Lindsay Eland - Middle Grade Author

Hi Everyone!! Welcome to another week of Tenner Tuesday! Today I have author Jennifer Hubbard whose Young Adult book, The Secret Year was released just a few months ago with Viking. Here’s a little bit about Jenn and her book!

Jenn’s short-n-sweet bio: I’ve been writing since the age of six, when I used to write and illustrate my own picture books. (Fortunately, none of those early efforts have survived, unless my parents are hiding them for future blackmail plans.) In high school, I considered it fun to come home from school and write novels. My grandfather worked at a printing plant that produced spiral-bound notebooks. Any flaws in the printing or binding process would land the notebooks in the company store at a steep discount, so I always had plenty of notebooks on hand. Now I write on a computer most of the time.

The Secret Year blurb of Sweetness that will make you want to buy her book: Seventeen-year-old Colt has beensneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend. When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal Julia left behind. But Colt is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.

Now onto my interview with Jennifer!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was little, I made my own picture books and stapled them together. I’ve been writing almost as far back as I can remember.

How long does it generally take you to write a book from those first words to the very last?

I switch back and forth between projects, so it’s difficult to say. On average, probably a year or two.

What was the inspiration—that first spark of a story—behind your amazing book?

(Thank you for “amazing!”) I started with the opening situation: a secret relationship, a death, a notebook left behind. I wrote to find out why it had to be secret and what would happen next.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

I write every day; there are probably only about 10-15 days in a given year when I don’t write. On days when I go to my day job, I write after dinner. Other days, I usually write at night, which is my best time, but I’ll sometimes start in the afternoon. Once in a while, especially if things have been piling up and I’ve felt squeezed for writing time, I will write first thing in the day, before I do anything else.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk…come on…I know you have one!

I have a terrible time picking character names. I use placeholder names and change names frequently. “Colt” is my main character’s second name; “Julia” is that character’s third name. I have one work in progress where I’m just using a letter of the alphabet as the placeholder for the character’s name. The main character in my current work in progress is on his third name—so far—and I’ve considered dozens of choices for his last name, even though it only appears once!

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Read, hike, spend time with my husband and friends, go to an occasional concert.

What do you think makes a good story?

Well-chosen language, an intriguing plot, a fascinating voice, and something important to say.

Without giving us any spoilers, how did you choose the title for your book?

My book went through a few different titles–the first suggested by a critique partner, the second by my agent. THE SECRET YEAR came from a list my editor and I had brainstormed together. I was happy with it because secrecy is an important element in the book.

Are there any tools that are absolute must-haves for writers?

Something to write with. Nowadays, that’s usually a computer with a word-processing program; some people need to write longhand first. I also like to have a dictionary, thesaurus, and grammar book on hand, along with a baby-name book (for naming characters), a glass of water, and some music. But those are personal preferences, not absolute requirements.

What kind of research went into writing your book if any?

Several things in THE SECRET YEAR come from “incidental research”—that is, things I have done myself, although I didn’t do them with the plan to write about them. Like my main character, I have worked in a restaurant, shot a target rifle, spent time near rivers, and lived in an area where farms were giving way to subdivisions and forests were losing ground to mansions.

In terms of deliberate research, I did look up several things about car accidents like the one that killed Julia, and found some interesting statistics on seat belts and air bags.

Have you ever had someone try to matchmake for you and if so, how did it go?

Not that I can recall. I think it can be hard enough to buy a gift for someone, to choose something you know they’d like, let alone trying to figure out your friends’ romantic compatibilities.

Because I think you should always save room for dessert, as a child, what was your favorite dessert? And what is your favorite dessert now?

Over the years, I my favorites have included mint-chocolate-chip ice cream, Black Forest cake, cherry cheesecake, Key lime pie, and chocolate mousse. Currently, I’m most likely to order Key lime pie or anything chocolate.

What do you hope to leave your readers with once they’ve finished your book?

Mostly what I hope is that readers recognize something true in the book, and that that recognition makes them feel less alone. I hope it helps them think about people’s motives and motivations.

What question would you like to ask me?

You seem like such a positive person. How do you maintain that attitude?

