Ultimate YA

Danielle Joseph is active online and can be found on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter!

Fans of Shrinking Violet and Indigo Blues should be sure to check out their respective facebook fan pages. They can be found here (SV) and here (IB)!

Danielle also does school and library visits! For those who want more information, visit her school visits page to find out more!

Feel free to drop her a line and email her! She would love to hear from you! :)

Last but not least…check out her website! It has everything from book playlists, her back-story, her blog, and much more!

Thanks again to Danielle Joseph for being our October FA!

9.)    What is the best thing about being an author? What’s the most challenging?  The best thing about being an author is hearing from readers. At my book signing the other day a teen came up to me and said she wanted to be me when she grew up. That was awesome. The most challenging thing is helping to make sure that our bookstores stay in business, especially our indies.  

10.) While researching Pure Red, I came to discover that you are really great at using the internet to connect to readers. You have a website, a blog, a twitter account, a facebook, myspace, etc. As an author, what role does the internet play in your profession? How do feel the internet has changed the bookindustry?  I think being connected is very important for authors, not only to reach our readers but also to stay tuned in with what’s going on around us. The internet has provided people with so many resources, and allowed readers to obtain books with a simple click. I love technology but nothing beats holding a real book in your hand.

11.) Disney Chanel will soon be airing Radio Rebel (based on Shrinking Violet). Can you tell us what the experience of having your book adapted was like? And what can fans of the book expect from this adaptation? It has been an amazing experience and I feel very blessed to have a dream come true. I’m a huge movie fan so this is definitely a meeting of my two loves. There are some changes to the story but I was very happy with the script. The movie is definitely for all ages and you will be amazed by the talented cast.

12.) I love your book covers (I think Shrinking Violet may be my favorite though)! How much input did you get to have in choosing a cover?  Thanks! I did not have any input for Shrinking Violet but was asked for some input for Indigo Blues and Pure Red. I can honestly say that I am very happy with all my book covers.  

13.) I was reading about how you worked at different radio stations. Do you feel like your experience with radio has influenced or aided you in any way? Well, working at a radio station definitely helped me to write Shrinking Violet since Tere aspires to be a DJ. I also conducted a lot of interviews as a DJ and that is a very important skill to have, whether you are on either side of the interview table.

14.) Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Yes, never give up. Follow your heart, join a critique group so you can build upon your writing and read tons. It may sound corny but luck will only take you so far, the rest has to be passion!  

15.) Do you have any book recommendations for our readers? There are so many books to recommend but some of my favorite authors as a young adult were Judy Blume, Lois Duncan and Robert Cormier.  

16.) What are you working on now and what can we expect from you in the future? I am working on another young adult contemporary fiction novel with a color title and also a quirky middle grade.

1.)    How did you get the idea for Pure Red?
 I really enjoy art and started to wonder what it would be like to be the daughter of a successful artist. Then I started thinking about how hard it could be to find your own passion when you have a parent that is so talented. From there Cassia was born and of course there had to be a love interest to throw her off from her goal of finding her passion.  

2.)    Did you always know you wanted to be an author? If not, how did you come to chose the occupation? Yes, I always wanted to be an author ever since I wrote my first book in first grade. I had many other interests growing up but I never lost sight of my writing.

3.)    What main message or theme do you want readers to take away from Pure Red?? I want readers to know that it’s okay to follow your heart and go after your passion. Life is a kaleidoscope. There are so many colors to see.

4.)    Which of the characters in Pure Red were you able to most relate to and why? I think I am a combo of Cassia and Graham. I have Cassia’s interest in trying different things and I see things in a positive light like Graham.

5.)    Your protagonist, Cassia, refers to her object of affection (Graham) with the flattering nickname, “Cutebutt”. When you were her age, did you also give your crushes nicknames of the same nature? Yes, I loved giving people secret nicknames, crushes or not. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever grown out of that stage! I still give people nicknames!

6.)    Your first book is called Shrinking Violet, the second Indigo Blues, and the 3rd Pure Red. You know I have to ask now….what’s your favorite color? And why did you decide to have all three books named after a color?
My favorite color fluctuates. I’m partial to purple but am sporting a red pedicure now for Pure Red’s release! The color names for the books actually happened by accident. Even though I wrote Pure Red first, I sold it last. Shrinking Violet was actually originally called Dead Air but Indigo Blues was always, Indigo Blues. And now that I have three color books, I’m working on a fourth!  

7.)    What for you is the most exciting part of the book process? Starting the book, finishing the book, the editing, getting the cover, the release day, etc.? Why?
I really enjoy the whole process but selling the book is definitely a highlight!  

8.)    How often did you encounter writer’s block while writing? And how did you deal with it?
I sometimes encounter writer’s block but mostly I face I don’t-have-enough-time block. When I get writer’s block, I take a break, consult critique partners or just try to write through it, get the words on the page.  

