Kristin Walker Author Interview

Today I have with me Kristin Walker author of A Match Made in High School, which if you read my review you know is one of my top reads for this year. Kristin was nice enough to do this interview with me so let's show her some love!

What was your inspiration for A Match Made In High School?

 

I didn't really have an inspiration so much as a desire to write a funny young adult novel. I also was trying to think of a subject I knew a bit about, and marriage fit the bill for both of those requirements. I really wanted to turn some stereotypes on their heads, as well, and I hope that came across in the book.

All of your characters are so funny! Were they semi-based on real people, or were they mostly from your mind?

Thank you! Many of them had some characteristics I pulled from real-life people. Some were totally made up. Fiona and Johnny were semi-based on real people, but Todd and Amanda were totally new.

What is your strangest writing ritual? Like you can‘t write after 10pm ect. (if any)

I don't really have as much of a ritual as I have necessities. I have to use a computer--no long hand writing for me. I type faster, and I absolutely must have a delete key! I used to hit the caffeine really hard, but I've recently decaffeinated myself, so I try not to go that route. But I'm not militant about it; I'd rather get some work done. I haven't de-sugared myself though, so I often have some candy nearby to boost my blood sugar and get my neurons firing.

What is your advice for any aspiring writers?

Keep writing! Write as much and as often as you can, and don't worry if it's garbage. Most writers have piles of garbage in their files, so that's normal. The thing that is hard is persevering through all the bad stuff to get to some good work. So don't quit!

What are some of your favorite YA books/authors?

Where can I start? Some of my favorite authors happen to be friends of mine like Kristina Springer, Saundra Mitchell, and Mandy Hubbard. I also love John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, and Pete Hautman. A couple of particular faves are UNWIND by Neal Shusterman, and THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak (amazing!).

What inspired you to write YA?

I love writing for teens. They keep the writing honest because they'll call an author out if his or her work gets too phony or doesn't seem authentic. I also haven't matured much since the age of 17, either, so that helps.  :)

Thanks, Mariah!

Thanks!

The YA Book Battle Round 3

The two books I was judging were both really good! They were also completely different. I judged 8th Grade SuperZero by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and The Season by Sarah McLean.

It was a really hard decision! Both of these books were very good and were so different. The Season was a great love story with mystery, had witty banter, and encouraged girls to use their intelligence whether it is deemed good or not. 8th Grade Superzero was also really good, the subjects it brought up were very important and it encouraged me to get out and help with my community. I know a lot of people who read these books are going to disappointed, but the winner in my opinion is....

The Season by Sarah McLean 

I chose it because I completely fell into the book, I could not wait to find out what would happen next,the ending was a complete surprise, and the message it gave was good. I did not choose 8th Grade Superzero because I found myself in the middle of the book wondering when it was going to be over, also I guessed what the ending was going to be, and at times I felt like I was being preached to. While 8th Grade Superzero had a really good message, and it is a book I think everyone should read, that was ultimately my deciding factor! 

Huge TBR Recap!

Ok so I did not do as well as I wanted to, but I still put a good dent in my TBR pile. Now to write all the reviews...

Books I'm Finishing!
Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev
Gimme A Call by Sarah Mlynowski
The Agency by Y.S. Lee 
Fire by Kristin Cashore (Audio)

Books I hope to read!
Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
The Pack by L.M. Preston
Crashed by Robin Wasserman
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor
Archenemy by Frank Beddor
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Braken
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
8th Grade SuperZero


It was really fun and I would love to do it again!

Don't forget to enter my Captivate contest! Ends tomorrow at 4:00 central time! http://mariah-readingadventure.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-favorite-books-vlog-contest.html

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Title:  Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Authors: David Levithan and John Green

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Release Date:  April 6, 2010

Received From:  Traveling ARC Tours

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.

I was thrilled to read this book! Both John Green and David Levithan are extraordinary authors and write amazing books by themselves, so I was excited to see this collaboration.

Overall I was not disappointed, Will Grayson, Will Grayson was hilarious and poignant, with quite a few different twists that I was not expecting! I liked how David's Will wrote in all lowercase, because it added a quirkiness, and it made it easier to tell which Will was talking.

I had trouble figuring out what was going on every once in a while but it was still good. Tiny was hilarious and I want a friend like him!

Good book! This book gets a 4/5 because it was slightly confusing and disjointed at times, but still really good!
(Also the cover is gorgeous!)

Jekel Loves Hyde

Title:  Jekel Loves Hyde

Author:  Beth Fantasky

Publisher:  Harcourt Children's

Release Date:  May 3, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Jill Jekel has always obeyed her parents’ rules – especially the one about never opening the mysterious, old box in her father’s office. But when her dad is murdered, and her college savings disappear, she's tempted to peek inside, as the contents might be key to a lucrative chemistry scholarship.

