WANNA WIN FREE PASSES TO SEE TWILIGHT ON OPENING NIGHT?
The library has teamed up with Campbell 16 to give two lucky winners a chance to see Twilight on opening night! Stop by any library branch for your chance to win two reserved seats to the November 21st 7:00pm showing of Twilight at Campbell 16. A third winner will recieve a Twilight movie poster.
-You may enter once every day
-You may enter at any library branch
-Drawing open to ages 12-18 ONLY
-Contest ends November 19 @ 5:00pm
-Winners will be notified by phone
Ask your teen librarian for more info. Good Luck!!!
Labels: Campbell 16, Movie Tickets, Twililght
Posted by Sarah at 11:31 AM
Recently, I had the chance to speak to Suzanne Supplee, author of the wonderfully sweet book
Artichoke's Heart. Check out our interview:
Got a question of Suzanne or a review of Artichoke's Heart? Write it in the comments and you'll be entered to win a copy of Artichoke's Heart!
How did the idea for Artichoke's Heart come about?
I was sitting in the chair at my hairdresser's, and I had all this glop on my head, and the lighting was bad, and that black cape is always hideous, and there were mirrors everywhere. I couldn't wait to leave! Suddenly, I had this idea about a girl who couldn't escape because she worked there. I guess it's appropriate that Rosie was born in a beauty shop.
How did you get interested in writing?
In Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott (one of my all-time favorite books by one of my all-time favorite authors), there's a passage about how some people write because they didn't feel heard as children. This definitely applies to me. There was so much going on in my family, but we never talked about any of it, so I started writing and never stopped.
Do you do a lot of research for your books?
I write in stages. Sometimes the first stage is just about getting thoughts on paper, learning about my characters, etc., but when I get to later drafts, there's typically a lot more research. I like that each stage is different; it keeps me engaged and excited about my work.
What is a typical day like for you as a writer?
I'm up early, and when I'm on a deadline, that may mean 4:50 AM. Ugh, I know, but I'm a mom, and I also teach, so there's a lot to do. Once my girls are off to school, I'm usually at my computer for hours. Sometimes I'm researching, but mostly I'm writing or revising. At some point, I try to squeeze in a workout (extremely important when you sit all day) and then I pick up my girls.
What advice do you have for aspiring teen authors?
Read all the time. I know teens have books they have to read for school, but try to find time to read books you enjoy. And write. Write in journals. Write for fun. Join a writing group or a club. It's important to show your work to other people, hear what they have to say about it. Befriend a really cool librarian (like the teen staff at Springfield Greene County Library!) and talk to her about the books she likes and why. Don't ever think that because you're young, you can't approach writing in a professional way. There are so many wonderful authors out there who were published in their 20s. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them, but I think if you take the right approach and work hard, you can be. I annoy my writing students about this all the time. I love to think that the next John Green or Sarah Dessen is sitting in my classroom.
Why did you decide to set your novel in the south?
I grew up in Tennessee, and it's the place my imagination returns to again and again.
What was your favorite book as a teen?
Gone With the Wind.
Can you tell us anything about your new book?
My next book is Somebody Everybody Listens To, and it's the story of Retta Jones, a Tennessee River girl who wants leave her small town to become a big-time country music star.
Do you listen to music while you write? Do you have a playlist for your books?
I don't listen to music while I write, but I ALWAYS listen to music when I workout—it keeps me motivated. I don't have a playlist especially for Artichoke's Heart, but maybe I'll have to come up with one. I do have ideas!
If Artichoke's Heart was going to be a movie, who would you cast?
Oh, this is such a fun question. I think for Rosie and Kyle and Kay-Kay, I'd rather let readers decide who might play them, but for Rosie's mom, I would love Maggie Gyllenhaal. I think she's fabulous! For Aunt Mary, Drew Barrymore might be good, although Aunt Mary is pretty irritating. I've always liked Drew Barrymore, so maybe she wouldn't be annoying enough.
If you could be any book character who would you be?
Actually, I would love to be Retta, the main character in my new book. Retta sings so beautifully, and I have always wanted to be able to do that -- stand on a stage and just belt it out. I do have a playlist for Somebody Everybody Listens To, and I listen to it all the time and fantasize. One of the best parts about being a writer is that I do get to be a singer -- and anybody else I want to be!
Rosemary, of Artichoke's Heart, loves candy bars-what's your favorite candy?
Payday Hershey's candy bar or chocolate kisses Reese's peanut butter cups M&M's (preferably peanut) Snickers Now you know why I workout!
Thanks so much for the interview! Teens, be sure to get your hands on a copy of
Artichoke's Heart at your library! Don't forget to leave your comments for a chance to win your own copy!
Labels: artichoke's heart, author interview, contests, suzanne supplee
Posted by Sarah at 3:39 PM
