Beautiful Americans
by Lucy Silag
What happens in Paris. . .
SECRETS
PJ’s deep blue eyes and angelic long blond hair conceal a truth that’s anything but. Will her dark past stay where it belongs in the backwoods of Vermont, or haunt her in the city of light?
PASSION
Always the good girl, Olivia plans to twirl her way to the top of the Parisian ballet scene. But that’s not supposed to include dancing on a table all night. . . or stumbling into the arms of the wrong boy.
LIES
With his emo-trendy bedhead, hilarious comebacks and Southern drawl, Zack could win over anyone. Too bad he’s after the only one who’s forbidden. . .
SCANDAL
All Alex wants from Paris is to nab that berry-red Dior coat and seduce the perfect penny-loafer-wearing boy—and Alex always gets what she wants. But will her scheming pay off? Or is she risking more than she knows. . .?
Alex, Olivia, Zack and PJ are spending a year at the prestigious Lycée de Monceau in the sparkling city of Paris. This is their chance to sip café au lait in Le Marais, throw secret parties in their host families’ Versailles-size apartments, and have the time of their lives. But when the secrets they thought they left behind come out, everything could be ruined. . . 
IB Teen talks with the super chic Lucy Silag
IBT: If you could choose one fictional character to bring into real life, who would you choose?
LS: Bridget Jones, absolutely, so we could compare notes on being ridiculous when we're trying so hard not to be.
IBT: How did you survive being a teen?
LS: It's all about laughing at yourself. I surrounded myself with people who had a good sense of humor and I tried not to let too many things get to me. I was lucky to have a great group of friends and very patient, understanding parents who helped me find my way as I became an adult. I also wrote constantly in my journal, which is mortifying to read now, but was a great outlet for all the trials and tribulations of middle school and high school.
IBT: Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing, knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?
LS: It wasn't until my book, BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS, was in galley form that I realized my dad was going to read the steamier scenes. I hadn't thought to be embarrassed until it was too late!
IBT: What do you think are the biggest issues that teens need to be thinking about today? Do you think teens today are looking for quality in the books they read, or just to live vicariously through superficial characters?
LS: Heavy question! I'm not sure about teens in general, but some of the issues I try to address in my writing for teens have a lot to do with self-acceptance and acceptance of others. Certainly, I knew that some people would not be comfortable reading about a gay character, but I think it is important for GLBT teens to have a lot visibility in YA novels. Even if a young reader is just looking for a bit of escapism, books and other forms of media should try to accurately reflect different points of view in teen culture. When I was a teen, I read different types of books depending on the mood I was in--which is of course still true today. Some days I look for deep meaning, and sometimes I just want to have a vicarious adventure!
IBT: How have the books you’ve read inspired the books you’ve written, if at all?
LS: I think that for a long time I was intimidated to write fiction because I assumed that it would have to be very brainy and literary. When I started working as a bookseller and then as a book publicist, I was exposed to so many different types of books, including a lot of really smart commercial fiction. I realized that to be a good writer you don't have to take yourself so seriously, and that some of the books I've gotten the most out of were actually very light in tone.
IBT: What is the strangest thing you have ever gotten inspiration from?
LS: I'm not sure if it is strange or not, but I always get the most inspired on trains, planes, the subway, or car rides. I'm usually too lazy to carry around my laptop, so I've learned to always have a notebook with me because it is usually when it is most inconvenient to write that I decide I have a great idea.
IBT: Many writers say parting with a character is hard. Do you ever look back on a character and wish you had changed something about him or her?
LS: That is why it is so great to be writing a trilogy! I don't have to say goodbye to my characters for several more months since I'm still working on the second and third books in the BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS series.
IBT: What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that you would love to do but you are too afraid?
LS: I was a terribly fearless teenager, so I got some stuff out of the way back then: skydiving in Australia (where you don't have to be 18), various body piercings, singing a solo in a school musical before I realized that I am totally tone deaf. Now I am so cautious that my friends and family laugh at me. The one thing I'd still love to do is get a tattoo, but whenever I've actually gone into the tattoo parlor, the needles make me queasy and I leave without making an appointment.
IBT: What do you do when you are faced with writer’s block? What helps you get over it? LS: Exercise, even just going for a long walk, always helps. The one thing that doesn't help is wallowing in it! If I am really stuck, I might write in my journal or draft a blog post about what I've been up to in order to get the juices flowing again.
IBT: Paris is the one city I cannot die without first visiting. Do you have a place you've yet to visit but cannot live without?
LS: So many! I spend a lot of time daydreaming about taking a train from Moscow to Beijing, and I've also always wanted to go to South Africa. But really, there's not a travel destination I hear about that I don't want to go to. Unless it involves taking a boat, and then I would have to decline because I get very seasick.
IBT: Are you working on anything now and can you share anything about it with us?
