Interview with Aimee Ferris, author of Will Work for Prom Dress!

Aimee Ferris is the author of two YA novels, the newly released Will Work for Prom Dress and Girl Overboard. And today, she's here to answer a few of my questions.

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In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens (or even adults) should consider picking up Will Work For Prom Dress the next time they see it in stores or online?

It's The Hills meets Project Runway meets The Apprentice meets The City with a splash of Jersey Sho-- okay, not really. But I think everybody could use a good laugh, and regardless of how long it's been since you tried to gracefully exit a limo in a mermaid gown, cracking up over classic awkward teen moments is an excellent escape from real life. I guess that wasn't really three reasons, was it...

Over the course of Will Work For Prom Dress, Quigley has several odd jobs (frozen pizza topper, dinner theater murder victim, etc.), so what are some odd jobs you had as a teen? Did any of them inspire the ones you gave to Quigley?

Though totally into theatre growing up, I proudly performed my one and only paid actress gig as...a dinner theatre murder victim. I took it easy on Quigley. My theatre was dark and overheated -- so when I played the part, I fell ASLEEP in the salad. I imagine it was a rather alarming final dance number as my completely disoriented teen self was scooped up from the chair mid-snore and tossed around stage by the two actors, before a faux dip that nearly sent the lead and I both sprawling into the table of eight, up front.

For most of the book, Quigley and her friend Anne are somewhat obsessed with prom (the dresses they will wear, the dates, etc.), which leaves me to wonder the following: why did you decide to have prom be one of the main focuses of the book?

It was hard to do otherwise, what with the title.

Do you have a favorite line from Will Work For Prom Dress?

"He who laughs last, thinks slowest."

With Prom Dress' release date fast approaching, do you have any ideas of how you'll spend the day?

 I do!* Since I tend to freak out a little, I'll be getting my zen on 3,000ft up one of Vermont's gorgeous Green Mountains. This way when friends ask if I was totally obsessing over Amazon ranks or Goodreads reviews on the big day, I can truthfully say, " Me? Pshaw-- I was above all that." Okay, I might not say "pshaw." *I'm kind of a terrible skier, so hoping to not spend the days immediately following the release date in traction.

Name three things most of your readers would be surprised to know about you.

I used to train dolphins.
I quite happily spent three years of my life barefoot (and not my first three!).
My only scar is a tiny bite mark from a baby octopus I was trying to save from a poacher.

What's up next for you book wise?

I'm playing around with a follow up to Will Work for Prom Dress -- set in New York City the summer after prom, which may or may not shift the focus to Anne's vida loca -- including life with a certain mysterious family member-- though her sidekick, Quigley, would be certainly be there to monitor and rein in the inherent madness.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

YES! Everyone has to come over to www.willworkforpromdress.com -- it is complete PROMAPALOOZA* over there! I'll be posting a new prom photo of a fabulous young adult novelist each day, starting January 3rd. Come guess who that guy with the 12th grade mustache is-- or who the girl wearing combat boots under her gown might be. Midwest Big Hair, purple crushed velvet tuxes, punked out surly anti-prom pics, Man Perm? We got 'em all. *At some point, I'll be figuring out how to work in a Promapalooza Giveaway of some prom bling.

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Thanks so much, Aimee! I really hope you'll be able to do a follow up to Will Work for Prom Dress because I have a feeling it will be fabulous!

To find out more about Aimee and her books, be sure to check out her website.

Buy her books:

Will Work for Prom Dress
Girl Overboard

Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Quigley Johnson has, reluctantly, given up the rest of her last year of high school to take part in her best friend Ann's Betterment Plan, which will turn them into the best-dressed, most sought-after, most admired girls at their senior formal. Because - hey - who doesn't want the perfect prom, complete with a dream dress and a devastatingly handsome date?

But the prom costs money - lots of money - and even though the girls could easily have Ann's mom design their dresses (she's only Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world), Ann insists that they pay their own way. And that's how Quigley gets stuck making artistic topping masterpieces on frozen pizzas canvases, before becoming a live model for Ms. Parisi's fashion design class, where she meets Zander.

He's cute, and cool, and funny, with a killer design sensibility (even if he can't sketch). But is he too good to be true? And what about David, the hot, talented artist at school, who's also kind of a jerk, but won't leave Quigley alone? And Ann - she started the Betterment Plan to improve Quigley and herself, but it seems like it's ripping their friendship to shreds.

This road to the prom dream may just end in disaster.

Review:

Looking for a cute and adorable prom-related read? Well, look no further because Aimee Ferris' Will Work for Prom Dress is the perfect pick!

When Quigley's best friend Ann first talks about her prom-related plan (which involves the perfect dresses and dates), Quigley reluctantly agrees, figuring it won't to lead to too much trouble, but as it turns out that's a huge understatement. For one, Ann's first matter of business is to find Quigley and her the perfect prom dresses but prom dresses equal money and Quigley and Ann don't have that, so soon enough both have jobs at the frozen pizza topping place, which ends in misery. Then, comes the dinner murder victim job for Quigley, which ends horribly. So, when they are asked by Ann's mom (Victoria Parisi, one of the most famous designers in the world) to model clothes for her fashion design class, Ann jumps at the chance and Quigley follows, not realizing that this choice may change both of their worlds forever. But for the better or for the worse? And will the two get their perfect prom dresses and dates? Only time will tell in this fast-paced tale about the events leading up to one of the biggest social events of the year!

Quigley and Ann were hilarious main characters, which lead to them being one of my favorite parts of Will Work For Prom Dress. I loved how both of them played so well of each other because it lead to several laugh out load moments, as well as some serious ones. Adding to this, I adored the love interests Aimee chose for each, especially Quigley's because I never could figure out who she was going to end up with (Xander or David?) for most of the book.

The plot of this was also great. I liked how one of the big focuses of the book were the mostly horrible jobs Ann and Quigley ended up with, because who hasn't had a terrible job before? I also liked how who Ann's farther was played a big role, as well as Quigley's future plans, because they created some tension for this mostly light book.

Aimee's writing was also up to par. She did a great job of developing the characters and plot lines!

In all, Will Work for Prom Dress is a fun, semi-light hearted/semi-serious read I adored! I can't wait to see what Ms. Ferris comes up with next!

Grade: B+

Will Work for Prom Dress is now out!

Source: Publicist at Goodman Media. Thanks, Jenny!