Author Interview~Carolee Dean

Meet Carolee Dean! She is the author of 3 YA books; Comfort, Take Me There, and her most recent book, Forget me not. Not only is she an author, but she is very passionate about her job. She works at a local school with teenagers as a speech-language pathologist. Her books are inspirational and help people realize that even though life may be hard, you can always get over the bumps.

I had a lot of fun thinking of questions to ask her, so enjoy!

 

What made you want to start writing YA books?

I work with teenagers as a speech-language pathologist at a local high school. I see the struggles my students go through and it reminds me of my own young adult experiences, which were very turbulent. I'm sure just about everyone feels that way for different reasons. We moved a lot. I went to three different high schools. Things happened that I did not have the perspective to understand. Many of those experiences baffled me for years afterward. When I write stories that explore similar events, it helps me process through feelings I did not have the words to voice at the time.

Do you have a certain book you are proud of?

My first novel, COMFORT, was an IRA Notable book. It was very personal to me because I was able to go back and explore my experiences graduating from a small town Texas high school and participating I poetry competitions that eventually earned me a college scholarship. Alcoholism is also a big theme in this book and it has resonated with kids dealing with addiction in their own families.

My second novel, TAKE ME THERE (a YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers), is about a boy who is a poet but because he cannot read or write, he cannot record his thoughts on paper. He drops out of school and gets on the wrong side of the law. After a botched gang initiation, with both the police and gang members chasing him, he goes looking for his estranged father to find out if badness is in his blood or if it is something he can outrun. Many of my students have had parents in prison and I wanted them to know that they can rise above these situations.

Check out the book trailer here: http://youtu.be/1PZosu4LTLo

My most recent novel, FORGET ME NOT, was a particular challenge because it is almost all in verse. It also deals with a very difficult concept- where does the soul go after suicide? In spite of the dark material it has a happy and hopeful ending. There is even romance.

What authors have influenced your writing?

When I was young I loves S.E. Hinton. I still do. When I read THE OUTSIDERS it was the first time I realized that books could be about real people.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Work mostly, but I also enjoy hiking, biking, and cooking. My daughter and I recently startd the Paleo Diet and she's always finding cool recipes on Pinterest for us to try.

When did you really start getting into writing?

It seems like I've been writing all my life. My mother still has a story I wrote when I was six years old. The paper is yellow and faded with age. She used to bring it out when I was a kid and tell people, "Carolee is going to be a writer." I thought it was kind of lame and very embarrassing, but here I am. When I was in high school I played the guitar and wrote songs. I think that's why I have so much poetry in my novels.

What do you think is the most important thing in writing?

Write about things that matter and be as honest as you can.

What advice do you have for someone who'd like to become a writer?

Read a lot of books. Watch a lot of movies. Study the structure of stories in all their many forms.


Can you tell us about your latest book?

As I said earlier, FORGET ME NOT is a novel in verse. It's about a girl who is cyber bullied, tries to take her own life, and ends up struck between worlds on an abandoned hallway in her school. It's also about the boy who would do anything to save her. Check out the book trailer.
http://youtu.be/XmRD2FoueqM


There is a contest for a free signed copy of the novel going on at my blog until the end of the Summer Author Blitz on August 8. Winners will be announced August 10. Got to my blog to enter at caroleedeanbooks.blogspot.com


 Thank you so much for answering my questions! Check out her books! I hope you all enjoyed! :)