Trashy Kelly Couric interviews PJ Hoover!

EDITED TO ADD: PJ IS GIVING AWAY A COPY OF THE EMERALD TABLET TO A LUCKY COMMENTER. JUST COMMENT BY WED., FEB 25 AT MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME FOR A CHANCE TO WIN. EITHER CHILD #4 OR ONE OF PJ'S DELIGHTFUL RUG RATS WILL CHOOSE A NAME!




Hi bloggy peeps! I'm baaack!. It's ME, the slightly chubby, super sassy and trailer-trashy KELLY Couric! I'm taking over the blog today while Barrie is helping out in Child #4's classroom. I get to interview Author PJ HOOVER who has a fantastic middle-grade fantasy out now, THE EMERALD TABLET. Middle-grade! I love it! It's exactly my reading level! Best of all, THE EMERALD TABLET is the first in a trilogy.

(knocks on door, then strides in, carefully balancing a tray of cookies) Hello! Barrie! I'm here! And I brought you some white chocolate macadamia nut cookies.




(rushes over to PJ and grabs the cookies) Thank you, thank you. I'm always looking for extra fat grams.



(opening eyes wide) Are you...is it really....Am I going to be interviewed by THE trashy Kelly Couric?!




(puffing out chest and smiling proudly) You are, dahling, you are. And let's get started. (crosses ample thighs) So, PJ, pretend I'm a really rich and famous literary agent. And you're lucky enough to get to pitch to me. What's your book about?



THE EMERALD TABLET is the adventure every kid dreams of going on! It's about five kids who have to go to summer school. Which would normally result in a total yuck factor, right? Except in this case summer school is on a hidden continent under the Pacific Ocean (Lemuria). And to top it off, the kids find out they aren't even human, but an awesome species called telegens.

Here's the cover copy:
Benjamin and his best friend Andy are different from normal. They love being able to read each other's minds and use telekinesis to play tricks on other kids. In fact, they are getting all set to spend their entire summer doing just that when Benjamin's mirror starts talking. Suddenly, Benjamin's looking at eight weeks of summer school someplace which can only be reached by a teleporter inside the ugly picture in his hallway.
And that's the most normal thing he does all summer.

So are you ready to join them, Kelly???



Yeah, right. My idea of summer fun is Camp Marriott and a spa! And a masseuse. (rolls heavily-outlined eyes) PJ, now that you've achieved your publishing goal, are you actually working on anything new? Or do writers publish, then chill on the couch, guzzling cocktails and bonbons?


Cocktails wait until the kids get home :) Ditto bonbons, but I need to hide those from the kids unless I want to share (which NO, I do not).

I'm not much of a chiller. I started book 2 in the series (THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD, Fall 2009) as soon as I'd finished THE EMERALD TABLET. And then came book 3 (THE NECROPOLIS, Fall 2010). So basically I had all three books written (in one form or another) before I signed the contract. Of course they've all been through various stages of revision, but at least the guts are there, which is nice. Because guts are the solid base we're all built around. Or maybe it's the skeleton.

I've also started a couple new projects: a MG urban fantasy with an Egyptian theme, and a YA urban fantasy based heavily in Greek mythology.

My head is filled with ideas, and my kids keep giving me new ones. I'm sure I'll never catch up—which in the writing world I think is a good thing!



You're quite the busy bee! Now, PJ, we want you to open up to us on this blog. Tell us something weird about yourself. Preferably juicy and scandalous. We're all friends here. Seriously. And if it's something like a unibrow you've never had taken care of professionally, feel free to include a pic.


Wait! Maybe I need my cocktail first!
Okay, juicy and scandalous. I once met the famous Barrie Summy. Okay, it was twice; I admit it.
No really—it's true!
And wait until I tell you what she told me...

Fine, I'll dig deep and see what I can think of.
How about this? My mom let me go to school dressed like this in seventh grade (I'm the blond one). And yes, I did used to fit those pants. And no, I wouldn't have a prayer of fitting them now. And yes, it was the 80s. And no, I would never let my daughter dress like that.

A scandalous photo of PJ Hoover (she's the blond in the shocking blue pants)

(frowning) Don't even try to fake us out that Barrie told you something scandalous. But that outfit? It is scandalous! And, now back to ME. Last time I read a whole book was in high school. Could you recommend a book for me?

The book I would recommend for you, Kelly, is THE EMERALD TABLET. In fact, I would recommend this book for every person on Earth. And could you do me a favor and recommend it to everyone you meet also? It doesn't matter if you've read it or not. Just please tell everyone it's the best book in the world. And make sure to give them the amazon link in case they don't like to leave the house.
If you aren't sure what the book is about, please go back and read this interview.

And now for the most scrumptious question of all... What is your favorite cookie? (We'd love the recipe. We're planning a side bar link with all the cookie recipes.)

Simple!
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies!

I have two recipes I LOVE!

Recipe 1:
Go to freezer section of your favorite grocery store. Here in Texas, I'm way partial to the H-E-B. And yes, the B in H-E-B does stand for Butt.
Find a frozen dough package of whatever White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies are on sale.
Pick it up.
Buy it.
Cook per directions. Remember to save part of the uncooked dough to eat raw.

Recipe 2:
Walk into your favorite deli or other establishment which sells cookies.
Get money out of wallet.
Request one White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookie.
Pay for it.
Eat cookie.

