AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Mara Purnhagen

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Mara Purnhagen  is the author of Tagged, a contemporary YA  novel to be released by Harlequin Teen on March 1, 2010.   

HOW DO YOU TAKE A STAND WITHOUT STANDING OUT?

Kate Morgan is just as confused as the rest of her classmates when she arrives at Cleary High to find six life-size gorillas spray painted on the side of a building. Could the culprit be one of her friends or classmates? And is the kind-of-amazing creation really vandalism, or a work of art? She's tempted to stay out of it, mostly because, as the police chief’s daughter, she's always accused of being a snitch. But when gorillas start appearing throughout the state, her investigative instincts kick in.

Now Eli, Kate’s favorite co-worker at the local coffee shop, is MIA. With her best friend, Lan, preoccupied with her own boy troubles, Kate needs to figure out some things on her own. Like why she can’t stop thinking about Eli. And what she will do when all clues about the graffiti point to someone she knows...

 
THE MAGIC 8

 Where authors answer eight of life’s most important (and magical) questions.

1.      Mindi Scott:  At age eight, what did you want to be when you grew up?  And at age eighteen?  And while you’re at it, what about at age twenty-eight?

 Mara Purnhagen:  At age eight, I wanted to be an astronaut so I could write stories in space. At eighteen, I still wanted to write stories, but on earth. And at twenty-eight, I wanted to be a mom—who wrote stories (the last one came true two years later).

  
2.      MS: Which Breakfast-Club-style label would have best fit your teenage self? 

MP: Having spent three years of high school marching around with a trombone, I’m going to have to go with Band Geek on this one.

3.      MS: What are some of your superstitions and/or phobias?

 MP: I’m not superstitious, but I think my biggest fear would be to find cobras in the bathtub. Seriously—that would not be good.

4.      MS: Without giving away too much from your book, which character or scene are you the most pleased about having created, and why?

MP: There are a lot of gorillas in the book. They’re not live gorillas, but still. I’m pretty pleased about that because it’s not something you often see in books. I got the idea from a gorilla sticker on my husband’s tool bench.

5.      MS: Was there any certain music that inspired you while you were writing this book, or is there a song that could serve as your protagonist’s theme song?

MP: I always listen to music when I write and come up with a playlist for each book. While writing Tagged, I listened to The National quite a bit. Their CDs “Boxer” and “Alligator” made “My Top Rated” playlist on my iPod.

6.      MS: What’s up next for you as a writer?

MP: A trilogy is in the works! The first book comes out in September 2010. I’m halfway through the second book and am already writing the first chapter for the third book. Books two and three come out in 2011.

 

7.      MS: And, now, the most important question of all:  Beatles or Elvis?  Please support your answer.  ;-)

MP: Beatles, hands down. The real debate, I think, is which Beatles album is the best.

 

8.      MS: Okay, your turn.  Do you have a question you’d like me to ask my Magic 8-Ball on your behalf?  (I’m telling you, this thing is scarily accurate!  Well, except for when it’s lying.)

MP: I have two: Will I have more time to write in 2010 than I had in 2009?

MP:  Will the series finale of LOST be worth the wait?

 

MS:  Good grief!  That all sounds discouraging, doesn't it?  This Magic 8-Ball has been in a REALLY bad mood lately, so let's just ignore it, okay?  ;-)  Thank you so much, Mara!

 
MP:  Thanks, Mindi! Happy reading!

 
To learn more about Mara and TAGGED, check out http://www.marapurnhagen.com/

Friday 5

1.  I heard the sound of my gate opening a minute ago.  I'm at my desk, frozen in fear and agitation.  I hate it when strangers stop by in the middle of the day (or ever).  They always want me to buy something.  (Okay, I peeked out the window and no one is there.  So, that's good news.) 2.  I'm writing something.  A novel!  Without an outline!  I thought this method might temporarily save me from my perfectionism.  We shall see.