LS: At this very moment, I am working on the sequel to BEAUTIFUL AMERICANS, which is tentatively titled WANDERLUST. It's scheduled to be released in September 2009. I hope you will check it out!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Lucy Silag
Friday, May 1, 2009
Jessica Day George
Princess of the Midnight Ball
by Jessica Day George
Returning home from the war, young Galen finds work with his mother’s family in the royal gardens. There he learns that the king’s twelve daughters have a secret: every night they dance their shoes to tatters, but no one knows how or why. When prince after prince tries and fails to find the answer, and the family is haunted by accusations of witchcraft, Galen decides to help. Armed with a pair of silver knitting needles and an invisibility cloak given to him by a strange old woman, he follows the princesses and unlocks the secret of their curse.
This book includes knitting patterns for a shawl and a chain of black wool that are key to the plot. I will also be posting more knitting patterns here that correspond with with the story.
IB Teen talks to Jessica Day George
IBT: If you could choose one fictional character to bring into real life, who would you choose?
JDG: Crowley from Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
IBT:How did you survive being a teen?
JDG: It wasn't easy! I read lots and lots of books, and got into acting at the local college's summer theater, and well, left town to go to college once I graduated!
IBT: Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing, knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?
JDG: Yes. I wrote a novel about Queen Guinevere, set in the future when Arthur is prophesied to return, which had a lot of mentions of drug use. It hasn't been published yet, but I'm really scared to find out what my dad will say if it ever does hit shelves and he reads it!
IBT: What do you think are the biggest issues that teens need to be thinking about today? Do you think teens today are looking for quality in the books they read, or just to live vicariously through superficial characters?
JDG: I really think teens need to work harder than ever to get a place at a good university and get the best education they can. We have so many difficulties facing the world: the environmental issues, wars, poverty, epidemics, that we need educated people to help alleviate these problems. It's not fair, but that's the world teens are facing right now, which is why I think most teens are reading to live vicariously through the characters. But there's no reason you can't look for the best written books to escape into!
IBT: How have the books you’ve read inspired the books you’ve written, if at all?
JDG: Oh, in so many ways! Readin Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer makes me want to write my own historical romances, reading about funny quirky dragons in Patricia Wrede's books made me want to do something like Dragon Slippers. . . .My whole reading history is laid out in my own books!
IBT: What is the strangest thing you have ever gotten inspiration from? What inspired you to write School for Dangerous Girls?
JDG: I wrote my hard core version of Arthur and Guinevere, living in the future (and Guinevere is a drug addict), after listening to the musical Camelot too many times. Also, I'm afraid I didn't write School for Dangerous Girls!
IBT: Many writers say parting with a character is hard. Do you ever look back on a character and wish you had changed something about him or her?
JDG: In my head, one of the dragons from Dragon Slippers was red. She's a very warlike, tough female. But for some reason I typed "green", and green it stayed. Then as I've written the sequels, I've had the worst time remembering that she's green. I still want her to be read, and I begged my editor to change future printings of the books, so that she could be the "right" color.
IBT: What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that you would love to do but you are too afraid?
JDG: I'd love to sky dive, but I'm well aware that I am too chicken.
IBT: What do you do when you are faced with writer’s block? What helps you get over it?
JDG: Dancing around and eating licorice. Works every time.
IBT: Paris is the one city I cannot die without first visiting. Do you have a place you've yet to visit but cannot live without?
JDG: Iceland.
IBT: Is Princess a stand alone novel or will it be part of a series? I love that you've added a knitting pattern that get's the reader involved in the story, if there is a series will they all have some interaction like this?
JDG: There will be at least one sequel. It's already complete, and in it, Princess Poppy will stand in for Cinderella. It also has knitting patterns.
IBT: Thanks Jessica!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Alex McAuley
Shelter Me
by Alex McAulay
Maggie Leigh just wants to be a normal teenager, but when German bombs tear apart London during World War II, her ultra-religious mother sees the destruction as divine punishment. She sends Maggie to a remote boarding school in coastal Wales, supposedly to keep her safe, but also to keep her in line. The school is creepy, the headmistress is a lunatic, and the students range from spoiled rich girls to speechless trauma victims. But when a tragic accident happens on the beach, Maggie and three friends are forced to flee the school, plunging into the nightmarish world of Europe during wartime. Now every decision Maggie makes is fraught with danger, and living to see another day depends on how quickly she can think and act...and how far she's willing to go.
IB Teen talks to Alex McAuley
IBT: If you could choose one fictional character to bring into real life, who would you choose?
AM: From my books, or books in general? From my books, it would have to be Maggie Leigh from "Shelter Me" because it would be interesting to see what a teenager from WWII-era Europe would make of today's society. From other's people's books, it would probably be Elizabeth from "Pride & Prejudice", or Nicholas from "The Magus" (a very strange book by John Fowles that was the unofficial basis for David Fincher's 1997 film "The Game").
