Author Interview: Meredith Zeitlin

Today, Meredith Zeitlin is here to ask five questions on her upcoming book, FRESHMEN YEAR AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS. (Click here for my review)

1) What made you write your new book, Freshman Year and Other Natural Disasters? 

I wanted to write a book that was sort of a response to the Gossip Girl/Clique/etc. craze - a book about a REAL girl in NYC, who isn't drinking martinis at the Savoy while clutching a limitless platinum card and having X-rated affairs with half of her school, but who drinks wine coolers in her friend's living room, has parents that drive her insane, and thinks everyone is having sex but her. A book with a cast of relatable characters like the ones I loved growing up, that made me feel like I wasn't the only awkward bookworm in the world.

2) What did you enjoy the most about writing it? 

Well, I've always enjoyed writing itself... but I think the most exciting moment was when I realized I had an actual BOOK on my hands. I had just been chugging along, not really sure where I was going... so that was a pretty cool feeling. Of course, then I had to figure out what to do with it!

3) Describe the book in a sentence  

The hilarious tale of Kelsey Finkelstein's (mostly disastrous) adventures as a high school freshman.

4) What advice would you give to future writers - both in the writing and publishing process? 

* Write. Don’t sit around worrying that you don’t know what your ending is or what kind of book it should be or that you don’t know how to get an agent. Just write – even if it’s terrible. Just keep going. You’ll be amazed what you come up with.

* This piece of advice is actually credited to my writing teacher in college, the marvelous Michael Elyanow: “Kill Your Babies.” Basically, it means that even if you’ve written what you think is the funniest, most clever, poignant, whatever, thing in the world, if everyone is telling you it doesn’t work to further your story… cut it. Be brutal. It’s very hard, but it makes your work better. (Even if you think it won’t.)

* Do your homework. When looking for an agent – or publisher, if you’re going that route first – find out who is on whose client roster, what genres of work that person represents, whether that person is accepting new clients, what they want you to submit if so, etc etc. If you send your brilliant historical novel to someone who is looking for true crime, it’s just a waste of your time and the recipient’s. 

* Don’t get frustrated and stop writing. Put it down, eat a cake, watch a Golden Girls rerun… but come back to it!

* Don’t think your first (or second, or third) draft will be your last, even if you’re sure it can’t get ANY better. It can, and it will.

* Don’t give up if you get rejection letters from agents or publishers – I certainly did, and I’m sure I will again. Yes, it sucks, but it probably means that it isn’t the right fit for you to work together, not that your work isn’t good. Keep getting your writing out to different people; even if it seems like it’s taking forever to connect with someone. Things in the publishing world DO take forever. I’m still learning that, every step of the way.  

5) Are you working on anything else?   

I wrote a children's picture book that I'm hoping will find a home soon, and I'm working on another YA novel. It's not a sequel to Freshman Year..., but it takes place in the same world, so you'll see some of the characters again


Thank you to Meredith and G.P.Putnam's Sons

Contact: 

www.kelseyfinkelstein.com

@zeitlingeist (Twitter)

www.facebook.com/FRESHMANYEARBOOK

I'll just leave you on the amazing trailer for this book - this made me want to read the book!

FRESHMEN YEAR AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS will be published on 1st March 2012.

Check out my review of the book - here

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters - Meredith Zeitlin

Published on 1st March 2012

There are times when I love being a girl where I can just sit back, relax, and read books such as these where I am SO glad I'm not in their situation. Such a nice feeling that while I'm reading, I'm not the only person to embarrass themselves severely in public.
A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher. And after seeing this appear on a dozen other book blogs with positive reviews, I thought it was a book I could not refuse to review.
I like the cover of this book and it does give an idea of the contemporary and chick-lit aspects to it but I don't think it does it complete justice. What clinched it for me? The book trailer (scroll down to the bottom of the post to see it yourself!). That does do it justice.

Synopsis: In her 14 years, Kelsey Finkelstein is frustrated as her plans are always ruined with the intervention of her annoying parents and younger sister. But with the start of high-school coming up, with the help of her friends - Em, Cass and Jojo - Kelsey plans to make this year the best year. While things start out great - her enemy moving away and being on the soccer team - it soon goes pear shaped. With a junior looking for revenge and a mysterious photographer photographing every embarrassing moment - just to name a few disasters - Kelsey's plan for greatness seems far from reach.

Review: Wow - well, Kelsey's first year at high-school was a riot. This girl is one of those people we see frequently in books and TV shows where you are SO glad you are not them because of the continual bad luck they have.
For me, this book doesn't really have a well oiled detailed plot to it - but is more of an exploration of Kelsey's first year and looking all the potential situations and occurances that COULD happen. In a way, this is a survival guide for those entering this stage of adolescence. This actually works I think and makes it stand out for me against other books much like this one.

The main characters were all original yet are very identifiable and almost stereotypical for the first-day-at-big-school-with-big-group-of-friends novels, TV shows and films. You have the tomboy (Jojo), the dramatic one (Cass) and then the caring one (Em) which make this lovely group of friends even though they are all quite different from one another. These traits I felt weren't characterised straight away, as the beginning was the context and of us meeting and forming a bond with Kelsey, the protagonist. However, boy, their personalities shine through later on - in a good way.
Even the minor characters all have the conventional personalities such as Lexi as the popular, privileged one. I liked this recognisability and it felt nice just to read a book that is definitely going for the girls.

I have read some reviews where the reviewers were laughing out loud at Kelsey's misfortunes but honestly, for me, I wasn't laughing that much. I found them amusing but I was cringing for Kelsey more than laughing (although the beard scene did get a chuckle). There was definite humour there - just nothing that hilarious for me anyway.
My only other problem was that for me Kelsey seemed much older than 14. I know the whole point is she was trying to be older than she actually was. Maybe it's because I'm 17 now and it was only a few years ago I was that age, but I don't know - there were things I wouldn't have dreamt of doing. To me, she seemed around 15/16 - perhaps older.

Apart from my nick-picking, this book is great. The fast pace keeps you interesting in Kelsey and as a protagonist, she was interesting and not annoying (although her demands made me want to slap her a couple of times). She didn't whine excessively and I understood everything she felt and went through - and started feeling for her a bit. The ending is done nicely and when starting the book, I expected it but I think some readers may not. It is a nice round-off to the book.

Overall, apart from a few problems about this book, I found it a fun, quick read where Kelsey's voice kept me wanting more and more. Kelsey's antics keep coming throughout and made me want more and more as well as starting to ponder what ELSE would go wrong. She is a lovely protagonist that makes you interested and different from other, sometimes annoying, 14 year olds. Even though she did seem older than 14, I liked this as well, let's face it, name me a teenager that doesn't try to act older?!
If you ever wanted a book to cheer you up, I think you've just found it.


Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this in exchange for a review.

I give it 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.kelseyfinkelstein.com/
Pages: 288
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Challenges: None

Check out HERE the interview with Meredith Zeitlin herself as part of The 5 Questions feature.