I'm happy to welcome back to the blog YA author, friend, GCC and TFC sister and all around nice person, Melissa Walker! Melissa is a former editor of ELLEgirl and Seventeen magazines, blogs with Readergirlz, and is co-founder of the awesome I Heart Daily.
You may know Melissa from her Violet series, VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY, VIOLET BY DESIGN and VIOLET IN PRIVATE. Her latest book, LOVESTRUCK SUMMER just came out May 5th. Here's the official blurb:
LOVESTRUCK SUMMER is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship. She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she’s stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name “Party Penny.” Their personalities clash, big time.
But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can’t Quinn keep her mind off Penny’s friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?
Sebastian is the kind of guy Quinn wants, but is Russ the guy Quinn needs? One thing’s certain: Quinn’s in for a summer she’ll never forget!
What inspired you to write LOVESTRUCK SUMMER?
A trip to Austin made me swoon and want to fall in love in that city to live music!
Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?
Only parts of them are based on people I know, and that's always true. But as a whole, they really are themselves, and they're fictional. Although I do have friends who shun country music like Quinn. I'm still trying to convert them.
What excites you? Traveling to new cities like Austin.
What turns you off?
Provincialism.
If you could invite anyone you wanted - living or dead - to hang out with you at a weekend retreat, who would you invite and why?
Oh, this is kind of a sad answer, but it'd be my dad. He died a few years ago and I'd just love to talk to him some more. About life, about love, about big dreams.
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
I can be very, very shy. But I try to hide that.
What's your favorite quote?
Lately it's been, "Yes, we can."
Milk Chocolate or Dark?
Dark! Dark! It's practically healthy with all those anti-oxidants.
Since Melissa just gave away a copy of LOVESTRUCK SUMMER on my blog for the launch party, up for grabs this week is a $10 Amazon gift card. (Drawing open until Tuesday.)
AND
If you want a chance to win LOVESTRUCK SUMMER, plus 3 other great beach reads, you can go to iheartdaily.com/Harper2009.