IBT: How did you survive being a teen?
AM: I'm not sure. I spent most of my teen years being an emo/punk/nerd/outcast/film geek who played in a punk rock band but also spent a lot of time studying (I had really strict parents). I grew up in Dayton, Ohio and there wasn't much to do there. The only cool part was that Kim Deal from the rock bands The Pixies and The Breeders lived a few streets down from me and used to let us kids hang out at her house. Once I got out of Dayton at 17, I went wild.
IBT: Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing, knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?
AM: Yes, absolutely. But that book hasn't been released yet. It's my next project. It's pretty dark, and will probably make a lot of people I know unhappy. Writing it is really hard. But I'm hoping it will also turn out to be psychologically rewarding (and won't just drive me insane or something awful).
IBT: What do you think are the biggest issues that teens need to be thinking about today? Do you think teens today are looking for quality in the books they read, or just to live vicariously through superficial characters?
AM: It's a mix. I don't think core psychological traits change that much from one generation to another. Everyone wants to have friends, to be loved, to have enough money to live on (at the least), and to do something cool with their lives. I don't know what issues teens think about--they're probably similar to what I think about. (I remain hopeful we'll soon see an end to the pointless, colonialist war in Iraq, for example). And I think it's a mix in terms of reading for quality vs. reading for superficial characters--sometimes one is fun, sometimes the other. I love trashy horror novels/graphic novels as much as I love really complex "literary" postmodern novels.
IBT: How have the books you’ve read inspired the books you’ve written, if at all?
AM: My favorite books (especially the works of Stephen King, J.G. Ballard, William Golding, Truman Capote, Paul Theroux, and Alex Garland) inspired me to become a writer in the first place. A great book (or movie!) is a constant source of inspiration and creative energy for me.
IBT: What is the strangest thing you have ever gotten inspiration from?
AM: Bizarre and shocking events from my past.
IBT: Many writers say parting with a character is hard. Do you ever look back on a character and wish you had changed something about him or her?
AM: Sometimes. I'm happy with the characters in my first novel "Bad Girls" and in my most recent novel "Shelter Me." Sometimes characters take a weird turn when I'm writing. Some of my favorite characters are based on people I know.
IBT: What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that you would love to do but you are too afraid?
AM: Challenging Axl Rose to a charity boxing match.
IBT: What do you do when you are faced with writer’s block? What helps you get over it?
AM: Writer's block can be cured by copious amounts of alcohol (warning: this is probably not a good long-term strategy). But seriously, I write almost every day. It's like running--the discipline keeps away the problems.
IBT: WWII is one of my favorite times in history to read about, what inspired you to set the story during this time?
AM: My parents were alive (as babies) during WWII and living in London. My dad's house was bombed and he barely survived. My mom was sent away to Wales to a safe area. Their stories and the stories of my grandparents inspired my novel. It sounds like a brutal time. I remain fascinated by the fact that Britain and America managed to stop the lunatic tide of Nazism that had conquered most of Europe. I wish Britain and America would return to their onetime roles of doing good in the world, instead of invading foreign countries for profit.
IBT: Are you working on anything now and can you share anything about it with us?
AM: I'm writing a memoir about my youth. It's not specifically aimed at teens, due to the extremely disturbing content, but I think a lot of teens might enjoy reading it. I'm also working on my fifth young adult novel, which is set in Utah.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tina Ferraro
The ABC's of Kissing Boys
author website
author myspace
Parker Stanhope's friends got promoted to Varsity soccer without her. Desperate to make things right, she has concocted a crazy-but-just-might-work plan that includes kissing the socks off the prom king at the Sports Fair Kissing Booth. Between now and then, she needs to learn everything she can about kissing - somehow. She finds a "coach" in the most unlikely of guys - but suddenly keeping that relationship a secret becomes as dire as her need to win back her soccer status and her friends.
About Tina:
Tina Ferraro believes in the adage that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. She was an avid bookworm, she started writing at the age of seven and sold her first short story following college.-from tinaferraro.com
IBT: If you could choose one fictional character to bring into real life, who would you choose?
TF: Superman! The uncle in my work-in-progress book is crazy for all things Man of Steel, so Superman has lived large in my mind lately.
IBT: How did you survive being a teen?
TF: By laughing? I don’t know...I had some good friends, and we laughed a lot. I also did a fair amount of reading and story writing, giving me “breaks” from real life.
IBT: Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing, knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?
TF: Yes, back in the old days, I wrote some adult romances, but my heart wasn’t in them, and they never sold. One of the reasons I changed to targeting the young adult market was so my first book would be something that people of all ages could read.
IBT: What do you think are the biggest issues that teens need to be thinking about today? Do you think teens today are looking for quality in the books they read, or just to live vicariously through superficial characters?
