Liz Gallagher

Hi, folks! I'm KELLY Couric. I'm as fun and informed and inquisitive and cute and perky as KATIE Couric. Just slightly less famous.

Today with me is LIZ GALLAGHER, the seriously talented author of THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE.

If you want the chance to win an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Liz's book, (and who wouldn't?), comment on today's post. Child #4 will don her famous choosing shoes and pick a name this weekend. Alright then, freebie ARC business out of the way, let's go straight to the fabulous interview a la Kelly Couric.


Do you outline before starting a book?







No! I'm a total plunger. I write whatever scene feels most immediate to me at the moment. Then I have a trick: I try to write my way into a scene, then stop. That way, I know where to pick up during my next writing session. That's how I wrote my first novel, anyway. Now I find that I've become a bit more of an outliner, though my outline is very general; it's basically just a list of scenes I've already written and an order they might go in.


Are you part of a critique group?







Not at the moment. I went to Vermont College, where I had amazing workshops and adviser feedback. Since graduating two years ago, I've been on my own, but I love writing communities and keep in touch with lots of friends. I would love to find a group that's right for me in Seattle.

Do you write everyday?







When I'm being good! I try to, yes. Sometimes only a few words, and sometimes my writing time is spent doing more thinking than actual writing. Luckily, once I get going, I'm a very fast writer.




What are you working on now?







I'm working on a companion to The Opposite of Invisible. It's set the summer before Opposite and it's about Vanessa, who is my main character's rival in Opposite. It's still set in Seattle, but feels very different because it's in a separate neighborhood and because it's sunny! Vanessa struggles with wanting to grow up too fast and finding a balance between what she wants to do and what she's actual comfortable doing.

What is your favorite cookie?







I'm such a cookie monster! I'd have to say, though, I'm pretty much a classic chocolate chip girl. Warm and gooey, with milk, please.




Here's a description of THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE. Yes, I pretty much lifted it from Liz's author page on the Class of 2k8's website. Hey. I'm working like a dog, trying to make a go of this interview gig thing AND manning the drive-through window at In 'n Out Burger. It's not like I'm Katie Couric with a bunch of assistants.

THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE: Alice is comfortable staying in the background at school, working on projects in the art room, or happily cocooned with her best friend, Jewel, a very cool boy she's known forever. She can talk to Jewel about almost anything. But she can't tell him about her secret crush. Or that she's ready to stop being so invisible, to take some chances with art, friends, even romance.

Love and friendship have big surprises in store for Alice in this irresistible debut novel set against the lively, quirky, backdrop of Seattle.

And here's Liz Gallagher's website and Liz's blog.

Thank you for the interview, Lizzie. You've been a great sport. After reading THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE, I can say from the bottom of my Kelly Couric heart that this book is excellent!

So, leave a comment here for a chance to win the ARC of THE OPPOSITE OF INVISIBLE.