Well, thank you very much, Jennifer! Ever since I can remember my parents have talked about being thankful–always, always, always being thankful for the wonders, beauties and the gifts of life. It’s hard to be depressed or sad or angry for long when you’re looking at everything you are thankful for.

Thanks so much for joining me Jennifer!

Visit Jennifer on her website at www.jenniferhubbard.com! And to order The Secret Year click right HERE!

Welcome to Week 3 of Tenner Tuesday! Today I have with me brilliant author, Mindi Scott. Her book Freefall will be released this fall on October 5th with Simon Pulse! Here is a little bit about Mindi and her debut Young Adult novel:

Lil tiny bit about Mindi: She lives near Seattle, Washington, with her drummer husband in a house with a non-sound-proof basement. She does NOT like the smell of bacon…but I will forgive her.

Freefall  blurb: How do you come back from the point of no return? Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend Isaac alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time where Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this time, Isaac didn’t wake up.

Convinced that his own actions led to his friend’s death, Seth is torn between turning his life around . . . or losing himself completely.

Then he meets Rosetta: so beautiful and so different from everything and everyone he’s ever known. But Rosetta has secrets of her own, and Seth will soon realize he isn’t the only one who needs saving . . .

And now onto the interview!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I always liked writing stories in school (and started a sequel to Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID in eighth grade), but I think it was in college when I decided for sure that “someday,” I would write a novel.

How long does it generally take you to write a book from those first words to the very last?

I don’t have any kind of pattern.  The first (unpublished) took six months (and probably would have taken more than double if I’d revised properly).  The second (FREEFALL) took eighteen months on my own, then a few more months revising for my agent and editor.  I don’t know how long any others will take; I’m still working all that out!

What was the inspiration—that first spark of a story—behind your amazing book?

A few years ago, I had a memory of one of my boyfriends breaking up with me before my first class of the day.  I’d started crying and slid my back down my locker and sat on the floor.  I wanted to write a scene like that from the perspective of a passerby. As it turned out, the boyfriend-breaking-up thing isn’t in the story.  But these characters came from that idea, and there is a scene where the protagonist watches someone cry.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

I have a part-time job working 20 hours a week.  I put 20-50 hours a week into my writing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk…come on…I know you have one!

I don’t know if this is interesting at all, but I fall asleep at night thinking about my characters and sometimes dream from their point of view.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Spend time with my family, watch my husband’s band perform, read, think about writing.

What do you think makes a good story?

Characters that you care about and a voice that draws you right in.

Without giving us any spoilers, how did you choose the title for your book?

My editor and I threw around over 100 different options, but FREEFALL was the best fit for two reasons.  1) The description in my contract describes it as “A dark YA about a teenage boy’s emotional freefall after his best friend dies of an alcohol overdose.”  2) There happens to be these lines of dialogue about overcoming fears:  “Maybe it’s like free-falling. You feel like you’d rather do anything than have to face it, but once you do it you realize it’s the best feeling you’ve ever had.”

Are there any tools that are absolute must-haves for writers?

A Magic 8 ball always helps. 

What kind of research went into writing your book if any?

My main character is male and in a band and I’m not either of those.  I used my husband as a resource all the time (especially early on) to make sure I was getting it right.

Have you ever had someone try to matchmake for you and if so, how did it go?

Only once that I can think of.  My friend and her boyfriend set me up with her boyfriend’s cousin when I was 17.  It went okay, actually.  We didn’t end up together long-term, but we had fun.

Because I think you should always save room for dessert, as a child, what was your favorite dessert? And what is your favorite dessert now?

I used to love chocolate cake.  Now, I prefer ice cream.

What do you hope to leave your readers with once they’ve finished your book?

Mostly, I hope that what they read makes them feel something, anything!  At least, that would be the biggest compliment to me. J

What question would you like to ask me?

How have things been going for you since SCONES was released?

Everything is going great, Mindi, thanks for asking! I continue to obsessively check my email, I’m writing, writing, writing, and I regularly stalk recipe websites.

You can visit Mindi on her website at www.mindiscott.com! And to pre-order Freefall click HERE!

1. This is our trout or bass…or whatever kind of fish he is (I’m not a big fisher-woman) sitting on my office window. He’s been here since we moved in sitting right there on the window with no where to go. And though he isn’t the most inspiring sticker, he makes me smile and that’s ALWAYS good.

