Author Interview: Anne Osterlund

Dropping in today is Anne Osterlund to talk about her latest release, Salvation!

Salvation is your first contemporary novel. What was writing this one like, compared to your previously published books: Aurelia, Academy 7, and Exile?

Though all of my novels have alternating points of view, this is the first book in which the guy’s story defines the action. It required a great deal of tossing and catching of objects: footballs, oranges, keys. Ultimately, though, the challenge remained the same. Digging as deeply into the character’s head—and heart—as possible, and allowing the reader to see the world from that character’s perspective.

How has your drafting process changed, now that you've had several books out?

LOL! It hasn’t changed nearly as much as I hoped it would when writing my first novel, Aurelia. At the time I remember thinking I had learned so much that the next novel would go faster. But when I began Academy 7, I still had to get all my thoughts down and realized that if I tried to revise as I typed, the thoughts would disappear. So I still have to make all those flawed drafts. I just recognize the flaws more easily.

Which character surprised you the most while writing: Salva or Beth?

Salva. I knew he was intelligent, ethical, conflicted. But I had no idea how stubborn he was until two thirds of the way through the second draft when he flat-out refused to go home. (As you can read about here. (insert link: http://www.anneosterlund.blogspot.com/2010/07/disobedient-characters.html) Salva doesn’t like to argue or yell or throw tantrums. But he is as hard as a rock to move when he makes up his mind.

What was your reaction when you saw your cover?

Beth was totally embarrassed. She is not an exhibitionist. Salva was perfectly happy not being at the center of the photo—even though it is his story. I could never design anything half as beautiful as the covers Penguin’s artistic team creates.

What kind of cookie would you describe yourself as?

Homemade chocolate chip. In this, Salva and I agree. We’re both perfectionists.



Thank you, Anne, for stopping in and congrats on the release! I can't wait to check this one out!

Character Interview + Contest: Sam from Flawed

I am so incredibly excited to host Sam from Kate Avelynn's Flawed today! I love this book, and this boy! So meet Sam, and then enter to win some awesome swag!

Kate's vision of Sam - Logan Lerman

Describe yourself in 4 words.

Patient. Committed. Protective. (smiles a little) Stubborn.

Though you've known Sarah for years, you don't make any moves towards her until now. What kept you away?

I’ve asked myself the same question every day for the last year and a half—pretty much since I figured out James was hiding way more than I thought. I think it comes down to me being afraid I’d lose contact completely if he shut me out. There’d be no way to keep an eye on Sarah if her brother thought he had a reason to keep me away. Though the longer I’m with her, the more I see how badly I fucked things up by keeping my distance. I should’ve done something earlier. Confronted James. Called the cops. Taken her dad out myself. Something. (shakes head)

What is the worst part of keeping your relationship with Sarah a secret from James?

I hate that I can’t be there as often as she needs me to be. I mean, it sucks that I’m lying to my best friend and it really sucks that he doesn’t trust me to do right by Sarah, but I’m more worried about what she’s dealing with when I’m not there. I see the way he looks at her, even if she doesn’t.

What's it like to kiss Sarah? 

Mmm. (smiles) It’s like drinking a gallon of spiked hot chocolate on a cold night, jumping off the tallest building you’ve ever seen and realizing everything’s going to be okay because you know how to fly, and driving crazy fast on a winding road knowing at any second something big is going to careen around the corner and take you out. Now times that by fifty. It probably doesn’t make any sense, but that’s how I feel whenever Sarah kisses me.

Describe your dream date.

That night by the river was pretty close to my idea of a dream date. I love exploring the forest, especially late at night, and who doesn’t love swimming? Add in ice-cold water, Sarah in her underwear, and nothing to keep us warm except each other… Yeah, that was a good date.

Boxers or briefs?

Sarah knows. That’s all that matters.

What kind of cookie would you describe yourself as?

Oh, hell. Um…I think I’ll go with oatmeal raisin. Not that I’d ever eat one (don’t tell my mom—she makes them all the time), but my dad always said they reminded him of coming home. I want to be that for Sarah.

And now for the prizes! Kate is giving one of today’s tour followers a FLAWED dog tag and a handful of tattoos. Very Sam-esque! All you have to do is leave a comment about the book below. Today’s giveaway is only open to US residents, but keep an eye out for International giveaways scheduled throughout the tour.

