Twitter-view & Giveaway

Welcome to our first Twitter-view. What's that, you ask? It's an author interview, done Twitter-style. Our first victim, err, guest is none other than Cybils Award winner Courtney Summers. In addition to her books, Courtney's a pretty regular blogger on topics relating to teen lit and writing, and this week, she posted a powerful piece about unlikable characters (which, ahem, she knows a bit about writing).

You've seen my review of her Some Girls Are, published in January of this year, and you'll be excited to hear she's got a third book coming out in December titled Fall for Anything. Want to win a copy? Read to see how you can win your choice of either of her current titles or a preorder of Fall for Anything.

Tell me a bit about your end-of-year title, Fall for Anything. What should we be prepared for?
It's an exploration of grief. Prepare for a different kind of protagonist and hopefully lots of heartache! And people falling for things.

As a reader, your unflinching details make me uncomfortable. But it doesn't stop me. I find the honesty refreshing. How do you feel writing them?

Thanks! I feel good writing them. I like to test my limits. I want people to respond to my text, for better and for worse.

Who are your favorite writers / who do you look to for inspiration?

Robert Cormier for his fearlessness. CK Kelly Martin for her realism.

Where do your stories come from? How do you know what you want to tackle?
Usually I start out with a specific scene flashing in my head and build from there. I know what idea to pursue when I feel a "click."

Do you have a place you go when you're writing? Mentally or physically is fine.
I work wherever I can. Mostly in my bedroom, sometimes in the kitchen. As long as I have my headphones on, it's all good.

What are you listening to?
Lady Gaga, of course!

Tell me a bit about the celebration you had when Cracked Up to Be was this year's Cybils winner.

The day was a blur. I happy-danced around the house, spilled coffee on myself & it didn't hurt one bit. Well, it hurt later. But that's ok!

If you were to write a series, how would you make the vampire story different (since, you know, all series books are about vampires)?

It would be called JEBEDIAH & THE VEREVOLVES. A boy named Jebediah. Vampire/werewolf hybrids that must be destroyed. That is all I can say.

I'm an unabashed ice cream addict. What's your flavor of choice?

Ice cream = beautiful. I love mint chocolate chip or just plain chocolate (with maple syrup on top!).

When you aren't writing, what are you doing?

Looking for inspiration.

Do you GoogleStalk yourself?
Why? Who have you been talking to? If they said I had a problem they're lying! Lying! I can stop anytime I want to! I mean--no. Never.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Don't let anyone talk you out of it.

I know you like to draw. Will you share a drawing?

My latest is a peacock (representing justice) attacking a werewolf (representing all that is wrong with the world).

You're stuck on a deserted island. What's the first thing you do?

Cry for many hours and build a sand castle of tears.

What's the worst thing you ever did as a teenager?

I was the goodiest goodie-goodie that ever gooded a goodie. That sounds so wrong. I MAY have cheated on some tests...

Tell me the wildest thing about you that would be totally embarrassing for others to know. Please.
Next question, please! ;)

Thanks Courtney for visiting and talking to us!

Now on to the goods -- want to win one of Courtney's books? Fill out the form below before July 25. We'll pick a winner at random, who will get their choice of either winning Cracked Up to Be, Some Girls Are, or a preorder of Fall for Anything.