YA Fresh

What's Fresh with Brooke Taylor's Undone & A Giveaway!

When Kori Kitlzer, the “dark angel” of the 8th grade, tells Serena Moore that they are more alike than she thinks, Serena is instantly intrigued. As their friendship solidifies and their lives entwine, Serena tries to become more like the fearless, outspoken, and ambitious Kori. Soon Serena doesn't know where she begins and Kori ends. But when a twist of fate yanks Kori away from Serena, she will need to find a way to complete her best friend's life left undone.

Undone is a striking debut novel about friendship, family, and the secrets we keep from the people to whom we are closest.

Hello Brooke, thanks for hanging out with us at YA Fresh. Could you please tell us a little about your writing background?

Brooke: Like most authors, I’ve always written. For a long time I didn’t take it very seriously because I had no idea where the road to publication even started. Lucky for me, I came across Romance Writers of America and joined. The most popular question at any local RWA meeting for a new person is: What do you write? Which my reply was: Books. I wasn’t even sure I wrote romance. I didn’t know about genres or anything like that, I just read books from any shelf in the book store. No matter where I plucked them from, the books I gravitated toward often had younger protagonists and focused on the teen years. The first novel I wrote was about a pair of reunited first loves and I actually went back and wrote their back story—how they met and fell in and out of love as teenagers. I guess that was a big clue about what I really wanted to write! Of course that story will stay under the bed for now. My first novel with public viewing privileges is Undone, which will be available July 22, 2008 from Walker, a division of Bloomsbury.

Readers and writers often like to get a behind the scenes peek of an author's writing routine. It would be great if you could please share your typical writing day schedule.

Brooke: No day is typical. There are days when I write until my laptop gives me burns. And there are days when I re-write one line over a hundred times before finally just deleting it altogether. When the dialog is flowing, you can find me having conversations with myself, often while driving down the highway (I have a long commute to the day job). When it’s not, I tend to hang out online.

Please tell us about your novel, Undone, and what we can expect from your characters.

Brooke: Kori Kitzler is the “dark angel” of her high school: beautiful, mysterious, the subject of rumors. Serena Moore is just an average girl: unassuming, not sure exactly who she is or who she wants to be.. But then a seemingly chance encounter ignites a friendship--allowing Kori to draw Serena into her world.

When the girls are given an assignment to list five things they would never dream could really happen--their five ways to tempt fate--Serena doesn’t take it very seriously. But then a tragedy leaves Serena shocked, alone, and in possession of Kori’s five secret impossible possibilities. Can Serena complete her best friend’s list, or will she leave Kori’s dreams Undone?

Undone hit on shelves July 22, 2008 and is published by Walker. It is recommend for ages 14 and up.

Oh, can't wait to read it! What's up next? Do you have another project in the works? If so, please tell us about it.

Brooke: Oh, I wish I could tell you all about it, but it’s still under wraps!

haha, no problem! Thanks so much for sharing, Brooke, best of luck with this cool debut. Would you like to close with a writing tip?

Brooke: Absolutely! My best and only writing tip is to write the books you want to read.

Thanks so much for having me!

Brooke Taylor lives and writes from her country home in Oklahoma where her horses are a constant, but happy, distraction. Her first “real” job was as a Wrangler for a dude ranch. Since then she has worked for ski resorts in Colorado and traveled the high seas while living on cruise ships. Currently she works for a large public school district. Undone is her first novel. Visit her website, www.brooketaylorbooks.com.

So what do you think? Does Undone sound up your alley? Brooke is being super cool and offering up a copy of Undone. Leave a comment from now and until Sunday night for a chance to win and the winner will be announced Monday!