POPULAR Interview & Giveaway!

You know how people always say that word-of-mouth is the best advertising? Well, a month or so back, someone told me that Alissa Grosso’s debut novel, Popular, had a stunning twist, and I needed to check it out. So I did...


And I was so astonished by the book that I walked around talking to people about it for days! So I simply had to invite Alissa to visit us at YA Fresh for an interview! She was happy to join us, and to offer up a signed copy of POPULAR to one of our commenters!

Hey, Alissa, could you please tell us a little about your writing background and how you made your first sale?

I had written and even published a few short stories before, but POPULAR was the first decent novel I ever finished. I do, however, possess a very large collection of unfinished novels. POPULAR was a slush pile rescue. I submitted it directly to Flux back when they accepted unagented submissions.

You are one of the lucky ones who sold through the slush pile! Good for you!

Now, 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.

Ha! There is no such thing as a typical writing day. At least not in my life! I still have a day job. So, writing tends to get fit in when I can find the time. I do a lot of my writing at night because this tends to be my peak creativity time, and there tends to be less distractions at night. The phone doesn't ring. The UPS man doesn't ring the doorbell. Even the neighbors tend to be quieter at night.

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

This is always a bit tricky. I would have to say, expect the unexpected. It's a story that tells the downfall of a very unconventional high school clique, but there's a twist.

Indeed there is! So what’s up next? Do you have another project in the works?

My next book is called FEROCITY SUMMER. It tells the story of one summer in the life of a teenage girl trying to cope with her friend's drug addiction, her own legal troubles, an on again off again romantic relationship and an essay she is supposed to write on General Sherman and his infamous march to the sea. It's set in the New Jersey town where I spent my teen years and it's due out in 2012 from Flux.

Would you like to close with a writing tip?

Write a book that you would want to read, and if it is at all possible write only one book at a time. I've learned from experience that one finished book is worth a lot more than a hundred unfinished ones.

Great, and thank you, Alissa!

Okay, now to all our readers: Alissa tells us she mostly likes to write at night. In order to be entered in our contest to win a signed copy of POPULAR, tell us in the comments when you most like to read!

Check back on Tuesday, September 6th to see the winner’s name!