The Symptoms of My Insanity Blog Tour (Q&A with Mindy!)

Hey, everyone! Another awesome blog tour is stopping at Watercolor Moods today, courtesy of Penguin and YA Books Central. Writer, comedy performer, and musician Mindy Raf is making her YA debut with The Symptoms of Our Insanity. In case you don't want to make a detour at GoodReads to find out more, here's a summary:

A laugh-out-loud, bittersweet debut full of wit, wisdom, heart, and a hilarious, unforgettable heroine.

When you’re a hypochondriac, there are a million different things that could be wrong with you, but for Izzy, focusing on what could be wrong might be keeping her from dealing with what’s really wrong.

I almost raised my hand, but what would I say? “Mr. Bayer, may I please be excused? I’m not totally positive, but I think I might have cancer.” No way. Then everyone at school would know, and they would treat me differently, and I would be known as “Izzy, that poor girl who diagnosed herself with breast cancer during biology.”

But Izzy’s sense of humor can only get her so far when suddenly her best friend appears to have undergone a personality transplant, her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse, and her beautiful maybe-boyfriend is going all hot and cold. Izzy thinks she’s preparing for the worst-case scenario, but when the worst-case scenario actually hits, it’s a different story altogether—and there’s no tidy list of symptoms to help her through the insanity.

 Now, I don't know about you, but I think YA needs some more laugh-out-loud titles on the shelf. I mean, your teenage years (and your twenties, for that matter) are some pretty angsty times. Sometimes, you just need to find something to smile about. That being said, I definitely need to make a slot of time for this one! 

Mindy has actually agreed to answer my (intrusive) questions for our session today. I hope you enjoy them - Mindy's quite the character! (In a totally good way.)



So is any of Izzy based off you?

I think Izzy and I share a lot of broad-stroke similarities. We’re both a bit neurotic, self-deprecating in our humor, and tend to focus on others more than ourselves at times. I’m sure there’re parts of me in other characters as well. Like Alyssa (Izzy’s sister)—I’m a terrible driver and I would probably be the one giving Izzy tips on clothes and make-up.

As I was writing, some scenes felt very ‘Mindy-like,’ and others as if Izzy led me off in her own direction. The relationship between Izzy and her mom is a good example. Even though it’s very different than my own, I did draw on a lot of my own experiences with my mom being sick.

Oh and unlike Izzy, I’m terrible at art. In fact, my worst grade ever was from my Studio Survey Art 101 class senior year.

Ouch. Well, how did you get into writing from being a comedian?

I write all the material I perform on stage, so I was always a comedy writer. I got into writing YA through stand-up. I met my editor Jessica Garrison at one of my shows. She randomly caught my act, we chatted a bit after, and then she reached out to me about writing YA. I think the fact that I was already writing comedy pretty consistently made it a natural transition.

That's a pretty cool transition! So what do you love most about writing YA?

I love writing and reading YA. There are so many fun and scary places you can take a story when you’re dealing with a brain that’s kind of still under construction.

What I love writing most is dialogue. I think when teenagers—and adults too—are trying to figure out who they are, they alter themselves ever so slightly depending on their company. I love the challenge of trying to bring out all the different degrees of a character through conversation.
What are some feel-good hilarious titles you can recommend?

I loved and still love Judy Blume. FOREVER, ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET. When I re-read her books I get into such a teen place and pumped to write. I recently devoured ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS and LOLA AND THE BOY NEXT DOOR by Stephanie Perkins. Her books get you into such a yummy, swoony, teenage crush, I-want-to-make-out-for-the-first-time-again place. WHAT’S UP WITH JODY BARTON by Hayley Long was a really fun and original read. Sarah Dessen’s THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER, is super feel-good and so well done. Oh so many more, but I’ll stop here. 

Yay, thanks for the recommendations! Okay, one more question...if you could go back to tell your teen self anything, what would it be?

Don’t waste time and energy worrying about what other people think. You’re great, just be YOU. Get out of your head, relax, and enjoy yourself a little more. Oh, and stop wearing those snap-crotch body suits. That’s just wrong.

