My questions are in black, her answers in
purple.
Where are you from?
Charleston, South Carolina, but we’ve been living in Atlanta for years now.
When and why did you begin writing?
I started pretty young. Seven, I think? I never really thought about it. Writing stories is just the
way my brain is wired.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Oh, wow!! This is a GREAT question!! There have been so many. On the YA side, LOOKING FOR
ALASKA, THE SCORPIO RACES, HUNGER GAMES, THIRTEEN REASONS WHY, and THIS IS NOT A TEST. On
the adult side, THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE, ROMOLA, REBECCA, HIGH FIDELITY, MYSTIC RIVER, and GONE,
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Oh, man, another good question. Probably LeHane for mysteries. He is jaw-droppingly amazing.
But, honestly, Maggie Stiefvater and Jay Asher are pretty much my YA gold standard.
What book are you reading now?
An ARC of THE DREAM THIEVES!! Brad at YA Book Reviews was kind of enough to send it to me.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Always. I think April Genevieve Tucholke and Katy Karyus Quinn are astonishingly talented
writers. I can’t WAIT for their next books.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Courtney Summers in THIS IS NOT A TEST. Hold on. I always have to sit down for a minute when
I talk about that book. It’s so raw and emotional and terrifying and perfect. Summers is beyond perfect.
Her use of language and emotion is brilliant.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
All of it. Kidding!! Sort of. I really focused on getting FIND ME down to the absolute bare bones. I
wanted speed, speed, speed. At times, my editors and I were scanning paragraphs to see how much we
could skim off. It was hard to balance the emotion with the pacing. You want enough of the first, but not
so much that it bogs down the second, you know?
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Oh, yes. I’d rather read than do anything. I’ve even been known to smuggle books into work and
read them on the sly. Good way to get fired, no?
Ok now some fun questions:
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate
Puppy\'s or Kittens?
Puppies
Beach or Mountains?
Beach
If you could be a color, what color would you be?
Grass green
Favorite Dessert?
At moment, it’s Lemonade Cake, but I also really love Sea Salt Caramel Brownies
If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Katiniss Everdeen!!
I also want to thank you, Em, for having me on The YA Book Butterfly. I am incredibly lucky to
have your support. Thanks to everyone for reading! I hope you enjoyed the post and I hope you enjoy
FIND ME!
Don't forget to pick up a copy of Find Me! It's coming out on September 24th! And since I was lucky enough to borrow an advance copy from a friend, you can trust me IT IS INCREDIBLE!
And be sure to check back! Because on the release date I will be publishing a playlist written by Romily!
Find Me.”
These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.
Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.
Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?
Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.
But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.
Because it just got personal.
