Author: Shannon Lee Alexander
Release Date: July 5, 2016
Genre: Contemporary YA
Publisher: Entangled TEEN
Becca Hanson was never able to make sense of the real world. When her best friend Charlotte died, she gave up on it altogether. Fortunately, Becca can count on her books to escape—to other times, other places, other people...
Until she meets Max Herrera. He’s experienced loss, too, and his gorgeous, dark eyes see Becca the way no one else in school can.
As it turns out, kissing is a lot better in real life than on a page. But love and life are a lot more complicated in the real world...and happy endings aren't always guaranteed.
The companion novel to Love and Other Unknown Variables is an exploration of loss and regret, of kissing and love, and most importantly, a celebration of hope and discovering a life worth living again.
– Guest Post
I would like to see actors audition for Becca and Max by playing them in the scene where Becca accidentally auditions for Romeo and Juliet. I love that scene! And I think it says a lot about who Becca and Max are at the beginning of the story and what kind of a journey each of them will take.I’m terrible at picking actors to play parts! And when I write, I don’t ever seem to have anyone in mind for specific parts. I remember Jennifer Niven saying that Violet from All the Bright Places was always Elle Fanning in her mind, which made her being cast as Violet for the movie all the more perfect.I guess what makes it most difficult is that I see my characters as regular teens and it’s hard when looking at shiny pictures of actors to get past the Hollywood glamour. But I’m always intrigued to see what readers see in their minds. So if you have actor suggestions, then I definitely want to hear them!
Name your top 3 favorite things (other than writing) you do and why.
1. Sleep – I’m the kind of person who needs lots of sleep. My husband can somehow function on maybe five hours, but I need a minimum of eight!
2. Coffee – Coffee makes me happy. Probably because it is rare that I get the eight to ten hours of sleep I require in a night, so I’m always tired.
3. Read – Best day ever would be to read in bed with coffee!
I don't like to read books where there's going to be ugly crying from me, convince me that this is a book I must read.
I don’t think LIFE AFTER JULIET is an ugly cry book. I think it’s more like the silent tears sliding down your cheeks kind of crying that this book might induce. Now, LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES, the companion to LAJ, that one has produced some epic ugly crying!
LIFE AFTER JULIET, much like it’s main character, the shy and awkward bookworm, Becca Hanson, is a quieter type of story about living after a great loss. It’s about finding ways to honor loved ones and ourselves. It’s about trying new things and making new friends. It’s a sweet and most lovely story not about moving on, because I don’t believe we “get over” grief, but about carrying on with life after loss.
Tell us about Becca's fictional friends (the books they come from), their quirks, & what makes them more acceptable as friends.
Becca is a huge Harry Potter fan. She could happily spend hours reading quietly in the library while Hermione studies. I’m not so sure she’d know what to make of Harry and Ron’s antics, but she does have a soft spot for Neville. Luna makes her laugh. She secretly has a crush on Professor Snape because she likes to believe he is a good man inside. If you haven’t guessed, she’s totally a Hufflepuff.She’s also fond of classical friends like Jane Eyre. Now that Charlie’s gone off to college she better understands Jane’s loneliness, which is new for her because being alone didn’t bother her before Charlotte.Becca’s always preferred her book friends to real ones because they are more dependable. They never move away, but reside safely on her bookshelves, always just a few steps away. And they never die, not really, because you can always go back in the book to the part where they were alive, reviving them over and over again. Real life (and death) doesn’t work that way.
What is your ideal or dream writing space like?
Pics if possible Compare it to what you actually use.
Oh, my goodness! I have whole Pinterest boards full of beautiful writing spaces and home libraries! However, I truly love my writing office. There are windows on two sides, so it’s streaming with natural light (a major must-have for me in winter when my Seasonal Affective Disorder is at its worst). I can sit or stand at my desk, and all my favorite books are on my shelves, as well as lots of fun and inspiring trinkets. My office feels like a big, kind of messy extension of my creativity. It’s a fun place to hang out.
2 comments:
I acted in plays at school, but never the lead role.
Thanks for hosting me today! You have a lovely blog.
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