Sunday, November 28, 2010

Stephanie Perkins: Interview /Giveaway


Anna and the French Kiss

I have this awesome interview to share with you guys, the wonderfully talented Stephanie Perkins was kind enough to answer a few questions. Also remember I'm giving away a copy of the book, just comment on this post with your favorite romantic city & why.. Enjoy the interview :] (you won't get the book early FYI just when its released)


Interview



First of all congrats on EVERYONE loving Anna and The French Kiss, its super buzzed about lately. How did the idea for the story come to you, everybody says how well written, and fresh it is, how did the idea come to be?
Thank you!  The buzz is very flattering and unexpected.  The story arrived to me in a dream.  I saw a beautiful boy with a French name and an English accent sitting on the steps of the Panthéon, and I knew that I was deeply in love with him.  The idea was impossible to resist.  Or, more accurately, THE BOY was impossible to resist!



If you could meet up with Anna, what exactly would you say to her?
I would thank her for changing my life.  And then I would ask her to introduce me to Étienne St. Clair so that I could hear him talk and smell his hair and such.  And then they'd probably issue a restraining order against me.


Anna and The French Kiss is getting constant praise, and the words on everyone's lips are "down to earth, realistic, and also flawless." When you started writing was it your intention to make Anna and St. Clair that way, or did that all just occur? 
Yes and no.  I certainly didn't set out for praise, but I was interested in writing a book that *I* would want to read—and that meant realistic characters that I could relate to on a personal level.  My characters are flawed and make mistakes (perfection is so boring!), but I think/hope that they're genuinely kind people.  If I couldn't respect them or want to hang out with them or want to BE them, how could I expect a reader to feel any of those emotions?  I'm just fortunate that this initial reader response has been so positive.

People want to marry Anna and The French Kiss, leave their lives behind and live in it, what was it like to actually live in that world while you were writing? 
Ha!  Usually, it was wonderful.  Some days were harder than others—writing IS a job, after all—but, yes, most days were a joy.  As Anna fell in love with France, I fell in love with France.  As Anna fell in love with Étienne, I fell in love with Étienne.  That's a good place to live!



Playlist for the book, any songs that made your creative juices flow?
I'll be releasing the official playlist soon on my website, but I will say that it has a lot of French rock on it.  The Hellboys' "Besoin de Rein" was on constant rotation.  I like to think of it as Anna's theme.  Not so much for the content (the title means "thanks for nothing," ha!), but because it *feels* exciting and confusing.


Thank you so much Stephanie, I can not wait to get my hands on Anna and The French Kiss 

17 comments:

EVA SB said...

My favourite romantic city is Rome, delicious food, interesting history and gorgeous menfolk what more could a girl ask for?

eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com

Misha said...

My favorite romantic city is Venice. Its amazingly beautiful.
Please enter me in the contest only if its International.
Thanks!
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com

Kathy Habel said...

Having just seen Roman Holiday I'm going to go with Rome. Great movie. Second to Paris as seen in the movie Sabrina.
bkhabel at gmail dot com

Raíla said...

I'm so incredibly in love with the cover of this book, and after reading so many amazing reviews about it... What am I still doing here instead of pre-ordering my copy? Seriously. Must be one of the books I'm most looking forward to read. :)

Well, once I'm all in love with Italy and I don't even know why, I'd choose Rome. Or Florence. Or maybe Milan. Okay, Rome. I love those monuments... They're incredible. But I'd easily go to France for my honeymoon as well. Haha. One of my biggest dreams is to visit the Louvre and the Vatican. How amazing would it be?

Is the contest international? I'd love to enter. :)

raila.soares@gmail.com

Unknown said...

My favourite (romantic) city is truly Paris. I have been there several times, one of my favourite memories is fr my 20th birthday I received a trip there from my parents: I spent 8 days there alone, just visiting museums, drinking café au lait, strolling the little streets and soaking up the athmosphere. I love Paris!

Besides Paris I believe Prague is an ideal romantic destination for an autumn/winter weekend :-)

Thank you for the great giveaway!

stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

Mrs. DeRaps said...

This is going to sound crazy, but my favorite romantic city is Las Vegas. I was married there three years ago and my husband and I still talk about how very romantic and gorgeous it all was. Love it! We're definitely going to go back in a couple of years to revisit those warm memories!

Thanks for the giveaway. I've heard a lot of great reviews of this book!

mrsderaps @ hotmail . com

Anonymous said...

Awesome interview ! This book has been geting a lot of love and it's not even out yet! Lucky Stephanie!

Hmm, romantic city? I'm gonna go with Paris, but a bunch of other people have probably said that. I don't know, I guess that city just pops in my mind!

Thanks for the giveaway!

~Alison
lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tuning Into YA Books said...

My favorite romantic city is Rome. I went there during the summer and the scenery was absolutely stunning and I would love to visit there agin. I would say Paris, but it was cold when I went there xD
Hope I can read this book
Tuningintoyabooks(at)gmail(dot)com

Judit said...

Hmm...my favourite romantic city would be Edinburgh in Scotland. I was there couple of years ago and believe me, there is nothing more romantic than walking down the city while listening to the sound of scottish bagpipes :)

Thank you for the giveaway, please enter me only if it's international.

judittten at gmail dot com

My Life With Books - Jennifer K Jovus said...

I keep hearing about Anna and the French Kiss! It sounds like a great book and I look forward to reading it. I am not a world traveler, but when I imagine romance I think that Italy would be wonderful. For me the mountains are just as romantic.

kjovus(at)gmail(dot)com

Margaret said...

I think my favourite romantic city might actually be Verona, Italy because of the whole Romeo & Juliet setting taking place there. Plus, there's exotic and delicious food, like gelato ice cream :)

legally_write[at]hotmail[dot]com

Sara said...

Fabulous interview! this book sounds soo good!
My favorite romatic city would be in a country with beautiful nature and warm weather! I don't have a specific favorite at the moment :p

yavampire(at)hotmail.com (international)

justpeachy36 said...

I've always thought that Rome would be a very romantic city...

Please enter me in the giveaway.

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

jess said...

Thanks for the giveaway!
My favorite romantic city is definetly Paris. I've never been there before but it just looks so darn romantic :)

jessica b
jecca.0104@gmail.com

Eric Rogers said...

McCall, Idaho is where my husband and I love to get away to.
ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com

Kulsuma said...

Somewhere in the Mediterranean. Alas, I haven't been there. Yet.
Thanks for the giveaway!
k_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

Meredith said...

I'd love to go to Paris to see the art, the architecture, and yes, spend some romantic time with the hubby!

meredithfl at gmail dot com