 

Mindy Raf is a writer, comedy performer, and musician based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, and grew up in a Detroit suburb right around here (visualize someone pointing to the inner part of their thumb). She has written for VH1 and CollegeHumor.com. The Symptoms of My Insanity is her first novel. 

Author's website | Twitter

Thanks so very much, Mindy! And to our wonderful readers, be sure to follow along with the rest of the blog tour for more Mindy awesomeness (including some embarrassing high school memories - FINALLY, an author dishes the dirt!). 

Tomorrow: Mindy gives us a sneak peek into a Symptom character's playlist at Through the Looking Glass.  

And what would a blog tour be without a giveaway? Head over to the YA Book Central blog and enter for a chance to win 1 of 5 signed finished copies of The Symptoms of My Insanity!

Some Words of Wisdom from Maryrose Wood + A Giveaway!

"I never expected an author to be so...real."

Those were the words of another attendee last Thursday when Maryrose Wood graced our library with a special one-on-one session for our Teen Writing Club. (Really, I am still getting excited thinking about it.) And what he said was definitely true. Ms. Wood is one of those special authors with a heart of gold and a creative mind that is willing to be shared - and with the quirky, humorous way she talks, you wouldn't really think that she's a full-time children's author under contract with one of the country's most prestigious publishers, HarperCollins.

Really. If I ever got published, I'd like to have that kind of down-to-earth personality.

I received permission to relay some of the information that she shared with us - which, especially if you're an aspiring author like I am, will hopefully be helpful. After that, scroll down in order to see the rest of my exciting news...

A little background on the author -

Maryrose Wood is the author of several acclaimed books for children and young adults, most notably The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and the Poison Diaries trilogy from a concept suggested by the Duchess of Northumberland. She also has a background in screenplay and playwriting, and currently lives in New York.


1. What advice do you have for a writer when they hit one of those blocks in creativity?  

It happens to everybody. It’s not cause for alarm. The image [Ms. Wood]  likes to use is a person in a coal mine with a lighted hard hat, who can  only see what’s in front of them. The only way to see what’s ten feet  in front of you is to keep going. You have to walk towards the light.  Writing is that type of journey of discovery. You don’t have to keep  every word that you write. That’s how it works. Writing doesn’t come out  perfect. You read from left to right, but that’s not how a book comes  out in its first stages. Just remember: even if you are writing bad  stuff, eventually you will see the light. 

2. You have a character and a storyline, but don’t know where to start. What do you do? 

 

 The  character has to have a burning passion – a mission in life, something  important on the line. Look at that, and you’ll probably not lose  interest. The important thing to remember is that writing is not easy. It’s  a job just like any other job. 95% of it is showing up. Put yourself in  the chair, and write. It’s better to sit there and write something,  then think “I’m not in the mood today.”

3. What are your favorite books?  

 

A Wrinkle in Time and Jane Eyre, and Charlotte’s Web (sad but beautiful). For young adult readers, she also recommends The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

4. How do you write about something you don’t know about? 

 

She wrote two series about England, where she has been, but in different  centuries. As a result, she has to look up everything about them. Thank  Goodness for the Internet.

5. What tips do you have for writing a historical fiction?  

 

First  of all, you need to read a lot of historical fiction. You really have  to read a lot of history – strongly recommends looking for primary  documents. Reading a history textbook will not tell you what you need to  know for a historical book. Look in university libraries and online.

 

You can find Maryrose Wood on the Internet here. Don't worry - she doesn't bite.

A GIVEAWAY!

A signed hardcover copy of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Book 1: The Mysterious Howling

Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander, age ten or thereabouts, keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia, perhaps four or five, has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf, age somewhere-in-the-middle, is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels. 

Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must help them overcome their canine tendencies. 

But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the vast forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?

This book is an adorable, charming, age-universal read. And if you can't believe that, try the most daunting of accolades: My mother read it. And loved it. Not to mention, the author left a cute little note for you in the front cover of the book. Don't you want to see what it says?