Tell Me Your Disreputable History
In my new book, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, the heroine infiltrates an all-male secret society and stages ornate and controversial pranks on the campus of her boarding school.
1. Tell me the sneakiest thing you ever did.
Sneakiest as in sneak out of the house during high school. Ugh, the guilt! Sorry, Mom, it was just the fun thing to do at the time.
2. Tell me the sneakiest thing that happens in your new book.
The theme of Invisible Touch is secrets. My character Kara has the gift of seeing visions and signs on individuals. She has to piece the signs together to solve puzzles in order to stop an unfortunate fate. The catch is she has to hide this gift from everyone, mainly her family, so they don't think she's crazy. Her big sneak in the novel is the anonymous blog she keeps called Secret Fates where she shares about her gift freely as well as the current mystery she is trying to solve. However, someone else knows her secret and is secretly leaving her taunting clues without letting on who he/she is. There is actually a whole lotta sneakin' going on.
3. Are you a prankster? Tell me a story.
I'm actually a teaser/jokester. I come from a long line of teasers and pranksters in my family, and was pranked on so much that I find it hard to prank others knowing how it feels. haha. Embarrassing!
4. Were you in any clubs or societies in high school? Did any of those club activities make it into your novels?
I belonged to student government in junior high, but that hasn't made it in my novels yet. I did hang out with a bunch of graf artists in high school and that gave me the idea for Graffiti Girl. :)
5. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why, or why not?
I don't particularly call myself a feminist even though I definitely believe in equal rights for women. I feel I'm not much of an advocate and really send my message quietly through books instead of verbally.
6. How does your answer to question 5 show up in your new book?
I tend to write female protagonists who really have to fight for what they believe in and endure a journey that makes them all the more stronger in the end. My message is that girls are strong and can overcome personal obstacles with courage and perseverance.
7. The club in my book is called The Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. If you were to found a secret society, what would it be called, and what would its mission be?
The secret society would be The Protecters of the Secrets and its mission would be to keep the secrets of urban legend and myths...secret forever. Because to the know the answers to every mystery would take away much of the dreaming and imagination in the world. :)
Thanks so much for having me on your blog, E!