2. This is our climber. Our previous fireplace dweller was named Delta Force, but he lost a foot and was replaced a year ago with this guy. He’s pretty good, but Delta Force was a comrad that will forever be missed.

3. This is one of those posable drawing things that my 6 year old, Ella Jane, picked out at an Art Store. It’s supposed to be a dog…I think…but looks more like a lamb or a lamb-dog cross-mix. I guess if she ever draws fantastical beings, this will be a good place to start.

4. This is my floating-in-a-boat-guy that is sort of like the trout-bass sticker on the window: he makes me smile and for somereason he reminds me to dream big. And maybe it’s because he has big dreams of his own.

5. John got me this dancer a long time ago but I absolutely love it. It’s in a terrible place, but I’m afraid if I take her anywhere else she will be turned into a Star Wars character, or wind up in my daughter’s bed…as most things do…that has been named The Abyss.

6. These are Stained Glass Stars that me and the kids made last summer…or the summer before, they’ve been hanging up for along time. I adore stars, and love stained glass so it was so much fun to make these…though they are also the reason how my iron got ruined.

7. This is the large pink flamingo that Ella Jane taped extremely well to the wall just a few weeks ago. I’ve named him Freeway in honor of my Aunt Jill’s stuffed Flamingo that she travels with. *Update: Freeway was taken down shortly after and his removal will hopefully not be  noticed. Maybe I’ll send him to my aunt.*

8. This is a sign that has also been here since we moved in almost 5 years ago. It says Please Watch Your Head…which is verywise because for anyone over 5 feet who doesn’t duck will either be dicapitated or at the very least have a very nice goose egg on their forehead.

9. These are our snowflakes that the kids and I made a long time ago. “But it’s not winter anymore?” you may ask. “Why do you need snowflakes?” And that, my friend, is the reason why it’s a Random Thing in my house.

10. And this is just a small portion of the Rock Climbing wall John built in our attic coupled with a picture of the large orange and black hang board in our kitchen…yes, in the kitchen. If I didn’t have the pleasure of watching him do pull-ups on it then I would make him take it down, but as you may imagine…I kind of like it.

Anyway…that’s some of the randomness in my house. What randomness do you have in yours…cause please tell me I’m not the only one!

For this Tenner Tuesday I have with me Karen Healey whose Young Adult book Guardian of the Dead was released on April 1, 2010 with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers!

A bit o’bout Karen: She is a New Zealander living in Australia, where she is a young adult novelist and PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne. She has, no lie, a scholarship to write about superhero comics.

And here’s the exciting Guardian of the Dead Blurb:

In less than a day I had been harassed, enchanted, shouted at, cried on, and clawed. I’d been cold, scared, dirty, exhausted, hungry, and miserable. And up until now, I’d been mildly impressed with my ability to cope.

At her boarding school in New Zealand, Ellie Spencer is like any ordinary teen: she hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; obsesses over her crush on a mysterious boy; and her biggest worry is her paper deadline. Then everything changes: In the foggy woods near the school, something ancient and deadly is waiting.

Debut author Karen Healey introduces a savvy and spirited heroine with a strong, fresh voice. Full of deliciously creepy details, this unique, incredible adventure is a deftly crafted story of Māori mythology, romance, betrayal, and war.

Now onto my interview!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I first realized it was an actual job; that books didn’t sort of magically appear.

How long does it generally take you to write a book from those first words to the very last?

A little over a year? It’s hard to tell, what with revisions! Guardian of the Dead’s first draft took three months; the second draft about six.

What was the inspiration—that first spark of a story—behind your amazing book?

I was walking home from a long day at university when an old woman asked me for some change. “Oh, sure,” I said, and gave her a two dollar coin. “There you go.”

Her clothes were immediately lit with a dark glow, and she smiled at me. I noted that all her teeth were pointed, and nervously wondered if the nearest alley might be a good escape route.

“Excellent!” she said. “I’ve been asking people for change all day, and most of them look right through me. But to those who don’t, I grant wishes. What would you like?”

“An idea for a story, please,” I said promptly.

She frowned. “Okay… how about a novel set in New Zealand, about a girl who discovers that the creatures of Māori mythology aren’t so mythological?”

“Hot DANG,” I said.

