Interview with Melissa Walker, author of Small Town Sinners!

You might remember that I reviewed the amazing Small Town Sinners a couple of weeks ago. Well, not only was it released this past Tuesday, but I also had the chance to ask Melissa Walker, the person behind it, some questions. So without a further ado...

In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens (or even adults) should pick up Small Town Sinners the next time they see it in stores or online?

1. Isn't that cover great?
2. No matter how you feel about the book's content, I promise it'll make you think and ask questions.
3. Ty is dreamy and Dean & Starla Joy are amazing BFFs -- you'll want to get to know them. At least that's how I feel.

Small Town Sinners tells the story of Lacey so would you mind sharing a little about her? Also, if you could give her any advice, what would you say?

Lacey has grown up in a very sheltered world, and she's never questioned what she's been taught. When I first started writing about her, I wanted her to stop seeing things in such black and white terms. I wanted to make her world more gray. So I guess my advice to her is to start asking questions, and don't ever stop.

One of the parts of Small Town Sinners that stuck out the most, in my opinion, was Hell House and the different feelings and reactions it conjured in the characters. Therefore, what was the inspiration behind including this in the book?

I went to a real Hell House and interviewed the teenagers acting in it for a magazine story, so I had some real-life inspirations for these characters. When I left that small town after just a weekend there, those teens I interviewed stayed with me. I still wonder where they are and if their beliefs have shifted at all. Here's that original article: http://www.melissacwalker.com/media/ellegirl-hellhouse.jpg

Besides Lacey, who was your favorite character to write about in Small Town Sinners? Why?

I loved writing about Tessa, Starla Joy's older sister. I could feel her radiance whenever I saw her in a scene, and that was really fun to "be around."

I absolute adore the title of Small Town Sinners. How did it come to be? Was it always the title or did it arrive later on in the process?

I originally was calling the book Hell House, but no one liked that too much (I did!). My agent and I brainstormed some ideas, and I think I came up with "Sins of a Small Town" and he said, "Ooh, what about Small Town Sinners?" And it just fit!

What is up next for you book wise?

My next book will be a love story called Unbreak My Heart, coming in summer 2012 from Bloomsbury! (I can't say more right now, but I will tell you that its working title was "The Boat Book").

