21 Questions starring... Sarah Quigley

Today we have with us author, Sarah Quigley. Her debut novel, TMI, was just release on the 16, so if you already haven't you need to run into the nearest bookstore and grab a copy. From what I gather, you won't regret it! Also, if you stay tuned, Sarah has been gracious enough to offer up a signed bookplate AND a homemade crocheted nose warmer (her own design) to one lucky commenter. How neat is that?

Are you working on anything after TMI? If so can we get a sneak peak if not can we get a peak at TMI?
I am working on something new although it’s coming together slowly. I blame my daughter (hereafter referred to as the Bean), who just turned one. I’m concentrating on promoting TMI right now, and I hope to get serious about my new book this summer. I don’t want to say what it’s about yet because the final draft will probably bear little resemblance to what I’ve written so far. That was true for TMI.

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
My husband’s a funny guy, and he’s good at making me laugh when I need it most. If he’s not around and I need cheering up, I’ll pick up one of David Sedaris’s books or rewatch Napoleon Dynamite.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
The story of how I got published is so amazing that I’m the envy of every writer I meet. I kept a blog for a long time. An editor at Dutton Children’s Books ran across it randomly and contacted me to see if I was interested in writing a young adult novel. We went back and forth with ideas for a few months. Then I got a contract. Normally, the road to getting a book contract is long and paved with rejection letters. I am incredibly lucky.

How about something EMBARRASSING?
A long time ago, I wrote a story on my blog about a boy that I kissed one summer. I foolishly used his real name in the story, and he recently emailed asking me to remove his name from my blog because he’d suffered some personal and professional embarrassment over it. I immediately deleted the post, but I still feel awful about it.

This is just priceless!

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
1. When I was in first grade, some older kids came to my class and read us books that they’d written and illustrated themselves. I immediately went home and wrote a series of picture books about two best friends named Rocker and Mary.
2. When I was nine, my Aunt Julie gave me a diary. I have been journaling and blogging ever since.
3. My parents, my junior high English teacher, my husband, and Amanda, my best friend from college, all told me that I was a good writer and encouraged me to keep at it.

What would you do/be if you were not an author?
My day job for many years was teaching English as a second language to international college students. I stopped doing that when the Bean was born last year. I enjoyed teaching, and it’s possible I’ll return to it someday. For now, I am happy and grateful to be a full-time mom.

How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who’ve made a strong impression on you that you can’t forget?
Since TMI isn’t available to the masses yet, I don’t have fans outside of my family and friends, who are wonderful and supportive of everything I do. I’m curious about what readers will think of TMI and am looking forward to getting a little fan mail. I plan to respond—I know how exciting it is to contact an author and get a reply!

Who is your best friend? How long have you guys (gals) been friends?
My husband. We met freshman year of college and began dating when we were seniors. That was almost twelve years ago.

What’s a typical day like, when you’re not writing?
Pretty domestic. My husband gets up early with the Bean most mornings so that I can get some extra rest (or do yoga if I’m feeling motivated). After he leaves for work, the Bean and I spend lots of time playing with toys, reading books, going for walks, and hanging around parks. We run errands and go grocery shopping. While she naps, I read, write, or do a little housework. Trying to start dinner can be tricky with her underfoot, so it often has to wait until my husband gets home from work. We eat dinner, bathe the Bean, put her to bed, and relax together for a few hours. When I was younger, I didn’t imagine myself enjoying this type of lifestyle, but I truly adore it.

What's a weakness of yours?
I tend to assume the worst about people. For example, when I walked down the hall at school and passed a group of kids who were laughing, I always guessed that they were laughing at me. Even now, if someone doesn’t call me back or reply to an email, I worry that they’re ignoring me because they secretly can’t stand me.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
My dusty pink silk cocktail dress. I bought it at Bloomingdale’s when I lived in New York. It cost more than I could really afford at the time, but I loved it so much that I bought it anyway. I’ve only worn it twice: to a friend’s wedding in 2005 and to a fancy restaurant for my birthday a couple of years ago. I would love an excuse to wear it again.

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
Quesadillas made with refried beans, scallions, and cilantro, topped with sour cream and salsa. I eat a lot of those.

That’s pretty much making me hungry right now.

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
I’ve actually written modern-day versions of “Cinderella” and “Rapunzel,” making the heroines a bit more proactive in improving their situations. Those were short stories, though, not novels.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
I keep writing and try not to fixate or how well or poorly I’m doing it. Letting go of self-judgment is the key to getting through a writing block.

Which character from TMI do you relate to the most?
Unsurprisingly, I have a lot in common with Becca, the heroine of TMI. She shares my hobbies of knitting and baking. We like the same movies. Oh, and I’ve been known to overshare from time to time, just like her.

If TMI were to become a movie, who’d you like to play the main characters?
What a fun question! Here are my picks:

Becca: Jena Malone (Mary from Saved! and Lydia from Pride and Prejudice)

Katie: Martha MacIsaac (Becca from Superbad)

Jai: Lucas Grabeel (Ryan from High School Musical)

Evan: Paul Dano (Dwayne from Little Miss Sunshine)

Matt: Joe Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers)

In true Hollywood fashion, most of the actors playing teenage characters would not be teenagers in real life. In fact, I looked up the ages of all these celebrities, and everyone was born in 1984 except Joe Jonas (d.o.b. 8/15/89). How weird is that?

That is kinda weird. Maybe it’s some sort of sign. Isn’t George Orwell’s book titled 1984? Not that it really has anything to do with this. lol

Can you relate your book title, TMI, to your life in someway?
Funny you should ask. People have said “TMI” (or similar phrases like “Thanks for sharing”) to me so many times. I always hate hearing it, and I can’t help but feel a bit smacked down. At the same time, I do not always have the best judgment when it comes to personal boundaries, so sometimes I need to be put in my place.

What’s your favorite book?
I have many, but in the young adult genre, I am in awe of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart.

Where’s your favorite place to travel?
I would return to Italy in a heartbeat. The food, the people, the art, the architecture, the landscape…it was incredible.

Which character from TMI do you like the most?
Evan Johnson, Becca’s boyfriend. He’s so sweet and awkward, much more appealing to me than some cookie-cutter hottie that everyone else is crushing on. I’ve always had a thing for geeks, and Evan is most certainly that.

I also had loads of fun writing Nathan, Becca’s little brother. You’ll see why.

Little brothers are always fun.

Anything else you would like to share with us?
I’m looking forward to making the crocheted nose warmer for the lucky winner of this contest. I hope you’ll all drop by my web site, www.sarahquigley.com, for TMI Tuesdays, recipes, deleted scenes, and much more!

Thank you Sarah. We were glad to have you.
For all things Sarah visit her website and friend her on myspace.

CONTEST TIME!!!

Deadline: May 3 11:59pm California Time.
Who: Everyone. It's open WORLDWIDE

+1 Leave a comment answering one of the interview questions
+1 Spread the word about the contest
+1 Tell me where/who you heard about this contest from
+1 If someone heard about this contest from you

If any authors would like to Starr in 21 Questions, feel free to email me at stellargurl93[at]aim[dot]com and I'll tell you all you need to know.