Today I'm touring Kelly Parra's debut young adult novel, Graffiti Girl, which looks amazing. I've done a short interview with Kelly, but first, here's a bit about her book:
Graffiti art. It's bold. It's thrilling. And it can get a girl into serious trouble...
Raised by her single mom (who's always dating the wrong kind of man) in a struggling California neighborhood, Angel Rodriguez is a headstrong, independent young woman who channels her hopes and dreams for the future into her painting. But when her entry for a community mural doesn't rate, she's heartbroken. Even with the winning artist Nathan Ramos--a senior track start and Angel's secret crush--taking a sudden interest in Angel and her art, she's angry and hurt. She's determined to find her own place in the art world, her own way.
That's when Miguel Badalin--from the notorious graffiti crew Reyes del Norte--opens her eyes to an underground world of graf tags and turf wars. She's blown away by this bad boy's fantastic work and finds herself drawn to his dangerous charm. Soon she's running with Miguel's crew, pushing her skills to the limit and beginning to emerge as the artist she always dreamed she could be. But Nathan and Miguel are bitter enemies with a shared past, and choosing between them and their wildly different approaches to life and art means that Angel must decide what matters most before the artist inside her can truly break free.
And now for my hard hitting questions!
For me the best part about writing is that I can sit and stare at photos of David Boreanaz all day long and call it work. What is you favorite part of the job?
My favorite part of being an author is the making up of characters and bringing them to life in a book. It always amazes me how the imagination can take one little story idea that ends up filling the pages of a novel. It's just too cool!
I found that some books are pure joy to write and others need to be dragged kicking and screaming from your mind. What was this book like to write?
Since Graffiti Girl is my first young adult novel, it was an uphill battle to write. When I started writing YA I hadn't read much teen fiction since high school, but I thought I could connect with teen readers. My main dilemma was trying to find the right voice I was comfortable with. After a few tries, and some advice from my agent and CPs, I finally got the right voice and tone I wanted and then I was off and writing.
Why is this book special to you?
It's special because it took me back to my teen years and I found my self reminiscing of the past, and there were some laughable and not so great memories. But I hope it gave me a realistic perspective to add to my characters.
What are you reading right now?
I actually have a TBR pile with E. Lockhart's Dramarama, Elizabeth Scott's Bloom, and Allison van Diepen's Street Pharm.
And finally, since most people who read this blog knowt hat I have an unhealthy addiction to television, let's get down to the nitty gritty - what are your favorite shows both past and present?
KP: Oh boy, this could be a long list! I'll try to trim it down:
Three's Company, 90210, Ally McBeal, Dark Angel, That 70's Show, Heroes, Ghost Whisperer, & Gilmore Girls
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