Kate is also running an Ultimate FLAWED Fan Pack contest via the Rafflecopter listing below. Enter daily for a chance to win some really cool stuff!




a Rafflecopter giveaway


About Flawed:

Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago—James will protect her from their violent father if she promises to never leave him. For years, she’s watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she’ll give it freely.


Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give.

Sam Donavon has been James’s best friend—and the boy Sarah’s had a crush on—for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows she’s in trouble. Quiet, serious Sam has decided he’s going to save her. Neither of them realize James is far more unstable than her father ever was, or that he’s not about to let Sarah forget her half of the pact…

Book Review: Me, Him, Them, and It by Caela Carter

SUMMARY: When Evelyn decided to piss off her parents with a bad reputation, she wasn't planning to ruin her valedictorian status. She also wasn't planning to fall for Todd-the guy she was just using for sex. And she definitely wasn't planning on getting pregnant. When Todd turns his back on her, Evelyn's not sure where to go. Can a distant mother, a cheating father, an angry best friend, and a (thankfully) loving aunt with adopted daughters of her own help Evelyn make the heart-wrenching decisions that follow?

With the popularity of Juno, Teen Mom, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, this novel has a built-in audience. Gripping, heartfelt, and responsible, Me, Him, Them, and It is not to be missed!


OPINION:

Wrenching, emotional, and unflinching, Me, Him, Them, and It is a stunningly realistic look at not just teen pregnancy but feeling lost and not really knowing what to do. The events that led to Evelyn's bad girl path are easily woven into the book, garnering a huge amount of sympathy for her while not outright excusing the mistakes she makes. With some huge choices ahead of her, none of them easy and none of them glossed over, either, Evelyn's story is a memorable and poignant one.

I love Evelyn. She is fiery in her own way, yet so vulnerable as well. Despite the choices she's made, she isn't one to be a total doormat, and she isn't one to easily forgive either. There is something just so, so raw about her, and I couldn't help but root for her and ache for her. Her relationship with Todd, the way he treats her, the issues that crop up between them, and even the way everything plays out in that regard, was one of my favorite aspects of the story. I was furious with Todd, yet I also felt for him, and Carter does a remarkable job of fleshing out her characters, showing their flaws as much as their strengths. The way Evelyn grows both as a result of Todd, and in spite of him, made for a completely engaged character and story.

There is nothing easy about this book. Not the unemotional way Evelyn originally sort of views sex, not the choices she makes or almost makes after she finds out she's pregnant, and certainly not the gauntlet of emotions she goes through as a result. And yet, there is something so quietly captivating about this book, with as much between the lines as there is on the pages. This book is a stand out debut, with solid, voicey writing, and a plot that doesn't hold back in any way. Though painful at times, it is well worth the emotional torment, and definitely a must read.

Details:

Source: Netgalley
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: February 26, 2013

Book Review: Every Day by David Levithan

SUMMARY:  Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.


OPINION:

Every Day has an interesting premise, and one that I think is hard to really pull off... but Levithan does it. I was captitavted by A's story, by the almost mind-boggling way of life. All the little things that would come with waking up each day as a different person are woven in so smoothly, without taking away from the simple fact that every single day, A has to adapt to a new body, a new family, a new way of life. And nothing is off limits in this, from an abusive home to a wealthy one, A has been through it all. The effect this has had, especially the genuine appreciation for the people who have it good, where the end of the day isn't an automatic blessing, is fabulously well done.

The romance of this one was a little tricky for me, dabbling in some gray areas that I had a little bit of a hard time totally getting behind. Still, there was such a strong emotional element to this one, and I really did enjoy how with this one, "love" was very much stripped down to something far more basic than usually seen. While it's hard, in a way, to be okay with A wanting Justin's girlfriend, when Justin quite obviously would also want his gf, and it sort of feels like cheating when it's also sort of not... this one definitely made me think, and challenged me in some good ways.

Though the ending didn't have quite the impact as I hoped, I still really enjoyed this one overall. The characterizations were so well done, especially with the situation and the issues inherent to that. The writing is solid, full of voice even if A doesn't exactly have any specific sex attached, beyond whatever the body of the day is. There is something so raw and basic about all that, and it totally had me hooked.

Details:

Source: Netgalley 

Reading level: Ages 12 and up 

Hardcover: 336 pages 

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Author Interview: Amy Spalding

Hitting shelves February 5 (not even a month away!) is Amy Spalding's debut The Reece Malcolm List! This is a cute, fun read with a seriously great voice to it. And two hot boys. So let's get to know Amy, and the book, better!


