Author Interview w/ Kami Kinard + Goodies to Give

It's getting closer to the new year, and with that comes lots of  amazing new authors and books to be released. Now, let's get excited because today I have Kami Kinard, a 2012 debut author that I have gotten the pleasure to interview. Kami Kinard is the author of The Boy Project: Notes and Observations of Kara McAllister. Due to be released by Scholastic on January 1st! She has also included a sweet giveaway package as well.

Let's start with a little inside scoop about the life of Kami                            

                          

1.) Please tell us a little about yourself.

Okay! I didn’t know how much I liked dogs until my daughter got one.

Hmmm. That’s probably not enough scoop. Here’s some more:

I love to create things. When I was growing up we had a room in our house called the sewing room. It had three sewing machines in it and a bunch of craft supplies.  (My sewing machine was the type you had to pedal to make it go. It had been my great great aunt’s.) Anyway, I spent a lot of hours in that room making everything from puppets to small sculptures to magazines.  When I grew up this didn’t change. I still love to make things. But mostly I love to make things out of words. You can make bigger things with words than with craft supplies. You can create people, relationships, worlds and universes. It’s great!

2.) Favorite hobbies or special interests?

Oof! I think I just answered that. But if I had a day by myself to do absolutely anything I wanted to do… I’d read a good book and be completely happy - until I got to the last page.

3.) What was your favorite Middle Grade read?                            

Easy! Nancy Drew.

4.) I feel it's important to have your children read at a young age. How does it feel when you see a young teen reading?  

I feel happy, especially if I am related to that young teen and he or she has chosen to read rather than play a video game!

5.) How did you come up with the idea for The Boy Project?

I was at a writers' retreat and someone asked if any of us had our old diaries. I still had mine, but I had never gone back and read them. My colleagues urged me to read every single one!  So I did.  It made me remember what it felt like to be in middle school.  The things that happen in The Boy Project did not happen to me, but I definitely felt the same way Kara does about boys!

6.) Can we get a little teaser of just what happens to Kara in the boy's bathroom in The Boy Project?

Kara finds out that you can learn all kinds of things when boys assume you are just another boy in the next stall.



7.) Did your children influence you at all, or did you take anything from your teen experiences and add it to The Boy Project? 

Yes. My children influenced me. But don’t tell them that! I don’t want them to know that you can learn all kinds of things when they assume I’m just driving , or cooking, or working at my desk…

Well, I did pull those feelings Kara has from my teen experience. I wanted to write a book about a smart girl who is desperate for a boyfriend. Kara is a little more desperate than I ever was (okay, not really) but she is also gutsier!  

Great stuff Kami! If any of you are more interested in getting to know Kami or wanting more info about The Boy Project, you can friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and on her website. 

Now, how about those goodies! One winner will win all of this!

Included:

1 (signed) ARC of The Boy Project,

A tote bag,

and two fancy cards with some so fab bracelets!

Open to US only
Ends November 23rd 11:59 PST
Winner must respond within 48 hours
Enter Here