.)
Spell-binding, suspenseful, and shocking…will chill you to the bone. --Alice Berger
There’s no doubt Hall knows how to write one heck of a creepy gothic novel. She pushes the limits with disturbing plot points in this scary, fast-paced story. Romantic Times Book Reviews
The story is good, the plot intriguing, and the suspense nail-biting. --Armchair Interviews This modern gothic has everything. --Bookloons.com
Hall maintains suspense until the very end. This story's dark, sinister edge, coupled with the clever use of runes to frame each chapter, will satisfy those fascinated by witchcraft and premonitions. Setting up a sequel, Hall will leave readers eager to know what happens next in her standout addition to a popular YA genre. --Publishers Weekly Review
Quite a read. It is full of mystery, and magic, secrets and unanswered questions that only loom larger as you continue on with the story. Sisters of Misery definitely stirs your soul… Sisters of Misery is a story that will grab you and not let go. – Midwest Book Review
Perhaps the best Gothic novel that I have ever read. Hall knows how to create suspense like nobody else. – TeenReadsToo.com
If you like creepy and spooky mysteries, Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall is perfect for you. Sisters of Misery is a deep, dark, complex and sinister mystery with spectacular supernatural elements. – Michellez Minionz blog
Sisters of Misery gave me the chills…a frightfully great read. It’ll leave you feeling as if a cold, dead hand were crawling all over your body. Ms. Hall has definitely renewed my love of the Gothic novel. –NightsandWeekends.com
The character driven tale contains a gothic tone and atmosphere as the main characters are interesting people who have kept secrets for decades. -- Harriet Klausner
More than a fantasy, as gripping as a thriller, Sisters of Misery is superb YA suspense, that delivers on its promise to keep the reader turning pages into the wee small hours of the morning.--Bookworm Reviews
Sisters of Misery was a truly chilling and suspenseful read. – The Book Muncher
This is possibly the darkest book I've ever read. I knew it would be sinister, but not that sinister. – Arya, The California Writer Book Reviews
Sisters of Misery is fantasically written. As the story goes on, it only gets more creepy, haunting, and suspenseful. There's loads of mystery packed in only a few hundred pages. --Frenetic Reader
A gothic story with hints of witchcraft, and a mysterious disappearance, that kept me guessing right to the end. – In Spring It Is Dawn Book Blog
Well-written, highly suspenseful and slightly creepy.--Beyond Books Blog
This eerie tale kept me up late… The unraveling of the mystery itself produced some nail-biting scenes.--Damian Daily
Megan Kelley Hall excels at creating the perfect atmosphere for the story – it’s dark and threatening, with a palpable sense of dread. --In bed with Books
It was so well written and the plot was amazing. There were a lot of twist and turns. It sent chills down my body. –BookLuver Carol
The plot was electrifying, mystifying, and terrifying. The hairs on my arms were constantly on edge.---Fallen Angel Reviews
Sisters of Misery sent shivers down my spine…. It's sure to grab you tight, and keep you guessing until the very last page.-Liv’s Book Reviews
Sisters of Misery was undoubtedly a chilling read. Well written and suspenseful, Sisters of Misery keeps you guessing…With old superstitions woven in extremely well, Sisters of Misery makes for a haunting tale like no other. The Book Vault Blog
Hall had me craving for more. This is the realism of mainstream fiction, but the intensity of a thriller. -J Kaye Oldner Book Blog
This was an excellent book. Megan Kelley Hall twisted a modern town with age-old legends and nonfictional lore into a completely mystical setting. What seems like a struggle between friendships suddenly turns around in an intense plot-twisting scene less than midway through the book. And it's all mystery and suspense from there. I especially loved the originality of Sisters of Misery. I haven't read a single book like it. There was always this creepy, mysterious feel to the story.--The Page Flipper
Praise from Authors
"Spooky, compulsively readable, and thrilling, SISTERS OF MISERY views cliques and persecution through a realistic supernatural lens, and the result is as thought-provoking as it is sinister. A heart-stopping read.” -Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of Golden, Platinum, and Tattoo
“What more could you want? Evil. Cliques. Mystery. Witches.” --E. Lockhart, author of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, Dramarama, Fly on the Wall, How to be Bad.
"Shivery...Megan Kelley Hall hits one over the fence with her debut novel -- a true Gothic that skillfully combines the dangerous mischief of a modern clique with the bad girls whose prank-gone-mad ignited the Salem witch trials." -Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean and The Midnight Twins
"Original, insightful, and scary. Megan Kelley Hall writes with an intense, frightening grace that will have you turning pages long into the night. She has immediately established herself as a first novelist to be reckoned with in the future." --Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of The First Patient and Extreme Measures
"An exciting, dangerous, and mysterious world! Megan Kelley Hall has crafted a story that'll keep you guessing until the last page." --Richelle Mead, author, Vampire Academy series
"A dazzling and dishy portrait of magic, mystery, and coming of age. Readers will eat this up and come begging for more." --Laurie Faria Stolarz, author of the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series, Bleed, and Project 17
“One of the very best things in life is discovering an author you want to read more of. Sisters of Misery makes me want to read a whole lot more of Megan Kelley Hall.” -Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank and Impulse
"Just finished SISTERS OF MISERY and . . .WOW!!!! Best YA title I've read all year!" --Jennifer Banash, author of The Elite
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