Interview and Giveaway ENDED{6 winners, open International} with Anne Pfeffer {#JustContemporary}

Today for Just Contemporary {find out more about this event HERE} I have Anne Pfeffer on for an interview and a giveaway of six copies of her book, Loving Emily. You'll want to read to the end where you'll find the giveaway!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your book?

When I first started writing, about eight years ago, I wanted to be like Dr. Seuss and write the next Horton Hatches the Egg. But when a number of editors and agents suggested I hang on to my day job, I gave up the tough task of writing verse. I signed up for a writing class where I tried my hand at young adult writing, and it clicked with me immediately.  I've been doing it ever since.

My book Loving Emily is, in part, a love story. It's written from the point of view of a boy, Ryan Mills, which makes it different from many teen romances. Readers have told me they find the male perspective fresh and different. But it's more than just a romance. It's also a story about friendship, loss, accountability, and growing up. It's Ryan's coming of age story.

What was your inspiration?
The story was inspired by one of my favorite films, Cameron Crowe's Say Anything. For me, it's one of the best teen movies ever. Superficially, Crowe's story and mine could be described the same way— quirky likable boy falls for beautiful brainy girl who's going to England—but after that my plotline pretty much goes its own way. Ryan, though, does have one moment in my book where he echoes something said by the film's hero Lloyd Dobler. I can't say what it is, because it's a spoiler!

Here's the trailer of the movie Say Anything.

Do you have a favorite writing spot?
I write at home at my desk, looking out at my garden. I feel so lucky to be a writer, so I can work at home—in my pajamas, if I want to!


Do you have your books planned ahead of time and know what you're going to write? Or does it come to you as you write it?
I try to plan them, but I'm not really hard wired that way.My outlines could be called "two-lines," because that's how long most of them end up being. So out of necessity, I tend to be a "pantser."

In the case of Loving Emily, my make-it-up-as-I-go-along writing style was hampered by the fact that I knew little about story structure and the mechanics of writing when I started the book three years ago. So my first draft ended up having to be rewritten three times. I learned a lot through this process, obviously, and I'm glad I hung in there, because I'm happy with the book I wrote.


Do you have a favorite author(s)?

I love John Green, Laurie Halse Anderson, JennyDownham, and David Levithan, who are among the best writers of contemporary YA fiction, which is what I write. I want to be just like them. I'd like to sit at their feet andsoak up whatever bits of knowledge fall my way!

I also have to say JK Rowling, whose skill and imagination as a writer are unparalleled. I want to be just like her, too. In fact, I want to be her.


Do you have any advice for wanna-be authors?
Focus on your writing. Queries, agents, editors, advances—none of those things matter unless you've first written a really good book. So develop your skills, go to writer's workshops, get into a critique group. Write regularly. Do what it takes to write the best possible book you can.


Names are very important to a story, but not always easy to come up with. How did you come up with the names of the characters in your story?
Names usually come easily to me: they just pop into my head. That wasn't the case, though, with Loving Emily's main character Ryan Mills. He started out asDevon Mills, a name I was quite attached to. I hung onto it even when someone commented it sounded like the name of a flour manufacturer. It was when people mistook him for a girl that I gave up and renamed him Ryan (although since then I've come across girls named Ryan).


If you could have a superpower what would you pick?
I'd like to be able to know what people are really thinking, but not saying. At least, I think I'd like to know that.Perhaps I should also ask for the power to erase from my memory people's thoughts that I'd rather not have learned, and just keep the good ones.


What can we see from you in the future? Is there anything you can tell us about?
I'll give you the titles of two works-in-progress: The Wedding Cake Girl and Miracle. That's probably all I can say for now, but more information will be coming on my website www.annepfeffer.com..

You can find Loving Emily on Goodreads HERE.

The Giveaway: ENDED

Anne is generously giving away a bunch of books! 

Grand Prize is a paperback of Loving Emily and a DVD of Say Anything which is what helped inspire Loving Emily. This is open to US/Canada only. (Please note that the book may not be ready right away but will be very soon! She'll ship it as soon as it is!)

5 ebook copies (mobi, epub or smashwords) Open Internationally.

Must be 13 or older to enter.

Ends 11/17/11

To Enter: ENDED
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