“I know, right?” she said. “Have fun with it.” And then she vanished.

And that’s where my idea came from!

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Ahahahahaha what is this “schedule” of which you speak?

I get up at about tenish, stumble to my computer and sort emails to deal with later. Then I screw around on the internet until such time as I notice I am hungry, at which point it is time for food and the first Diet Coke of the day. After that, it is much hanging out in my pyjamas until I can force myself back to the keyboard, and then, <em>maybe</em>, some writing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk…come on…I know you have one!

When I get really into work, I start picking up random things and putting them in my mouth to chew. Sometimes I am lucky, and they are made out of chocolate! Sometimes I am less lucky, and they are made out of plastic.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Reading, first and foremost, and then playing World of Warcraft, baking, hunting down the best cocktails in the city with my friends, and blogging. I love my blog.

Because I think you should always save room for dessert, as a child, what was your favorite dessert? And what is your favorite dessert now?

As a kid, it was anything with whipped cream. Now, it’s anything with dark chocolate! How the mighty have fallen from dairy.

What do you hope to leave your readers with once they’ve finished your book?

The impetus to read more fiction set in New Zealand! There’s so much great stuff people have never heard of.

What question would you like to ask me?

Lindsay, how are you so awesome?

Well, Karen, I’m glad you asked. It’s been a long road that I’ve taken to grow into my awesome…a little chocolate, some laughing, and espresso always helps. Maybe I’ll teach a class.

You can visit Karen Healey on her website at www.karenhealey.com! And to order Guardian of the Dead just click HERE!

Thanks for joining me!

Over the next 7 weeks or so I’m going to be doing a post every Tuesday to celebrate the awesomeness of some of my fellow 2010 debut authors and their books! Some of their books are Middle Grade and others are Young Adult, but all are filled with amazing!

For my first interview I have with me middle grade author, Lindsey Leavitt and her book Princess For Hire which released just a few months ago! Not only is this book cute and funny but it’s also funny and cute…and besides she has an awesome name, doesn’t she? (even if she doesn’t spell it correctly)

Here is a little bit about Lindsey and her book, Princess For Hire, before I get on to my interview!

Lindsey Leavitt grew up in Las Vegas and now lives in Alabama but recently moved BACK to Las Vegas with her husband andthree small daughters. Although she has been a substitute teacher and a homecoming princess, she has never been a substitute princess. Yet. She’s still scanning the Want Ads…

Princess For Hire Blurb! When a flawlessly dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and wants to know, like, now if you’d like to become a substitute princess, do you

a) run
b) faint
c) say Yes!

For Desi Bascomb, who’s been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C–that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,” she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right? Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off–and you know she would want you to change his mind? In this hilarious, winning debut, one girl’s dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.

Now onto the interview!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was always a writer. I kept journals, made up silly poems for friends, and plotted novels in my head at night. I just always thought I needed a creative writing degree or celebrity status to become published. So it wasn’t until I quit teaching to stay home with my youngest daughter that I started researching how the book business worked. I began to take writing much more seriously and actually let myself hope that I could become an author.

How long does it generally take you to write a book from those first words to the very last?

Ha! I wish I had a consistent answer for that. If I can get a solid, revised manuscript done in a year, I’m feeling good. And it can take longer than that since I like to have two projects going at once.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

First drafts are hard for me, and take the most amount of time. I work on these whenever I can, but can’t follow too much structure. Now, when I have revisions, I’ll work up to eight hours a day—four with a sitter/during school, and another four once my kids are in bed.
 I go into a haze during this time, not really focusing on much else (like cleaning or communing with the living or showering) until it’s done.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk…come on…I know you have one!

I must have my feet up. At home, I alternate between my Lazy Boy or the chaise on my couch. When I’m at café’s or the library, I pull a chair over. I take the laptop name very, very literally.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Play! Seriously, I get pretty stir crazy when I’m on the computer too much. I love the outdoors, or playing sports, or hanging out with my family and friends. Variety makes me happy.

What do you think makes a good story?

My agent, Sarah Davies, is actually doing an excellent series of posts on this right now. http://www.greenhouseliterary.com/index.php/site/sarahs_blog

She breaks it down really well, but I also think literary magic happens when an author figures out their writing strength and really pushes themselves in that area. That’s not to say we can’t do well across the board, but it helps to know who you are as a writer.

