Character Interview + Contest: Mandarin (Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard)

I recently had the awesome privilege of interviewing the lovely but mysterious Mandarin Ramey, the namesake character in Kirsten Hubbard's (amazing) debut Like Mandarin. And because she is so fantastic, Mandarin, Kirsten and I have a chance for you to win a copy of Like Mandarin, right after the interview! But first, I bring you the awesome girl that is Mandarin...


What was your first impression of Grace?

Grace was always one of those quiet kids, the sort all the idiot loudmouths ignore. But I've learned it's those quiet kids you got to watch out for, 'cause they ain't letting their mouths get in the way of their eyes, if that makes any sense. Grace doesn't just look. She sees. I suspected it when I read her essay outside Beck's office, and when we started hanging out, I was right. It's great, mostly. Except when she turns those eyes on me.


Of all the men you've been with, which one has stuck out the most in your mind?

I don't know. None of them. There was this—never mind. I don't want to talk about that.

Which scene in the book was the most intense for you? Spoiler free, of course.

Intense in a good way? That'd have to be the night we liberated the trophies—hunting trophies, I mean, the creepy animal heads they've got hanging at the grocery store and The Buffalo Grill. It was Grace's idea, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't considered it on my own. I just never thought Grace would go through with it, is all. But she surprised me.


Intense in, like, an emotional way? When Grace had me meet her at the Tombs. The Tombs is this heap of boulders over by the river, where I guess Grace used to read books or whatever it is she does. We were fighting, and I was a basket case. I had no idea why she wanted to meet me there, and sure as shit, was I ever surprised. I guess Grace has surprised me lots of times.


If you could redo one thing, and have a fresh start at it, what would it be?

I wish I'd done better in school. That's the obvious one. It's just that, on a day-to-day basis, it all seemed so pointless, you know? It got better when I had Grace, but all the rest of it, the teachers, the other kids, learning about hexes and polywhatevers—it was horseshit.


But more than that, I did something to Grace toward the end… I thought I knew what I was doing at the time, but I didn't think it through. So yeah. I regret it.


What is the main thing you want to tell people who haven't read the book yet?

Well… I'd trust Grace better than anybody, but it don't hurt to remember that there's different sides to every story. Especially when you're talking about me. 


Thank you, Mandarin, for answering those questions, and thank you Kirsten for sharing her for a day.

I have to say, Like Mandarin is honestly one of my favorite books this year, and easily in my top 5 contemps ever. This book is fantastic. It is a highly recommended by Kari kind of book. So what does that mean for you? A contest!

I have one signed copy of Like Mandarin up for grabs, and Kirsten might even doodle a jackalope in it for you (which, believe it or not, are a big thing in the book in a funny, awesome way).

All you have to do to enter is fill out THIS form.

Contest IS international, and ends Sunday, March 13.

No entries will be accepted through the comments, but please still leave a comment for Kirsten and Mandarin! And be sure to find Kirsten on twitter @kirstenhubbard!