TF: My guess is that the biggest issues vary from person to person, but because I was very insecure as a teenager, what comes to my mind is a strong sense of self. I think it’s important to be comfortable in one’s own skin, and not allow oneself to get pigeon-holed by other’s opinions of you. For instance, I was a less-than-stellar student, and teachers and guidance counselors didn’t figure I’d make much of myself. For a time, I allowed that perception to hold me back, to keep me from trying things and believing myself. And now today, I sort of pride myself on being the advocate of the less-than-stellar student, showing people that hey, you didn’t have to be book smart to succeed--even in the book business!
As far as what teens today are looking for in books, I think it’s escapism inside a well-crafted story. In fact, that’s what I look for as a reader and a writer.
IBT: How have the books you’ve read inspired the books you’ve written, if at all?
TF: I read a lot as a teen, and the books that were my favorites tended to feature the kinds of issues I was going through--friend, family and boy troubles--and so consequently, that’s where I’ve gone with my books. And so far, it hasn’t failed me.
IBT: What is the strangest thing you have ever gotten inspiration from? What inspired you to write The ABC’s of Kissing Boys?
TF: The strangest thing was probably the idea for my first published book, Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress. I saw a nonfiction book called something like 101 Uses for a Bridesmaid Dress, and my brain started reeling: “But what if it was a prom dress? An unworn prom dress? What if her date dumped her right before the prom...” And I went running!
The inspiration for The ABC’s of Kissing Boys was not as clear, was more the blending together of ideas that interested me. I liked the concept of a 26 chapter ABC’s book, of a girl who gets left behind when all her friends get promoted to the next level team, and I saw possible humor in a dad being in a stupid feud with a neighbor. From there, it came together (well, after a lot of work).
IBT: Many writers say parting with a character is hard. Do you ever look back on a character and wish you had changed something about him or her?
TF: I’m not sure I wish I’d changed something, but when I’m writing the last chapter, I usually feel sad, like I’m taking someone I love to the airport. But ultimately, there is no goodbye, because I can revisit the character any time I want, either by re-reading or simply writing another scene.
IBT: What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that you would love to do but you are too afraid?
TF: Ski jumping! And it’s more than just fear, but the fact I haven’t been on skis since high school, too. When I watch the men’s ski jumping in the Olympics, my imagination runs wild. I am so there in every jump, taking off, soaring, and oh, those perfect landings. And as a side note, I hear there’s talk of finally adding a women’s competition in 2010!
IBT: What do you do when you are faced with writer’s block? What helps you get over it?
TF: Well, that depends on the block. If I’m simply not feeling creative, then diversion like going shopping or for a walk sometimes helps. Just as often, it’s because the story’s not working. So I have to keep putting my butt in the seat and keep working it until it flows.
IBT: Paris is the one city I cannot die without first visiting. Do you have a place you've yet to visit but cannot live without?
TF: London was that city for me, and I’m pleased to say I made it. But I’d really like to return to Great Britain and set foot on Irish and Scottish soil.
IBT: Are you working on anything now and can you share anything about it with us?
TF: Yes, I am about to hand in the first draft of When Bad Flings Happen to Good Girls. Here’s a blurb:
It took 17 years for Brandy Womack to get her life just the way she wanted it--and about 17 seconds for it to fall apart. Her best friends tell her it’s time to stop working so hard and “get a life.” By this, they mean a boyfriend, and they give her the summer to find one, or they’re going to go hunting the halls themselves. Not realizing that adding a boyfriend to her hectic AP and robotics team schedule, she’d have zero for them.
Away at her uncle’s cabin, Brandy sets out to find a guy who will “break her heart,” so she can return from summer in need of her friend’s TLC, rather than matchmaking skills, and then can resume her well-planned life.
She quickly finds the perfect candidate. But hooking up with the user/loser lifeguard proves harder than she can imagine. Even with the help from his nice-guy friend who seems to have his own reasons for getting them together--and to keep them apart...
About Tina:Tina Ferraro believes in the adage that it is never too late to have a happy childhood. She was an avid bookworm, she started writing at the age of seven and sold her first short story following college.-from tinaferraro.com
IBT: If you could choose one fictional character to bring into real life, who would you choose?
TF: Superman! The uncle in my work-in-progress book is crazy for all things Man of Steel, so Superman has lived large in my mind lately.
IBT: How did you survive being a teen?
TF: By laughing? I don’t know...I had some good friends, and we laughed a lot. I also did a fair amount of reading and story writing, giving me “breaks” from real life.
IBT: Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing, knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?
TF: Yes, back in the old days, I wrote some adult romances, but my heart wasn’t in them, and they never sold. One of the reasons I changed to targeting the young adult market was so my first book would be something that people of all ages could read.
IBT: What do you think are the biggest issues that teens need to be thinking about today? Do you think teens today are looking for quality in the books they read, or just to live vicariously through superficial characters?
