Contest for a Signed ARC of Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz!

Thanks to Alex, I have a signed ARC of Of All The Stupid Things to giveaway!

Here's the summary:

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.

Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.

And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.

Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed?

To enter, fill out the form. This contest is open to US only and will close February 1st!

Good luck!

Quick Qs and As with Alexandra Diaz

Alexandra Diaz is the debut author of a book titled Of All The Stupid Things which I enjoyed reading. (You can read my review here, if you would like.) Though, without a futher ado, here's my interview with her.

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Can you describe Of All the Stupid Things in three words?

Friends, relationships, and misunderstandings.

Of All the Stupid Things is told in three different girls’ perspectives- Whitney Blaire, Pinkie, and Tara. So, which one are you most like in real life?

Originally I thought that was Pinkie, though I don’t worry quite as much as she does. But as I developed the girls further, there are certainly bits of me in each one. Like a mother, I don’t think I can play favorites now!

What was the inspiration behind Of All the Stupid Things?

The idea came with Brent and him being such a jerk. From there I thought about what he did to become such a jerk and what the consequences of said actions were. The rest just flowed on out; through the course of a year or two…

How did the title Of All the Stupid Things come to be?

My original title didn’t work and I had to come up with something different. I had the line “of all the stupid things” already in the first page so it seemed like it would work for the title.

If Of All the Stupid Things had a theme song, what would it be?

I’m sure there are other more appropriate songs, but the only one that comes to mind is “One week” by Bare Naked Ladies.

Was there a specific moment where you went, “I want to be an author.” or was it something that involved over time?

Making up stories is something I’ve always done so writing just seemed to be the natural course. Give me a “what if” scenario and I can go crazy with it! I think technically my mom knew I was going to be a writer before I did because at a young age she saw where my creativity would go.

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

 I started reading YA by the time I was 9 or 10 and I’ve never stopped. It is my choice genre to read, probably because it often includes kissing! Because it’s what I love to read, it makes sense to write what I love.

What type of setting do you usually write in?

Mostly in my room, though I can technically write anywhere. I’ve been known to scribble on scrap bits of paper while at work or in the car.

What is your typical day like?

In my life there’s no such thing as a typical day. Because I’ve always had jobs with varied schedules it’s each day for its own, writing whenever I get the chance. I’ve never been one to write at the same time for the same length of time each day.

If you could choose any career besides being an author, of course, what would it be?

I’m not sure. I’ve had many jobs, but there’s never been one that grabs me like writing does. It would have to be something that allows me to travel and has me interacting with people of various cultures.

What’s up next up for you book wise?

I have a few things I’m working on but I don’t know for sure which one will be next.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
 
Thanks for interviewing me and I hope you enjoy the book!
 
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Thank Alexandra! Also, be sure to check back later for a contest!
 
Further Links:
 
Website

Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

Summary:

It really was a stupid thing that Brent Staple did – doing it (so the rumour goes) with Chris Sanchez, one of the guy cheerleaders. Who’d have thought that Brent, the school’s hottest jock, could be gay? But the doubt about Brent doesn’t just hurt Tara – it’s the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara’s training for the marathon, but also running from her father and her fear of ever being abandoned again. Beautiful Whitney Blaire’s got everything and nothing, because her parents have never had time for her. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she never stops missing. The girls couldn’t be more different, but doesn’t that just prove the strength of their friendship?

Then new-girl Riley arrives in school, wafting her long black hair and a scent of lilacs. Suddenly, Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt before for a girl - and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay – or does she just love Riley? And can the map of her deepest friendships ever be redrawn in a post-Riley world?
 
Review:

After seeing ( and falling in love) with the cover of Of All the Stupid Things, I couldn't wait to dive right into it when it arrived. Sadly, while it was an cute and adorable read, it lacked in some key aspects.

First off, I want to start with the things that I liked and/ or loved.

Tara, Whitney Blaire, and Pinkie were three girls who were a mix of very different characteristics, making it easy to find at least one to relate to in some way or the other. Also, each girl, I felt, had the voice and tone of a true teenage girl. My personally favorite character would probably be a tie between Pinkie or Tara because both were kind of mix of me because of their smarts among others.

Also, I liked how each discovered something key about themselves by the end. Since, it made Of All The Stupid Things interesting and a read that flew by in a heartbeat.

On the flip side, the first twenty or thirty first so pages were a bit too awkward and clunky for my liking, simply because of Alexandra using the same character's name in every other sentence. For example, within the first couple of chapters it went like this, " Whitney Blair waves....Whitney Blair points......Whitney Blair shifts...." and so on. Thankfully, once I got past this the rest improved drastically. Leaving me to enjoy reading Alexandra's writing by the end. Secondly, I felt that because of the constant switching between Whitney Blaire, Tara, and Pinkie, there was some much needed character development cut out, leaving the girls to never quite jump of the page and come to life. I don't necessarily blame Alexandra for this one, as much as I do as the switching between three different first person narratives.

Don't get me wrong, though, with saying the above, because other then those two complaints, I really did enjoy this book and the message of "accepting one's self and living life in the moment" that came from it.

In all, Alexandra's debut novel shows promise of some better and greater things in the future that I can't wait to see.  

Grade: C+/ B-

Of All The Stupid Things will be released December 22, 2009!

Source: Publisher for Review. Thanks Rebecca!

Also, look for an interview and contest coming up later this month with Alexandra!