Summer Book Talk: Day 5 - Jolene Perry

Hello lovely readers! It is already day 5 of the Summer Book Talk event! Today we've got an interview with an author I consider to be one of the contemporary queens in the YA world! I have already read three out of her four released novels and LOVED every single one of them! No kidding here. You can check out my reviews through the links provided below. Since Maji Bookshelf is spotlighting Contemporary themes books/authors, I figured Jolene Perry is the way to go in this genre. I won't babble on any longer other than to tell you to scroll below, enjoy the interview, and enter the giveaway at the end for a chance to win some awesomeness!

 

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is  the author of contemporary novels such as: The Next Door Boys, Night Sky, Knee Deep, and My Heart For Yours. Check out my reviews of The Next Door Boys Here, Night Sky Here, and Knee Deep Here.

She is also the author of newly released and upcoming anticipated titles such as Left To Love (The Next Door Boys #2), Spill Over, After All, and Want To Be, a companion novel to The Next Door Boys. 

Here are her already released YA Contemporary titles.

However the title I'll be spotlighting is the newest title I've read by her and is my favorite! You can check out the rest by clicking on their titles above to direct you to their goodreads page.

Shawn is the guy Ronnie Bird promised her life to at the age of fourteen. He's her soul mate. He's more uptight every day, but it's not his fault. His family life is stressful, and she's adding to it. She just needs to be more understanding, and he'll start to be the boy she fell in love with. She won’t give up on someone she’s loved for so long.

Luke is her best friend, and the guy she hangs with to watch girlie movies in her large blanketopias. He's the guy she can confide in before she even goes to her girlfriends, and the guy who she's playing opposite in Romeo and Juliet. Now her chest flutters every time he gets too close. This is new. Is Ronnie falling for him? Or is Juliet? The lines are getting blurry, but leaving one guy for another is not something that a girl like Ronnie does.

Shawn’s outbursts are starting to give her bruises, and Luke’s heart breaks as Ronnie remains torn. While her thoughts and feelings swirl around the lines between friendship and forever, she’s about to lose them both.

1. Describe your books in three words
Knee Deep Love. Power. Strength. 
Night Sky Love. Choices. Honesty. 
My Heart For Yours Love. Forgiveness. Home. 
Spill Over Love. Loss. Importance. 
The Next Door Boys Love. Acceptance. Friendship.

2. What inspires you to write realistic contemporary novels?
Real life experiences. This may seem like a copout answer, but my life experiences, and the realistic fiction that I loved as a teen.

3. When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer? 
I first realized that I might be able to do it at the end of 2009 – beginning of 2010. 

4. Do you base your writing on your own past experiences? 
I put some of myself into everything I write. Sometimes it’s experiences of people I know and love, and sometimes it’s bits of my experiences, and sometimes it’s something that I’ve wanted to experience. No matter what, though. There’s some of me in everything I write.

5. Where do you usually like to write or read? Right now I’m sitting in bed because I like my room and it’s quiet in here. There’s a nice coffee shop in town I go to, and my kitchen counter on a bar stool is probably where I do most of my writing.

6. What are some of your favorite books you’ve read recently? Easy by Tammara Webber. Boy Toy by Barry Lyga. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Wedding Cake Girl by Anne Pfeffer. Those are my most recent.


  7. Any favorite movies and shows? Do you get any inspiration from them? 
I’m lame and get no channels at my house. I get more inspiration from music.

8. What is one thing that you can’t do without when you’re writing? Music, a cup of tea?

The only thing I NEED is my computer. Writing longhand is NOT for me. What I love to have is potato chips, dark chocolate almonds, and a big bottle of Pellegrino.
 
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 would wither away if I had a writing schedule. My kids are out of school right now, so I’ve been doing a lot of writing in the morning while still in bed just because I CAN, lol. I try to work on whatever I FEEL like, but sometimes there are editing schedules, or schedules with co-authors. Then I do that first, and rewar myself by writing what I can’t WAIT to dig into.

10. What are your plans for the next book? Different genre? A standalone, or a series? 
Funny thing – I’m editing my paranormal series right now. They’ll be the last books I self-publish for a while… 
I’m writing a YA contemporary murder mystery with a good friend of mine, and then working on a book called Deal, which I love and which makes me want to finish up other projects so I can work on it! 


Thanks so much for being interviewed Jolene! 
Thanks so much for having me on!!!

If you've already read all the titles above, don't fret, she has some more YA titles that already came out this summer and are still coming out in september! and YES you don't need to wait a whole new year for a book! She's a writing machine! 

Jolene has graciously offered an Advanced Reader Copy of Night Sky and an digital copy of Spill Over! I know you all want! So fill the rafflecopter below for a chance to win this swag! It is open INTERNATIONALLY

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 publicist interview at the blog of one of the co-hosts and a blogger guest post at the other! Be sure to head over there! 

At Anja's blog, we've got an interview with a publicist from Entangled Publishing. Entangled publishes many YA books such as Chosen Ones, and upcoming titles such as Gravity. Also there will be a chance to win some bookish awesomeness so head on over to Kindle and Me by clicking on the button on the right

At Amber's side, She's got a guest post by a booktuber, Raeleen from Padfootandprongs07. Be sure to head on over there for some fun and discussions! All you have to do is click on the button on the right