Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Author Interview with Jennifer S. Doktorski

Visit Read-a-Thon Central for more information!



Today I am thrilled to be interviewing Jennifer S. Doktorski, the author of How My Summer Went Up in Flames and releasing TODAY is Famous Last Words. I was thrilled to be able to read and review Ms. Doktorski’s How My Summer Went Up in Flames back in April before it debuted. I quickly fell in love with it and to me, it is a quintessential summer read.

Welcome Ms. Doktorski!


I cannot begin to thank you enough for doing this interview. When thinking of whom I would like to interview for Summer Lovin’ Read-a-Thon, your name immediately popped into my mind. Not only do you have TWO books coming out during the summer season, How My Summer Went Up in Flames is the PERFECT summer read!

Without further ado, let's begin the interview:

Q1: I LOVED the main character, Rosie, with the growth she goes through in this book and the ever changing setting of the road trip. When you approach writing Summer, what came first? 

JSD: I wanted to write a fun, fast-paced, and hopefully funny book about a girl traveling cross country with three guys. For me, the story began with the phrase, “girl on the receiving end of a temporary restraining order.” I knew that had to be in the opening sentence somewhere. From there, I started to think of “Why?!” What type of girl would find herself in that predicament? I found Rosie’s voice in that opening sentence and the rest just flowed from there. So the story began with an idea and a character and then I took out my Rand McNally Road Atlas, which sat on my desk the entire time I was writing this novel. I loved taking the trip with these characters.


****************************

Q2: Rosie’s character feels so authentic and natural. Is she inspired by someone you know?

JSD: Rosie is totally fictional but I used bits and pieces of people I have known or met to create her. I come from an Italian-American family and believe me, there was no shortage quick-tempered, passionate, good-hearted, generous people to draw from. There’s also no denying that Rosie is a New Jersey girl at  heart, and I’ve known my share of those as well.
*******************************
Q3: Have you ever gone on a road trip with friends like Rosie does in Summer? If you could take a road trip anywhere, where would you go?

JSD: Yes, I took a trip very similar to the one Rosie and the boys took across country. Well, I should say the route was similar, the trip was not. I traveled with a friend of a friend named Kenny. I didn’t know his last name until a week before we left, but he was willing to drive with me and fly home. I was at the proverbial crossroads in my life and heading to Arizona to live with a friend from college while I applied for jobs and decided if it was someplace I’d like to live for a while. Arizona is a beautiful state, but like Rosie, I love New Jersey. I would like to take another cross-country trip someday, only this taking a more northern route to visit states I've never seen. I’d love to see Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and maybe end up in Seattle. 

**********************************

Q4: Today is the release date for Famous Last Words. While I have not had a chance to read it yet, it seems like the two main characters are very different from each other. Can you tell us about Samantha?

JSD: Sixteen-year-old Samantha D’Angelo is sweet, sensitive and probably a bit too shy for own good. As she herself puts it. “At school, I’m not the head cheerleader or class slut or teacher’s pet. Just one of the nobodies who will graduate in approximately twelve months without a special mention in the yearbook.” She’s waiting for her life to begin, and oddly, it happens when she spends her summer writing about dead people all day.



***********************************

Q5: If Rosie and Samantha met in life, would they be friends?

JSD: Although they’re very different, I think they could definitely be friends. In fact, I’d think they’d be good for each other –they’d balance each another out. Sam would say things like, “Uh, Rosie. How about you hand over the lighter?” And Rosie would be all “Drop the journal smart girl, we’re going out tonight.”



****************************

Q6: Shifting gears a bit, I would love to learn more about you as I am sure my readers would too. How did you end up becoming a young adult fiction writer? Was it something you have always wanted to do?

JSD: I always loved to read and write. I graduated college with a degree in English and started out as a journalist. I also wrote for magazines like Cosmopolitan and at one point had my own music column and published a local music ‘zine. But always dreamed of writing a book someday, it just took me a while to believe I could write fiction.

***********************************
Q7: What has drawn you to write young adult fiction? What do you want to say to all those who have not given young adult fiction a shot before?


JSD: Growing up, some of the books I was must affected and inspired by were young adult and middle grade novels. Judy Bloom, S.E. Hinton, Paula Danziger, and Lois Duncan. I was also a huge fan of John Hughes’s films, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. When I was in high school, I remember thinking that John Hughes was the kind of adult who never forgot what it was like to be a teen. When I was sixteen, I don’t know if I thought about writing books or movies for teens, but I did know that’s the kind of adult I wanted to be someday. Eventually, when I began to write fiction, I wanted to write books that would touch and inspire people the way my favorite authors and filmmakers had inspired me. 

What would I say to those who haven’t given young adult fiction a shot? There’s emotional intensity in YA. Probably because our teen years are such an emotionally charged time. I’m most drawn to YA stories involving some kind of romance and there are so many talented YA authors (Stephanie Perkins, Jenny Han, Susane Colasanti, Jennifer Echols, Sarah Ockler) who do a wonderful job of capturing the raw, intense emotion of being in love for the first time. There’s an endless list of crush-worthy YA leading men out there!


*******************************

Q8: Your daughter and husband seem like an amazing support system! I LOVE the bookmarks they designed for you. What does your daughter think about your books? Does she share them with her friends?
JSD: My husband and daughter are amazing. They inspire me every day to do everything better. My daughter thinks it’s cool that I’m an author. I’m going to enjoy that for all it’s worth right now because I’m not sure how much longer it will last. She has shared the bookmarks with her friends, but so far, not the books. They’re all too young for HOW MY SUMMER WENT UP IN FLAMES, but I’m considering allowing my daughter to read FAMOUS LAST WORDS.


