Author Interview: Janet Gurtler of If I Tell

Today I have Janet Gurtler, author of I'm Not Her and If I Tell, on the blog for an interview! I really enjoyed IF I TELL and jumped at the chance to ask her a few questions.

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1. Twitter style: describe IF I TELL in 140 characters or less.

How can I tell her this now? How can I trust anyone? Why do people let me down? How do I make it out of this hole? Can I believe in Jackson?

2. What are three things you must have for a productive writing day?

Coffee, Sleep, Protein Bars

3. I love IF I TELL’s cover and the way it compliments that of I’M NOT HER. Did you have any input on either and were you pleased with the final outcome?

Thanks for the cover love! I didn’t have anything to do with the amazing covers and the way they do complement each other, but I was really pleased with them!!

4. Who are some of your writing inspirations?

JUDY BLUME, SE HINTON, JODY PICCOULT

5. Can you tell us anything about your next project?

YES! I am part of an anthology called THE FIRST TIME. And! I have a new book coming out with Sourcebooks Fire. Here’s the blurb, but the title will be changing!

Janet Gurtler's JUST BREATHE, in which a girl struggles with boy problems and serious regret after accidentally killing a boy she barely knows when she kisses him after consuming a peanut butter sandwich, not aware he has a deathly allergy to peanuts.

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Thanks, Janet, for stopping by bookmarked today! I love anthologies, so I'm really looking forward to The First Time. Be sure to check out the other tour stops for more interviews, guest posts, and reviews!

Character This or That: Eve from Eve (+ Giveaway!)

Today I have Eve, the main character from Anna Carey's Eve, for an interview of sorts! She is here courtesy of the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour. I LOVED Eve and was super excited about getting to know her better.

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Summer/Winter The summers at School were my favorite. We had shortened days, and in the evenings the Teachers would let us eat our dinners on the grass by the lake.

Sweet/Salty Sweet

Chocolate/Vanilla Vanilla

Noise/Silence It depends where I am. At School, it was nearly impossible to find quiet—that’s why I loved the library so much. In the wild, especially when I’m alone, I crave noise. Those first few days after I escaped I was so desperate to hear another person’s voice.

Light/Dark Light. The dark can be terrifying.

Pancake/Waffle I’ve never had a waffle! What am I missing? I guess I have to say pancake…

Early bird/Night owl Early bird. Without power, I usually go to sleep shortly after the sun goes down.

Truth/Lies Truth, truth, truth. I believe people can sense it always, just below the surface of things. You may not be able to put it into words, or understand it, but you will feel that something is off.

Neat/Messy Neat. I only have a few things that I love, and I’d hate to ever lose them.

Past/Future Can I say neither? I spent so much time planning my future, only to find out I was imagining something that could never be. Looking back at the past can be too painful. I try to take each day one by one.

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Thanks, Eve (and Anna) for stopping by bookmarked today!

Thanks to HarperTeen, I have a finished copy of Eve to give to a lucky reader! Fill out the form below for your chance to win. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older and a resident of the United States. Deadline to enter is Saturday, October 15, 11:59PM CST.

If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

If I Tell
Janet Gurtler
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Released: October 1, 2011
Genre: Contemporary
Pages: 256
Source: Netgalley

Jasmine Evans knows one thing for sure... people make mistakes. After all, she is one. Jaz is the result of a onenight stand between a black football player and a blonde princess. Having a young mother who didn't raise her, a father who wants nothing to do with her and living in a small-minded town where she's never fit in hasn't been easy. But she's been surviving. Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?

Janet Gurtler first made it onto my radar earlier this year around the time of her debut release, I'm Not Her. The cover caught my eye, but the synopsis had me hooked. And while I still haven't gotten the chance to read it, I jumped on the opportunity to read her second novel, If I Tell. Jaz has a rough time fitting in at school - being the only biracial teen in town sort of does that to a person. Jaz's closest friends are Lacey, an older wild-child, and Simon, her mother's boyfriend. Lacey is in no place to judge her, and Simon, being black, understands what it's like to be surrounded by racial prejudices. But Jaz's world comes crumbling down when she finds the two people she's always turned to making out at a party.

Jaz finds herself alienated from the only two people who really "get" her. While Jaz's secret is certainly a large part of this story, it is more importantly a journey of self-discovery - which the synopsis unfortunately doesn't imply. If I Tell is more about Jaz's struggle with being different, being alone, and feeling betrayed by those closest to her, and not just Lacey and Simon.

This is the first book I've read that deals with a biracial teen and the struggles she faces. I think it's a very important point of view for today's teens, and I hope to see more of them. I would recommend this for anyone with a similar ethnic background, although one doesn't need to be mixed or even a minority to relate to Jasmine. She is a very empathetic character who would appeal to most. Her personal journey is pretty incredible - the growth she shows is great yet realistic. I was impressed by this story's authenticity - something that is über important in contemporary lit.

Gurtler's writing is spot-on. She beautifully captures Jaz's self-loathing. I must admit this was laid on a little thick at times, but I just had to remind myself that teens are often dramatic and prone to pity parties. (I was.) I didn't love this story as much as I'd hoped, but it was an engaging read that brought light to some important issues. I'm still looking forward to reading I'm Not Her along with Janet's upcoming title, Just Breathe.