Devan sets out with a list of things she knows about her mother, and expands on it as the story progresses. Did you know going into the book all the specifics about Reece or did you learn a lot of those as Devan did?

I actually wrote the whole first draft with only the first list elements that kick off the book. I knew I wanted to incorporate something Devan kept track of for herself, but it wasn't until I was revising that I realized the role I wanted the list to play. (That also helped me finally come up with a title for the book!) So by the time I wrote the rest of Devan's list items, I'd already written a full draft and therefore knew everything Devan would find out about her mother. But really to me the list wasn't about what was revealed about Reece, but how Devan interpreted her. So--I hope!--it's ultimately about what's revealed about both of them.

What scene surprised you the most, without spoilers of course?

Without spoilers I'll just say originally I was only going to write about one cute boy, and then another cute boy seemed to have "good chemistry" with Devan and, lo and behold, another plotline was born. I honestly have no idea how "chemistry" happens in a book you're writing so. That was weird.

Musicals play a big part in not only the book, but Devan's life and likes as well. So with that, what is your favorite musical?

I could never narrow it down to one. Some: Merrily We Roll Along (the musical that's performed in the book), Hair, Hedwig & the Angry Inch, Ragtime. I loved the movie adaptation of Les Miserables but think Little Shop of Horrors is maybe the best film adaptation of a musical.

What was your revision process for The Reece Malcolm List like, both before and after it sold?

The final draft is not THAT different from the first, really. Some scenes were shifted around, shortened, etc., and a few new scenes were added and some minor threads were snipped, but the overall story has been pretty much present. Before the book sold, the edits were mainly about polishing up the story, and after it was more focused on making the story less episodic--which I guess is one of my bad tendencies--and pushing it to become one driving story.

Besides Voldemort, which Death Eater would you want to fight?

I'm not sure I'm cut out to actually fight a Death Eater. I'd want some kind of duty where I, like, organized people and sent in snarky retorts to hurt Death Eaters' feelings. I just can't imagine I'd be that good in battle. I wouldn't mind a cool owl friend though.

What kind of sea creature would you describe yourself as?

Considering I am absolutely TERRIFIED of sea creatures, especially but not limited to when they are in aquariums, my answer would be NONE!!!!


So there you go! You can add this to your Goodreads, and find out more about Amy here.

Book Review: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

SUMMARY: Tim Macbeth is a 17-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is, “Enter here to be and find a friend.” Tim does not expect to find a friend; all he really wants to do is escape his senior year unnoticed. Despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “it” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim’s surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, and she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone finds out. Tim and Vanessa enter into a clandestine relationship, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.

The story unfolds from two alternating viewpoints: Tim, the tragic, love-struck figure, and Duncan, a current senior, who uncovers the truth behind Tim and Vanessa’s story and will consequently produce the greatest Tragedy Paper in Irving’s history.


OPINION:

Most notable with this book, for me, is how seamlessly Tim's story is woven in with Duncan's, both from what happened in the past as well as Duncan's present. There is a rawness and honesty, particularly with Tim, that will hook readers. Though much of the story really is Tim's, through the narration he's left for Duncan on CD, but there are plenty of breaks with Duncan mixed in. Potent, too, is how everything effects Duncan, casting events he even had a roll in into a new light.

Tim is a fabulously done character, an outcast and a boy who has no self-esteem or confidence. Though in a way, he's accepted his lot in life in terms of being an albino, there's still a part of him that wants to break out of that, a part that just wants to be truly seen. His relationship with Vanessa is as heartbreaking as it is intriguing, a girl who in her own way wants to break out of some bounds as well. The friendship, with a clear element of wanting more, that forms between them carries a strong note throughout the book. Even with this, there is such a strong development to Tim, with hints of his own commentary thrown into his unflinching recount of everything that happened. He is a boy who will tug your heart, and challenge your mind.

Duncan is a different kind of boy, relatively popular his senior year but more so as a result of various things that have happened than anything else. A guy who, previously, seemed to be his own sort of outcast and quiet, he is in a weird place through much of the book, an element that is captured beautifully. The way he thinks, the things he feels, and his reactions to things were so well done.

Truly, there is something almost inexplicable about this one. This is a book that will fully draw you in, with a few different story lines running through.  The tragedy aspect is also smoothly built in, pitching it in a few ways without being blatant about it. This is a different sort of book, but one that is definitely intriguing and well done.

Details:

Source: ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Reading level: Ages 12 and up 

Hardcover: 320 pages 

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: January 8, 2013