THANKS!

~~~

Thanks for stopping by Melissa! Unbreak My Heart sounds fabulous!

To find out more about Melissa and her books, check out her website, twitter, facebook fan page! 

Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and a lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town in Texas . With her driver’s license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church’s annual haunted house of sin, Lacey’s junior year of high school is looking promising. But when a cute new boy comes to town, something begins to stir inside of her. Ty Davis doesn’t know the sweet, shy, Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey can reinvent herself and has the opportunity to figure out if who she has always been is who she wants to be. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey consider testing her own boundaries, events surrounding this year’s Hell House, and even Ty himself, challenge Lacey to ask questions and decide what she thinks for herself. Set against a backdrop of extreme religion, it is first and foremost a universal story of first love and finding yourself, and it will stay with readers long after the last page.

Review:

Melissa Walker writes some of the best contemporary fiction out there and Small Town Sinners, her newest release, is no different of course. Because quite simply Small Town Sinners manages to have it all: relatable and charming main characters, real-life situations that can apply to basically any reader's life, some funny parts, and smooth writing that keeps the reader constantly entranced in the book at hand.

Small Town Sinners tells the tale of Lacey Bryer. Lacey's always been the good girl thanks to her pastor father's influence, but the thing is she is fine with being that way. Especially since she has two of the best friends a person can have. And she can already tell this year, her junior one in high school, is going to be spectacular, because not only is she a shoo-in for the lead roll her in church's Hell Hall but she can also drive. However, everything changes when Ty shows up in town. Ty is amazing and cute, perfect crush material in Lacey's opinion, but the thing is Ty, as well as several other key factors, are making Lacey question everything about her faith. So, what is one church girl supposed to do when everything in her world suddenly appears different? Will she stand up for what she now believes in or sit on the sidelines? Only time and more pages can tell in Small Town Sinners.

Lacey is a very believable and relatable character when it comes to the parts in the story were she questions her faith. Because I truly feel there's a time in almost any person's life were they question something they were taught that was supposed to be "right" but now wonder why there isn't another way to see and do things. Furthermore, I liked how while religion plays a big part in the story, Melissa has it in a way were it isn't right in your face, telling you what or what not to think. Actually, it was quite different than that, because at least in my situation, I was questioning things in Lacey's life right along with her and Ty and making my own decisions for a huge duration of the story. On a lighter note, I also enjoyed the characters of Starla Joy and Dean, because they are funny, full-of-heart ones that you can't help but love as the story moves along.

While the plot wasn't the most exciting and suspenseful one ever written, it still was nearly perfect in my eyes thanks to Melissa's excellent writing that fully captured the feel of the story and the characters she brought to life right along with it. I especially liked how she used Hell Hall as a way to make the characters think out of the box when it came to what was presented in there and what was right to them at least.

Small Town Sinners is a delightful read that not only is a fun distraction for a couple of hours but also truly make the reader question their own ways of thinking right along with Lacey and her friends. I truly cannot suggest this one highly enough!

Grade: A

Small Town Sinners will be released July 19, 2011.

Source: Publicist at Bloomsbury/Walker Books- thanks Kate!

Fun Fact: I actually read this one last year in August after I was asked to give some early feedback. It was a very cool experience, as not only was the book not due to be released for close to another year, but there wasn't even a cover yet. A small tidbit of my review was actually quoted in the beginning of the ARC addition. :) Anyhow, as I said in my review, READ this book! It's amazing.

Quick Q and A's with Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker is not only the author of the fab Lovestruck Summer ( Review!), but also the fun Violet series about a teen model. Plus, she's the one of the founders of "I Heart Daily" newsletter!

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1) Your latest novel, Lovestruck Summer, was released this past spring. Can you tell us about what inspired you to write it?

A trip to Austin two summers ago totally inspired me--the music, the heat, the cowboys... it made me think of romance.

2) In Lovestruck Summer the main character, Quinn, has a big love of music which leaves me to wonder what some of your favorite musical artists and groups are.

I love a lot of different types of music, from Taylor Swift and Loretta Lynn to The Shins and Animal Collective. I also adore classics like The Beatles and Michael Jackson.

3) Quinn and her cousin, Penny, have two totally different personalities, with Penny being a prep and Quinn being more of a tomboy, indie music girl, which leaves me to wonder which one you are most like in real life.

You know, I'm really neither, or maybe a mix of the two!

4) If you could pick a theme song for Lovestruck Summer what would it be?

I do love "Waltz Across Texas," which plays big role in a final scene...

5) If you could meet any of the characters in your books for lunch, which one would you choose? What would you talk about?

Um... Russ! We'd talk about how charming he is, and maybe have a little innocent banter.

6) You recently launched a daily newsletter called “ I Heart Daily” with an another ex- Elle girl, leaving me to wonder what lead you to start this?

I had a lot of things that I wanted to share with people--just random stuff I love in the realms of style, beauty, news and entertainment. Anne and I really missed writing for ELLEgirl so we thought we'd start a newsletter so we could keep writing that way!

8) A couple of days ago, I saw that you just signed a contract for a new book deal, the title of the book being “ Small Town Sinners”. So, would you care to share more of what it’s about?

Yes! I'm excited. It's about a girl who's grown up in a church community where they hold an annual HELL HOUSE, or a haunted house of sin, around Halloween. She's always wanted to take part in it, and suddenly some big changes happen in her life, including the return of a boy she used to known. As she starts falling in love, she may start falling out of faith...

9) Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just thanks! Thanks!

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Your welcome, Melissa. You can visit Melissa at her blog or website, if you would like. :)

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker

Summary:

Austin music fest
Yay, summer in Austin!

Good food, good times. Fun for everyone!
Okay, living with my sorority-brainwashed cousin, who willingly goes by "Party Penny," is not exactly what I had in mind.

All your favorite bands
But the cute musicians I've met totally make up for it . . . like Sebastian. Swoon.

All ages welcome
So why can't I stop thinking about Penny's friend All-American Russ and his Texas twang??

Saturday & Sunday, from noon to midnight
Don't wait up!

Review:

Lovestruck Summer is the perfect example for why I adore Harper Teen's summer romance paperbacks. Since, it provided a well developed story with unique characters, unlike the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies which mostly leave me with the bad kind of chills after reading them. Though, with saying that I still like some of them well enough.

Going back to Lovestruck Summer, I simply loved this book. Actually, I kind of liked it better than Melissa's Violet series.

This novel was a quick read, but it still proved depth to it. One of my favorite parts was the funny and surprising characters. Since, I loved how Quin's cousin Penny had a cross dressing dog. Then there always was funny Quinn and sweet Russ.

Also, unlike most teen summer romances it delayed the romance of Russ and Quin. Since, whenever you thought they were finally going to be together an obstacle erupted and then another. Leaving your eyes to be glued to the pages waiting for the moment they would be together at last.

Overall, Lovestruck Summer is one sweet and cute ride. I suggest to fans of Sleepless by Terri Clark and Save The Date by Tamara Summers.

Grade: A+

Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker is now out!

* Much thanks to Melissa and the people at Harper Teen for this book! :)