Random Buzz

A friend of mine had a terrible first day at work. The job was harder than she expected, and she felt completely out of her depth. Another woman began at the same time, called Christina just like my friend, and she seemed to have everything together. For months my Christina called her new colleague the Good Christina and herself the Bad Christina. That's where the story started. The focus switched and the story evolved but the original title was The Good Christina.

My favorite character is Adele because she's absurd. My instinct is always to make characters ridiculous and over-the-top but I know that doesn't make for very realistic fiction, so I rein it in. But sometimes it pops out with minor characters. Adele is one of those minor characters.

What are your three favorite YA books?
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot because it made me laugh out loud. (I still chuckle over Mia's essay about the ten women she admires the most.) Wheetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block because it's daring, lyrical and surprising. Anne of Green Gablesby LM Montgomery because Anne is fearless.

Douglas Coupland, Dawn Powell, Lorrie Moore.

It's hard to say. I have lots of ideas for more YA novels but the book I'm working on right now has a scifi bent, which I think is totally wacky. I don't even like scifi. But a great idea popped into my head and I had to go with it. Hopefully, an editor will also think it's great.

Be persistent. Fashionistas, which was the first book I sold, was actually the eleventh book I wrote.
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Thanks so much, Ms. Messina, for the interview! If you're interested in buying her book, click here