POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour! Meet Jen K Blom and her MC Princess!

Okay, peeps! It's a very special day here! I have my awesome and dear (and weird) friend here, Jen K Blom (and her book's MC, Princess), talking about her debut middle-grade novel, POSSUM SUMMER, which releases THIS Tuesday, March 15th! Please help us celebrate her big day!

Welcome to the POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour for the middle-grade book, POSSUM SUMMER, coming out IN EIGHT DAYS HOLY COW! (Have you preordered yet?)

"There's a person I know, she's the rattiest one around, everybody hides away when she comes into town..."

Yes, I'll be here all week.

Today I'm (harassing) enjoying my stay here at Hilary's blog. P (Princess) had been forewarned about the Rat Queen...and she didn't disappoint.

First off, a little about the book:

A lonely kid.

an orphaned baby possum.

A dad that says no way.

How do you keep that kind of secret? And what happens when you’re found out?

Here we go or begin strange interview with JKB here:

HW: Jen, can you tell us if you do an outline or you just write from the cuff? It seems to be a hot topic these days!

JKB: Well, I would say before my newest MS** I always wrote without an outline. I like it better because it's more surprising. And I like surprises. Mostly. Unless they come without chocolate. **the new MS is by a synop. Weirdest feeling ever to have the entire story already written out! Good thing I like the idea, or I wouldn't bother.

HW: When do you find you do your best writing? Morning, night, sunny, rainy? Tell!

JKB: I think the best time is when I don't have something tugging on me, wanting something. So the Loki* is asleep, the cats are over on the heater, and the husband is at work. Which never happens, so I just do it when I can. (True story: POSSUM SUMMER was written on a train every morning as I made my way to work.)

*Loki is my kid. She is a trickster.

HW: What is the main lesson you're trying to get across in POSSUM SUMMER?

JKB: I don't know that I have a lesson, per se. I always have a particular word/idea in mind when I write a book and for POSSUM SUMMER the word was :: sacrifice. (Now don't you wanna go read it? Go! GO!!!)

Princess: Lessons are stupid anyways. Nobody ever pays attention.

JKB: Now this should get interesting, as my MC, Princess, talks to Hilary!

P: It's the RAT QUEEN! The Rat Queen, right? I read your book! I loved it! Except there was no princess in it. And no dragons. I love dragons! But I want to know what your favorite food is anyway, even tho there are no dragons in your book!

HW: Hmmm...I'd have to say for the fancy stuff, I love Ahi Tuna with lots of fresh ginger -- the rarer the better! For something casual, I love paper thin pizza with garlic, spinach and pineapple!

P: Is there a difference between Ahi Tuna and that tuna you get in tunafish cans? Because if not, I have some serious concerns about what you're eating. I tried to give Ike somma that tuna in the can and he wouldn't even eat it! And rare? *shudder* what do you like to do, then, Miss Ratty Queen?

HW: Okay, that's a tough one. For me, I love spending time with the family. I love shopping (shocker, I know) and I love just chilling out with my husband and watching some brainless reality TV, the more brainless the better!

P: Family time is good. It almost makes up for what you say you eat. I thought maybe you woulda said you loved reading POSSUM SUMMER as your favorite activity? No? Well, what is something really interesting about you then?

HW: I'd have to say my hands. I'm double jointed, so I can bend back the tips of my fingers at a 90 degree angle, which really freaks people out, because it looks like their broken, especially if I make a breaking sound when I do it! Ha, ha! Uck, I know, but hey, it's fun at parties!

P: I had to look up what you mean by double jointed. I bet rats can do that too, which is why you're the Rat Queen, right? You ought to feel bad, because you just traumatized an 11 year old. Like, forever. So I went ahead and drew you as this:

P: I have to tell you ... JKB wanted me to make you a fangless snake. Or an ugly rat with a hairless skin condition. But here's what I told her (I read it in a book) THE MUSE CANNOT BE DENIED. You are indeed an eastern chipmunk! With pretty stripey stripes on your back! I can't guarantee that their fingers bend back like your freaky ones, but...

**scuffle**

JKB: Hil. Sorry! XD Thanks for having me!

Jen K. Blom writes about animals, the land, and kids, not necessarily in that order. Her debut, POSSUM SUMMER, is available March 2011.

Just the thing to give to a kid to start their summer of reading off right! (Available from your local indie, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or Book Depository!)

Seen the book trailer yet?

Want more POSSUMS ARE AWESOME blog tour tidbits?

Go here and knock yourself out!

 
HW: Okay, somehow I think Jen managed to insult me through Princess...hmmm...not cool! ;) Thanks everyone for cheering Jen and Possum Summer on! The book is AWESOME!


xoxo -- Hilary