The Radleys by Matt Haig

The Radleys
Matt Haig
Publisher: Free Press
Released: December 28, 2010
Genre: Paranormal
Pages: 366
Source: Accepted from publisher

Meet the Radleys:

Peter, Helen and their teenage children, Clara and Rowan, live in an English town. They are an everyday family, averagely dysfunctional, averagely content. But as their children have yet to find out, the Radleys have a devastating secret.

From one of Britain’s finest young novelists comes a razor-sharp unpicking of adulthood and family life. In this moving, thrilling and extraordinary portrait of one unusual family, The Radleys asks what we grow into when we grow up, and explores what we gain – and lose – when we deny our appetites.

Every year the ALA's Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) gives out a slew of awards highlighting the best in young adult literature. One of these awards is the Alex Award, which is given to ten books written for adults that appeal to teens. The Radleys was one of the 2011 Alex Award winners, which was what put it on my radar. I almost exclusively read YA, but when I was offered a review copy and spot in a blog tour, I thought I'd make an exception for this book.

Written in third person, an omniscient narrator focuses on one character at a time, allowing the reader to "get to know" each person individually. For some reason this style reminded me of the narrator on Pushing Daisies, and I heard that voice in my head the entire time I was reading. For whatever reason, this worked for me, and I really enjoyed the picture this painted.

I must admit I've been burnt out on paranormal, especially those centered around vampires. However, I felt like this story was as much about family and the difficulty of being different as it was about vampires. I also thought the parallels made to a few of my favorite paranormal YAs were comical - the Abstainer's Handbook reminded me a little of the how-to in Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, and Lord Byron made another appearance as a vampire in the Hex Hall series. Both of these little things made me smile, and whether or not the similarities were realized, I was glad the author included them.

The Radleys is a witty read that will appeal to adults and teens alike. And if you're a bit hesitant to pick up another vampire book, I assure you this one is worth it. The writing is flawless, the story is original, and the dry humor will keep you chuckling through the end. It certainly pulled me out of my paranormal slump and left me craving more (pun intended).

Be sure to visit the other tour stops this week!

Commenting on each blog post will enter you for a chance to win signed hardcover and paperback copies of The Radleys along with some blood-red hot chocolate!

The Radleys is now available in paperback and found wherever books are sold. Visit the book's website for more information including the quiz: ARE YOU A RADLEY?

In My Bag (37)

In My Bag is my version of the weekly meme, In My Mailbox. IMM was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren, and it explores the contents of my mailbox or shopping bag on a weekly basis.

Bought:

I made a few last minute trips to Borders before they closed and came home with this stash. Not too shabby. What'd you guys get this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It features upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

This week's pick is...

This Is Not a Test

Courtney Summers

Coming June 2012 - Preorder it below

Indiebound | Amazon | BN

Yall, Courtney Summers wrote a zombie book. This scares me a little in that Courtney currently holds the title of Queen of Contemporary, but she's earned my trust by writing not one, not two, but three freakishly amazing novels thus far. She's on my auto-buy list, and I'm not going to let a few zombies scare me away.

You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis

You Have Seven Messages
Stewart Lewis
Publisher: Delacorte
Released: September 13, 2011
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 272
Source: Cavalier House Books

It's been a year since Luna's mother, the fashion-model wife of a successful film director, was hit and killed by a taxi in the East Village. Luna, her father, and her little brother, Tile, are still struggling with grief.

When Luna goes to clean out her mother's old studio, she's stunned to find her mom's cell phone there—charged and holding seven unheard messages. As Luna begins to listen to them, she learns more about her mother's life than she ever wanted to know . . . and she comes to realize that the tidy tale she's been told about her mother's death may not be the whole truth.

To most people, Luna lives a life of luxury. With a film director father and a supermodel mother, she really does have it pretty good. Until, of course, her mother tragically dies in an accident while Luna is off at summer camp. Even though a year has passed since her dad broke the news, Luna still finds herself only going through the motions and not really living her life. She has so many questions about her mother's death and her last few months leading up to it, questions her dad refuses to answer. The more he balks, the more suspicious she becomes until she finally decides to find out for herself. When she visits her mother's studio and finds her cell phone with several unheard messages on it, Luna questions whether or not she really wants the answers.

While I had a hard time connecting with Luna, the story was well-paced and kept me invested. Luna was obviously a person of privilege, but I just couldn't believe some of the things that happened to her. (I realize that's really vague, but I don't want to spoil anything.) I felt much more connected to her little brother, Tile, who was incredibly adorable and a great supporting character despite his age. But as I said, the plot, though flawed, move quickly enough and carried me with it. Despite not relating to the main character much, I was invested enough to care about what ultimately happened to her.

One wouldn't think such a novel would have much of a romance in it, especially with it not even being mentioned in the synopsis, but this one did. I felt a little like it was thrown in just for the sake of having one. I didn't really get what was so appealing about Oliver, and while he definitely proved himself useful at times, I didn't believe his connection with Luna.

This novel may have fallen a little flat with me, but I still think it deserves a chance. The mystery and suspense definitely kept me reading through the end, and I'm sure others will enjoy it more than I did.