Hey all, today on the blog we have author Krysten Lindsay Hager, she's written a wonderful book called True Colors (Read my review) and just released this year is the second instalment Best Friends......Forever? (Keep an eye out for my upcoming review.)
So we'll be sharing with you those two books and and interview I did with Krysten. Make sure to add these books on goodreads, I highly recommend for YA fans. ^_^
True Colors
(Landry's True Colors, #1)
By Krysten Lindsey Hager
Landry Albright just wants to be one of the interesting girls at school who always have exciting things going on in their lives. She wants to stand out, but also wants to fit in, so she gives in when her two best friends, Ericka and Tori, push her into trying out for a teen reality show modeling competition with them. Landry goes in nervous, but impresses the judges enough to make it to the next round. However, Ericka and Tori get cut and basically "unfriend" her on Monday at school. Landry tries to make new friends, but gets caught up between wanting to be herself and conforming to who her new friends want her to be. Along the way she learns that modeling is nowhere as glamorous as it seems, how to deal with frenemies, a new crush, and that true friends see you for who you really are and like you because of it. This is the first book in the series.
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Best Friends......Forever?
(Landry's True Colors, #2)
By Krysten Lindsey Hager
Landry Albright hopes the new year will start off in an amazing way—instead she has to deal with more frenemy issues, boy drama, and having most of her besties make the cheerleading squad without her. Suddenly, it seems like all anyone can talk about is starting high school next year—something she finds terrifying.
Landry gets her first boyfriend, but then gets dumped just as things come to a head with her friends. She feels lost and left out, but finds good advice from what she considers an unlikely source. Landry has to deal with learning how to speak up for what’s right, tell the truth (even when it hurts), and how to get past the fear of failure as she gets another shot at competing in the American Ingénue modeling competition.
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Trailer for Best Friends......Forever?
My Interview with Krysten Lindsey Hager
What or who inspired you to become a writer?
I started making up stories when I was little because my mom watched a lot of soap operas that had cliffhangers and I didn’t want to wait and see what happened, so I’d take my dolls and make up my own endings. Pretty soon I was making up stories all the time and in later years I began to write them down.
Who is your favourite Author & what is it that really strikes you about their work?
F. Scott Fitzgerald is my favourite because he writes with such vulnerability and he sees the world in a unique way—past what most people see when they look at themselves.
What was the hardest part about writing your book?
Writing the breakup scene. When Landry got that call, I felt my heart break for her. I was a mess after writing that scene.
What was your favourite chapter to write and why?
My favorite chapter is where Landry confides in her dad about the issues she’s having with her friends and how she doesn’t know what to do about it. Her dad has a fresh perspective on why her friends were acting the way they were and how to fix things. There were so many times growing up where I was in a situation/fight with my friends where it seemed liked we’d never make up and it felt like my whole world was turned upside down. My dad always gave me the best advice because he’d tell me to put myself in the other person’s shoes, etc., so I had Landry’s father do for her what my father always did for me—advise her on how to handle her issues.
A lot of book reviewers have commented on the wise advice Landry gets in Best Friends…Forever? and it’s because of my dad’s influence. He passed away this week and my cousin just said to me the book is such a tribute to Dad and that his words live on. I had no idea I’d lose my dad this soon, but it was comforting to hear my cousin say that and know that another generation will be influenced by him.
What was the most surprising things you’ve learned in writing your book?
I began to see that sometimes when a person acts defensive or lashes out it is out of fear and not a personal attack. Landry learns this when her friends turn against her. Fear motivates a lot of people to do things more than hate does.
Do you ever experience writer’s block?
I’m not sure if I’d call it writer’s block, but there are times when I have an idea that just doesn’t feel right and I call it, “hitting a brick wall.” So I usually take some time away and let it sit…I call it “noodling on it,” and usually the solution comes to me.
What is the last book you read?
