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July 26, 2012

Summer Book Talk: Day 2 - Huntley Fitzpatrick

 Hello lovely readers! It is day 2 of the Summer Book Talk event, and what way to celebrate the summer season than with a book that is all about the beginning of a summer romance? This is why we've got Huntley Fitzpatrick with us today to talk about her debut book My Life Next Door. If you guys are looking for that book that you want to take with you to the pool or the beach, a book that just makes me feel good and happy? well this is the one! I'll leave the floor for Huntley, after an introduction, to discuss her book and then give you a chance to win an awesome swag pack! I am jealous of whoever gets to win it! 

Huntley Fitzpatrick
Huntley Fitzpatrick grew up dreamy and distracted in coastal Connecticut, attended Concord Academy and Yale. She flourished in a family of bookworms where the library was always the most important room in the house. She kept an exhaustively thorough journal which frightened her boyfriends but has proved very useful in her career as a writer. Her debut contemporary Romance, MY LIFE NEXT DOOR, will be published in June of 2012 by Penguin-Dial for Young Readers. Now she laughs with and eavesdrops on her six children who provide her with perspective and material. She is represented by the amazing Christina Hogrebe of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.
My Life Next Door

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time.”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over. 



1. Describe your book in three words
 Summer, True love 


2. What inspired you to write a contemporary, especially one with hot neighbors ;) ? 
I read dystopian and paranormal, but I am pretty fascinated by the here and now. I was a watcher and a dreamer as a teenager, and I kept waiting for that hot neighbor! Sometimes you have to compensate fictionally. 


3. When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer? 
 When I was five and my father read my Charlotte’s Web. The ending broke my heart, so with one stroke of a pencil, he changed it to dry my tears. And I realized that if you were a writer, you could just do that. Change things. Give things the ending you really wanted. 




4. Do you base your writing on your own past experiences? 
Yes and no. No one in My Life Next Door is directly taken from anyone in my real life. George bears a certain resemblance to my son. Andy has some moments taken from the experiences of several of my daughters. I knew a Tim or two. And I have been lucky enough to always love boys as kind and thoughtful and funny as Jase. But they are all, by and large, fictional. 


5. Where do you usually like to write or read? Provide photos if possible.
I have a desk, but inspiration generally strikes when I am in the car, or on the beach or somewhere where I have to scribble down notes in lipstick on the back of a random receipt. 


6. What are some of your favorite books you’ve read recently? 
Kristan Higgin’s Somebody To Love, Amber Dermont’s The Starboard Sea


 7. Any favorite movies and shows? Do you get any inspiration from them? 
I always lose the Fight for the Clicker so I don’t watch many shows. I did completely fall for Downton Abbey, though. I mostly get inspiration from just things I see in passing—I’m a huge people watcher. Part of what inspired My Life Next Door was watching a boy and a girl laughing and teasing one another in Boston Common a few summers ago. He was holding her purse so he could take a picture of her, and the way they were so comfortable with one another made its way into Sam and Jase’s relationship. 

8. What is one thing that you can’t do without when you’re writing? Music, a cup of tea?
Iced tea. I drink it all year round and am completely fussy about everything from the lemon slice to the ice cubes. I’m generally not high-maintenance at all, but with regard to tea I even scare myself with my persnickety-ness. (Is that a word?) 




9. How is the writing process for you? Do you sit and write until you are out of ideas or do you set a schedule for yourself? 
I set a schedule, but break out of it all the time. The one rule I never break is that I have to write SOMETHING every single day. I try to write all day when the kids are at school (more of a challenge during summer) but when things are going well I write at odd hours of the night as well, and dash up during dinner, etc, to make a note. When things aren’t flowing, I interrupt myself a lot to do the household chores I generally prefer to neglect. 