1. I have never watched a daytime soap opera.
2. I love pickles and recently made my own!
3. I used to skateboard in high school.
4. I’ve always dreamed of being a guest on Sesame Street.
5. I was born in Cape Town, South Africa.
6. My favorite non-chocolate candy is Hot Tamales.
7. I am the oldest of five children.

Danielle Joseph was born in Cape Town, South Africa, she grew up in Boston, MA and now lives in Miami, FL. She is the author of three contemporary teen novels, Shrinking Violet (MTV Books/2009), Indigo Blues (Flux/2010) and Pure Red (Flux/2011). Watch out for the movie Radio Rebel (based on Shrinking Violet) to be aired on the Disney Channel in early 2012! When Danielle is not writing, you can find her listening to music, chasing her kids around or swimming in her pool.

Kirsten Hubbard is active online and can be found on Facebook and Twitter!

Those of you that love books, Like Mandarin, travel, and/or pictures of baby animals you will definitely love Kirsten Hubbard’s blog!

She can also be found on Youtube with her Like Mandarin book trailer and a bunch of other videos!

To find out more about Kirsten Hubbard and Like Mandarin, check out her website!

Also, be sure to check out the fabulous YAHighway, where Kirsten is a regular contributor!

You can also discuss her books, her interview, or anything else about her with fellow readers on our own Facebook group. 

Thanks once more to Kirsten Hubbard for being our April Featured Author! :)

8.)   I really admire how involved you are in the YA internet world. You blog on YA Highway as well as on your own site and you are active on Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube. As an author, what role does the internet play in your profession? How do feel the internet has changed the book industry?

It’s hard for me to say how it’s changed from the author perspective, other than what I’ve read about it, since I’m still so new. But I couldn’t imagine this journey without the friendship and support of other authors, and the internet has made meeting amazing, likeminded writers almost effortless. From a reader’s perspective, connecting with authors is easier than ever before. When I was in high school ten years ago, I never even considered contacting authors I loved. I wouldn’t have known how to go about it. But now, authors and readers strike up actual friendships, and I think that’s so amazing.

9.)   Like Mandarin’s cover is definitely eye-catching in all of the right ways! How much of a say did you have in the cover?

Thank you! I had a bit of input. My editor asked me what I’d imagined for it, covers I liked, that sort of thing. Then they went in a totally different direction – luckily, one I adored.

10.)  Not a lot of books take place in Wyoming. What motivated you to make it the setting of your book? If someone told you that they were going to Wyoming for a vacation where would you instruct them to visit/to see/ to do first?

My mother grew up in small-town Wyoming, and we’d visit my grandparents there in the summer. It was so different from Southern California, where I was from – the landscape, the wildlife, the lifestyle. It felt exotic in a uniquely American way. Its tiny towns with the badlands between made a perfect setting for a book about two girls who feel trapped.

As for traveling to Wyoming? While the badlands own my heart, Jackson Hole, the Tetons, and Yellowstone National Park are all as beautiful as you’ve ever heard. Like, knock-you-off-your-feet stunning.

11.)  What main message or main theme do you want readers to get out of Like Mandarin?

That there’s beauty in unexpected places. That people aren’t always what they seem. And that we’re all just looking to be important to somebody.

12.)  How often did you encounter writer’s block while writing Like Mandarin? How did you deal with it?

I don’t think I had any epic stretch of writer’s block while writing Like Mandarin, though I do remember one example of it during editor revisions. That’s what gets me the most: when I know there’s a problem, can even pinpoint it, but have absolutely no idea how to resolve it. I find the best way to brainstorm to get out of my rut – to go somewhere like a park and jot down notes longhand, or to walk my dog and talk to myself in my iPhone’s voice recorder. Even just moving to a coffee shop with my computer can be enough to jumpstart my thought process.

13.)  Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

So many times, I see new writers get hung up on one story, often the first they finish. They revise it and revise it, and query it and query it, without taking any major break from it (so necessary for seeing it clearly!). Don’t wait around. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Write that next book! Nothing makes rejections easier to bear than a new, exciting project. And if you revisit your first afterward, you’ll likely be amazed at the skills you’ve gained in the interim.

14.)  What are you working on now and what can we expect from you in the future?

My second book, Wanderlove, about a girl who travels to Central America to get over a crappy relationship and ventures off the beaten path with a brother-and-sister backpacking pair, will be published by Delacorte in spring 2012. Hooray! My third book is presently with my critique partners. It’s dark, literary and in a different genre, but I’m keeping the details secret for now :)

15.)  Do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

A few I’ve enjoyed in the last six months or so include The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, and Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton. Also everything Shaun Tan writes and draws totally blows my mind.

1.)   How did the idea for Like Mandarin come about?

Most of my stories are a collision of several things that fascinate me. In Like Mandarin’s case, it was the unexpected beauty of the stark Wyoming badlands; child beauty pageants; and the ultra-intense friendships between teenage girls, especially when the power balance is unequal. The mother-daughter element only emerged as I was writing the book.