3.  My eye has been itchy for the past few days.  Ever since I started wearing radiant pink mascara.  Coincidence?

4.  I have a new phone.  It' s a lavender BlackBerry and I ♥ it.

5.  I just learned this week that Alt (num-pad)3 is how one makes hearts while typing.  Has that always been the case?  I swear it used to be more complex.  ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jen Nadol

            

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Jen Nadol is the author of The Mark, a YA novel released by Bloomsbury on January 19, 2010.    

Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

THE MAGIC 8

Where authors answer eight of life’s most important (and magical) questions.
Uh huh.

1.      Mindi Scott:  At age eight, what did you want to be when you grew up?  And at age eighteen?  And while you’re at it, what about at age twenty-eight? 

Jen Nadol:  8: Veterinarian

18: Writer

28: Anything-but-working-in-Corporate-America

2.      MS:  Which Breakfast-Club-style label would have best fit your teenage self?  (Clever Examples:  The Bad Ass, The Athlete, The Hottie, The Dork, The Genius, The Psycho, The Social Butterfly, The Band Geek, The Drama Queen/King, The I Wish I Were a Vampire, The Entirely Something Else.)

 
JN:  The Bad Ass Genius who Wished She Was a Vampire.  Well, that’s who I wanted to be.  I think I was really The Dork. 

3.      MS:  What are some of your superstitions and/or phobias?  

 
JN:  I don’t have any superstitions.  I’m afraid of a lot of things - flying, public speaking, something happening to my kids – but in a mild-anxiety vs. all-out-phobia sort of way.

4.      MS:  Without giving away too much from your book, which character or scene are you the most pleased about having created, and why?

JN:  Probably Cassie, the protagonist.  The Mark is pretty character driven and I think she’s got enough layers and is authentic enough to carry the book (at least I hope she is).

5.      MS:  Was there any certain music that inspired you while you were writing this book, or is there a song that could serve as your protagonist’s theme song?

JN:  Nothing really inspired me – I never listen to music while I work.  For her theme song, it’d have to be the obvious: If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback.  The song is kinda “meh”, but it fits. 

6.      MS:  What’s up next for you as a writer?

 JN:  My second novel is completed and on submission and I have two others in early stages, one paranormal, one dystopian, both YA.

7.      MS:  And, now, the most important question of all:  Beatles or Elvis?  Please support your answer.  ;-)

 JN:  Beatles.  I like their music and Elvis’ about the same, but Elvis is kind of skanky.

8.      MS:  Okay, your turn.  Do you have a question you’d like me to ask my Magic 8-Ball on your behalf?  (I’m telling you, this thing is scarily accurate!  Well, except for when it’s lying.)

 
JN:  Will 2010 be as good a year as 2009? 

MS:  The Magic 8-Ball is either being cranky or 2009 was just TOO GOOD to be topped.  Either way, I'm putting my fingers in my ears and saying, "La la la!"  So there.   Thank you so much, Jen!

JN:  Thanks, Mindi, and good luck on your debut – can’t wait to read it!

For more information about Jen Nadol and THE MARK, check out http://jennadolbooks.com/index.html

Finished!

I've completed the copyedits.  I actually got through them last night, but decided to go over everything again today.  It was easier the second time because after spending so many hours with all those symbols, I understand them and am no longer afraid.

The punctuation situation was somewhat appalling, but I'm going to assume that a good portion of those "mistakes" were actually style preferences of Simon & Schuster and not just that I'm an idiot.  But who knows, really?  Other than that, there weren't a lot of suggestions for me.  The pages were marked up like crazy, but it was mostly about commas, hyphens, and some rearranging of words.

In related news, I wrote my dedication and acknowledgments at my editor's request today.  (Were those supposed to have been turned in with the draft?  Oops.) 

And now... I'm pretty much, like, done with this book!

The copyedits. They have arrived.

Mindi Scott on February 12, 2010 @ 4:55 p.m.:

"I'm finally home from work.  And look!  My copyedits have arrived!  Hooray!"

***************************************

Mindi Scott on February 12, 2010 @ 5:10 p.m.:

"Oh. My.  Double check marks?  Equal signs?  And Post-Its that say different stuff than the other stuff that says certain stuff?  What does 'rom' mean, anyway?"