TF: My guess is that the biggest issues vary from person to person, but because I was very insecure as a teenager, what comes to my mind is a strong sense of self. I think it’s important to be comfortable in one’s own skin, and not allow oneself to get pigeon-holed by other’s opinions of you. For instance, I was a less-than-stellar student, and teachers and guidance counselors didn’t figure I’d make much of myself. For a time, I allowed that perception to hold me back, to keep me from trying things and believing myself. And now today, I sort of pride myself on being the advocate of the less-than-stellar student, showing people that hey, you didn’t have to be book smart to succeed--even in the book business!
As far as what teens today are looking for in books, I think it’s escapism inside a well-crafted story. In fact, that’s what I look for as a reader and a writer.
IBT: How have the books you’ve read inspired the books you’ve written, if at all?
TF: I read a lot as a teen, and the books that were my favorites tended to feature the kinds of issues I was going through--friend, family and boy troubles--and so consequently, that’s where I’ve gone with my books. And so far, it hasn’t failed me.
IBT: What is the strangest thing you have ever gotten inspiration from? What inspired you to write The ABC’s of Kissing Boys?
TF: The strangest thing was probably the idea for my first published book, Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress. I saw a nonfiction book called something like 101 Uses for a Bridesmaid Dress, and my brain started reeling: “But what if it was a prom dress? An unworn prom dress? What if her date dumped her right before the prom...” And I went running!
The inspiration for The ABC’s of Kissing Boys was not as clear, was more the blending together of ideas that interested me. I liked the concept of a 26 chapter ABC’s book, of a girl who gets left behind when all her friends get promoted to the next level team, and I saw possible humor in a dad being in a stupid feud with a neighbor. From there, it came together (well, after a lot of work).
IBT: Many writers say parting with a character is hard. Do you ever look back on a character and wish you had changed something about him or her?
TF: I’m not sure I wish I’d changed something, but when I’m writing the last chapter, I usually feel sad, like I’m taking someone I love to the airport. But ultimately, there is no goodbye, because I can revisit the character any time I want, either by re-reading or simply writing another scene.
IBT: What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that you would love to do but you are too afraid?
TF: Ski jumping! And it’s more than just fear, but the fact I haven’t been on skis since high school, too. When I watch the men’s ski jumping in the Olympics, my imagination runs wild. I am so there in every jump, taking off, soaring, and oh, those perfect landings. And as a side note, I hear there’s talk of finally adding a women’s competition in 2010!
IBT: What do you do when you are faced with writer’s block? What helps you get over it?
TF: Well, that depends on the block. If I’m simply not feeling creative, then diversion like going shopping or for a walk sometimes helps. Just as often, it’s because the story’s not working. So I have to keep putting my butt in the seat and keep working it until it flows.
IBT: Paris is the one city I cannot die without first visiting. Do you have a place you've yet to visit but cannot live without?
TF: London was that city for me, and I’m pleased to say I made it. But I’d really like to return to Great Britain and set foot on Irish and Scottish soil.
IBT: Are you working on anything now and can you share anything about it with us?
TF: Yes, I am about to hand in the first draft of When Bad Flings Happen to Good Girls. Here’s a blurb:
It took 17 years for Brandy Womack to get her life just the way she wanted it--and about 17 seconds for it to fall apart. Her best friends tell her it’s time to stop working so hard and “get a life.” By this, they mean a boyfriend, and they give her the summer to find one, or they’re going to go hunting the halls themselves. Not realizing that adding a boyfriend to her hectic AP and robotics team schedule, she’d have zero for them.
Away at her uncle’s cabin, Brandy sets out to find a guy who will “break her heart,” so she can return from summer in need of her friend’s TLC, rather than matchmaking skills, and then can resume her well-planned life.
She quickly finds the perfect candidate. But hooking up with the user/loser lifeguard proves harder than she can imagine. Even with the help from his nice-guy friend who seems to have his own reasons for getting them together--and to keep them apart...
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Beth Fantaskey
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
by Beth Fantaskey
Available Now!
"Just remember, girls: The young male vampire is a predator by nature. Some boys may look at you not only as a romantic interest, but as prey..."
Chapter 1, "On the Verge of Adult Vampiredom,"
in Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions
-Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Chapter 1, "On the Verge of Adult Vampiredom,"
in Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions
-Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Marrying a vampire definitely doesn't fit into Jessica Packwood's senior year "get-a-life" plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he's her long-lost fiancé. Armed with new found confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire's Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius's soul from eternal destruction.