10. What are your plans for the next book? Different genre? A standalone, or a series? 
The next book is already signed, and so far scheduled for summer of 2013. It is a standalone, but set in the same general locale as My Life Next Door. The quick description is that it’s about 17-year-old Gwen Castle, whose Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it on her small summer-community Island this year. He’s a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay and she hails from a family of housecleaners and fisherman who keep the Summer Folk happy. She thought she’d be able to forget him and the Incident that drove them apart over the school year, but now here he is, all summer long, right in front of her. 









Huntley has graciously offered this awesome swag pack for one lucky reader! I know you all want! So fill the rafflecopter below for a chance to win this swag! 







a Rafflecopter giveaway



Make sure to come back for the rest of the days in the Summer Book Talk event! As for today, we've also got a paranormal author interview at Anja's blog and a dystopian author interview at Amber's blog! Be sure to head over there! 


We've got an interview with a publicist from  St. Martin's press. Get a glimpse on the publicity world of book publishing and also some fun and quirky info about the publicist! Also a chance to win all of Amanda Hocking's novels! So be sure to check it out! All you have to do is click on the button on the right




At Amber's side, We've got a guest post done by myself that discusses female protagonists in dystopian novels! What do you think about them? Head on over there for great discussions and interactions! Also be sure to check out the previous days of this event! All you have to do is click on the button on the right

55 comments:

  1. Great interview! Huntley Fitzpatrick's upcoming book sounds great :) Thanks for the giveaway!

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  2. Great interview! :) It's nice to see that authors are normal people! xD BTW I love Downton Abbey!! :D

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  3. I love the interview! :D
    I liked reading about her writing process...
    Thank you so much for the giveaway!

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  4. Great interview you guys. That picture was awesome! Thanks for putting it up :)

    Adeeb @ Bookville

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  5. I want to read this book SO BAD! It just sounds and looks utterly brilliant. I've read so many good reviews...I NEEED!

    Omg! I can't wait to read her next book! Summer 2013 bring it!
    Sam S.

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  6. Great interview, it was nicely detailed :) The book sounds amazing, thanks for the giveaway!

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  7. Loved the interview. But am more excited about the fact she has another book coming out next year it sounds great. I have heard wonderful things about this book. Good to know that she has to write something each day. I always amazed at how authors discipline themselves. I procrastinate!

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  8. Nice interview!
    I got the e-book recently and I'm planning on reading it very soon :)
    Thank you for the giveaway :)

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  9. I also love Downton Abbey. I'm excited for the third season.

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  10. Great interview. I'm reading this book right now so it was fun to see where she got some of her inspiration.

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  11. Thanks for the great interview! I love reading about the author's writing process and things like that! I've heard great things about this book and I can't wait to see more about her next one!!

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  12. Loved the interview. I've been wanting to read this book for months. I'm on a contemporary fix.

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  13. Great interview! I want more of Jase & Sam, and the Garretts, but I'll settle for another YA contemporary set in Stony Bay. :) Excellent debut!

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  14. I love to hear from the author about their writing process. Fantastic giveaway.

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  15. My friend read this book and she said it was really good so I am very much looking forward to it.

    I wish I had a hot neighbour. Only old people live in my neighbourhood.

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  16. thx 4 the great interview...
    i will read this book asap..
    i like the theme and i love YA books :)

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  17. I keep hearing about this book that is amazing! Can't wait to read it! Thank you for taking the time and making the interview!

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  18. I loved My Life Next Door and Huntley's next book sounds even better! I can't wait to read it! Great Interview btw :)

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  19. thanks for the wonderful review I am looking forward to reading this.

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  20. Lol. Love that no.2 question! I'm EXACTLY like that now! I mean, I just got a new neighbor and was keeping my fingers crossed that it'd be a hot guy living next door :P Awesome interview! :D

    Fara @ Tumbling In Books

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  21. I thought it was funny how picky Huntley is about her Iced Tea because I am sooo the same way about my coffee! I would LOVE to win this giveaway!! The book & swag, OH MY! LOL. Awesome interview and giveaway!!

