Jen Calonita is the author for this Thursday's Author Tales. Jen is the author of the Secrets of My Hollywood Life series, which includes: Secrets of My Hollywood Life, Secrets of My Hollywood Life: On Location and Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Family Affairs. Below you will find an interview with Jen! Don't forget to comment on this post for an entry into the Monthly Contest.
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What were you like as a teen? Does it have any influence over how you portray your characters?
"I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF ME IN MY MAIN CHARACTERS, ESPECIALLY KAITLIN, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S MUCH MORE GLAMOROUS THAN I EVER WAS. I LIKE TO BRING SOME OF MY INSECURITIES AS A TEEN INTO PLAY. I WAS SHY AROUND GUYS. I NEVER KNEW HOW TO HANDLE MYSELF. I THINK I WAS SWAYED TO DO THINGS I WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO BECAUSE I WANTED TO FIT IN. ALL THE COMMON THINGS YOU CAN THINK OF. I JUST HOPE GIRLS READING THE BOOKS WILL SEE WHAT KAITLIN'S GOING THROUGH AND BE ABLE TO RELATE AND HOPEFULLY HANDLE CERTAIN SITUATIONS BETTER THAN I DID."
Who is your favorite character from the Secrets of My Hollywood Life novels?
"THAT IS A TOUGH ONE! TO BE HONEST, I LIKE THEM ALL IN DIFFERENT WAYS. KAITLIN IS MY GIRL SO, OF COURSE, I JUST ADORE WRITING ABOUT HER. I LIKE HOW NADINE IS THE VOICE OF REASON, AND SKY IS SO EVIL AND SO MUCH FUN TO WRITE."
Is Paparazzi Princess the last book in the series!!??
"NOPE! IT'S THE FOURTH, BUT NOT THE LAST. WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO MORE SECRETS NOVELS COMING OUT. SECRETS FIVE WILL BE OUT THE FOLLOWING SPRING (2010) AND THAT IS ABOUT KAITLIN COMING TO NEW YORK TO TRY HER HAND AT BROADWAY. THAT WILL BE CALLED BROADWAY LIGHTS."
Do you have any say in the covers? I really love the new one for Paparazzi Princess!!
"THANKS! I LOVE IT TOO. WE WORK WITH AN AMAZING DESIGNER, TRACY SHAW, WHO COMES UP WITH THE COVER DESIGNS. I GET TO SEE THEM, BUT I DON'T DESIGN THEM. I JUST LOVE THAT THEY ALL LOOK LIKE HANDBAGS."
Who or what inspired you to become a writer? Who are some of your favorite authors?
"I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED WRITING. I STARTED WHEN I WAS IN SIXTH GRADE AND NEVER STOPPED. ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS GROWING UP WERE JUDY BLUME. EVEN WHEN I BECAME AN ADULT I LOVED READING YA STUFF. MEG CABOT IS GENIUS! NOWADAYS I GO READ NOVELS THAT ARE FUN AND THAT MAKE ME LAUGH. THE WORLD HAS CHANGED SO MUCH AND I FIND THAT I LIKE BOOKS THAT HELP ME ESCAPE."
Any advice for aspiring writers out there?
"WRITE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. THE MORE YOU WRITE, THE BETTER YOU GET, I THINK. TAKE YOUR INSPIRATION FROM EVERYWHERE-- WRITE ABOUT A FIGHT WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND, THE BOY YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON--YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT WILL TURN OUT TO BE A GREAT STORY."
What is your biggest fear as an author?
"UM, I'M NOT SURE I HAVE ON YET. SHOULD I? I GUESS IF I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING, I WOULD SAY NOT GETTING TO DO THIS ANYMORE. I LOVE WRITING AND I JUST HOPE THAT PEOPLE ENJOY READING MY WORK ENOUGH THAT I CAN KEEP WRITING NOVELS."
How does being a Young Adult author compare to entertainment journalism?
"WHEN I'M WRITING ABOUT KAITLIN IT'S NOT SO DIFFERENT. I DO LIKE THE PACE OF WRITING AT HOME BETTER THAN BEING AT A MAGAZINE EVERYDAY AND GETTING YELLED AT BY THE "LANEY'S" OF THE WORLD. BUT IT'S ALSO EXCITING GOING ON THE SET OF DIFFERENT FILMS AND MEETING ACTORS I REALLY LIKE."
What are you working on now? Can you tell us anything about it?
"I'M FINISHING MY FIRST DRAFT OF A NEW NOVEL CALLED REALITY CHECK. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. IT WON'T BE OUT TILL 2010, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. IT'S ABOUT FOUR BEST FRIENDS WHO GET TAPPED TO STAR IN THEIR OWN REALITY SHOW AND IT'S ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO THEIR FRIENDSHIP BECAUSE OF THE SHOW."
Do you see yourself branching out to any other genres?
"I LOVE DOING YA. I CAN'T SEE MYSELF WRITING FOR ANYONE OTHER THAN TEENS RIGHT NOW."
Do you have any television shows you watch obsessively or an all time favorite movie?
"I AM A MAJOR TV WATCHER! I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE GREY'S ANATOMY AND UGLY BETTY PREMIERES. I WORSHIP GOSSIP GIRL. I'M GETTING INTO 90210. I ALSO WATCH FUNNY THINGS LIKE JON AND KATE PLUS EIGHT AND THE FOOD NETWORK, WHICH IS FUNNY BECAUSE I CAN'T COOK."
What are you currently reading?
"AT THE MOMENT, PAGE PROOFS FOR SLEEPAWAY GIRLS, A NOVEL THAT COMES OUT NEXT MAY, TWO MONTHS AFTER PAPARAZZI PRINCESS. THAT BOOK IS ABOUT A GIRL NAME SAMANTHA WHO GOES TO CAMP TO BE A CAMP COUNSELOR IN TRAINING. SHE'S NEVER BEEN TO CAMP BEFORE, UNLIKE EVERYONE ELSE, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING AN OUTSIDER IN THE CLOSEKNIT CAMPING WORLD. IT'S A LOT OF FUN."
Is there anything else you would like to add?
"APARAZZI PRINCESS IS OUT MARCH 2009 AND I WILL BE TOURING ON THE WEST COAST SO CHECK MY WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.JENCALONITAONLINE.COM. SLEEPAWAY GIRLS WILL BE OUT IN MAY 2009 AND I'LL BE DOING EVENTS FOR THAT AS WELL."
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Thanks Jen for that great interview!