When these two meet they couldn't be more different than night and day. Sharing a heartbreakingly similar beginning their paths diverging when an angry mob interferes (as they tend to do when scared and foaming-at-the-mouth angry at things they do not understand). She's raised in a peaceful Gandhi-like vegan environment completely ignorant to who she really is, whereas He is raised with an iron fist to become a Vampire Warrior King. He's arrogant, officious (basically his cup runneth over with confidence), willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill his duty to his family. While she is both rooted in a black-and-white reality, completely rejecting all things fanciful and mystical, she is also conflicted and more than a little insecure.
Clashing, miscommunication, fear, and frustration crush both their efforts; Jessica to have a normal life, and Lucius to convince her join him in ruling a vampire kingdom at his side forever.
Clashing, miscommunication, fear, and frustration crush both their efforts; Jessica to have a normal life, and Lucius to convince her join him in ruling a vampire kingdom at his side forever.
"New lovers are nervous and tender, yet smash everything,
for the heart is an organ of fire."
I've loved this quote from the English Patient for so long, and when I read this book it felt as if it could have been written with these two characters in mind. This story takes Jessica and Lucius through many changes allowing the reader to fully believe the twists and turns that carry them so very far from where they started. This book is a MUST read, I guarantee you will love it.for the heart is an organ of fire."
"I'll be looking at the moon,
but I'll be seeing you"
- The English Patient
11 Questions with Beth Fantaskey:
IBT: If you could choose one fictional character to bring into real life, who
would you choose?
BF: Without hesitation, I would choose Edmond Dantes, "the Count of Monte Cristo."
I didn't read the book until a few years ago, and as soon as I started it, I thought, "Why did I wait so long to meet this guy?" To me, Edmond is the ultimate hero - intelligent, funny, daring, passionate, handsome... and more than a little dark and dangerous. I'd love to spend a day with him.
IBT: How did you survive being a teen?
BF: I was really shy when I was younger, so my teenage years were definitely a challenge. I survived by surrounding myself with a few very, very close friends. We shared the same sense of humor, the same sort of viewpoint on life. I always knew that I could count on them and confide in them.
In my novel, I tried to recreate that dynamic with Jessica and her best friend, Mindy. Although their friendship is strained over the course of the book, ultimately - when it's do or die - they are there for one another. They aren't the most popular kids in school, but they take care of one another.
That's the kind of safety net I had as a teenager. To this day, I keep in touch with my three closest high-school friends, even though we're scattered far and wide. When things go wrong, they're still the first people I call.
IBT: Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing,
knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?
IBT: Because Jessica's Guide is ultimately about the passionate relationship between Jess and Lucius, I worried a little about what my family would think of the more intimate scenes. However, I was actually most concerned about the profanity in the book. I included it, though, because I felt like characters who are facing the situations that Jess and Lucius face wouldn't say, "Oh, shoot." If a guy like Lucius was poised to potentially destroy the love of his life, he'd curse. My mother did mention being a little taken aback, though!
IBT: What do you think are the biggest issues that teens need to be thinking
about today? Do you think teens today are looking for quality in the books
they read, or just to live vicariously through superficial characters?
BF: I think, more than ever, teens are engaged in the world to the same level as people in their 20s, 30s, etc. This past election, for example, was all about youth speaking out. In other words, teens are already thinking about the most important issues we face - from environmental protection to global human rights. I sometimes teach freshman-level college courses, and I'm consistently amazed by how involved 18- and 19-year olds are, socially and politically.
As for how this is reflected in what they choose to read, I think teens in general look for quality in books. Fiction does provide a degree of escape from the everyday world, but if you look at what's popular these days, a lot of it deals with moral choices and the repercussions of those choices. That, to me, is at the heart of quality fiction.
IBT: How have the books you've read inspired the books you've written, if at all?
BF: I would say that Dumas's books - The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers - gave me a love of heroes and drama. I'm also a big fan of Jane Austen, whose works definitely inspired my ideals for romance. In Austen's world, love is something that builds slowly in intensity, is life-long, and doesn't have to be the purview of the girl who just happens to be the prettiest, in a conventional sense. Other virtues can be admired and rewarded, too. On a more modern note, I love the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling definitely has the knack for making readers want to turn the next page. I really wanted Jessica's Guide to draw readers in that way.
IBT: What is the strangest thing you have ever gotten inspiration from? What
inspired you to write Jessica's guide to Dating?
BF: That first one's a tough question. It's hard to even know when inspiration really strikes. For me, at least, it's more of a building process that starts when I take something in my life and ask, "What if...?"
Jessica's Guide is a good example. Like Jessica, my children are adopted, and their birth parents are a complete mystery. So that was the germ of a question: "What if we discovered something shocking about their biological parents?"
That question, of course, became the premise of Jessica's Guide. "What if a very rational, 'average' girl learned that her birth parents were vampires - something completely inconceivable, even repulsive, to her? And what if they had promised her in marriage to someone whose existence she couldn't even comprehend? And what if she was, through that unwanted betrothal, destined for greatness in a world she didn't even believe was real?"