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  22. Great interview :) I love Huntley´s writing. Her debut novel is awesome :D

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  23. I read My Life Next Door, and I can't wait for her next book because her debut was awesome :)

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  24. Holy shit, that was awesome. I haven't even read My Life Next Door yet, but I'm sure I'll love it. Great interview!

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  25. Aw, I loved Charlotte's Web, but the ending is truly sad. How sweet of her father to change the ending for her and to inspire her to become a writer. I've been leaning towards contemporary reads more and more lately too!
    Great interview! It was wonderful to get to know this author much better :)

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  26. I've already added MLND to my TBR list, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I love the cover!

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  27. Very beautiful intereview. My Life Next Door sounds really good and the cover is amazing!
    Thank you for the giveaway!
    Artemis

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  28. Interesting interview! I love Downton Abbey too. Looking forward to reading this summer read.

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  29. I would love to read this book it sounds fun!

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  30. Replies
    1. Sorry, accidentally published the unfinished comment. X_X
      My Life Next Door sounds amazing and the author seems lovely! Her next book sounds really good too! :)

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  31. Writing something everyday is a good rule! I have to do that in the summer but then kick it into high gear when they are in school. Nice interview!

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  32. Great interview! I would just love to have hot neighbors but I don't... haha. I am in love with My Life Next Door! :D

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  33. Hahaha! Ice tea! YESS! I love ice tea :3

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  34. Awesome interview, I really enjoy it.
    Won my copy yesterday and I can't wait to read it!

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  35. wow i loved learning about where she gets her inspiration

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  36. This book is freaking awesome! yeah who doesn't want a hot neighbour? I surely do! Great interview

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  37. Great interview! I read this book a while ago and I loved it!

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  38. Fab interview - I love your questions and Huntley's answers :) I read this a few months back and loved it! I'd LOVE to win some gorgeous swag!

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  39. I love the part about the inspirations written on receipts in lipstick and the one about people-watching.

    Great interview! It makes me want to read the book.

    Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile

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  40. Contemporary YA isn't usually my first choice of books to read, but this looks good. Also the cover is really pretty!

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  41. i think it was soo neat that u were able to obtain a pic of where Fitz writes her novels also i liked her inspiration for the book..the idea of the couple that turned out to be jace and sam! thnx for doing this giveaway!

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  42. Questions and answers numbers 2 and 3 ripped at my heart. #1 because I COMPLETELY relate to the answer. I was once that Dreamer as well and the fairy tale never came. Here I am a single mom and still waiting on the fairy tale....always a dreamer and the being able to live that through writing your own ending is fascinating to think of.

    Question #3.....O......M......G!! Self explanatory as a mom. What her dad did with the ending of "Charlotte's Web" was one of 'the' sweetest things I've ever read.

    I am so enjoying the author interviews I have no words. Thank you for sharing and excellent interview!!

    Warmest,

    ~*Melissa*~ <3

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  43. Thank you so much for this fantastic opportunity! I've been wanting to read My Life Next Door for the longest time, because it just seems so GOOD. Now, with the author interview in there, I just want to read it even MORE!

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  44. This is a wonderful interview - thanks so much for sharing! I loved her answer to why she wanted to be a writer... and can't wait for her upcoming novel, it sounds fabulous!

    Carina
    Fictional Distraction

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  45. Thanks for the great interview!
    so now we know how the writing process for the author to make this book.

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  46. Hands down for Downtown Abbey! It's one of my favorite Tv series!! I haven't read Charlotte's Web yet. Thanks for sharing some goodies with us! Looking forward to read My Life Next Door!

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  47. Another awesome review! Also, ill have to puck this book up!

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  48. Love Ice Tea too! Hmm look forward to watch Downton Abby then.. :D

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  49. The next book sounds AMAZING. I can't wait to read it.

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  50. Oh Huntley, you had me at Downton Abbey...

    I have to say, from that last answer, this books sounds a bit Pride&Prejudice-ish to me -- AWESOME.

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    Replies
    1. (forgot to say I'm Carla C. on the Raffle!)

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  51. i love this book soooo much all time fav i hope i win the awesome swag

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