Graffiti Girl

I think it's wild that MTV is publishing books now. I remember when MTV was first born (yes, I AM that old) and it was basically all music videos, all the time (pre "Real World" even) and, in the minds of our parents, it was akin to that fried egg sizzling in the skillet. You know, This is your brain on MTV.

And now, MTV's all lit-like! And publishing excellent, alliterative fare like "Graffiti Girl."

This tale about a badass artist who gets caught up in the world of graf tags and not one, but two boys, looks really gripping.

Author Kelly Parra stopped by to e-chat about it:

E: You walk into a bookstore and make a beeline to. . .
 b) YA lit
 . . . and why?

KP: I'm just YA crazy at the moment because I enjoy to read and write it, because I'm meeting more and more great YA authors on-line and I like to also read what's really hot in YA lit. :)

E: Tell me about your childhood, part 1: When you were a teenager, what young adult novel a) saved b) changed c) okay, made a big wallop on your life?

KP: The early V.C. Andrew's novels made a big wallop on my life.  These were the first novels that made me cry and really feel for characters in a book. I will always remember staying up in the late hours of the night just because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

E: Tell me about your childhood, part 2: Where did you grow up and what kind of role does that setting play in the books you write?

KP: I grew up in an agricultural central California town, and I based Graffiti Girl in a fictitious setting with similar characteristics to my hometown. It made writing the scenery in the book a lot easier than making it all up from scratch.

E: What do you love about Angel, the star of "Graffiti Girl?"

KP:  I love that Angel is a little rough like I was in high school, and not very polished. That she's creative, and even though she goes through some tough decisions, she has a good head on her shoulders and tries to do the right thing. :)

E: Finally, which Chick with Sticks are you? If you haven't read my book, please refer to this handy quiz.
 
KP: I am Amanda!
"You are AMANDA. On the surface, you've got the bright and shiny life we all want. You're rich, gorgeous and your Am Ex will buy you the designer clothes of your dreams. Being the popular party girl comes easily to you. It's getting close to friends (or boyfriends) that's a challenge. Maybe if you unloaded that big secret of yours, you'd feel less need to keep folks at arms length. In your Kate Spade knitting tote is all the fuzzy, novelty yarn you can carry. "

Thanks, Kelly! Congrats on your debut as an author (and CC girlfriend)!

xoxo

Elizabeth

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