Melissa Roske author

Melissa Roske - author of Kat Greene Comes Clean

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Ask the Author: Marci Lyn Curtis

March 19, 2018 By Melissa Roske 2 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (i.e., nosy) questions. It the hot seat today: MARCI LYN CURTIS, author of the contemporary YA, THE ONE THING (Disney Hyperion, 2015), and the upcoming THE LEADING EDGE OF NOW (KCP, 9/4/18).

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Double-chocolate French macarons.

What is your greatest fear? Failure. (Also: success. Is that weird? That’s probably a little weird.)

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Second-guessing myself. (i.e. my first thought, after answering the last question: Maybe I shouldn’t have told everyone that I’m weird.)

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Disingenuity.

Which living person do you most admire? Ellen Degeneres

What is your greatest extravagance? Getting a massage.

What is your current state of mind? Spirited.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Frugality.

On what occasion do you lie? To avoid hurting someone’s feelings.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? My copyeditor for The Leading Edge of Now pointed out that I used “couple” well…a couple thousand times.

Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? Singing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? My two kids.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? An elephant.

What is your most treasured possession? The wedding photo on my living-room wall.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Ack. Public speaking. I’d sooner lick the bottom of my shoe than get up on a stage and speak.

What do you most value in your friends? Laughter, open-mindedness, and kindness.

Who are your favorite writers? Katja Millay and Jandy Nelson.

Who is your hero of fiction? Luna Lovegood.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? John Lennon.

What is your motto? “Do no harm.”

MARCI LYN CURTIS is a critically acclaimed author of young adult dramedies, The One Thing and The Leading Edge of Now. She lives near Tampa, Florida with her husband. Find Marci at her website, on Twitter, on Instagram, or on Facebook.

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Ask the Author: Lindsay Currie

February 25, 2018 By Melissa Roske 2 Comments

Popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, the Proust Questionnaire is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (i.e., nosy) questions. It the hot seat today: Lindsay Currie, author of the contemporary middle-grade debut, THE PECULIAR INCIDENT ON SHADY STREET (Aladdin/S&S, 2017). [Read more…]

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Ask the Author: Bridget Hodder

February 21, 2018 By Melissa Roske Leave a Comment

Popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, the Proust Questionnaire is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (i.e., nosy) questions. It the hot seat today Bridget Hodder, author of the middle-grade fantasy, THE RAT PRINCE (Macmillan/FSG, 2016).

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Right now, it would be three weeks spent at a writers’ retreat on a sunny beach with like-minded author friends on a deadline. Any takers?

What is your greatest fear? Oh, dear. I suppose it would be something bad happening to my children. Hamsa, as my grandmother would say!

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I’m a little too willing to take on too much!

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Here’s what I like about this question: It applies the word “deplore” to the traits, not to the people themselves. I try not to ‘deplore’ anyone. As for deplorable traits, increasingly, we’re failing to put in the necessary time and effort to assure that our most important beliefs and actions rise to careful standards of truth, fairness, and honor.

Which living person do you most admire? My husband. That’s why we got married; so we could continue to admire each other more conveniently.

What is your greatest extravagance? I absolutely can’t stop buying books. Save me!

What is your current state of mind? I’m finishing up a new Middle Grade I’ve been working on all year…so my state of mind is just this side of “Woo hoo!”

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Ubiquitousness.

On what occasion do you lie? On what occasion do you lie? When I say, “Sure. No problem.”

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “Sure. No problem.”

Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? I’d say magic, but I suppose writing is a form of magic — if you get it right!

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Peace of mind.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A bird, or an airplane, or an angel! I want to fly!

What is your most treasured possession? Taking this question literally: my laptop, because I don’t save to the Cloud halfway as often as I should.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Nausea, hands down!

What do you most value in your friends? Authenticity.

Who are your favorite writers? I couldn’t possibly answer this one!

Who is your hero of fiction? I’m going to be extremely odd here, and say the damaged, bereft and obsessive narrator of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, “Annabel Lee.”

…neither the angels in heaven above,

Nor the demons down under the sea,

Can can ever dissever my soul from the soul

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee…

…And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side

Of my darling–my darling–my life and my bride,

In her sepulchre there by the sea,

In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? Cassandra of Troy.

What is your motto? “Sure. No problem.”

BRIDGET HODDER is a writer of middle-grade fiction. Her debut novel, THE RAT PRINCE, is published by Macmillan/Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Find Bridget at her website and follow her on Facebook and Twitter. 

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Ask the Author: Elly Swartz

February 11, 2018 By Melissa Roske 6 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (aka nosy) questions. It the hot seat today: Elly Swartz, author of the contemporary middle-grade novels, FINDING PERFECT (FSG, 2016) and SMART COOKIE (Scholastic, 2018). [Read more…]

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Ask the Author: Rob Vlock

February 4, 2018 By Melissa Roske 12 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (aka nosy) questions. It the hot seat today: Rob Vlock, MG author of SVEN CARTER & THE TRASHMOUTH EFFECT (S&S/ALADDIN).
[Read more…]

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Ask the Author: Josh Funk

January 28, 2018 By Melissa Roske 6 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (aka nosy) questions. It the hot seat today, Josh Funk, author IT’S NOT JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Two Lions, 2017) among many others. [Read more…]

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Ask the Author: Leah Henderson

January 23, 2018 By Melissa Roske 2 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (aka nosy) questions. It the hot seat today, Leah Henderson, author of the contemporary MG, ONE SHADOW ON THE WALL (Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017). [Read more…]

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Ask the Author: Darcey Rosenblatt

January 15, 2018 By Melissa Roske 6 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (aka nosy) questions. It the hot seat today, Darcey Rosenblatt, author of the MG historical debut, LOST BOYS (Henry Holt, 2017). [Read more…]

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Ask the Author: Brooks Benjamin

January 7, 2018 By Melissa Roske 10 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (aka nosy) questions. It the hot seat today, Brooks Benjamin, author of the contemporary MG, MY SEVENTH-GRADE LIFE IN TIGHTS (Random House Children’s Books, 2016). [Read more…]

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Ask the Author: Barbara Dee

December 17, 2017 By Melissa Roske 8 Comments

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (aka nosy) questions. It the hot seat today, Barbara Dee, author of the contemporary MG, HALFWAY NORMAL (S&S/Aladdin, 2017). [Read more…]

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