Enchanting Interview: Melissa Walker

1. What inspired LOVESTRUCK SUMMER?
A trip to Austin one summer made me want to write a book set there. A romance seemed like the perfect thing, and the city just breathes music, so I had to add that aspect too.

2. Can you describe LOVESTRUCK SUMMER in three words?
Hot Austin Romance.

3. Which character surprised you the most over the course of writing the book?
When it suddenly came to me that Penny's little dog, Miss Tiara, was a male dog who liked to wear girly accessories, I was surprised. But I had to go with it! I loved that dog.

4. What was your favorite scene to write?
All the scenes with Quinn and Russ were fun because they had chemistry. Writing two characters with chemistry is just pure bliss.

5. What do you like most about Quinn? What do you like least about her?
I like that she's willing to expand her mind... eventually. I don't like her quick-to-judge tendencies.

6. If Quinn was going to make you a mix tape, what songs would have to be on there?
Well, after this summer in Austin, I think she'd include "Portland, Oregon" by Jack White & Loretta Lynn, "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis, "Speeding Motorcycle" by Daniel Johnston and, of course, "Africa" by Toto.

7. Do you have a favorite line of dialogue in the book?
Ooh, hard question! I don't think I really do. Is that lame?

8. If you could cast yourself into the book for a scene, which one would you choose?
I'd love to be an extra on the river float scene where Russ and Quinn are getting to know each other as they ease down the Guadalupe River in inner tubes.

9. What's next for you?

I'm working on a new book, but it's all secret for now. Stay tuned!

Interview by Lisa

June 2009

Visit Melissa online @:

melissacwalker.com
twitter.com/melissacwalker
iheartdaily.com
readergirlz.com

Enchanting Review: Lovestruck Summer

LOVESTRUCK SUMMER

MELISSA WALKER

Contemporary Young Adult

HarperTeen

ISBN#978-0-06-171586-0

266 Pages

$5.99

Paperback--Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

A perfect summer read! LOVESTRUCK SUMMER features Priscilla aka ‘Quinn’ but don’t call her Priscilla! Quinn has big plans for the summer, interning at the Amalgam records, and finding the supreme boyfriend, an indie loving guy with the perfect hair and some funky glasses and she‘s sure she‘s going to meet him in music loving Austin. But things aren’t quite what she expected in Austin, something she finds out right away when her study-conscious cousin Penny picks her up at the airport, resembling something more out of a sorority guidebook then the cousin she remembers. What quickly follows is one of the funniest romantic comedies I’ve read in a long time!

Ms. Walker has a knack for creating memorable characters and LOVESTRUCK SUMMER continues that trend. I liked Quinn immediately, especially her attitude and the fact that her life seems to revolve around music. She practically lives in headphones, using the music to drown things out. Her cousin Penny, fellow intern Jade and neighbor Chrissy round out the cast of characters, as does Miss Tiara, Penny’s cross dressing dog, one of the most unique characters I’ve ever read! And don’t forget the two complete opposite guys she finds herself attracted to, skinny indie DJ Sebastian and country loving jock and frat boy, Russ. One minute Quinn wants to never lay eyes on the frat boy again and the next, she can’t wait to listen to the mix tape he makes her. The summer in Austin moves fast, and Quinn finds herself deeper into the Austin way of life, her preconceived notions about pretty well everything falling away--or so it seems, until she gets called on it by someone unexpected. Has Quinn changed at all or is she merely the same girl who stepped off the plane, the one who wanted to have the perfect summer romance?

It’s hard to pick just one favorite scene to highlight in the review, because I enjoyed them all—especially the ones between Russ and Quinn. But I’d have to say one of my favorites is when Russ takes Quinn for a trip down the river. The chemistry between the two characters is great, the dialogue hilarious and the scene is so well done you feel like you’re tagging along with them.

LOVESTRUCK SUMMER is a fun young adult romance that will have you lose track of time as you lose yourself in Quinn’s summer and hope she ends up with the right boy.

Visit Melissa’s blog at http://www.melissacwalker.com/blog/ and follow her on twitter at http://twitter.com/melissacwalker

Lisa

Enchanting Reviews

June 2009

Interview with YA Author Melissa Walker

1. What made you want to be a writer?


It may have been the old typewriter my parents had, which I thought was super cool. But probably it was just something innate, because I’m not sure how many four-year-olds would have found an ancient typewriter cool.

Also, my dad, my uncle and my grandmother are all writers at heart.

2. How did you get started?


Really it was doing work for my high school yearbook, and then my college newspaper. I got a magazine internship during college, and I just loved the environment, so I knew that’s the field I wanted to work in after graduation.

After a few years editing and writing with magazines, it was time to try books!

