Split by a Kiss

Some of you might remember that awhile ago I did a big boasty thing about how I suddenly managed to wrangle a whole heap of arcs. Well, one of them was a young adult book called Split by a Kiss by Luisa Plaja, who is a UK debut author and also the editor of the funky cool young adult book site called Chicklish.

I already had a fair idea I would like Luisa's book after we compared a few basic notes and discovered we both had a young son and daughter, we were both majorly big Buffy and Angel fans and...well, actually, I'm not sure we got past the Buffy and Angel thing, but if we did there would've been even more in common.

Anyway...to cut a long ramble not so long, I loved and adored Luisa's book which is like Sliding Doors meets Clueless (and trust me I don't compare things to Clueless lightly!!). It was just so clever and funny and the ending was just one of those perfect moments. It's available at all bookstores in the UK plus online as well, I can totally recommend it. But enough from me, here is the interview I did with Luisa and you'll be able to discover for yourselves just how funny she really is!

Tell me a bit about your book.

Sure! Split by a Kiss is the story of a British girl who moves to the USA and suddenly finds herself in with the popular crowd at school. But after a kiss with the hottest/coolest boy in town, she splits into two people. One of her (Josie the Cool) is still basking in popularity and the other (Jo the Nerd) isn't. And then the real fun starts...

What was the inspiration for writing it?

Ooh, lots of things. When I was about 14, a friend of a schoolfriend moved to the USA with her family for a year, which sounded incredibly glamorous. Years later, I spent some time in the USA myself, and I wondered what this bizarre kind of culture shock would feel like to a teenager. Occasionally, people really would listen to my accent (a fine Northwest London twang) instead of what I was saying. It was strange to be admired for something so ordinary.

Also, I read an article about the national sports of the USA and Britain – baseball versus soccer – and how they supposedly shape the country's males, particularly in their approach to relationships. And that was the inspiration for Jake Matthews.

As for the split... well, I didn't set out to write that. But when I first reached that point in the story, I thought, "OK, now what would Jo do?" There were two answers to that question, and I decided to explore both of them.

I’m a sucker for a sale story, so I’d love to hear how you sold your first book.

Well, I have a great agent who made it all wonderfully quick and stress-free, and also amazingly rejection-free. I met my lovely editor-to-be just before leaving for a family holiday in Sicily. My agent called me with news of the offer during siesta time. The children were sleeping, so there was a mad scramble for the phone – in fact, it was a failed scramble and I had to ring back. There followed the quietest "Woo-hoo!" in world history of stifled woo-hoos.

Since you sold, what’s been the coolest thing that’s happened to you? (though be warned if it somehow involves meeting David Boreanaz, there will be jealousy issues to deal with).

Ooh, all of it. I'm infinitely star-struck by meeting, both online and in real life, writers and anyone involved in publishing. I've had email conversations with Tanya Lee Stone! I've chatted to E. Lockhart's British editor! I've been in the same room as Jacqueline Wilson! David Boreanaz? Pah - has he written or published any great books for teenage girls? I don't think so! (Only joking. You might notice from Split by a Kiss that I'm really a pretty huge Buffy and Angel fan...)

What authors inspire you and why?

Ha! How long ya got?! Listen, let's have a break, make a cup of tea [or equivalent], and then come back...

OK. Ready?

Well, where do I start? When I was growing up, I read anything and everything. I read across all genres and age groups, but I had a favourite book that I read over and over again – Masha by Mara Kay. It's a historical novel set in nineteenth century Russia and spanning a girl's life from 9 to 18 and it has a wonderful focus on female friendship. It's out of print now but I have my own copy with my name scrawled inside it in childish handwriting and a photo of my visit to St Petersburg – yes, I persuaded my parents to take me to some of the places featured in the book. I even wrote fan letters to Mara Kay (and she replied!) Swoon.

By my late teens I knew that "relationship books" (or whatever you want to call them - the term 'chick lit' hadn't been invented yet at the time) were by far my favourite genre. I read everything like that I could get hold of and, as time went by, I kept discovering all sorts of wonderful authors. Recently I've loved books by Rachel Vail, Maureen Johnson, E. Lockhart, Sarra Manning, Helen Salter, Sara Hantz, Amanda Ashby*... I could go on! And I do, you know, given half a chance. (*I know I haven't yet read your YA book but I'm sure it's totally brilliant because I loved You Had Me At Halo!) No money passed hands here!

There, now. That wasn't so long after all, was it? I did edit it down three times, though.

Er, are you still there?

Finally, what’s the best movie you’ve seen in the last six months?

Phew! Thanks for sticking with me! I'm definitely going to say Waitress. I've always been a fan of Adrienne Shelly, and I'm so sad that her career was tragically cut short. She was excellent in this film, plus she wrote and directed it – such talent. And the film stars Felicity, too and Mal. Oh, OK, Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion, but you know what I mean. It's light-hearted and multi-layered, and it features female friendship, empowerment and food. All good things, in my book. I watched this DVD last week and love, loved, loved it though of course it was extra sad because of what happened to Adrienne Shelly.