Blogoversary: Where I Interview Joanne Levy + Giveaway

Guys, I am beyond excited to have had the chance to interview the lovely Joanne Levy, author of Small Medium at Large. Be sure to check out my review of Small Medium at Large to see why you must read this book.

About the author:

Joanne Levy’s love of books began at a very early age. Being the youngest and the only female among four children, she was often left to her own devices and could frequently be found sitting in a quiet corner with her nose in a book.
After much teenage misadventure, Joanne eventually graduated from university and now spends her weekdays as an executive assistant at one of Canada’s big banks planning meetings and thwarting coffee emergencies. When Joanne isn’t working, she can usually be found at her computer, channeling her younger self into books.
Joanne still lives in Ontario with her husband and kids of the furred and feathered variety. You can follow Joanne on Twitter or find her on Facebook.

Interview Questions:

1. In the spirit of Small Medium at Large, what would be the craziest/embarrassing advice you've received from the "Bubby Dora" in your life? 

Ha! Well there was an actual real Bubby Dora – my great grandmother, who lived to be about 103 or so (we don’t know for sure because when she was born, there were no birth certificates or official records) and she was a real feisty lady. By the time I got to know her, she’d mellowed quite a bit, so I didn’t get a lot of crazy/embarrassing advice from her myself. But Bubby Dora in SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE is a bit of a mashup of both the real Bubby and also my own mom, who is a lot like her. I do remember way back in elementary school, that my mom bought me these frilly camisoles to wear to school. I wasn’t a big fan of them, but still wore them under my shirts. When it came time to change for gym class, all the girls made fun of me, saying I was wearing a bra already. I went home very upset and told my mom and she said, “Pshaw, those girls don’t know anything about fashion. Those aren’t bras; they wouldn’t hold up anything, even if you did have them.” So yeah, that was embarrassing.

2. Like Lilah, the main character in Small Medium at Large, if you were to be struck by lightning and gained the ability of your choosing, what would it be? Why?

 I wish I wasn’t quite so introverted. It’s easy to be outgoing online and through books (maybe a reason why I write!), but when it comes to being in the company of strangers outside my computer, I tend to be a bit of a wallflower. I’m working on it, but it’s not something that comes easily to me. If I could harness lightning to give me a special power, you know, without killing me, I’d want that.

3. As a fellow bookie, can you tell us what book has had the biggest impact on you? Why? 

SO MANY books have had a huge impact on me, but I’d have to say ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET is probably the one that had the biggest influence on me as an author. When I started writing middle grade, that was the book I went to as my ‘gold standard’ of what I wanted my stuff to be like. I wanted to nail the voice of the tween the way Ms. Blume does. And I’ve heard my book compared to some of hers (which is a HUGE honor), so I think I did something right.

4. The world has fallen to a robot invasion and only one heroine/hero can possibly save the day, who do you choose? 

Can I make one up? I’m thinking someone who can control the weather. Like WeatherDude or someting—he would rain on the robots and make them all rust. Unless the robots are made from some sort of anti-rust titanium or something. In which case, I think we’re all doomed.

5. Joanne, any new projects in the works that you could share with us? Because I for one cannot wait to read more of your work. 

Aw, thanks, Orchid! I’m always working on something, although nothing concrete on the books just yet. I have some other middle grade projects I’m working on, along with a sequel to SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE (keep your fingers crossed that it will get picked up) and a YA book that I’m working on. Keep an eye on my website (joannelevy.com) or twitter (@joannelevy) as I’ll post news there as soon as I have any to share.

Rapid Fire 5:

1. Last book that kept you reading late into the night? 

I recently read Jennifer Nielsen’s THE FALSE PRINCE and can’t stop thinking and raving about it. Have you read it? I think you’ll love it if you haven’t.

2. Favorite 'guilty" pleasure (movie/show..etc)? 

The Food Network, and in particular, Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives.

3. Morning or night?

 Night. I’m a morning person out of necessity (that pesky day job thing) but if it weren’t for that, I’d totally be a night owl.

4. Which character which you want to be? Why (in seven words)? 

Diana Barry – Anne of Green Gables would be my BFF (sorry, not quite 7 words!)

5. Care to share your writing cave (include picture if you want)? 

Sure! My writing cave is in my spare bedroom. What you can’t see here is that behind me is a dog crate and lots of stored items – books, mailing supplies, books, swag, oh and did I mention books?

Thanks so much, Joanne for stopping by the blog and answering all the questions. I shall be keeping my fingers crossed on a sequel to Small Medium at Large and more books by you. 

Small Medium at Large by Joanne Levy, July 3, 2012. Published by Bloomsbury.

After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her over opinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel.

Thanks to Joanne Levy, I have some signed bookmarks and SMaL rubber bracelets to giveaway. Y'all are super lucky because the bookmarks are gorgeous ...and did I mention signed. 

You can haunt Joanne Levy on-
Twitter | FB | Goodreads |

Rules:
International
Fill out the Rafflecopter form.
a Rafflecopter giveaway