Contest for A Match Made in High School and Other Goodies!

Thanks to the lovely Kristin Walker, I have the following items to give away to one very lucky winner.

signed copy of MATCH
T-shirt
megaphone
bookmarks
pencils
engagement ring
gum
Post-it matchbook

To enter, please fill out the form below.

This contest is open to United States and Canada only and will close on March 11th. GOOD LUCK!

 

Quick Qs And As with Kristin Walker!

Kristin Walker is the debut author of an hilarious book titled A Match Made in High School.

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Describe A Match Made in High School in three words.

Crazy Romantic Fun

Describe your main character Fiona in one sentence. Also, in what ways are you similar to her? Different?

She's a smart-mouthed loner who's not afraid to speak her mind, even though it often comes back to bite her. I'm a bit outspoken and smart-mouthed now, but I wasn't too much at Fiona's age. And yes, it does come back to bite me at times. I also share Fiona's fashion sense, which isn't good for anybody.

If A Match Made in High School had a theme song, what would it be?

"We're Going to Be Friends" by the White Stripes

Do you have a favorite scene or line from A Match Made in High School? If so, would you mind sharing a bit about it with us?

It's not necessarily my favorite, but I like the scene where Fiona and Todd first babysit Sam. It's the first time they drop their guard just a little bit in front of each other.

What was your favorite part of writing Match?

One of the best parts was when I thought of a great joke or comeback. It was such a luxury to take as much time as I needed to figure out the most scathing retort. Another favorite part was finishing that very first draft, when there's still a ton of work to do, but it seems surmountable now.

How did the title A Match Made in High School come to be?

The brilliant team at Razorbill thought of it. The original title was Marriage Ed., which really was just the document name of the manuscript on my hard drive. Lame, yes. I struggle with titles, obviously. We kicked some ideas back and forth and MATCH was the winner. I adore it. Although, I still love the suggestion of a friend of mine, David Wright, who offered: Right Beside My Ring Finger! That cracks me up every time.

What would have been your reaction to having to take a “Trying The Knot” class in high school like Fiona has to do at her high school?

I was such a dork, I'd probably would have enjoyed the damn thing. How sad is that? I'm pretty much a rule-follower by nature, although I wish I wasn't so much. I'm less now than when I was younger. I just never had that innate sense of when it was okay to break the rules.

Since I adore these type of stories, what was it like getting “the call”?

I'll never forget getting the call from my agent offering representation. It had been after such a long string of rejections, and her call was the first real validation of my work. She also delivered the call when I got the offer on the book, so now I have this Pavlovian reaction whenever I see 212 on the caller ID.

How does it feel to know that your book will be in bookstores soon?

Surreal. But I've made friends with so many great authors whose new books I've seen on the shelves many times. I think when I see mine up with theirs, it'll kind of feel like I made it into the club. Like I got to learn the secret handshake.

What is your typical day like?

Hit snooze alarm several times. Get up, feed kids, get them on the bus or to preschool. Then the gray hours where I may write, I may clean, I may do research, I may watch TV, I may go back to sleep, etc... Then make dinner, hang out with the fam for a while, and go to bed. Riveting!

What’s up next for you book-wise?

Hopefully, another YA for Razorbill. I'm also currently revising a middle grade paranormal.

What are three totally random facts about you?

1. I can sing the Canadian National Anthem, but not in French. Not yet. I'll work on it, okay? Zut alors.
2. When I lived in New Zealand for two years as a child, I saw the Queen of England's powder-blue pillbox hat as her motorcade passed by our elementary school.
3. I don't like sushi. I've tried it several times and tasted many varieties, but it all ended up in my napkin. I really want to like sushi, but I just don't..

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just to say thank you, Lauren! This has been so much fun!
 
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No, thank you, Kristin! :)
 
Further Links:
 
Kristin's Website
Kristin's Blog
Kristin's Twitter
Kristin's Book on Amazon/Indie Bound/ Barnes and Noble

Review Repost: A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker!