2.)   Which of the characters in Like Mandarin did you relate to the most? Why?

I related to Grace the most, for sure. Even when she was being naïve or stubborn or reckless, I always understood why, and would probably have made the same decisions at her age. However, I made sure I could relate to all my main characters – Mandarin, Taffeta, and Grace’s mother – because if I didn’t understand them and their motives, I couldn’t expect my readers too, either.

3.)   Growing up, did you love to read? When did you know you wanted to become an author?

Definitely :) I’ve always been crazy in love with reading, above everything else except drawing. When I was a kid, I thought I’d be an artist as well as an author. One down – still working on the other!

4.)   Like Mandarin is your debut novel! Can you tell us what the road to having your first novel published was like?

It’s wild to look back on it from the other end. There were times when it seemed insanely slow, like a bunch of people in NYC were pranking me with this whole book deal thing. And yet, I’m still the same girl I was at age 25, when I was putting the final touches on Like Mandarin and composing my list of agents – that doesn’t seem long ago at all.

5.)   I understand that in addition to being a YA author, you are also a travel writer. How did that transition from travel writer to author come about? How do you feel being a travel writer has helped/prepared you as an author? 

At this point, almost all the travel writing I do is for my Central America Travel site, but a couple years ago I was working for a number of magazines and websites. I always enjoyed it, more than any other type of writing except fiction. And that was the catch – I’d rather be writing fiction, always, except it doesn’t pay until down the road. I juggled both as best I could, until I received my first advance check, and gave myself permission to relax on the freelance front. To land the well-paying gigs, you really have to be a shark, and I’m more of a… nurse shark.

When it comes to fiction, travel writing – and traveling – has been absolutely priceless. For example, setting is a huge part of every book I write, and I can’t imagine it being any other way. Here’s an article I wrote for Figment that explains this much better. http://blog.figment.com/2011/03/02/the-serendipity-of-setting/o

6.)   You’ve traveled to so many amazing places. Which places are you still hoping to see/visit?

I’m totally not picky. I’d go anywhere, although I’m not big on cruise ships or sanitized-seeming resorts. Presently, I’m most drawn to India, Peru, Colombia, and Morocco. Most likely not all on the same trip, but you never know…

7.)   Can you tell us a bit about how you became involved with the wonderful webpage, YA Highway?

I love this story :) Two years ago, I met the original YA Highway girls on the YA subforum of the Absolute Write message boards. We’d been talking for a few months, and they each volunteered to beta read Like Mandarin. I’d been longing for a close-knit group of writer pals, and considering the idea of starting a group blog – I just needed the group. Since I was falling in love with these girls, I asked them, and they all said yes. We added YAH’s remaining bloggers in the early months, also Absolute Write friends.

I think the key to YA Highway’s success has been the passion we all have for it, and for our friendship. We talk daily (sometimes all day!), and make the site a big priority in our lives. The hardest part has been keeping membership limited. To combat it, we link extensively on Field Trip Fridays; encourage reader participation on Road Trip Wednesday blog carnivals; are always open to thoughtful guest posts; and now, host the occasional Highway Cafe chat.

1) I have a fraternal twin sister.

2) I worked in a pet store throughout high school. Pros: drawing the signs for the displays, putting together all-you-need reptile tank sets, baby bunnies, mostly cool co-workers, including my best friend, a semi-casual atmosphere, taking out kittens and puppies for interested customers. Cons: puppy farm puppies and kittens in cages, picking out baby feeder mice for snakes, picking out trusting feeder rats for bigger snakes, fishing for dead fish, guinea pig-wrangling (they’d scream SO LOUD), the time a coworker boy forgot to put water in the frog tank and they all dried out. Like, fifty of them. Also, my boss was a jerk.

3) My favorite dessert is cookies. Yes, plural.

4) I thought I’d major in art in college all through high school. But instead I majored in biology (ecology, behavior and evolution). After a year, I switched my major to writing. Good choice!

5) Besides working in a pet store, other jobs have included a coffee shop barista, car show model, college survey proctor, restaurant hostess, server at three other restaurants (including a notorious owl-themed one when I was 19), cocktail server at three nightclubs, nightlife writer, travel writer, magazine editor, SAT tutor. YA author beats them all.

6) I love a great horror movie. Too bad most of them suck.

7) My favorite animal is a baby sloth.

A travel writer and young adult author, Kirsten Hubbard has hiked ancient ruins in Cambodia, dived with wild dolphins in Belize (one totally looked her in the eye), slept in a Slovenian jail cell, and navigated the Wyoming badlands (without a compass) in search of transcendent backdrops for her novels. She lives in San Diego, California.  Her YA debut, LIKE MANDARIN, was published by Delacorte/Random House on March 8th, 2011. Her second book, WANDERLOVE, will be published in Spring 2012.