Blog Tour for Wish: Quick Qs and As with Alexandra Bullen

Alexandra Bullen is the author of Wish (my review of it is below) which was released this past Tuesday! You can find out more about her and her book at any of the following places:  Twitter (http://twitter.com/akbullen),  her blog (http://akbullen.wordpress.com/), Wish website (http://whatwouldyouwishfor.com/), Guest blog by WISH editor Aimee Friedman, and the official Point website (http://www.thisispoint.com/).

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Can you describe your book Wish in three words?

Olivia starts living.

Can you describe your main character, Olivia, in one sentence? Also, are you similar to her in any ways?

Olivia is sad, stuck, bright, sweet, scared, lost and feeling alone. I definitely relate to the way that Olivia feels invisible sometimes—I think it’s why all of my closest girl friends are so outgoing and charismatic. I’m think I’m drawn to Violets because I’m much more of an Olivia, myself.

If Wish had a theme song, what would it be?

“One Moment More” by Mindy Smith. This song can make me cry just by thinking about it. It’s about wanting more time with someone you’ve lost, and knowing they’re still out there, somewhere.

(Side Note: You can check out the song she mentions here. It actually is a very good song and does remind me of Wish.)

How did the title Wish come to be?

The book was originally called Butterflies, because of the important role they play in the magic, and also because of Olivia’s social transformation. Over time, though, the story became less about Olivia making friends and more about her openness to living life, even if it means letting Violet go. Wish seemed more evocative of that dynamic, and is more magical, I think.

I love the cover of Wish which leaves me to wonder what your reaction to it was when you saw it for the very first time.

Thank you! I love it, too. The first thing I noticed was all of the stars. I think there are even more on the galley than on the hardcover. So lovely.

Since Wish deals with wishes. What would you wish for if you had three wishes?

It would really depend on when I got them. Right this instant – a woodstove, a vacation, and that the Patriots weren’t losing so horrifically to the Ravens.

How does it feel knowing your book is going to be in bookstores soon?

Surreal. Super-exciting. Scary.

Was there a specific moment where you went, “I want to be an author!”?

There was never a time when I wanted to be anything else. I went through a phase in high school when I wanted to a famous jazz vocalist (who doesn’t?) but for the most part I always, always wanted to write.

What made you chose YA as the genre you write in?

It pretty much chose me! I hadn’t read a YA book since I was really young, and I had no idea that there was a whole community of people who loved to write the way I did. It’s been so much fun to discover this exciting and new (to me…) world!

What’s a really good book you’ve read recently?

I just finished How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford on the train to New York and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. I really didn’t want it to end.

What’s your typical day like?

I wake up, let my dogs out, make coffee, eat oatmeal, write until lunch, heat up leftovers, take the dogs for a walk, read what I’ve written, decide that it’s terrible, erase all of it except for maybe two paragraphs, run errands, make dinner, watch Friday Night Lights, sleep, dream of Tim Riggins.

What’s up next for you book-wise?

I’m working on the sequel to Wish, which isn’t a traditional sequel in the sense that there are all new characters, but the premise is the same. Three dresses, three wishes, one lucky girl.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for having me, Lauren!

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Also, here's Alex talking about Wish:

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Thanks, Alexandra! Lastly, be sure to check out Alex's next stop on the tour on Lush Budget Production on the 19th:  http://lushbudgetproduction.blogspot.com/.