(munching on a cookie) Okay, that's it, bloggy friends. The interview is officially over. I have some serious snacking to do. Have a great weekend! And thank you for stopping by, PJ Hoover, author of THE EMERALD TABLET.

EDITED TO ADD: PJ IS GIVING AWAY A COPY OF THE EMERALD TABLET TO A LUCKY COMMENTER. JUST COMMENT BY WED., FEB 25 AT MIDNIGHT PACIFIC TIME FOR A CHANCE TO WIN. EITHER CHILD #4 OR ONE OF PJ'S DELIGHTFUL RUG RATS WILL CHOOSE A NAME!

Author Eileen Cook, Katie Couric, and Win a Free Book

I'm a Katie Couric wannabe. She has great hair. She's smart. She's famous. And everybody loves her. Thanks to Eileen Cook, author of UNPREDICTABLE, who has good-naturedly agreed to answer a bunch of inane questions, today is my Couric day.


Oh wait, a short commercial before we start. If you want the chance to win a copy of Eileen's brand new ultra hilarious romantic comedy, UNPREDICTABLE, (and who wouldn't?), comment on today's or yesterday's post on this blog or on today's or yesterday's post on Eileen's blog or, for double the chance to win, on BOTH blogs. Alright then, freebie book business out of the way, let's go straight to the interview extraordinaire.


Do you outline before starting a book?







I'm a fly by the seat of my pants writer who secretly wishes she was a plotter. I have plotter envy- it goes well with my office supply fetish. I love the idea of binders with color-coded tabs and Post it Note flags. Instead I practice the time-honored tradition on beating my head on the desk until the story falls out. I am attempting to do more outlining, but it remains to be seen if these outlines provide me with a map or just a nice reminder of where I thought the book would go back before the head beating began.

I’ve met writers that do detailed 100 pages plus outlines with binders for all the main characters and writers who start with Chapter One and see where the story goes from there. I saw John Irving (author of A Prayer for Owen Meany) speak and he likes to write by starting with the end and working backwards. Sometimes new writers want to know “what works” and it is a tricky answer as what works for one person will completely block another. You have to find your own way into your story.

Are you part of a critique group?






I used to belong to a writer’s group that met on a monthly. Eventually due to people’s schedule the group disbanded. I now belong to an online writer’s critique group where we post scenes. I also use a group of early readers made up of both writers and readers to critique my draft. When I have a manuscript ready to go I pass it out to all of them and collect their comments before heading into the final revision stage.

In addition to getting feedback, I think it is important for writers to give feedback. It can sometimes be easier to pick apart someone else’s writing, looking at what works and what doesn’t work because you aren’t involved in the story. Once you can see it in someone else’s writing it is easier to look at your own and see if you are guilty of the same mistakes. If you don’t have a regular group of writers that you meet with I often suggest people pick a favorite book and a book they disliked and go chapter by chapter looking at what happens in each scene, what’s the conflict, if they liked it why, if they didn’t why? I have them highlight lines that they liked or places where they felt the story was dragging. One thing that excites me about writing is how much there is to learn. No matter how long you’ve been writing there is always a way to improve. I’m a bit geeky this way.

You are absolutely hilarious. Were you the class clown?






My parents are both funny so it may be genetic. Growing up I was mortified at my parent’s jokes and I’m pretty sure during my teen years I tried to ban them from talking at all when my friends were around.

I was a bit too shy to be the class clown, but I’m pretty sure my close friends saw me as the clown type. I’ve always tended to see things from a different angle that tends towards the humorous.

So, how'd you land Rachel Vater as your agent?






While writing Unpredictable I picked up a copy of Writer’s Digest that happened to have an interview with Rachel. I don’t recall what she said, but I remember thinking “she’s perfect for me!” I stuck the article on my bulletin board (complete with her picture) and whenever I found myself blocked I would remind myself that this fabulous agent was waiting for my masterpiece even though we had never communicated. Inside my head we were already a mean, lean writing team. I knew I wanted an agent I could connect with and who would take a career building approach to my writing.

When I finished the book I sent off a query to Rachel. I was prepared to send it out to a long list of agents if needed, but she was my top choice. People are sometimes surprised when I tell them that I didn’t have any connections or family in the business. I was a slush pile find. I can’t imagine going through the publishing process without a strong agent in your corner and Rachel has been the perfect business partner for me.

What are you working on now?






I recently signed a contract with Simon Pulse (Simon and Schuster) and am really excited to be working on some young adult novels. I always loved reading and in the past couple years have started to read all the great stuff coming out these days in the young adult and middle grade market. I love Meg Cabot and would run away in a heartbeat to be her personal assistant if she would have me.

The other area that I’ve tried out recently is writing screenplays. I’ve always been a huge movie buff and when Unpredictable was optioned by New Line I wanted a chance to write the script. For some reason the studio didn’t want someone who had never written a script before to do the job- go figure. I took some classes and am really interested in how the format is so different than novels. Scripts have to be much tighter as you typically only have 90-120 pages and the story has to be told in all action and dialog.

What is your favorite cookie?







I can pick just one favorite? Of course I am coming off the post Christmas cookie butter and sugar hangover where I made all the cookies that you never make any other time of the year.

If had to pick one favorite I would go with the traditional standby of chocolate chip. I add a touch a cinnamon in mine as the secret ingredient. Shhh don’t tell anyone.

Happy Valentine's Day, Eileen! We wish you loads of Belgium chocolate (yes, we know you love it), wheelbarrows full of chocolate chip cookies and, most of all, great big humungous book sales!