What kind of research went into writing your book if any?

More than I thought, that’s for sure. Although none of the countries in PRINCESS FOR HIRE are real countries, I researched all sorts of countries and royal traditions and tweaked them to suit my needs for the story. I’ve found lots of people automatically think about Europe when it comes to royalty, so I really tried to think outside of the box when it came to that.

Have you ever had someone try to match make for you and if so, how did it go?

No, I was more the matchmaker. I’ve done it a couple of times or my brother-in-laws and let’s just say it didn’t go well. Hey, I just lead the horse, er… family member, to the water. What they do next isn’t on me.

Because I think you should always save room for dessert, as a child, what was your favorite dessert? And what is your favorite dessert now?

I am no respecter of desserts. Seriously, I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world (which is why I married a dentist. Gotta keep these teeth). Today my favorite is a really good chocolate chip cookie. Ask me tomorrow and it’ll probably be a cannoli. Mmmm, cannoli.

What do you hope to leave your readers with once they’ve finished your book?

I hope they close the pages and are happy. It’s an escapist read, and if I can make some one smile or laugh for a few hours, I’ve done my job.

What question would you like to ask me?

Why do you spell your name with an A instead of with the more correct E?

Well, LindsEy…it’s just cause I’m cool like that…and I like the minor confusion that crosses someone’s face that sort of says “why do you spell your name with an A instead of with the more correct E?”

Thanks so much for joining me, Lindsey!

To order Princess for Hire click HERE! And you can visit Lindsey on her website at www.lindseyleavitt.com

Welcome to the very last day of EGMONT WEEK with awesome author Bree Despain and her amazing book, THE DARK DIVINE! I got to meet and hang out with Bree for an entire day last fall and not only is she sweet and fun, but she has the best hair I’ve ever seen. Really! It’s like the Pantene Pro-V commercials…and I’d definitely want her hair if I ever had the patience to grow it out or if I looked okay with long hair, but that’s beside the point. Oh, and stay tuned cause Bree’s giving away a little something!

A Tad More About Bree: She rediscovered her childhood love for creating stories when she took a semester off college to write and direct plays for at-risk, inner-city teens from Philadelphia and New York. She currently lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband, two young sons, and her beloved TiVo.

The Awesome Synopsis of The Dark Divine: A prodigal son. A dangerous love. A deadly secret . . .I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?” Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away. As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel’s dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

Oooo, everyone, you are in for a treat! This is a delicious read in every way. One of those books that you have to set a block of time aside, because once you start this one you’re not going to be able to stop until you get to the very end!

Now onto my interview with Bree!

So Bree, what is that one main character that you wish you could be?

I love Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody series and I’d want to live in all of those books because I love Egyptology and the pre-WWI era.  Not to mention all the adventure and mysteries that family gets themselves into.   As much as I love Amelia, I think I’d rather get to be Nefret because then I’d get to kiss Ramses.  Now there’s a hot fictional guy!

Ooo, really? Hot fictional guy? Now that’s my kind of book! But as much as I’d like to dwell on this subject, we have to move on. So tell me, Bree, what are your thoughts on the Mustang Kick To The Chest vs the Cheetah Face Claw?

I think I’d go with the mustang kick because it’s less likely to involve facial scars.

Yeah, I’d have to agree with you on that one, too. So now about airplanes. What would the best airplane experience you could ever have  look like?

Full beds, spa treatments, no screaming children, chocolate dipped strawberries, and four course gourmet meals.

Ooo, chocolate covered strawberries and a gourmet meal? Now that sounds right up my alley!

Thanks so much for joining me Bree!

You can visit Bree online at www.breedespain.com. And The Dark Divine is an absolute must-have, so click HERE to order your own copy…and remember don’t start it too, too late at night, cause I promise, you will not be getting much sleep that night.

Today, I’m with 2 Egmont authors! Visit me at Kristina McBride’s site as well as Alexandra Bracken’s!

And to conclude EGMONT WEEK I want to say thanks to all my fellow Egmont authors as well as the entire staff at Egmont USA! You are all amazing!

*Giveaway Time*

Here we go…Bree is giving away a Dark Divine Nail Polish to one lucky commenter! So leave a comment and tell me your favorite movie couple and you’ll be entered to win!

