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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Sensational 7 Q & A with Holly Cupala!


Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Holly Cupala wrote teen romance novels before she ever actually experienced teen romance. When she did, it became all about tragic poetry and slightly less tragic novels. When she isn't writing and contributing to readergirlz, she spends time with her husband and daughter in Seattle, Washington. These days, her writing is less about tragedy and more about hope. TELL ME A SECRET is her first novel. Ten percent of the author's proceeds go toward World Vision's Hope for Sexually Exploited Girls.

TELL ME A SECRET will hit shelves at June 22, 2010!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?
The beginning, or the end—to find out how it really went down, or how it will. With a bang or with a whimper? Or maybe both? Of course, then I’d love to hijack the time-travel system, because there would be so many more places and times and people to visit…

Describe your novel in seven words or less?
Sisters, secrets, superhot sci-fi guy, family, forgiveness.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?
Book crush…ooh. Are we talking books or characters? If we’re talking characters, I’d say Kartik from Libba Bray’s Great and Terrible Beauty series. Maybe because in my mind, he looks like my devastatingly handsome husband (who is also Indian). ;)

If we’re talking books, I’d say I have a crush on Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going. It’s so funny and truthful and full of heart. And I have a crush on everything written by my favorite author, Italo Calvino.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?
I tend to like reading serious fiction, but in this fantasy, I’d like some fun and laughter and maybe a bit of romance—Princess Mia comes to mind! Or fantastic and adventurous, like Yvaine in Neil Gaiman’s Stardust. Then I would retreat to someone more thoughtful, like Deanna in Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you/ Why?
I can’t see this happening, but I’ll go with it! Someone who's a mix of serious, dorky, melancholy, funny, shy, and maybe a little outrageous...? Kirsten Dunst has a great mix of cheeky solemnity, with a dash of goofball—I think she could probably pull me off with much more charm than I do! .

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?
Oh, eek—it took us hundreds of title ideas to come up with the perfect one for TELL ME A SECRET! But I do like to write about secrets, and there are many yet to be told and lots of layers to uncover. So…how about…Telling Secrets, One Page at a Time. (Ok, that needs some revision!)

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?
Hard stuff, beautiful stuff, hope is left.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**
First, I would love to give a big virtual thank-you to you and all of the bloggers and readers who have generously supported me and TELL ME A SECRET. I’m amazed and grateful!

In addition to getting to visit your lovely blog, my blog tour kicks off this week—I’m visiting different blogs (books! secrets! swag!) through the end of July, and I will be featured at readergirlz throughout August (http://readergirlz.blogspot.com/). You can find the full schedule at my website, http://www.hollycupala.com/. Thank you so much for having me, Tina!


Thanks for stopping by Holly!

For more information about Holly Cupala and her books, please visit her website
here.

31 comments:

  1. Based on photos, I think you can do better than Kirsten Dunst.
    Book looks fab though!
    Fantastic Q&A!

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  2. Great interview Holly. I love how you described your book I can't wait to read it.

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  3. Ha, Freda - thanks! I've gotten Claire Danes a lot, but I think I smile much more than she does. She always seems very sad. And she probably doesn't have all those smiley wrinkles. ;)

    Natalie, you are a sweetheart!

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  4. Haha I think I'd have to go with Claire Danes too, though, even if she doesn't smile all that much. :)
    Anyway, fantastic interview, and I'm super excited for the book!

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  5. I think Deanna in Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr is a good choice. I love that book and told all my nieces to get it since they are about the same age as Dee. It's a good story for middle teens.

    Tell Me A Secret sounds sooo good and I can't wait to read it!

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  6. Tell Me A Secret has had my attention for a while. I can't wait to read it!

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  7. Awww, I love Kirsten Dunst! lol...maybe I'm the only one?

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  8. This is a great interview, I would love to read the book.

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  9. I luv a good romance, and with a superhot sci-fi guy ... hmmm, even better.

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  10. +1 Commented on interview

    +1 tweeted http://twitter.com/celestinacarmen/status/16312783586

    +2 I'm a blog follower as well as twitter.

    tinaigne[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  11. what a fun interview. I'm anxious to read the book now.

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  12. Awesome interview. So great that she is giving so much to that organization. :)

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  13. This book sounds really good! Great interview!

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  14. I like Kartik too! I was sooo upset when he got stuck in that tree. I wanted a happy ending for him and Gemma:(

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  15. Great Q&A. Sounds like a good book!

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  16. Great interview! Sounds like an awesome book

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  17. sounds great! great interview

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  18. I love her name! I'd probably hijack the time travel device too :)

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  19. Sounds like a book that would be hard to put down once started. I've had it on my radar for a while now.

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  20. Great interview. I love that you are being charitable to such a worthy cause with the proceeds from this book!

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  21. Nice interview. I havent read that Libba Bray series yet.

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  22. I really enjoyed reading this interview! It lets me know more about Holly!

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  23. Nice interview questions! Looking forward to reading the book!

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  24. Awesome interview! I can't wait until Tell Me a Secret comes out!!

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  25. Oddly enough, I haven't really heard much about this author. But your interview intrigues me, and I'll definitely look into this!

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  26. This looks like such a fun read. I mean Holly is awesome!!

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  27. Great Q&A. Love the sounds of this book and her! Can't wait to read it!!

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  28. Thanks for such a great interview! Just makes me want to read this book even MORE! :)

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  29. Great interview! I can't wait to read this book! Definitely at the top of my list.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  30. I swear when I saw you pic I though Kirstem Dumst. No lie- I love you hair a lot more tho. And Tell Me A Secret has been on TBR list forever. I just read the first 2 chps. online and I'm in love already!!

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  31. great interview and i like your choice of Kirsten Dunst

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