Since, Kristin Walker will be my guest of honor this week on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf. I thought I would repost my original review of A Match Made in High School. :) Be sure to come back tomorrow for my interview with Kristin and on Friday for a surprise. 
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Summary:

CONGRATULATIONS!

YOUR SCHOOL HAS INVITED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN

A REVOLUTIONARY MISGUIDED COURSE CALLED

TRYING THE KNOT!

When a mandatory course forces Fiona to “try the knot” with super-jock Todd Harding, she’s convinced life couldn't get any worse. Until her crush is paired with her arch enemy (otherwise known as Todd’s obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that’s nothing compared to her best friend’s fate – a year with the very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.

A series of hilarious pranks leave Fiona wondering: is there something her “best friend” hasn’t told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than an awesome music collection? And most intriguing, could Todd Harding have a heart beneath his pretty-boy exterior?

Review:

A Match Made In High School was one of the most wickedly hilarious books of the year!

From page one, you are thrown into Fiona's grueling senior year. Fiona is a character that you are going to love, because of her tell it as it comes attitude to her comical side which has you forever laughing. Tod and Johnny are the exact same way, making the characters in this book a key part to it's greatness.

The plot was unique, because really have you ever read a teen book dealing with mandatory Marriage Education program? Yeah, I didn't think so. I loved different jokes and pranks Kristin added in this, ones that you wouldn't normally have seen if the Marriage Education program wasn't present. Also, there were constantly different revelations thrown at you, making this a fast and fun read.

Overall, Kristin is a yet another great add to the YA market, I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

I suggest A Match Made In High School to fans of Meg Cabot and Susane Colasanti or teens just looking for a cute and funny romance comedy.

Grade: A+

A Match Made in High School is now out!

Source: Author- Kristin Walker- for review. Thanks, Kristin! :)

Two Books Not To Miss!

I'm not usually one to post about books releases because of the fact that a ton of other book blogs already do so and it would take up time which I could be spending reading. haha. Though, today not one, but two fab books came out, and I would like to spend a second or two focusing on them.

One of those two is A Match Made in High School by the lovely Kristin Walker. This is one of those wickedly fun books that just calls to be read in one long sitting. To check out my review of it, go here. I posted it last June, so many of you probably never saw it. Also, be on the lookout for a really fantastic event, if I do say so myself, I have planned for the very near feature involving this book and Kristin. :)

The next of those two is The Naughty List by Suzanne Young, who is an extremely nice person. =) The Naughty List, I can insure you, is another book not to miss. Plus, it's a SERIES, so we'll be able to see even more of the delightful characters it focuses on in the future. So, yay. Lastly, I'll have an interview with Suzanne up soon, hopefully. I just have to get the questions written first.


By the way, here the covers for the next two Naughty List books.

Are they are or are they not completely adorable?

Anyway, go check these books out, I promise you will not regret it! :) Also, congrats to Suzanne and Kristin on their book's releases!

A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker

Summary:

When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can’t get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona’s long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.

Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.

Review:

A Match Made In High School was one of the most wickedly hilarious books of the year!

From page one, you are thrown into Fiona's grueling senior year. Fiona is a character that you are going to love, because of her tell it as it comes attitude to her comical side which has you forever laughing. Tod and Johnny are the exact same way, making the characters in this book a key part to it's greatness.

The plot was unique, because really have you ever read a teen book dealing with mandatory Marriage Education program? Yeah, I didn't think so. I loved different jokes and pranks Kristin added in this, ones that you wouldn't normally have seen if the Marriage Education program wasn't present. Also, there were constantly different revelations thrown at you, making this a fast and fun read.

Overall, Kristin is a yet another great add to the YA market, I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

I suggest A Match Made In High School to fans of Meg Cabot and Susane Colasanti or teens just looking for a cute and funny romance comedy.

Grade: A+

A Match Made In High School will be released February 4 , 2010 by Razerbill, a Penguin imprint.

Side Note: Yes, I know this review is way freakishly early. Though, I just absolutely loved this book and actually brought me out of my reading slump. So, why not post it. :) Anyway, it will definitely posted again in February of 2010 to remind you of its release.