3. What do you like most about writing young adult?

The readers. I love writing for teenagers because I think they’re such an honest, open audience. They’ll tell you if they LOVE a story and they’ll call you out if something just sucks.

4. What sparked the idea for the Violet series?


As soon as I started peeking behind the scenes of modeling and fashion as a magazine editor, I knew that I wanted to put a "real girl" in the middle of this crazy world, a girl who would see it from the outside and be like, "Holy crap!" It’s an insane environment, so there’s lots of fodder for adventure, humor and drama, especially from the point of view of a small town girl who’s not yet jaded.

5. Can you describe Violet in just three words?


Self-conscious, smart, and lovely

6. What qualities do you like most about Violet?


While she’s very insecure, she also has an inner strength. Even she doesn’t really know about it, but she finds it more and more as she deals with the fashion world and starts to question its values. I like that quiet strength, which will hopefully overcome her eagerness to please and be accepted.

7. There’s a lot of emphasis on healthy body image in the series, especially in VIOLET BY DESIGN. Was that intentional, meaning there when you plotted the series or did it just come up organically?


I didn’t plot the series—I just planned one book. When Penguin wanted three, I had to think up a second and third, which was fun. International modeling came up, and I know how rigid foreign runways are, so weight was a natural issue for Violet to deal with. I suppose that means it was organic when I started plotting book 2.

8. What was your favorite scene to write?


I love every scene when Roger and Violet are together. Those just feel natural to me.

9. Did any character surprise you when you were writing?


Veronica did. She’s sort of a frenemy, a rival model, but she’s not one-dimensional. At first I thought she might be pure evil, but her humanity keeps showing through, and I like that.

10. What would readers be surprised to know about you?


I’m obsessed with Oprah. My friend Anne and I even have a blog at ohoprah.com that no one reads, but I love it.

11. Can you give us a hint about what happens to Violet in book 3?


She does go to college… and she tries to quit the modeling world for good. She also has quite a romantic roller coaster ride!

12. Have you ever thought of maybe doing a spin-off of the series with one of the other model characters?


Oooh, no! But I like this idea! Can I steal it?



Interview by Lisa

Enchanting Review: Violet By Design

VIOLET BY DESIGN
MELISSA WALKER
Contemporary Young Adult
Berkley Jam
ISBN 978-0-425-24940-9
205 Pages
$9.99
Trade Paperback – Available Now

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments


Welcome back, Violet Greenfield.

VIOLET BY DESIGN picks up a few short months after book one left off. Violet’s preparing to say goodbye to her college-bound best friends, Julie and Roger, and head off to Brazil for the upcoming fashion show there. With any luck, the Brazil shows will lead to the fall shows in Paris and then, who knows?

Violet grows up a lot during the course of this book and we get a deeper glimpse of the relationships she has with those closest to her. I especially liked the growing attraction between her and Roger, even with the unexpected complications as she realizes he’s had feelings for her for so long.

VIOLET BY DESIGN is a great second book in Ms. Walker’s VIOLET series. This one delves deeper into the fashion world, with Violet being on the receiving end of some rather harsh criticism about her weight; her potential relationship with Paulo, the hot young Brazilian designer, and her recent choices, including blogging about issues a lot of people would prefer she kept quiet. Most of the characters from Book One make a return appearance for Book Two. I was especially glad to see Veronica return in this one and look forward to seeing where Ms. Walker takes the Double Vs in the third book in the series.



Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews
March 2008

Enchanting Review: Violet On The Runway

VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY
MELISSA WALKER
Contemporary YA
Berkley Jam
ISBN-13: 978-0-425-21704-7
228 pages
$9.99
Trade paperback - Available now

Rating: 5 Enchantments

After being discovered by a high profile modeling agent at her after-school job at her local movie theatre, Violet Greenfield finds herself thrust into the New York modeling scene as the next hot ’it’ girl.

Violet’s new model status elevates her popularity--especially at school where her height had earned her the nickname ’green giant’--and the girls she always wanted to hang out with suddenly think she’s cool. So who can blame her for testing out everything her new life has to offer? Its not like she’s planning on ignoring her two lifelong best friends forever…she just wants to test the new waters she’s suddenly found admission into.

Violet finds herself immersed in an entirely new world in NYC where her life in North Carolina seems so far away, especially her two best friends, Julie and Roger. When a new Violet starts to emerge, one who’s confidant and more popular than she could have ever imagined, can Violet resist the temptation to let go of the ’old’ Violet?

Violet is a vibrant character who comes to life on the pages. I loved the scenes where Violet has her first go-sees and her newfound agent Angela tags along with her to one, and then basically throws her to wolves to fend for herself for the rest of the day.

VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY is an addicting debut novel by Ms. Walker. I was hooked from page one and look forward to reading more about Violet.


Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews
March 2008