I read “True Love” by Jennifer Lopez, which is really all about learning to love yourself before you can be in a relationship with somebody else.
If you could trade places with any other person for a week, famous or not famous, living or dead, real or fictional. with whom would it be?
Can I be Elizabeth Taylor when she was filming “Giant” with Rock Hudson and James Dean? That movie came on TV the other night and I got sucked into it. She’s amazing and those two for co-stars? Yes, yes to that!
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love to read and I have an obsession with getting new books. Sometimes I buy books, forget I own them, and then I go to download them on my Kindle and they tell me I already purchased it. Recently I went to a book signing and I was upset they were sold out of a YA book I wanted to get signed. So I went home and decided to get it on Amazon and they told me I already bought it…almost 11 months ago. Whoops. I may need to work on that addiction a little.
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
I use some experiences I’ve been through and channel the emotions as I’m writing. I feel what Landry is feeling as I write the scenes. A couple months ago, I went to a party my friend was throwing and I walked in and found I knew no one there other than her. There were a lot of people talking in groups and I felt that wave of insecurity as I looked for my place in the room. Later, I used those feelings for when Landry walks into the modeling competition with all the other teenagers and doesn’t know where she fits in.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a writer or a journalist. There was a brief moment where I filled out a “future job” guide in school and I actually wrote, “Model and stockbroker.” That’s just slightly less realistic than writing, “Princess and astronaut.” I should also add that I’ve always hated math so the stockbroker thing was never going to work out for me, but I did go to some workshops and presentations on the stock market with my dad.
If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?
Demi Lovato. I love her and how open she is about sharing all of her life to help other people going through the same thing.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Take literature classes. You learn so much about putting together stories and what works to make a great plot.
Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers and fans?
To reach out and let an author know you love their work because it truly means a lot to hear that.
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Funny, “thinkful” (a word I saw on the TV show, “Victorious,” that sums up how I feel sometimes), and sensitive.
What’s one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?
Years ago I went through a big baking phase. I even got published in a few cookbooks, but then I moved to an island where it wasn’t as easy to find gluten-free ingredients and mixes and it became less fun and more of a chore. I haven’t baked in a long time, but sometimes I do miss a good lemon cake though!
What Scares you the most and why?
Losing someone I love and having to go through life without them.
When was the last time you cried over a book?
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. I really felt for the character. I had a friend in high school who went through a similar thing and she only told me years later, so I was crying for my friend as well.
Tell us about your first kiss?
I was a little kid and my family took me to see my grandpa’s favorite singer, Bobby Vinton. Bobby came into the crowd, walked over to me and kissed me and asked me to kiss him back. I got a balloon animal and a kiss from a famous singer and I have yet to have a night that has beat that moment. Sadly, I was five, so yeah, all downhill from there…
Some quick questions..
Light or Dark chocolate?
Dark, but not that super bitter dark chocolate.
Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunset, although many days I’m still awake at sunrise from the night before.
Dogs or Cats?
Dogs. Unless we’re talking about plush animals because I am a Hello Kitty fan…although apparently she’s not a real cat, but a girl…not sure how that works…
Tea or Coffee?
Tea. I like white tea, but I used to eat expresso flavored chocolate chip cookies.
Favorite Colour?
Orchid although apparently I really like hot pink since there’s so much of it in my house. Landry’s favorite color is baby blue.
Favourite Disney movie?
Alice in Wonderland and Sleeping Beauty. In the series I make reference to a movie Landry likes (and an amusement park ride she went on based on the movie that scared her as a kid) and I call it by another name, but I’m talking about Snow White. I went on the Snow White ride years ago and it was the queen chasing you and it freaked me out, so I used that memory for the first book in the series.
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Thank you so much for taking some time out to answer my questions.
We here at Sassy Book Lovers send our sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of your Father. xxx
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About the author
Thanks for stopping by....
GOOD LUCK & HAPPY READING!!!
Thanks for having me on!
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