I think inspiration is a matter of looking at the things that surround you every day and asking that crucial question, "What if?" Then asking it again and again.
IBT: Many writers say parting with a character is hard. Do you ever look back
on a character and wish you had changed something about him or her?
BF: Parting with characters really is incredibly hard. You spend so much time with them, and they become so real to you, that it's like mourning when you're done writing. I've had that experience as a reader, too.
As for changing a character - I don't think I would alter Jess, Lucius, Mindy or even Faith. In particular, I like the way Jess and Lucius grow and change over the course of the story. I guess they're so real to me that I can't imagine them being different!
IBT: What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that
you would love to do but you are too afraid?
BF: I'd love to go scuba diving, but I have a weird fear of really big fish. I have no idea where it comes from, but I even get edgy in big aquariums, when the sharks are swimming by the glass! I think it would be amazing to experience that completely different world, though, so maybe someday. I do sort of like conquering fears. I used to hate public speaking - so I started teaching, just to face it down.
Then again - there are no sharks in the classroom.
IBT: What do you do when you are faced with writer's block? What helps you get over it?
BF: Facing a blank page is always scary, so I've developed a ritual to help overcome it. Each day, when I sit down to write, I start by revising something from the previous day. I go back just a few paragraphs into the previous chapter, and that usually gets my creativity back on track. It's like dipping my toe into a cold pool before I jump in.
Of course, that doesn't help with completely new projects. With those, I just have to start typing, even if I'm not sure what I'm going to say. Putting words on paper is the only cure for me.
IBT: Paris is the one city I cannot die without first visiting. Do you have a
place you've yet to visit but cannot live without?
BF: One summer my husband worked in China, and we would spend weekends traveling around the country. At some point, we heard about this area called "Shennongjia," which sounded beautiful - almost mystical. There were legends about strange creatures - white animals, and something akin to a bigfoot - attached to the place. So we started asking people how we could get there, and our friends would always say, "No, it's too dangerous!" Or even just, "No, it's impossible to go there!"
Our desire to visit there really seemed to alarm everybody we talked to, so we eventually skipped the trip... But I always like to think of Shennongjia as this magical place that exists out there, waiting to be discovered.
IBT: Will Jessica and Lucius's story continue as a series? Would you ever write from Lucius's perspective?
BF: There are no definite plans for a sequel, although it's been discussed. My next book is called "Jekel Loves Hyde," and although it's a YA romance with paranormal elements, the cast of characters is completely new. I think anyone who likes Jessica's Guide will enjoy this book, though. I'll post an excerpt on my website, www.bethfantaskey.com, soon, so people can check out the new heroes, Jill and Tristen.
That said, I would love to write more from Lucius's perspective. That's definitely something I've considered, when I've thought about plotting a sequel. It's kind of up to readers now... editors and publishers will definitely listen to what they want!
IBT: Let's get them to make a sequal! Thanks again Beth.
but I'll be seeing you"
- The English Patient
11 Questions with Beth Fantaskey:
IBT: If you could choose one fictional character to bring into real life, who
would you choose?
BF: Without hesitation, I would choose Edmond Dantes, "the Count of Monte Cristo."
I didn't read the book until a few years ago, and as soon as I started it, I thought, "Why did I wait so long to meet this guy?" To me, Edmond is the ultimate hero - intelligent, funny, daring, passionate, handsome... and more than a little dark and dangerous. I'd love to spend a day with him.
IBT: How did you survive being a teen?
BF: I was really shy when I was younger, so my teenage years were definitely a challenge. I survived by surrounding myself with a few very, very close friends. We shared the same sense of humor, the same sort of viewpoint on life. I always knew that I could count on them and confide in them.
In my novel, I tried to recreate that dynamic with Jessica and her best friend, Mindy. Although their friendship is strained over the course of the book, ultimately - when it's do or die - they are there for one another. They aren't the most popular kids in school, but they take care of one another.
That's the kind of safety net I had as a teenager. To this day, I keep in touch with my three closest high-school friends, even though we're scattered far and wide. When things go wrong, they're still the first people I call.
IBT: Have you ever written something that you feel uncomfortable writing,
knowing that your family and friends will probably end up reading it?
IBT: Because Jessica's Guide is ultimately about the passionate relationship between Jess and Lucius, I worried a little about what my family would think of the more intimate scenes. However, I was actually most concerned about the profanity in the book. I included it, though, because I felt like characters who are facing the situations that Jess and Lucius face wouldn't say, "Oh, shoot." If a guy like Lucius was poised to potentially destroy the love of his life, he'd curse. My mother did mention being a little taken aback, though!
IBT: What do you think are the biggest issues that teens need to be thinking
about today? Do you think teens today are looking for quality in the books
they read, or just to live vicariously through superficial characters?