To better her odds, Jill enlists the help of gorgeous, brooding Tristen Hyde, who has his own dark secrets locked away. As the team of Jekel and Hyde, they recreate experiments based on the classic novel, hoping not only to win a prize, but to save Tristen’s sanity. Maybe his life. But Jill’s accidental taste of a formula unleashes her darkest nature and compels her to risk everything – even Tristen’s love – just for the thrill of being… bad. 

I have never read Dr. Jekell and Mr Hyde and I should, I probably will eventually but the story has always intrigued me none the less. So I was very interested in this semi-retelling of the story.

I read Beth's first book Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side and it was really good, dark but not too dark! Jekel loves Hyde was no different! The characters were sculpted beautifully and I liked the dual character narration. Also the plot was original and beautifully developed, the air of mystery lasted until the last page!

Somethings I did not like is that, at times I had trouble figuring out who was narrating at each time, because it did not switch back and forth with consistency. The only other thing was I felt that there were some things presented in the text that were not really concluded at the end, or really even dealt with.

I did really enjoy this book, and I cannot wait for more from Beth!

New Layout!

So if you guys have noticed my blog has recently received a makeover courtesy of Byutatortot designs! It is very simple but I think that is even better to show off the beautiful book covers! What do you guys think of it? And make sure to check out Byutatortot designs!

Queen of Secrets

Title: Queen of Secrets

Author: Jenny Meyerhoff

Publisher:   Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Release Date: June 22, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Fifteen-year-old Essie Green cannot believe her luck when Austin King asks her out. He is the captain of the football team and the hottest guy at Pershing High School. Unfortunately, as their relationship heats up, so does a rivalry between Austin’s best friend Harrison and Essie’s estranged cousin Micah, an observant Jew. Essie is forced to decide where her loyalties lie. With a family member she barely knows, or the boy she’s beginning to love?



With this book I felt that I had read it before. The plot besides the Jewish thing was very common, and overdone. While I enjoyed the characters they were very stereotypical and hard to read about. 


I really wanted to enjoy this book but I really didn't, the plot was too overdone, as were the characters. And I felt that the ending was very predictable. 

Overall I did not care for this book, and it was hard to get through.

Huge Swag Pack Giveaway!

This is my big blogoversary giveaway so far! Two winners will each win a swag pack full of all kind of stuff, the first winner will choose which one they want and then the second winner will get the other swag pack!

This contest ends July 1st at 8:00 Central Time

this is only open to U.S. addresses

You must be 13 years old or older to be eligible

Swag Pack 1
The Body Finder Bag
I Know what you did last summer Reading Guide
2 Body Finder Stickers
1 Mer-mark Tattoo (Forgive my Fins)
The Hollow Tattoo
The Great Call of China Bookplate (Signed)
The Hollow Sticker
The Body Finder Poster (Signed)
Bookmarks
Forgive My Fins
The Body Finder (Signed)
Candor
The Secret Year
8th Grade Superzero
Give Up The Ghost
Cleopatra's Daughter
The Cave
9 Lives, Cat Tales
Supernatural Rubber Chicken
Belle of the Brawl
Forget-her-nots
Pillage
9 Lives, Full Circle
Postcards/ Inserts
Faithful (Signed)
The King's Rose
Forget-Her-Nots
The Hollow
My Big Nose (Signed)

Swag Pack 2
Are You Haunted by the Hollow T-Shirt (M)
The Body Finder Poster (signed)
2 The Hollow Stickers
Killing Mr. Griffin Reading Guide
2 Body Finder Stickers
1 Mer-mark tattoo (Forgive my Fins)
Paris Pan Takes the Dare Sticky Notes
Bookmarks
Leaving Gee's Bend (Signed)
The Cinderella Society (Signed)
Give Up the Ghost
The Great Call of China
What Your Mother Never Told you
The Kindling of Greenfyr
Princess for Hire (Signed)
The Dust of 100 Dogs
Shadowed Summer (signed)
Glee
Forgive My Fins
The Cinderella Society (Signed)
The Body Finder (Signed)
Postcards/Inserts
Paris Pan Takes the Dare
The King's Rose
Three Rivers Rising
Claire de Lune
Mistwood
The Stillburrow Crush

To enter fill out this form!

TBR Readathon!

Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st century is hosting a TBR readathon this week and I am going to be participating!

Books I'm Finishing!
Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev
Gimme A Call by Sarah Mlynowski
The Agency by Y.S. Lee 
Fire by Kristin Cashore (Audio)

Books I hope to read!
Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
The Pack by L.M. Preston
Crashed by Robin Wasserman
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves
Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor
Archenemy by Frank Beddor
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Braken
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
8th Grade SuperZero


That is a lot of books but it is a good mix of genres so it should be fun! If you want to join go here!

I am also going to be posting a lot of reviews this week so look out for those as well as a huge swag pack giveaway!