Welcome to Egmont Week on my blog! Today I have the amazing Kay Cassidy whose debut novel, The Cinderella Society, was released this past April! And stay tuned until the end and find out how you can win a Glass Slipper book mark!!

I “met” Kay about a week after Scones and Sensibility went to auction and sold. We emailed back and forth and let me just say, this is a doll of a girl! Not only is she an amazing writer, but she can organize a week like this (which she did), run a nation-wide Scavenger Hunt Contest for libraries, and start her own Girl-Power Blog. She’s also the kind of person who is always optimistic and encouraging!

But enough of my bragging. Here’s a more official-sounding bio…

Who is Kay Cassidy? Kay Cassidy is the author of teen fiction she wishes was based on her real life.  She is the founder of the national Great Scavenger Hunt Contest^TM reading program for kids and teens and the host of the inspirational Living Your Five^TM web project.  In her free time, she enjoys yoga, movies, music, and reading.  Lots and lots of reading.  She hopes her debut YA novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY (April 13, 2010 – Egmont), will help girls embrace their inner Cindy.

THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY blurb of awesomeness: What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore? Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider.  So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it’s like something out of a fairy tale.  Swept up by the Cindys’ magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she’s finally found her chance to fit in. Then the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch-enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there’s more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside.  She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything. Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her.  Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn’t want to be seen with her in public?  And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

This is the first Egmont book I had the privilege of reading and let me just say that it is truly wonderful, inspiring and empowering. An absolute perfect book for any girl to read!

Now let’s get onto my mini-interview!

Okay, Kay, we all know the first question by now, so spill…what main character would you love to actually BE if you could?

That’s a tough one!  Hmm… probably either Katsa in GRACELING or Cammie in I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU.  Katsa is one of my favorite heroines of all-time: smart, strong, caring.  And she’s a total survivor.  Cammie has the most amazing skill set of any YA heroine, imo… I mean, how many teens can defend themselves with a strand of spaghetti while speaking Farsi and dancing the Viennese Waltz?

I definitely agree with Katsa, and that was an amazing book as well! Now onto my next question. Tell us Kay, do you prefer Mustang Kick a la chest or Face Claw prepared by Cheetah?

Umm… are there cupcakes involved?  No?  Then, can I choose c) none of the above?  LOL  Geez Louise, I don’t know, Linds.  Isn’t that kind of a rough question for Jane Austen reincarnated?  If I had to choose, I guess I’d say the cheetah because I’m pretty such getting kicked in the chest by a mustang could easily kill you.  Horrible.

I know, it is a tough one…but that’s exactly why I asked you, the element of surprise! You probably thought, “Lindsay would surely not ask me about my fear of being kicked by a mustang or about the remote possibility of being clawed by a Cheetah, so I don’t have to worry…” and then BAM…I sprung it on you. Kind of like Katsa, huh? And really, I’m convinced that Jane Austen most definitely played the “would you rather” game. She has such a great sense of humor I find it hard to believe she couldn’t have.

Now for my final question for the amazing Kay Cassidy! Describe the best airplane experience you could ever have…and don’t hold anything back!

Oh, that’s easy.  One where the airplane does not leave the ground. I don’t like to fly so the best airplane experience, in my opinion, is one where the airplane stays at the gate.  And possibly seats me next to George Clooney while serving cupcakes.  Okay, that’s a lie.  I’d definitely want the cupcakes, but I’d never eat it if George was there.  I often end up with frosting on my nose and that’s not really very ladylike.

Not leave the ground?! We really are kindred spirits…cause I couldn’t agree with you more, or at least mystomach agrees with you!

Thanks so much for being on my blog, Kay!

You can visit Kay at www.kaycassidy.com. And now you must click on this link HERE so that you can order THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY for yourself. Then once you read it, you’ll be ordering another one and another one to give to all the amazing girls and women in your life!

Come back bright and early tomorrow for the final day of EGMONT WEEK with author Bree Despain!

*GIVEAWAY TIME*

Kay has graciously donated to give away one of these awesome glass slipper bookmarks!! Just leave a comment and tell me one amazing, empowering thing about yourself! Isn’t it cute?!