BF: I think, more than ever, teens are engaged in the world to the same level as people in their 20s, 30s, etc. This past election, for example, was all about youth speaking out. In other words, teens are already thinking about the most important issues we face - from environmental protection to global human rights. I sometimes teach freshman-level college courses, and I'm consistently amazed by how involved 18- and 19-year olds are, socially and politically.
As for how this is reflected in what they choose to read, I think teens in general look for quality in books. Fiction does provide a degree of escape from the everyday world, but if you look at what's popular these days, a lot of it deals with moral choices and the repercussions of those choices. That, to me, is at the heart of quality fiction.
IBT: How have the books you've read inspired the books you've written, if at all?
BF: I would say that Dumas's books - The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers - gave me a love of heroes and drama. I'm also a big fan of Jane Austen, whose works definitely inspired my ideals for romance. In Austen's world, love is something that builds slowly in intensity, is life-long, and doesn't have to be the purview of the girl who just happens to be the prettiest, in a conventional sense. Other virtues can be admired and rewarded, too. On a more modern note, I love the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling definitely has the knack for making readers want to turn the next page. I really wanted Jessica's Guide to draw readers in that way.
IBT: What is the strangest thing you have ever gotten inspiration from? What
inspired you to write Jessica's guide to Dating?
BF: That first one's a tough question. It's hard to even know when inspiration really strikes. For me, at least, it's more of a building process that starts when I take something in my life and ask, "What if...?"
Jessica's Guide is a good example. Like Jessica, my children are adopted, and their birth parents are a complete mystery. So that was the germ of a question: "What if we discovered something shocking about their biological parents?"
That question, of course, became the premise of Jessica's Guide. "What if a very rational, 'average' girl learned that her birth parents were vampires - something completely inconceivable, even repulsive, to her? And what if they had promised her in marriage to someone whose existence she couldn't even comprehend? And what if she was, through that unwanted betrothal, destined for greatness in a world she didn't even believe was real?"
I think inspiration is a matter of looking at the things that surround you every day and asking that crucial question, "What if?" Then asking it again and again.
IBT: Many writers say parting with a character is hard. Do you ever look back
on a character and wish you had changed something about him or her?
BF: Parting with characters really is incredibly hard. You spend so much time with them, and they become so real to you, that it's like mourning when you're done writing. I've had that experience as a reader, too.
As for changing a character - I don't think I would alter Jess, Lucius, Mindy or even Faith. In particular, I like the way Jess and Lucius grow and change over the course of the story. I guess they're so real to me that I can't imagine them being different!
IBT: What is the one thing such as, sky diving or any other daring thing, that
you would love to do but you are too afraid?
BF: I'd love to go scuba diving, but I have a weird fear of really big fish. I have no idea where it comes from, but I even get edgy in big aquariums, when the sharks are swimming by the glass! I think it would be amazing to experience that completely different world, though, so maybe someday. I do sort of like conquering fears. I used to hate public speaking - so I started teaching, just to face it down.
Then again - there are no sharks in the classroom.
IBT: What do you do when you are faced with writer's block? What helps you get over it?
BF: Facing a blank page is always scary, so I've developed a ritual to help overcome it. Each day, when I sit down to write, I start by revising something from the previous day. I go back just a few paragraphs into the previous chapter, and that usually gets my creativity back on track. It's like dipping my toe into a cold pool before I jump in.
Of course, that doesn't help with completely new projects. With those, I just have to start typing, even if I'm not sure what I'm going to say. Putting words on paper is the only cure for me.
IBT: Paris is the one city I cannot die without first visiting. Do you have a
place you've yet to visit but cannot live without?
BF: One summer my husband worked in China, and we would spend weekends traveling around the country. At some point, we heard about this area called "Shennongjia," which sounded beautiful - almost mystical. There were legends about strange creatures - white animals, and something akin to a bigfoot - attached to the place. So we started asking people how we could get there, and our friends would always say, "No, it's too dangerous!" Or even just, "No, it's impossible to go there!"
Our desire to visit there really seemed to alarm everybody we talked to, so we eventually skipped the trip... But I always like to think of Shennongjia as this magical place that exists out there, waiting to be discovered.
IBT: Will Jessica and Lucius's story continue as a series? Would you ever write from Lucius's perspective?
BF: There are no definite plans for a sequel, although it's been discussed. My next book is called "Jekel Loves Hyde," and although it's a YA romance with paranormal elements, the cast of characters is completely new. I think anyone who likes Jessica's Guide will enjoy this book, though. I'll post an excerpt on my website, www.bethfantaskey.com, soon, so people can check out the new heroes, Jill and Tristen.
That said, I would love to write more from Lucius's perspective. That's definitely something I've considered, when I've thought about plotting a sequel. It's kind of up to readers now... editors and publishers will definitely listen to what they want!
IBT: Let's get them to make a sequal! Thanks again Beth.
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