My Double Life

Title:  My Double Life

Author:  Janette Rallison

Publisher: Putnam Juvinile 

Release Date:  May 13, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Her whole life, Alexia Garcia has been told that she looks just like pop star Kari Kingsley, and one day when Alexia’s photo filters through the Internet, she’s offered a job to be Kari’s double. This would seem like the opportunity of a lifetime, but Alexia’s mother has always warned her against celebrities.  Rebelliously, Alexia flies off to L.A. and gets immersed in a celebrity life.

 Janette Rallison writes really cute books. But I have to say that this was not my favorite of hers. While I enjoyed the fact that there was less fluff in this novel, Kari annoyed me to no end. Annoying characters totally get on my nerves. But Kari took basically no actual responsibility for her actions which got on my nerves.

I liked how Rallison dealt more with harder issues than in her previous novels, and I enjoyed the overall novel if not specific characters and situation. So I enjoyed the novel but one of the characters annoyed me.

3.5/5

More Blogoversary Stuff

My firsts!

Review: A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn 

Meme: Teaser Tuesday

Commenter: Leslie from That Chick That Reads on my Hunger Games post!
Contest: Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
Interview: Alyson Noel

Some Stats!

I have 229 Followers (Thanks guys!)
I have written 220 posts and 121 Reviews

Thanks for a great year!

My Favorite books vlog/ Contest!

Here is my first blog/vlog about me! This is about some of my favorite books of all time, sorry its kind of long but you will be rewarded in the contest, that is announced in the vlog!



So to enter the contest fill out this form 

  U.S. only

you must be 13 or older 

and this contest ends June 21st at 4:00 Central Time

Blogoversary!

Today is my Blogoversary! This is really exciting to me because I usually have trouble sticking with things so it is really exciting for me to stick with something like this for so long! I cannot express how excited I am that I actually have people following me! So thanks to all of you who follow me! I will do a post later today about all of my firsts but thanks so much for an awesome year and I don't think I will be stopping any time soon. Also my first about me video and contest should post soon so check that out!

Mockingbird

Title:  Mockingbird

Author: Kathryn Erskine

Publisher: Philomel

Release Date:  April 15, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

An unforgettable story in the tradition of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time.

In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.

I received this book from Around The World Tours and forgot about it. Then Cindy asked me if I had sent it and I was not sure what she meant, then I looked around and there it was sitting on the table. I told her I would send it promptly the next morning. I then picked up the book to try and read it before the next morning thinking it was going to be a struggle. I completely fell into this book. Caitlin's child-like innocence was increased by her battle with Asperger's so when her brother dies she has no real idea what is going on.

Kathryn created a story that touches so many different emotions. I felt genuinely sad for Caitlin and her father's loss and Caitlin's need to make her father feel better and have "closure". This book deals with more than Asperger's it deals with something we all inherently feel whether we admit it or not.

So poignant and touching! It made me cry.

5/5

Questions?

I've been thinking about doing a set of posts about me. About my personal favorite genres and why, about my love affair with books ect. what do you guys think? Would you read them? I am probably going to write them anyway but I want to hear what you guys think, and if you have any questions you would like to ask me or things I should discuss! 

Thanks!

Blogoversary Survey!

Hey guys! Since my Blogoversary is coming up I was wondering if you could fill out this anonymous survey I made up (Thanks to The Neverending Shelf for the idea) so I can improve my blog for the upcoming year. Also to give me some ideas about what to do for my Blogoversary contest.

If you fill out the form before June 10th and let me know in the comments you will get an extra entry in the contest!

Thanks!!!

Runaway

Title:  Runaway 

Author:  Meg Cabot

Publisher:  Scholastic

Release Date:  April 20, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.
With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope... what's the point of even going on?
But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.
Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved—since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed—this time, permanently?
Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

I love all of Meg Cabot's books that I have read! This series is really interesting and while when I first picked it up I thought it was going to be super fluffy, there is lots of intrigue. Runaway is no different.

You definitely need to have read the first two books to even begin to understand Runaway, but that is ok becasue those books are good as well. While Runaway was my least favorite in the series, I liked the way Meg Cabot tied everything together as well as the progression of the story.

Em is hilarious and I liked how she finally came to terms with her situation, even starting to like it. Meg Cabot has written another great book!

Here is my review for Being Nikki!

4/5

Coming Soon: CSN Stores Review

Have you ever heard of CSN stores? Well there are over 200 sites categorized on here. They have all kinds of things, do you need a bookshelf, or a desk chair? Maybe even a sleeper sofa or other housewares? CSN stores has it all.

I am going to be reviewing one of their products soon so look out for that. I am not sure what I am going to review yet (either a bookcase or a desk chair) so if you have any ideas after looking at the site please leave a comment.

Make sure you check out this great site!

Winner of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour!

I had a great response to this giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered, if you did not win don't worry I will be having a bunch of giveaways this month for my blogoversary! So the winner is....
                                          Kirthi!
                       Who said she would go to Ireland! 

I have already sent her an email, which she needs to respond to within 48 hours or I will pick a new winner!
Congrats!