***************************************

Q9: Because we are celebrating summer and our love of reading this week, what is your favorite spot to vacation during the summer?


JSD: The New Jersey Shore. I’m hoping to write a book set there very soon.

*****************************************

Q10: Lastly, what five books would you grab if they were the only ones you could have on a deserted island?


JSD: That’s always tough. It’s hard to decide between old favorites or new ones. I think I’m going to go with classics or classic-ish. 
  1. To Kill a Mockingbird 
  2. Jane Eyre
  3. David Copperfield
  4. Little Women
  5. East of Eden


*****************************************
For those of you reading this, be sure to run to your local library or bookstore to pick up How My Summer Went Up in Flames and Famous Last Words today!!

Thank you to Ms. Doktorski for providing these wonderful giveaways and for agreeing for me to interview you! I really appreciate all the time you took to answer my questions so thoughtful.

For those who are interested, the wonderful Ms. Doktorski is offering up TWO prize packages to be claimed. Please used the Rafflecopters to enter each. Please note, both are open to U.S. and Canada participants only. Thanks for understanding!


How My Summer Went Up in Flames Rafflecopter
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Famous Last Words Rafflecopter
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 photo loveliferead-sig.png

34 comments:

  1. I am looking forward to reading and relaxing. It has been a crazy past few months...so that sounds great.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that about summer too Jenna! It seems like life can be a little more relaxing even with work like any other time of the year. Thanks for stopping by today. Happy Reading!

      Delete
  2. I am definitely excited about my upcoming vacation this summer! My hubby and I will be floating the river in ATX and visiting the Riverwalk in San Antonio.

    AND of course, lots and lots of books. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds AMAZING! Do you live near Texas then? I might be heading to Austin next year for a conference. Thanks for stopping by today. Happy Reading!

      Delete
  3. I haven't been blogging all that long (only 16 weeks or so) and all this seems so incredible. To be able to interview a published writer, a writer with a very open and humble personality, is incredible! I am so glad I joined this read-a-thon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awe, thanks!! Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. We have LOADS of fun. I am so glad that you are able to join us and are having a good time. Happy Reading!

      Delete
  4. I am really looking forward to finding the next great book, what else is there?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Awesome Interview! Thanks for introducing me to this author!

    Tamara @ Shelf Addiction
    Pink Lady

    ReplyDelete
  6. This summer, I am looking forward to doing lots of reading!! Since I homeschool my kids, we take it easy in the summer and I have plenty of time to read!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay for time to read! I admire all the homeschooling parents I know--I hope it goes well for you. Happy Reading!

      Delete
  7. Books, books and more books! Lol. I'm trying to learn how to play the guitar also, so, there is that xD
    Jackie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :) yay for books! Playing the guitar would be cool to learn. I hope you are able to do it. :) Happy Reading!

      Delete
  8. Looking forward to playing with the baby outside, reading outside, eating outside, drinking outside....basically outside!!
    Thanks for featuring this author! I had heard of "Summer.." before. I will be getting it from the library soon!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like a perfect summer! Great--Summer is a great read--I'm glad you enjoyed the interview.

      Delete
  9. I am looking forward to reading lots of books during long car rides. It's my favourite thing to do <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like you have a great summer planned :) Happy Reading!

      Delete
  10. OOOHHH!! These books look sooo good! And this summer...So many things I want to do! Looking forward to reading (obviously) and I'm doing a backpacking trip next week which I am SUPER EXCITED for!!! Great interview! You made me want to read these books even more!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you have a fantastic time on your backpacking trip! I am so glad you enjoyed the interview! Happy Reading. :)

      Delete
  11. I'm looking forward to reading a lot, writing a lot, and going to the beach in August!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Stephanie I'm so curious if Jennifer actually took the trip whilst researching or if she just used her atlas. When she mentioned that she's from an Italian descent and she's a New Jersey girl through and through I thought of the Real Housewives of New Jersey LOL

    For summer I'm looking forward to reading summer related books like How my summer went up in flames. I actually had it included in my Day 2 Participation Post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope, she took the trip when she was younger, about college-age. :) Yay for having Summer on your list! Happy Reading.

      Delete
  13. For those interested, How my summer went up in flames is currently FREE to read online at PulseIt.

    Stephanie I just wanted to mention that both Tweets are the same for both Rafflecopter forms.

    ReplyDelete
  14. The plans are tentative, but my friends and I are planning on going camping this summer. Most of them graduated this year, so it's a chance to hang out before they go off to college and I go back to high school for my turn at senior year. It could be one of the last times I see some of them. If we don't camp, I still hope we do something else big.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds like a great plan--I hope it comes through. :) Summer is the best for spending time with friends before the insanity of school begins. Happy Reading!

      Delete
  15. This summer, I am looking forward to a break from graduate school & beach trips!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm looking forward to the beach, and reading, and actually getting to do fireworks on the 4th this week because I was in Utah for the last 2 years and they wouldn't allow it because of fires!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We love fireworks :) Our town puts them off in June though. Happy Reading this summer.

      Delete
  17. What an insightful interview! As for what I'm looking forward to this summer? Reading a few fun books I've been putting off due to blog tours or requested reviews. One of them is Chelsea Cain's Let Me Go, which I have an ARC of. I'm also looking forward to getting back to evening walks with the dog once the heat starts to waver off.

    ReplyDelete
  18. i am looking forward to visiting greece!!

    http://ilikebigbooksblog.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm really looking forward to visiting Oregon again toward the end of July. I haven't been in a few years and I use to go every year, so it's going to be amazing to visit again. It's a gorgeous state.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to write a comment! I read them all and respond to them as soon as I can.